Brown of Paraclete Puts Career on Hold

The state career rushing record is in jeopardy, but probably not because of who you think.

Tyler Ebell of Ventura High has racked up five consecutive 300-yard games, unprecedented in the region.

But, with 4,674 career yards, the senior is 2,583 yards short of the mark of 7,257 set by David Dotson of Moreno Valley Valley View.

That means Ebell would need to string together 300-plus games through the Southern Section semifinals to threaten the record.

Curtis Brown of Paraclete is a more likely candidate, although he took a painful off-field hit this week.

Brown, a junior with 4,496 career yards, needs to average 186 yards a game the rest of his career to break the record, but only 120 if the Spirits march to the next two Division XII finals. That’s not out of the question, considering Paraclete is a three-time section champion.

But Brown missed a prime opportunity to roll up some big numbers this week when the Spirits’ nonleague game Saturday was forfeited by Ambassador Christian because it reportedly didn’t have enough players.

Brown isn’t losing any sleep.

He figured he probably wouldn’t get many carries against an outmanned Ambassador Christian team that would have provided Paraclete a chance to tinker with its passing game, which has produced only 203 of its 1,478 total yards.

“I’ve thought about [the record] in the past, but not any more,” said Brown, who has averaged 199 yards a game the last two seasons and is getting letters from several top-20 college programs. “Coach [Jeff Cortez] wants people to focus less on personal goals and more on winning and what’s best for the team.”

*

Concerns were raised by San Fernando officials Friday night when suspended Coach Troy Starr of Taft appeared on the field after the Toreadors’ 31-14 victory.

Starr was suspended one game by the City Section for holding an illegal practice on Labor Day.

Starr was not seen by reporters until after the game.

“To me, it’s a nonissue,” said Jeff Halpern, a section administrator. “I don’t know about splitting hairs, but I have always thought that the rule meant you can’t coach while the game is in progress. If he wasn’t there and he didn’t coach, they fulfilled that requirement.”

*

Quarterback Mike Jasper might be Camarillo’s best all-around athlete and his coaches tried to take advantage of it Friday.

For the first time, they also started him at linebacker, where he sacked Terry Furlow of Palmdale twice in the first half.

The defensive duty didn’t appear to affect his offensive performance. Jasper completed all four of his first-half passes and rushed for 76 yards in seven carries, including a one-yard touchdown.

“He doesn’t get tired,” a Camarillo assistant said. “And he has only one speed: all-out.”

*

Antelope Valley’s 36-12 victory over Serrano on Friday marked the 175th in the 23-year career of Coach Brent Newcomb. He is 175-96-2 and has won 10 Golden League championships.

The Antelopes (4-1) have won four consecutive games and figure to battle Palmdale for the league title.

*

Nine region teams entered Friday night with 4-0 records, but only seven emerged at 5-0.

The casualties were Notre Dame, ranked sixth in the region by The Times, which tied a 1-3 Damien team, 0-0, and No. 10 Granada Hills, a 40-28 loser to rival Kennedy.

Birmingham, Crescenta Valley, L.A. Baptist, Montclair Prep, St. Bonaventure, Sylmar and Ventura are 5-0.

Crescenta Valley escaped a jam, getting a touchdown run from Jason Hogan with 13 seconds left to pull out a 24-17 victory over Burroughs, and Birmingham had to overcome 277 yards in penalties to defeat winless Verdugo Hills, 37-14.

*

Kennedy’s victory over Granada Hills shouldn’t have been a surprise.

The Golden Cougars (4-0-1) are making a habit of this.

They are 2-0-1 against ranked teams in the region. On Sept. 15, Kennedy tied Palmdale, then ranked seventh, 44-44. Last week, it upset No. 3 Taft, 27-22.

The next key matchup comes in two weeks against Sylmar.

*

Agoura found the perfect time to win a Marmonte League game.

The Chargers, who had lost 14 consecutive league games, upset traditional league power Newbury Park, 23-20, on a night they dedicated a game to a stricken former teammate.

Jeremy Bliss, a two-way lineman in 1997 and ‘98, is in a Bay Area hospital fighting meningitis that has affected his speech and hearing.

“We just got the terrible news this week and decided to dedicate the game to him,” Coach Charlie Wegher said.

This week, players and coaches will sign the game ball and send it to Bliss.

*

Palmdale faces defending Golden League champion Highland next week in a league opener.

Don’t count on the Falcons (3-1-1) being intimidated. Highland is the sixth consecutive league champion on their schedule.

“We feel we’re better than anyone we step on the field against,” said defensive back-receiver Tyrone Culver.

*

Message to third-stringers: Don’t ever give up.

Injuries have rocketed quarterback Kevin Arbuckle up Moorpark’s depth chart.

Arbuckle, a junior transfer from Simi Valley, will start this week against top-ranked Westlake.

Aaron Garcia began the season as the starter but separated a shoulder in the opener, leaving the job to Matt Broussard, a transfer from San Antonio, Texas.

Broussard tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee Friday night during the Musketeers’ 7-3 victory over Thousand Oaks.