It’s only one game, but...

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I’m not dismissing Birmingham’s chances to repeat as City champs after the opening loss to Crespi. And I’m not going to anoint Venice as the 2007 champion after its win over San Fernando on Friday.

But what did impress me about that Venice win was how the players who the Venice coaches expect to be their stars did play like stars.

Curtis McNeal, who scored 42 touchdowns last year, scored twice on Friday despite battling dehydration. ‘My body temperature kept rising,’ said McNeal, who sat out most of the second quarter. UCLA-bound wide receiver Jerry Johnson caught two touchdown passes, although he dropped two other sure TD passes. Quarterback Richard Ragland, who is drawing interest from UNLV, North Carolina and Purdue, ran and passed with efficiency in the second half after a ragged first half.

Also dominant was two-way tackle Gerald Blackmon, who only played defense on Friday and constantly stuffed the Tigers running attack.

‘I believe traveling to San Fernando and winning in that hot weather, which we’re not used to, is going to help us,’ Coach Angelo Gasca said.

The game to circle on the calendar is Sept. 28, when Venice travels to Oaks Christian. That is known as a Defining Moment. Should the Gondoliers do well, they could be not only City contenders, but state bowl contenders as well.

- Mike Terry