First Action, Now Reaction

After 14 weeks of nonstop action, it’s time to offer some final awards and observations for the 2005 high school football season:

Dennis Rodman award: Anaheim Esperanza Coach Bill Pendleton rolled up his sleeve during a television interview to reveal a tattoo featuring the school’s mascot, an Aztec, on his arm. “I’m 50 years old, and my mom said it was OK,” he said.

Biggest surprise: Los Angeles Loyola becoming the first team with four defeats to win the Southern Section Division I championship.

Coach with a 160 IQ: Asked if three-time defending Division III champion Sherman Oaks Notre Dame would be his team’s homecoming game, La Canada St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds said, “I’m not that stupid.”

The next Ron Artest: After Newhall Hart fans booed quarterback Tyler Lyon, Coach Mike Herrington said, “I wanted to crawl into the stands and take a few of them out.”

Better than Bugs Bunny: When told that his freshman team was playing before the varsity game, Stevenson Ranch West Ranch Coach Jeff Engilman said, “We’re the cartoon before the main event.”

Future Mad Money stock whiz: After Canyon Country Canyon clinched the Foothill League championship, a Cowboy player screamed, “Boo-yah!”

Home-field advantage: In describing Santa Fe Springs St. Paul’s home field, a Mission League assistant coach said, “They call it the pit. We call it the armpit.”

Strictest father: After his son, Randy, was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, Westlake Village Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell said, “When he makes general, I’ll change his curfew to midnight.”

Ready for the 21st century: Asked why Moorpark doesn’t run the fumblerooski, assistant coach John Kidder said, “The fumblerooski is for guys in their 90s.”

He’s no Pete Carroll: Asked why his team didn’t attract any transfer students after winning two of the last three City Section championships, Lake Balboa Birmingham Coach Ed Croson said, “Because I’m a lousy recruiter.”

Most effective new strategy: The pooch kickoff.

The next Don King: When told that Compton Dominguez players thought they deserved to be ranked No. 1 in the state, Ventura St. Bonaventure Coach Jon Mack said, “Tell them to call me. We’ll play tomorrow at a parking lot. We’ll play anybody, anywhere.”

Willing to say anything: When told that one of the game officials was a conservative Republican, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Joe McNab replied, “I’ll pretend I’m in the NRA.”

Keeping up with the Heisman Trophy winner: In describing receiver Jamere Holland, Woodland Hills Taft Coach Troy Starr said, “He’s faster than Reggie Bush.”

A quarterback’s worst nightmare: Los Angeles Verbum Dei lineman Akeem Ayers, who had 23 sacks.

Biggest upset: Hart 24, Mission Viejo 12.

Most improved player: Loyola quarterback Henry Burge.

Coach of the year: Harry Welch of Canyon.

Let the hype begin: There are only 280 days before Oaks Christian, with a 31-game winning streak, takes on Ventura St. Bonaventure, with a 24-game winning streak, in the third game of the season at Ventura High.

Most impressive sophomores: 1. WR D.J. Shoemate, Anaheim Servite; 2. OL Khaled Holmes, Santa Ana Mater Dei; 3. RB Milton Knox, Lake Balboa Birmingham; 4. DB Rahim Moore, Los Angeles Dorsey; 5.; RB Wes Fletcher, Placentia Valencia; 6. RB Ryan Bass, Corona Centennial; 7. RB Darrell Scott, Moorpark; 8. TE Blake Ayles, Orange Lutheran; 9. QB Exavier Johnson, Taft; 10. DE Marquis Jackson, Birmingham.

Most impressive juniors: 1. QB Jimmy Clausen, Oaks Christian; 2. RB Marc Tyler, Oaks Christian; 3. DE Tonio Celotto, Simi Valley Royal; 4. LB Malcolm Smith, Taft; 5. DT Kenny Rowe, LB Poly; 6. DB Marshall Jones, Oaks Christian; 7. RB Brandon Johnson, Compton Dominguez; 8. LB Christopher Galippo, Servite; 9. DE Akeem Ayers, Verbum Dei; 10. OL Sam DeMartinis, Notre Dame; 11. DT Brian Price, Los Angeles Crenshaw; 12. RB Aaron Harris, Baldwin Park; 13. RB Charles Neal, Esperanza; 14.LB Robert Mullins, Los Angeles Dorsey; 15. DB Aubrey Smith, West Hills Chaminade; 16. TE D.J. Holt, Encino Crespi; 17. RB J.J. DiLuigi, Canyon Country Canyon; 18. RB Shane Vereen, Valencia.

Top teams for 2006: 1. Oaks Christian; 2. Servite; 3. Mater Dei; 4. Mission Viejo; 5. St. Bonaventure; 6. Canyon; 7. Notre Dame; 8. Birmingham; 9. Long Beach Poly; 10. Loyola.

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