Granada Hills Coaches Knew They Had Winner

All season, co-coaches Tom Harp and Darryl Stroh of Granada Hills High have promoted quarterback Jason Winn, even when others insisted that rival quarterbacks Matt Cassel of Chatsworth and Brandon Hance of Taft were better college prospects.

Now that Winn has broken longstanding school records for career yards passing and career touchdown passes, Harp and Stroh are finally beginning to hear from recruiters about the senior.

“He’s the No. 1 [quarterback] recruit in the nation for Oklahoma,” Stroh said.

Winn will take a recruiting trip to Oklahoma this weekend. It will come after he faces his toughest test Wednesday night against top-seeded Carson in the quarterfinals of the City Championship playoffs at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

“He’s as good as any quarterback I’ve coached,” Harp said.

Never before in local history have so many quality quarterbacks taken snaps in the same season. Five have already committed to four-year schools. Winn, a 6-foot-2 senior who has passed for 2,251 yards and 26 touchdowns, is expected to be the sixth.

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Alemany has agreed to spend $15,000 to bring in portable bleachers that will seat an additional 2,000 spectators for its Southern Section Division I quarterfinal game Friday night against Mater Dei in Mission Hills.

Mater Dei has told Alemany officials it will likely bring at least 3,000 fans from Anaheim.

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After 10 weeks with no serious injuries, Hart (11-0) is suddenly looking vulnerable in the Division III playoffs after losing starting offensive guard Stephen Hoffmann to a broken ankle in practice and losing standout receiver-strong safety Garrett Fuller to a broken hand on the first play against Quartz Hill on Friday.

Fuller was Hart’s fastest player and could be difficult to replace on defense.

“We’re going to have a bunch of different combinations [filling in on defense],” Coach Mike Herrington said.

Junior Mike Brady replaced Hoffman at guard against Quartz Hill.

Last season, the Indians lost receiver Jerry Owens to a broken leg in the final regular-season game and still won the Division III title.

Fuller’s absence comes at a bad time. The Indians face a speedy Muir team Friday night in a quarterfinal game at Pasadena City College.