VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : Cassel Nearly Able to Make First Move

For the third consecutive game, freshman Justin Cassel of Chatsworth High will be stuck standing on the sideline unable to play varsity football because he’s 14.

“The last few games have been horrible,” he said.

But the good news is Cassel turns 15 on Saturday, clearing the way for him to make his varsity debut at defensive end and as a backup quarterback to his brother, Matt.

Cassel is one of more than a dozen Chatsworth students chosen to take part in an HBO documentary entitled, “Freshmen.” Another football player, Jason Moss, is also participating in the documentary.

Throughout the school year, the freshmen are being followed in the hallways, in the classrooms and sometimes on the athletic field by a camera crew. In January of 2001, the 13-part series will be shown on HBO’s Family Channel.

“It’s fun, it’s different,” Cassel said.

Cassel was an obvious choice for the filming because, as principal Dan Wyatt observed, “He’s not shy at all.”

There have been some drawbacks. Cassel is learning he can’t just go up to a girl and say something with a camera nearby.

“I’ve been trying,” he said. “They go, ‘I know HBO wants you to do this.’ ”

Cassel’s big goal for the school year is to get a senior to ask him to the school prom.

“He had better put a lot of mousse in his hair,” Chatsworth Athletic Director Fluke Fluker said.

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Coach Bill Redell of St. Francis recently became a grandfather for the sixth time with the birth of Thomas David Redell, whose father, Ronnie, played quarterback at Crespi.

Bill didn’t understand Ronnie naming his son Thomas David.

“Hey, Dad, it’s T.D. Redell,” Ronnie told him.

Now the grandfather likes the name.