THE HIGH SCHOOLS / MIKE HISERMAN : Emotional Wave Hits Hueneme

Emotions are running high at the Cobbs-Jenkins household in Port Hueneme.

Ronnie Jenkins rushed for a Hueneme High-record 356 yards Friday night, leading the resurgent Vikings past Camarillo, 47-29.

But the family’s joy in that performance is tinged with melancholy. James Jenkins, Ronnie’s brother, is leaving home.

Today he departs for Great Lakes, Ill., and Navy boot camp.

“We’re happy for Ronnie,” said Jean Cobbs, the grandmother who has raised both boys in a family of five. “At the same time, though, it’s hard to let James go.”

Ronnie’s break-out against Camarillo, which included touchdown runs of 90, 65 and 48 yards, could not have come at a better time. He dedicated the game to his brother, who endured the last four seasons as a Hueneme football player.

The Vikings won two games during James’ career, a total Hueneme already has matched this season.

Ronnie Jenkins scorched Camarillo for 294 yards in the first half alone as his family watched from the bleachers.

“One of the men sitting by us asked me, ‘How did Ronnie learn to run like that?’ ” Jean Cobbs said.

Her tongue-in-cheek reply: “Ronnie’s been ducking from his grandma.”

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Blast from the past: Hueneme’s Larry Miller is a rookie head coach, but he is no stranger to the school.

Miller was Channel League player of the year in 1969 when, as a running back, he helped carry the Vikings to an undefeated regular season.

Hence, this year’s motto: Hueneme football--the pride is back.

The Vikings boasted a topnotch football program from Miller’s playing days through the early 1980s, but Hueneme has rarely enjoyed a winning season since.

Miller has surrounded himself with coaches from the school’s glory years. Assistants Joe Davis and Steve Henry are Hueneme graduates from the ‘70s. In all, 13 of the 20 coaches in the program played football for the Vikings.

“They all have Hueneme in their hearts,” Miller said.

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Leader of the pack: Jenkins’ rushing total is the highest of any player in the region this season, four yards better than the total Di-Onte Smith of Grant established last week against Marshall.

Jenkins can only hope for a better follow-up than Smith had.

Smith was held to 36 yards in 13 carries in a 16-0 loss to Hoover, a team that had lost its previous 18 games.

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Whatever works: So Hart wins a game with defense and ball-control. What’s next--Buddy Ryan bribing players with ice cream and jelly beans?

At Hart, slowing down long enough to form a huddle is considered ball control. No wonder Dean Herrington, the Indians’ offensive coordinator, was pacing the sidelines during the game against Westlake as if his earphones were strapped several notches too tight.

Hart threw 10 passes in a 20-7 victory.

“Dean was going through withdrawal,” quipped his brother Mike, Hart’s head coach.

He was kidding, of course. Wasn’t he?

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Anything but left out: When the Herrington brothers say Ted Iacenda can “do it all” they’re not exaggerating by much.

Hart’s junior tailback gained 115 yards and scored two touchdowns in 29 carries. And if Westlake didn’t get enough of him on offense, he played defense, too.

Iacenda doesn’t usually play defense, but against high-powered Westlake he was inserted at end.

“He plays everywhere except for defensive tackle,” Mike Herrington said. “He’s a great athlete, and we’re going to play him on defense whenever we need him.”

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Those cardiac kids: Littlerock football games are not for the faint of heart.

The Lobos (1-0-2) have taken each game to the finish. Littlerock preserved a 14-14 tie with Serrano by recovering a goal-line fumble with three seconds left.

The Lobos beat Oxnard, 12-10, when Bruce Johnson hit Hoa Le with a 17-yard desperation pass with 19 seconds left.

On Friday night, Littlerock spotted Barstow four touchdowns, then roared back for a 28-28 tie that Mike Kieffer preserved with a sack on the final play.

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Dose of perspective: Buena Coach Rick Scott took no special pleasure in ending Newbury Park’s 16-game winning streak.

Scott, a former Newbury Park assistant, said he is close with Panther Coach George Hurley and several members of his staff.

Besides, Scott pointed out, “Keith Smith and Leodes (Van Buren) put that streak together. Keith wasn’t here tonight--thank goodness.”