Ebell Is Running Up on Several Big Names

Tyler Ebell of Ventura High continues to move up on several region, section and state rushing lists.

Ebell, who committed to UCLA last week, is averaging 344.7 yards rushing after a 365-yard effort in Ventura’s 42-8 victory over Santa Barbara on Friday. It was his eighth 300-yard game this season.

With at least two games left in his career, and as many as five if Ventura (8-1) can reach the Southern Section Division IV final, Ebell could continue to climb.

Following is a list of the yards Ebell, who has 3,102 yards this season and 5,992 in his career, needs to pass significant marks. The likely time when he could achieve them, based on his pace, are in parentheses:

* Seven to pass Russell White of Crespi for fourth place on the region’s career rushing list (next week against Hueneme).

* Eight to become only the fourth player in region history to gain 6,000 career yards (next week).

* 24 to pass Onterrio Smith of Sacramento Grant for seventh on the state season list (next week).

* 118 yards to pass Oscar Arzu of Baldwin Park Sierra Vista for fifth place in the section and sixth place in the state season rushing (next week).

* 162 to move into fourth place in the section and fifth in the state in season rushing, passing Chris Hanks of Cathedral (next week).

* 297 to pass DeShaun Foster of Tustin for third place in the section and fourth place in the state season rushing (next week).

* 315 to pass John Bordenkircher of Dixon for third in state season rushing (next week).

* 361 to pass Justin Fargas of Notre Dame for third on the region’s career rushing list (first round of playoffs).

* 422 to pass David Dotson of Moreno Valley Valley View for second place in the section and state season rushing (first round).

* 485 to pass Jermaine Marshall as the state’s top season rusher with 3,587 yards (first round).

* 623 to break the Ventura County career mark of 6,615 by George Keiaho of Buena and move into second place in the region (first round).

* 754 to pass Manuel White of Valencia (6,745) as the region’s top career rusher (second round).

* 1,124 to pass Michael Jones of Laguna Hills (7,175) to move into second place on the section’s career list (semifinals).

* 1,266 to pass Dotson (7,257) as the state’s career rushing leader (semifinals).

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The status of the Tri-Valley League football race might be decided by the league’s athletic directors after a second-place showdown between Oak Park and Bishop Diego was canceled on Friday when a Bishop Diego cheerleader suffered life-threatening injuries at the Santa Barbara school in the afternoon.

Lindsey Straub, 17, remained listed in critical condition at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on Saturday night after falling about 12 feet through a skylight while either raising or taking down a banner for a pep rally.

Oak Park did not claim a forfeit because of the cancellation, leaving the Eagles (6-2, 1-1 in league play) needing a victory this week against last-place Fillmore to tie Bishop Diego (4-4, 2-1) for second place.

“Our most important concern is the health of the young lady,” Coach Dick Billingsley of Oak Park said.

If there is a tie, league bylaws first consider head-to-head competition and then which team went to the playoffs with the highest seeding the previous season.

That would make Bishop Diego the league’s No. 2 team and Oak Park No. 3. St. Bonaventure has clinched first place.

Billingsley, whose team has done better against common opponents, said he will appeal to league administrators to consider modifying the tie-breaking formula.

“Under these circumstances, and considering there wasn’t a game between our teams, they might do something,” he said.

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For the third consecutive season, Crescenta Valley (8-1, 3-1) closes the regular season against Arcadia (6-3, 4-0) with a possible three-way tie for the Pacific League championship looming as a possibility.

The showdown was set up on Friday night, when Arcadia defeated Muir, 34-20. Muir (5-4, 3-1), which already defeated Crescenta Valley, 31-28, can also share the title with a victory this week over Pasadena.

Historically, these championship matchups have not gone well for Crescenta Valley.

Last season, the Falcons needed a victory over Arcadia to claim the title outright, but lost, 21-17, on a late touchdown and shared the championship with Arcadia and Muir.

In 1998, Crescenta Valley needed a victory to force a three-way tie with the same teams. Arcadia prevailed, 15-13, and took the title outright.

*

The anticipated debut of Randy Bacon in Hart’s backfield never materialized on Friday, and probably never will.

Bacon, a talented sophomore transfer from San Jose, was declared eligible to play Monday and was expected to upgrade a suspect rushing attack that was hurt by the season-ending injury to all-section running back Tim Gregory.

Dean Herrington, offensive coordinator at Hart, said Bacon returned to San Jose mid-week.

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Antelope Valley and Paraclete have shown that it’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Both teams opened the season with disheartening losses, with Antelope Valley falling to Bakersfield, 45-13, and Paraclete being throttled by St. Bonaventure, 51-0.

Since, each team has won eight consecutive games and clinched shares of their respective league championships on Friday night.

“After getting our hats handed to us against Bakersfield, these guys have really come around,” said Coach Brent Newcomb of Antelope Valley, whose team’s 9-3 victory over Palmdale clinched a share of its first Golden League title since 1996.

Paraclete’s 51-6 rout of L.A. Baptist assured the Spirits a piece of their third consecutive Alpha League championship. They can claim the title outright this week against Kilpatrick in a rematch of the last two Division XII finals.

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The ranks of the winless were trimmed by two on Friday when Van Nuys defeated Monroe, 7-0, and Verdugo Hills defeated Hollywood, 12-7.

Santa Clara (0-9) was on the brink of its first victory until a last-minute field goal clinched a 28-26 victory for Malibu (1-7-1).

Poly, Crespi, Simi Valley, Hoover and Glendale are the only other winless teams in the region.

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REGION’S BEST

A look at the top 10 single-season rushers in region history:

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Player, School Years Yards Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999 3,586 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000 3,102 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1996 2,970 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1997 2,784 Curtis Brown, Paraclete 1999 2,632 Jermaine Lewis, Antelope Valley 1995 2,574 Wilbert Smith, Montclair Prep 1993 2,514 Manuel White, Valencia 1999 2,503 Josh Hawkins, Nordhoff 1994 2,454 Lorenzo Booker, St. Bonaventure 1999 2,440

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SOUTHERN SECTION’S BEST

A look at top 10 single-season rushers in Southern Section history:

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Player, School Years Yards Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999 3,586 David Dotson, Valley View 1991 3,523 DeShaun Foster, Tustin 1997 3,398 Chris Hanks, L.A. Cathedral 1997 3,263 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista 1996 3,219 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000 3,102 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1996 2,970 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1997 2,784 Glyn Milburn, Santa Monica 1987 2,713 Alan Taylor, Yucaipa 1997 2,685

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STATE’S BEST

A look at the top 10 single-season rushers in state history:

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Player, School Years Yards Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999 3,586 David Dotson, Valley View 1991 3,523 John Bordenkircher, Dixon 1997 3,416 DeShaun Foster, Tustin 1997 3,398 Chris Hanks, L.A. Cathedral 1997 3,263 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista 1996 3,219 Onterrio Smith, Sacramento Grant 1998 3,125 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000 3,102 Justin Fargas, Notre Dame 1997 2,970 T.J. Bird, Cloverdale 1997 2,868

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