Van Nuys Risk Was Rewarded With Victory

Like going for it on fourth down, Van Nuys High took a calculated gamble by allowing quarterbacks Max Parra and Luis Arreola to play Friday in a 14-6 victory over Hamilton.

They are among six Van Nuys players who transferred from Birmingham during the summer. The City Section has approved the eligibility only of running back Yesel Manrique, telling Van Nuys more proof was needed to document that the other five changed residences.

Parra, a senior, started against Hamilton and played two series before losing a contact lens. Enter Arreola, who completed none of six passes, although two were dropped. Parra misfired on his only pass, leaving the Wolves zero for seven.

Coach Mark Pomerantz believes their chances of gaining eligibility are better than their completion percentages.

“We are confident that the information is adequate to prove they are living where they say they are,” he said. “If the decision turns out to go against us, we are willing to accept that we would have to forfeit.”

City officials probably will wait to make a ruling until the next meeting of the Interscholastic Athletic Committee on Tuesday, but a decision could come earlier.

Transfers still on the sideline are lineman Miguel Lopez, linebacker Eddie Kirakosian and tight end George Capistran. Lopez and Kirakosian have not provided ample documentation of moving and Capistran is out because of a broken foot.

Manrique, who had 76 yards rushing and a touchdown against Hamilton, will play along with Parra and Arreola on Friday against . . . Birmingham.

“I would expect that Birmingham will step it up to show the [six] guys they were wrong for leaving,” Pomerantz said. “They will have the emotional factor going for them.”

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The Van Nuys Rotary Club is sponsoring the Birmingham-Van Nuys game, one of the Valley’s oldest rivalries, by hosting a luncheon and awarding a trophy that the winner keeps for a year. Van Nuys won last season, 25-21.

Pomerantz can take up to four players to the luncheon, but said none of the transfers will be among them.

“That wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said. “But Parra will be ready for the game. He bought four new pairs of contacts.”

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Taft has appealed the one-game suspension levied against Coach Troy Starr for allowing receiver Gerard Jones to practice before his transfer from Reseda was complete.

The appeal will be reviewed within a week by a three-person committee headed by Willie Crittendon, a Los Angeles Unified School District administrator.

Unless the appeal is granted, Starr must sit out a home game against Dorsey on Sept. 24.