HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

By MIKE BRESNAHAN

Sept. 20, 2000 12 AM PT

It was a safe bet that Simi Valley, coming off a 1-9 season, would start slowly.

After all, Simi Valley administrators waited until May to hire a coach to replace fired Ron Veres.

The Pioneers knew they would be without their best player last year, wide receiver Calvin Bell, now at Michigan.

Small wonder the start of the Steve Carroll era has been slower than slow.

Simi Valley (0-2) lost by 41-0 scores against Ventura and Saugus.

The Pioneers totaled seven yards of offense against Saugus. Of the Pioneers’ 52 plays, 28 resulted in no gain or a loss.

Saugus tried to help, fumbling five times, but Simi Valley penetrated Centurion territory only once, advancing to the 36.

High School Sports Sports

Mike Bresnahan

Mike Bresnahan previously covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times. He started the beat in 2004, a month after Shaquille O’Neal was traded, and covered several seasons of mediocrity before the Lakers won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Now they’re back to mediocrity. Bresnahan is from Los Angeles, started with The Times after graduating the University of Wisconsin in 1994, and has also covered the L.A. Kings, pro beach volleyball and numerous colleges and high schools. He left The Times in 2016.

HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

More From the Los Angeles Times