A Pillar of Strength at Notre Dame

For those who catch Garrett Green’s steely glare through his Sherman Oaks Notre Dame helmet, it’s a quick reminder of the level of toughness, determination and commitment that he exudes on a football field.

Green is the fastest quarterback in Coach Kevin Rooney’s 25 years with the Knights. Green also might be the most athletic, with the best combination of arm strength, instincts and mobility.

But whatever natural talent he possesses takes a back seat to his intelligence and toughness.

As Notre Dame (4-0), No. 5 in the Southland in The Times’ rankings, prepares to take on ninth-ranked Valencia (4-0) tonight in what should be a crowd-pleasing nonleague game at Valencia, Green’s intangible leadership skills must be taken into consideration.

A year ago, as a sophomore, Green injured his ankle early in a Division III playoff game against Lynwood. It took four overtimes before Notre Dame finally prevailed, 48-45. Three times Lynwood scored first in overtime. Three times a limping Green rallied the Knights to tie.

“He continued to run the option,” Rooney said. “Every time we got behind and had to come back, he made the plays over and over. That’s the kind of kid he is. He was going to do whatever was necessary for us to win.”

At 6 feet 1 1/2 , 190 pounds, with 4.5-second 40-yard speed and having run a 14.7 in the 110 high hurdles, Green is the ideal quarterback for Notre Dame’s offense, which mixes play action with an option series.

“He puts an extra burden on the defense because he has to be accounted for,” said Lake Balboa Birmingham Coach Ed Croson, whose team lost to Notre Dame, 31-13.

Last season, Green broke off a 91-yard touchdown run against Westlake Village Westlake, the second-longest run in school history.

Notre Dame’s track coach, Joe McNab, nicknamed him “Seabiscuit” because “he had bad shin splints and he was all wrapped up and pranced around like a thoroughbred.”

Green’s record as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback is 15-1, including a Southern Section Division III championship. He’ll never compile the passing statistics of Valencia’s outstanding junior quarterback, Michael Herrick, because the Knights focus on having a balance between running and passing.

Last year, Green passed for 1,281 yards, ran for 876 yards and played extensively at free safety, where he often made receivers pay for trying to catch passes over the middle with aggressive hits.

“It’s reassuring to know if the time calls for it, I feel confident in my ability to run for the extra yards,” he said.

No one is surprised that Green became such an important figure so quickly for the Knights. He was a standout in youth football, and family friend Dana Potter, a former quarterback at Granada Hills, remembers seeing Green throw a football as a 7-year-old.

Potter was visiting Green’s neighborhood on Halloween. He can’t recall whether Green was dressed as a pirate or Ninja Turtle, but he never forgot the spirals coming from Green’s arm.

“He took the football and started throwing it,” Potter said. “I was surprised how much natural ability he had as a little kid.”

Green has an analytical thought process and is able to pick up numbers quickly, which helps explain his success in math and ability to read defenses. He’s taking calculus and headed for an A.

What’s scary about his talent is that he’s only 16 and still trying to achieve a level of consistency and steadiness physically and emotionally.

“Last year, I was definitely focused on the emotional aspect, trying to control the ups and downs,” he said. “I’ve done a lot better but have a long way to go staying calm, staying collected and knowing what I have to do. Hopefully, there will be steady improvement.”

Green said the playoff victory over Lynwood was a turning point in teaching him what is required to succeed.

“That game didn’t so much change me or make me a good player, but in that game more than any other I learned to play with my teammates

The high school years have forced Green to grow up faster than most. His father, Randy, died at the end of Green’s freshman year. His grandmother recently passed away. He seems to deal with adversity in his own way, quietly taking time to consider the consequences and then move on.

“I’m not one to talk,” he said. “For me, being by myself and thinking, I’m able to control it. It’s a process I go through.”

His father had difficulties in his life, but Green always appreciated his contributions.

“He taught me a lot about hard work and determination,” Green said.

It shows every time Green steps on the field.

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