Brotherly Love Helps Fast-Rising Clausen

A smorgasbord of football notes, quotes and opinions from across Southern California:

When USC Coach Pete Carroll knows your name and you’re only a sophomore, it says plenty about your ability. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen of Westlake Village Oaks Christian is more than living up to expectations.

“I’ve never seen a quarterback at this age with the talent of Jimmy Clausen,” Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell said. “I haven’t seen all the sophomore quarterbacks in the country, but if there’s one better, I’d like to see him.”

Clausen has completed 68.5% of his passes for 2,093 yards and 34 touchdowns in leading Oaks Christian to an 8-0 record.

Much of his poise and confidence comes from having spent so much time with his older brother, Casey, the former quarterback at Tennessee.

“Every time I went to a Tennessee game, he’d come and get me after games,” Jimmy said. “When he beat Miami, he pulled me out of the stands and took me into the locker room. It’s a great feeling to have a brother who loves you and wants you to be with him every step of his life.”....

San Luis Obispo (7-0), No. 1 in the Southern Section Division IV rankings, is gaining respect for its big-play weapons.

Running back Phil Garza has rushed for 1,526 yards, including a 330-yard performance against Santa Maria Righetti. Receiver Brian Clarke is averaging 20.7 yards per reception. And 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior tackle Shane Hitchcock is providing plenty of blocking....

Who says that a team with lots of penalties usually loses?

East Valley Redlands was penalized 17 times for 181 yards in a 38-14 victory over Fontana Miller....

Coaches who don’t like to involve their wives in football strategy might want to reconsider based on the experience of Oxnard Channel Islands Coach Donnie Rea.

He allows his wife, Kathie, to sit in the stands wearing team headphones, listen in to the coaches’ conversations and even make suggestions.

“She’s a big football nut,” Rea said. “I can hear her hooting and hollering about good plays and bad plays, and sometimes her language can get a little raunchy.”....

Jeff Miller, a 6-5, 245-pound junior defensive end at Westlake Village Westlake, continues to perform as if he’ll be one of the top college prospects for 2006. He has 13 sacks for the Warriors....

One reason junior kicker Kai Forbath of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has converted all 14 of his field-goal attempts this season is because long snapper Mark Sunga never makes a bad snap. His ability to hike the ball with so much speed and accuracy is going to earn him a college scholarship, with Oregon State already having offered....

It’s not too early to start thinking about next season, and Moorpark Coach Tim Lins can’t wait to promote freshman running back Darrell Scott, who has rushed for more than 1,200 yards for the freshman team, including a 210-yard, four-touchdown performance last week against Simi Valley Royal....

Josh Gage of Huntington Beach Edison learned last week to make sure his helmet stays on. He returned an interception for a touchdown

Los Angeles Wilson (7-0) is the last unbeaten team in the City Section and faces its toughest test today in a Northern League game against L.A. Franklin (7-1). Quarterback Chris Patino of Wilson leads the City in passing with 2,360 yards and 22 touchdowns.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.