High school football season brings several story lines

It’s time for another high school football season to begin. Here are some story lines to follow:

The old warriors keep coaching

Four coaches in their 70s are receiving Social Security checks and showing their players how to love the game while staying young at heart.

Bill Redell of Westlake Village Oaks Christian, Bob Burt of Hacienda Heights Wilson, Marijon Ancich of Santa Fe Springs St. Paul and Don Markham of Compton have experienced their share of retirement parties and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. They’re coaching icons who remember the time of Vince Lombardi and Don Shula and have adjusted to the era of tattoos, Facebook and Jumbotron scoreboards.

Seeking redemption

The most exciting game of 2010 involved the Northern Division final in which Westlake kicker Alex Ball missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt with one second left, enabling Oaks Christian to escape with a 29-28 victory. The football struck the right upright, so an inch or two was all that stood between Ball going from a hero to a lonely figure trying to deal with defeat.

“I’ve just tried to step it up, try and be a better kicker,” Ball said. “I’ve been practicing every day two or three hours a day because I never want that experience to happen to me again. It was extremely tough.”

The dominating De La Salle Spartans

What’s the point of holding a state championship bowl game at the end of December if no team can be competitive with the school from Concord?

Last season, De La Salle routed unbeaten Anaheim Servite, 48-8. The Friars had discipline, talent and good coaching but were no match. It remains to be seen whether Southern California can produce a team by season’s end to challenge the Spartans.

City Section decline

Top coaches have left the City Section, top players have been leaving for private schools and just getting enough buses to transport players will be challenging. It’s a difficult time for City schools to be competitive with the best in the Southern Section.

While the obstacles are growing, City athletes do have one powerful factor in their favor: pride. There are programs with great tradition, and that serves as motivation and makes upsets possible.

Receivers in the spotlight

There are at least 20 receivers who figure to earn college scholarships by February’s signing day. It’s the strongest position in Southern California.

Every Friday night, whether catching passes or returning a punt or kickoff, receivers are going to be making headlines.

Smile, you’re on video

There are going to be so many games on television and the Internet this fall that coaches and players will feel as if they are participating in a reality TV program.

Before and after games, everyone will need to know how to react with cameras being pointed in their faces, with people asking questions after victory and defeat.

FoxSportsWest.com will broadcast at least four games a week on the Web. Time Warner Cable will broadcast weekly games and have three weekly preps shows airing on its Channel 101.

The comeback kid

Two years ago, linebacker Chandler Scott of Etiwanda was his team’s top defensive player as a sophomore. Then he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in the summer of 2010, wiping out his junior season. Then he tore his meniscus in the same knee this past summer, putting on hold his senior season.

On Monday, he was finally cleared by doctors to return to the field.

“He’s the heart and soul of our defense,” Coach Stephen Boyce said.

Scott, 6 feet 2, 225 pounds, can’t wait to show he is fully recovered. “I feel I’m going to be even better,” he said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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