He’s Got the Scoop on Football, and Life

When Patrick Hill applied for a part-time job at an ice cream shop as a 15-year-old, he almost didn’t get it.

“They didn’t want to hire me because I was so young, but the boss said she saw something in me,” he said.

Nearly two years later, Hill is still making banana splits, demonstrating his loyalty, commitment and work ethic.

It’s the same way he plays football for Los Angeles Fairfax, running, tackling and competing on every play.

“I like to do whatever is necessary to get that extra yard, whether running around you or through you,” he said.

Hill, 5 feet 9 and 230 pounds, is the Lions’ standout running back and middle linebacker. With him leading the way, Fairfax (8-2) won its first league title since 1991 and became the first team since 2001 to defeat Venice in a Western League game.

“He just runs you over,” Coach Shane Cox said.

Against Venice, Hill carried the ball 36 times for 155 yards in a 19-14 victory.

“He’s a tremendous player,” Venice Coach Angela Gasca said. “We have a lot of respect for him. He’s a hard guy to bring down.”

Strength is what Hill relies on. He’s a weightlifting fanatic who bench-presses more than 350 pounds. It allows him to break tackles and take on linemen.

“It was instilled in me when I was younger to stay strong,” he said. “I like how I feel after I work out.”

Hill’s brother, Derrick, graduated from Fairfax in 2003 and was a top running back. Hill is living up to high expectations, having rushed for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns.

There’s much to admire in the way Hill approaches his life. He has a job not to buy a new car or clothes; he’s building up his savings account for special needs when he gets to college next year.

“I know a lot of kids run into problems that first year of college,” he said.

Making and serving ice cream in the Beverly Center three nights a week has taught him about responsibility.

“It teaches me to be independent and follow through what I do,” he said. “It’s teaching me good values. There are times when I’m the only person available to work and times I have homework and will be up to 12:30 doing it.”

He wears a purple apron when he makes a banana split.

“It gets real messy, all over the place,” he said. “I got it down pat.”

He’s a 17-year-old who understands his priorities and appreciates the advice of elders.

“Both of my parents have taught me to be a good person, and I apply that to my job and football,” he said.

Hill was scheduled to work Thursday night, but he has asked for the night off so he’ll be able to play for Fairfax in its City playoff opener against Granada Hills Kennedy.

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As a junior at West Hills Chaminade, Casey Haerther led the baseball team to the Mission League championship, hitting .474 with nine home runs and 38 runs batted in.

But he was cut from the Area Code tryouts in July, causing him to reevaluate his physical makeup. He decided he needed to lose weight.

He hired a trainer, changed his diet and has gone from 240 pounds to 208. He’s in the best shape of his life and has become a lean, mean hitting machine. It led to his signing a letter of intent with UCLA last week.

“My body was holding me back,” he said. “I’m faster in everything.”

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One inadvertent whistle in a league title-deciding football game would be considered a freak occurrence. Two inadvertent whistles in two league title-deciding football games is cause for concern.

That was the case last weekend, as inadvertent whistles in close games between Canyon Country Canyon and Newhall Hart and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Chaminade left fans confused and angry. Both times, whistles were blown prematurely on option plays. Notre Dame lost a touchdown, and Hart had a run for a first down wiped out.

Let’s hope officiating crews are meeting before games to remind their members not to be fooled when a quarterback decides to keep the ball on an option play.

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