ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BOYS

Casey Clausen

SCHOOL: Alemany

YEAR: Senior

SPORT: Football

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Clausen is staking his claim as the region’s top quarterback. In three games, he has completed 50 of 75 passes for 915 yards and 14 touchdowns, with no interceptions. Bound for Tennessee, Clausen has helped Alemany average 535 yards per game.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Clausen came within one touchdown pass of tying the state single-game record by throwing eight in a 75-7 victory over Torrance. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 343 yards in less than three quarters.

GIRLS

Natalie Stein

SCHOOL: North Hollywood

YEAR: Junior

SPORT: Cross-country

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Stein, eighth in the state Division I final last year, opened her season Saturday with a runaway victory in the Division II race of the Bell-Jeff Invitational at Griffith Park.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Stein clocked 18:00 over the 2.9-mile course to win by 43 seconds over runner-up Kelly Sleeth of Torrance. Stein was scheduled to run in the Division I race that included defending City Section champion Valerie Flores of San Pedro, but she missed the race after the starting time was changed.