VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : CAL LUTHERAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW : Transfer Tandem Boosts Backfield for Cal Lutheran

George Keiaho on the ground, Chris Czernek through the air.

They posted some of the most prolific numbers in Ventura County history before leaving town to play college football.

Now, they’re back. And, perhaps, in the same backfield at Cal Lutheran.

Keiaho, a running back from Washington, and Czernek, a quarterback from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, have transferred to Cal Lutheran in search of opportunity and familiar surroundings.

Keiaho, a former standout at Buena High, played 2 1/2 seasons for the Huskies before sitting out last season because of personal reasons.

Czernek, from Newbury Park, redshirted one season at Cal Poly before playing in only one game last season.

“This is a better place for me,” said Keiaho, a senior who turned 24 on Thursday. “I’m happy to be here and to be near my family.”

Keiaho rushed for a Ventura County-record 6,615 yards for Buena from 1990-93. The total remains the third-highest in the state and Keiaho ranks fourth in the state with 80 rushing touchdowns.

Czernek passed for a county-record 4,360 yards and a Southern Section-record 45 touchdowns as a junior at Newbury Park in 1995.

Before graduating in 1997, Czernek owned nearly every school and county passing record and was the only player in the nation to pass for 4,000 yards in two consecutive seasons.

Czernek was recruited by Cal Lutheran out of high school and declined an offer to sign with Cal State Northridge.

A coaching change at Cal Poly last season triggered a change of heart for Czernek.

“They recruited me up there for a reason, but it didn’t work out,” said Czernek, a sophomore. “Last year, I played in one game and got in for three plays. I never got a chance to play at Cal Poly. I pretty much was told that I wouldn’t.

“Here, no one has a hidden agenda and I have a shot. That’s what I’m most happy about.”

But neither Czernek nor Keiaho has earned a starting job.

Czernek is challenging Nick Odenath, who rotated last season with Zack Hernandez. Odenath is expected to start Saturday in the season opener against Pacific Lutheran at Cal Lutheran. But Czernek will play, Coach Scott Squires said.

A lingering hamstring injury has slowed Keiaho’s progress. He is challenging Dorian Stitt, who rushed for 710 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

“Coach Squires is giving me a chance to come here and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” Keiaho said.

Cal Lutheran was 5-4 last season, winning all five of its home games, and finished third in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Assn.

Only three starters return on a defense that ranked No. 7 nationally in NCAA Division III. Eight starters return on offense, including senior tackle Tony Weak, an All-SCIAC selection.

Weak, a member of Newbury Park’s Southern Section championship team in 1993, has allowed only two sacks in three seasons.

Stitt and punter Mark Kevern were all-conference.