Schedule Offers Fine Finishes

Who could have scripted a better finish?

Champions in the Golden, Marmonte, Foothill, Mission and Frontier leagues will be crowned in dramatic fashion this week when five pairs of teams unbeaten in league play square off in regular-season finales.

“It’s gonna be a great weekend for high school football,” said Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb, whose team plays at Quartz Hill on Thursday night for the Golden League title. “We should get about 6,000 fans.”

Grandstands likewise should be packed Friday night in West Hills, where Notre Dame and Chaminade, both 9-0, square off for Mission League supremacy.

“Two Catholic schools, East Valley vs. West Valley. . . .,” Chaminade Coach Rich Lawson said. “Should be a great game.”

Without further hype, here’s the lowdown on each showdown:

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Golden: Antelope Valley (8-1, 4-0 in league play) vs. Quartz Hill (8-1, 4-0).

High desert football fans have come to expect high drama between Newcomb, who led Antelope Valley to the Southern Section Division II title last season, and Quartz Hill’s John Albee, the dean of area coaches in his 28th season.

In 17 meetings, Newcomb’s team has won 12 times.

“Usually, it comes right down to the end,” Newcomb said.

The teams have split the past four meetings, with Antelope Valley winning last year, 27-3, and in 1992, 30-27. Quartz Hill won, 13-9, en route to a league title in 1993, and 20-3 in 1991, when both teams finished tied for first at 4-1.

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Marmonte: Newbury Park (9-0, 6-0) vs. Thousand Oaks (8-1, 6-0), Thursday night at Thousand Oaks.

Thousand Oaks already has defeated Newbury Park--at the breakfast table.

The Lancers recorded victories in two of three pancake-eating contests when both teams gathered Saturday at a local restaurant.

In one matchup, Thousand Oaks assistant Gary Wagner cleaned his plate faster than did Newbury Park Coach George Hurley.

Meanwhile, Thousand Oaks players tried to serve Panther quarterback Chris Czernek a short stack topped with a chocolate-flavored laxative. But Czernek, who has passed for a state-high 2,876 yards and 29 touchdowns, scrambled away.

“They tried to play a trick on me, but somebody told me not to eat it,” Czernek said.

Czernek said he figures Thousand Oaks, which last won a league title in 1990, will be the Panthers’ toughest challenge to date. Newbury Park is vying for its third league title in four years.

“I give them a lot of respect,” Czernek said. “They’re balanced.”

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Foothill: Hart (7-2, 3-0) vs. Saugus (5-3, 3-0), Friday night at College of the Canyons.

Hart has not lost a league game since Saugus joined the revamped Foothill League in 1992. Since then, the Indians have defeated Saugus, 42-13, 41-21 and last season, 20-6.

Everyone expected Hart, Division II finalist last season, to be here. But Saugus?

“I was a little surprised,” said Hart quarterback Steve McKeon, who has passed for 2,133 yards and 22 touchdowns. “I have a lot of friends at Canyon, and they were all saying how Canyon was gonna beat Saugus.

“But they’re a really emotional team and they have that attitude they can beat anybody.”

The Centurions have not defeated Hart since a 40-21 nonleague victory in 1991.

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Mission: Notre Dame (9-0, 4-0) vs. Chaminade (9-0, 4-0).

Mission coaches traditionally exchange videotapes of two games. For this game, Lawson and Notre Dame’s Kevin Rooney exchanged eight.

“I don’t know when I’m going to have the time to watch them,” Lawson said.

Notre Dame, defending Division III and two-time league champion, has outscored opponents, 312-72. Chaminade has outscored opponents, 315-88. Notre Dame defeated St. Francis, 42-10; Chaminade defeated St. Francis, 42-0.

Chaminade tailback Jason Giovannettone, hobbled by a sprained ankle this season, has recovered. He rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns Friday against St. Francis. The Eagles will need him at full strength to defeat Notre Dame for the first time since 1992.

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Frontier: Moorpark (6-3, 3-0) vs. Calabasas (7-2, 3-0), Thursday night at Calabasas.

Since moving from the Tri-Valley League in 1992, Moorpark has defeated Calabasas in two of three meetings, including a 21-14 victory en route to a league title in 1993.

Moorpark will be helped by the return of tailback Danny LaFleur, who has missed five games because of illness. LaFleur, also a starting safety, is the team’s best tackler.

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For the third time in four games, Ventura pulled out a nail-biting Channel League victory, upending Dos Pueblos, 24-21, on Friday night.

The victory--Ventura’s fourth in a row after a 1-4 start--moved the Cougars (4-2) into a second-place tie with Dos Pueblos. Ventura plays at first-place Santa Barbara (6-0) on Thursday night.

Last season, Ventura finished second at 5-2 after losing its first four games.

Quarterback Kyle Schommer, who engineered last-minute comeback victories over Hueneme, 31-30, and San Marcos, 31-24, watched from the sidelines as Ventura’s defense made a game-saving play with five minutes remaining.

Linebacker Oscar Tovar knocked the ball loose from running back J.J. Brunner and defensive end Abel Morales recovered at the one-yard line.

Said Schommer: “It’s exciting to win like this.”