Hollywood story for quarterback who waited until senior year to try out

There’s a true Hollywood story taking place at none other than Hollywood High. And there could be a Hollywood ending.

As a freshman, sophomore and junior, David Rothenberg declined to go out for the football team. His exposure to the sport consisted of going to a local park and throwing passes to his older brother, Reese, an All-City receiver.

Asked what he did when school let out, Rothenberg said, “I did nothing. I went home, did homework, played video games.”

Fast forward to last May. Rothenberg decided to see if he could play quarterback for the Sheiks.

“I wanted to try it and wanted to see how I would do,” he said.

After three games this season for the unbeaten Sheiks, Rothenberg has completed 20 of 27 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 143 yards in 11 carries and scored five touchdowns. On Friday against Los Angeles Wilson, he was nine for 12 passing for 185 yards and three touchdowns and added two touchdowns rushing.

“He had a Braxton Miller spin move for a touchdown,” Coach Frank Galvan said.

People around campus have long known about Rothenberg’s skills.

“We all knew he had a great arm,” Galvan said of the 5-foot-9, 160-pound left-hander.

Numerous people, from his brother to classmates, asked Rothenberg to play football. “More than I can count,” he said.

Rothenberg said he just didn’t feel confident enough to join the team.

“I felt I wasn’t completely ready,” he said.

Rothenberg was an expert at Madden NFL 14 and 15, but playing quarterback in a real game is a little different. Now he’s becoming comfortable.

“I wouldn’t say it’s easy,” he said. “It’s becoming easier.”

He said he was “very nervous” for his first game last month but is adjusting.

Said Galvan: “I think he was ready last year.”

Hollywood is thrilled to finally have him on the football team. He might be playing in the Coliseum in the City Section Division III final come December. That would be quite a Hollywood ending.

Big games this week

The trend of teams playing top opponents in nonleague games is exciting and helpful in determining who really deserves to be considered best of the best.

There are three terrific matchups Friday night. Norco (2-0), ranked No. 10 by The Times, is playing at No. 11 Mission Viejo (4-0); No. 9 Gardena Serra (2-1) is on the road at No. 8 Harbor City Narbonne (1-1); and No. 4 Long Beach Poly (2-0) is playing at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (3-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by several national publications.

Norco has perhaps the most versatile player in Southern California in quarterback-linebacker Victor Viramontes. Mission Viejo started its season in Hawaii and still hasn’t had a break. The Diablos picked up their most impressive win on Friday against La Habra.

Serra-Narbonne is going to be a South Bay shootout. Both teams have recovered from tough losses. Narbonne came up short against Long Beach Poly, 20-17. Serra was routed by Corona Centennial, 52-13. Poly has had two weeks to prepare for Bishop Gorman, led by quarterback Tate Martell.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer