HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

A year ago, San Fernando was unranked in the preseason before winning its first nine games.

Before this season, the Tigers were again unranked but have started with victories over Alemany and Los Angeles.

Coach Sean Blunt bluntly warns that his team, which moved into The Times’ regional rankings at No. 9 this week, should not be taken lightly.

“We’re going to surprise a whole lot of people,” he said.

A group of young but talented underclassmen are improving.

They include sophomore defensive end Randy Lang, sophomore running back Terrence Calloway and junior quarterback Ruben Nevarez.

“I think we’re capable of being real good,” Blunt said. “I think we have some guys who are going to improve and we’re going to give some people problems.”

San Fernando doesn’t figure to be tested until a showdown with Taft (2-0) on Oct. 6.

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Kyle Matter of Hart scored 1460 on the SAT and has a scholarship to Stanford, but that didn’t prevent offensive coordinator Dean Herrington from grilling him like a rookie quarterback Friday against Thousand Oaks.

“You’re getting outplayed!” Herrington yelled. “You better start picking it up!”

As it turned out, the Indians’ offensive problems during their 16-6 victory weren’t Matter’s fault.

“I apologized to him,” Herrington said after viewing film that revealed the Indians’ receivers had run improper patterns.

Matter, who rarely loses his composure, took the unwarranted criticism in stride.

“Our whole offense has to get on the same page,” he said. “It’s really uncharacteristic of the Hart offense not to score as well as we have.”

Matter attended the UCLA-Michigan game Saturday at the Rose Bowl. He lasted until halftime in the scorching heat.

“Me and my friends couldn’t take it anymore,” he said.

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Running back Matt Milton of St. Francis won’t play Saturday against Santa Maria St. Joseph because of an ankle injury, Coach Jim Bonds said.

Linebacker Tim Zapanta, who had two interceptions in the season opener before injuring a knee last week in practice, could be lost for the season. He still must undergo an MRI, but Bonds suspects a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Tight end Nathan Terrazone is playing with a torn ligament in his thumb.