Rix Develops Quickly During Passing League

Chris Rix made a solid first impression on Santa Margarita football Coach Jim Hartigan. On his first day of practice with the Eagles, Rix took all 24 snaps in passing league games against Los Alamitos and Long Beach Poly, and split the snaps against West Covina.

“Most kids would be swamped with what we’ve already thrown at him,” Hartigan said. “He’s a bright quarterback. He was calling plays at the line without cards or anything after only one practice.”

Rix, who made an oral commitment to attend Florida State, was visiting the school last weekend, Hartigan said. Rix helped La Puente Bishop Amat reach the Southern Section Division I semifinals last season.

Rix (6 feet 4, 200 pounds) transferred from Bishop Amat to Costa Mesa earlier this year, but was up front about his plans. He told coaches there that he would be playing elsewhere during the 1999 season, and did not participate in any of the Mustangs’ spring football drills.

As for Rix being the third impact player to join the Eagles as they move into Division I and the All-Catholic Serra League, Hartigan said his school’s three consecutive Southern Section championship games, including two Division V titles, probably has something to do with it.

“It just so happens we got three guys interested in our program, and hopefully that says a lot for our program and our school,” Hartigan said. “Whether it’s a scandal or recruiting thing, far from it--they contacted us first.

“The great programs get guys. We’re going into Division I, we’ve done well, and people are showing interest. As far as soliciting players, that’s not something we’re doing or we’re going to do.”

Costa Mesa’s Jimmy Herzog (1,502 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Irvine’s Dave Doomey (1,149 yards, 13 touchdowns), a junior, will also play for Santa Margarita.

FOOTBALL FOR FAIRMONT

Fairmont will field a football team for the first time this fall and saw its first on-field competition Thursday in a passing league game at Downey Calvary Chapel.

Tom Caffrey, who left Heritage Christian to start the program at Fairmont, said 27 players were out for spring football, and 22 are out this summer. “Not bad for the first first time we’ve played and the size of the school [about 275],” Caffrey said.

The Huskies will play a freelance schedule and participate in Division XIII. And they are starting from scratch.

“The kids never played football before,” Caffrey said. “Spring football started off with, ‘Here’s a football,’ and getting them into line stances.”

The opposing coach in Thursday’s passing league game was John Caffrey, Tom’s son.

Said Tom Caffrey before the game: “If he wants to stay in the family, he’ll go easy on me.”

MOVING COACHES

Ocean View badminton and girls’ soccer coach Joey Bahash has resigned to become athletic director at Heritage Christian.

Ocean View shared the Golden West League title with Rosary last season in girls’ soccer.

Bill Seibert, girls’ basketball coach at Ocean View, has resigned to assist the women’s program at Golden West College. Seibert coached the Seahawks three seasons, and compiled a 47-36 record.

SIGNING

Matt Levassiur, a graduate of Katella, will run cross-country and track for Adams State in Alamosa, Colo., Katella Athletic Director Mike Cochrane said. Levassiur helped Katella win a Division II state title in cross-country last fall.

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Staff writer Michael Itagaki contributed to this story.