VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Chatsworth High has forfeited its 61-28 nonleague victory over Reseda on Thursday because it used an ineligible player.

Chatsworth officials informed Reseda on Friday, according to Coach Joel Schaeffer of the Regents.

“It was an administrative error and I’m very upset about it,” Coach Bill Coan of Chatsworth said.

When told of the forfeit, quarterback Matt Cassel of Chatsworth said Saturday, “Everybody knows we dominated that game. It is not going to hurt us. I’m disappointed, but we’ll move on.”

Chatsworth will play Alemany on Friday, but might be without starting tight end-linebacker Mark Harris, who sprained an ankle against Reseda.

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Keary Colbert of Hueneme suffered a bruised right knee in the Vikings’ 65-30 loss to Alemany on Friday night, but he isn’t expected to miss any games.

Colbert, a 6-1, 180-pound wide receiver-defensive back, left the game midway through the second quarter with Hueneme trailing, 41-14.

“It was a slight bruise,” Colbert’s father, Patrick said Saturday. “There was no swelling this morning.”

Colbert, regarded as one of the top receivers in the state, had one reception for 56 yards and a touchdown against Alemany.

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In winning its debut under Coach Jack Bowman, Canyon received strong performances from two junior linebackers against Camarillo.

Colin McNeil (6-foot-1, 215-pounds) had eight lead tackles and six assists. At fullback, he was the blocker for Jimmy Perry, who rushed for 95 yards.

“He blocked like crazy,” Bowman said. “Play after play, he knocked people back.”

Casey Gordon, who is 5-5, 140 pounds, had three sacks rushing from his outside linebacker position.

“He hits,” Bowman said.

For the first time, all four Santa Clarita Valley schools--Hart, Canyon, Saugus and Valencia--won their openers.

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Stand-up defensive ends Julius Roberts and Ivan Cuevas of Poly towered over the Kennedy offensive line Friday, but it was the Golden Cougars who elevated their play in a 42-13 victory.

Roberts, a 6-6, 220-pound senior college prospect, and Cuevas, a 6-4, 195-pound senior, each sacked quarterback Ruben Zaragosa of Kennedy once.

But Zaragosa enjoyed solid protection most of the game, completing 22 of 32 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns.

“We were worried about their ends, especially Roberts, but our line did a great job,” Coach Bob Francola of Kennedy said.

Especially the Avina brothers. Robert Avina, a 6-1, 230-pound junior tackle, has started since his freshman year.

Armando Avina, a 6-foot, 260-pound sophomore guard, was a part-time starter last year.

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Michael Brignac started slowly against Buena Thursday.

The Westlake receiver dropped the first pass thrown his way, costing the Warriors a first down.

In the second quarter, on a quick slant pattern, he deflected the ball into the arms of a Buena defender for an interception.

But Brignac, playing his first game since a highly publicized transfer from Reseda, atoned, pulling down a 23-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter to give the Warriors a 35-14 lead.

He had four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Brignac had not played football in nearly two years because his transfer from Reseda was invalidated and he had to sit out last season.

“We expected him to get his feet wet slowly,” Coach Jim Benkertsaid. “He’s going to be the guy as we get going.”

Fine with Brignac.

“I was a little rusty, but my teammates told me not to worry, not to be nervous,” he said. “As long as our whole team clicks, we could do something.”

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Twelve hours after hearing the good news about his starting quarterback Zack Sapp, Coach Brian Stiman of Valencia was still in disbelief, but relieved none the less.

“As unbelievable as it is, his leg wasn’t broken,” Stiman said.

Sapp, who suffered a leg injury in the third quarter of Valencia’s 27-13 victory over Highland on Friday night, has only a sprained ankle, according to Stiman.

At midnight after watching the play on film several times, Stiman was convinced Sapp’s leg was broken when several Highland players converged on a tackle.

“He actually looked like Gumby-man,” Stiman said.

About 12:30 a.m., Stiman spoke to Sapp’s parents who told him the good news.”And they X-rayed it twice,” Stiman said.

Stiman expects Sapp to miss about three weeks.

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Rio Mesa posted its first shutout in 30 games with its 19-0 victory over San Marcos on Friday.

The Spartans’ last shutout before Friday was a 49-0 victory over Santa Clara in the third game of the 1996 season.

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Eric Testan, an Oak Park junior, converted from quarterback to running back this season.

He catches on fast.

Testan rushed for 243 yards in 13 carries and had four receptions for 123 yards in a 37-24 victory over El Segundo. He scored three touchdowns.