City Section on Move to Change Playoffs

The City Section is on the verge of moving its first-round football playoff games to Thursday, Nov. 19 and playing its quarterfinal games Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Commissioner Barbara Fiege said the proposal will be voted on at the Interscholastic Athletic Committee meeting Oct. 26. She said the proposal has strong support. Moving up the first round by a day will give an extra day of preparation for the quarterfinals.

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Injury updates: Fullback/linebacker Patrick Wade of Notre Dame will be sidelined four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his leg against Alemany last week. . . . Matt Leeth, St. Bonaventure’s leader in receiving yards with 299 on 17 catches, is questionable this week after injuring his shoulder in a 31-19 loss against St. Joseph. . . .

Taft should get at least one of its weapons back for the San Fernando game Friday. Quarterback Brandon Hance is probable after missing a 35-12 victory over Cleveland with an ankle injury. Lawrence Wallace, who led the region in receptions after three weeks, will miss two more weeks with a broken hand. Wallace broke the hand in practice last week.

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Big foot: Birmingham’s John Wall became the first player from the region to kick two field goals of 50 yards or more in the same game since Ignacio Brache of Village Christian hit from 55 and 56 yards in 1994.

In a 32-6 loss to Granada Hills on Friday, Wall booted field goals of 50 and 53 yards.

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Ready to go: Paraclete’s Robby Fockaert, who fractured his left ankle two weeks ago, said Monday that he has received clearance from a doctor and will play this week in a nonleague game at Rosamond.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound quarterback, who passed for 697 yards and six touchdowns through three games, sat out the Spirits’ 34-6 loss to Bakersfield Garces last week.

The loss ended Paraclete’s 13-game winning streak. The last team to defeat the 3-1 Spirits? Garces.

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Double danger: A pair of Ventura County players had good nights on both sides of the ball Friday.

Oak Park’s Scott Jones caught three passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and intercepted a pass, returning it 20 yards. The Eagles beat Santa Paula, 21-13.

Meanwhile, in Channel Islands’ 27-27 tie with Calabasas, Channel Islands’ Chris Biascan caught a pass for a 44-yard touchdown and returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown.