A Season Worthy of a VIP

Some final observations from the 2003 high school football season:

Strangest sight: Beverly Hills charged $10 for VIP parking for its game against Long Beach Wilson, which angered a woman driving a Rolls-Royce. She refused to move her car from the gate entrance until she was allowed to park free.

It’s good to see that even in Beverly Hills, people driving $300,000 cars don’t want to pay $10 for parking to a high school game.

Where were the Bud girls? As incentive to bring out its alumni, Encino Crespi offered free beer and free food at its home game against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Only alumni were allowed to enter the roped-off area where beer was served. The largest home crowd in more than 10 years showed up for the game. They ran out of beer by halftime, and Crespi lost, 20-3.

The next Brady Bunch: Defensive back Joshua Gage from Huntington Beach Edison must have the largest cheering section in Southern California.

More than 25 relatives showed up for the Chargers’ game against Santa Ana Mater Dei. Many wrote 24, his jersey number, on their cheeks. “I think it’s cool,” Gage said.

Team of giants: Thousand Oaks Coach Mike Sanders took one look at Westlake Village Westlake players warming up and wondered if he was about to face an NFL team. “Holy smoke,” Sanders said. “That’s a bunch of large human beings out there.”

Get the yellow flags ready: Asked about his philosophy in teaching blocking techniques, the offensive line coach at one Southern Section school said, “If you’re not holding, you’re not blocking.”

Give him an Emmy: Fox Sports Net play-by-play announcer Mike Lamb has worked college and professional games, but he seemed to enjoy the high school scene.

“It’s more pure,” Lamb said. “The kids are more genuine, the coaches are more sincere. It’s not as jaded. You cover sports long enough, you’ll be cynical about certain players, but not these players. They’re still having fun.”

Next time, ride a motorcycle: On homecoming at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, admission was free but finding a parking place was futile. “What an experience,” one spectator said. “I parked somewhere in Cabo San Lucas.”

Future Braves: Bellflower St. John Bosco has figured out the best public relations gimmick for attracting future football players. Make them ball boys. There were 13 ball boys on the sideline for a game against Mater Dei.

They could have scrimmaged at halftime to show off their skills for Coach Kiki Mendoza.

Have car, will travel: For 13 consecutive years, City Section administrator Jeff Halpern has volunteered his 1990 BMW convertible for homecoming festivities at Reseda High.

Of course, he doesn’t let anyone drive his BMW except him.

Coach who cleans carpets: An amazing sight occurred after Hacienda Heights Los Altos defeated West Covina South Hills. While Los Altos fans were celebrating, Coach Greg Gano was on his hands and knees in the school athletic office cleaning the carpet in fear of upsetting the school secretary, Mrs. Ruff. “I would catch hell Monday morning,” he said.

Steve “the Greek” Grady: After all six schools in the tough Serra League had 1-1 records, L.A. Loyola Coach Steve Grady was asked to pick the eventual league champion. “No can do,” he said.

“You take it a week at a time. You can’t look ahead and can’t look behind.”

Smart guy, that Grady. His team won the Serra League title with a four-game winning streak.

Ready to join the psychic hotline: Canyon Country Canyon quarterback Nate Longshore claimed that he could read the mind of his coach, Harry Welch.

“It’s weird,” Longshore said. “Every time he’s going to yell at me, I already know why. Everything I’ve learned has been from him. Sometimes I’ll go and ask for a certain play and he’ll go, ‘Good, I was about to call that.’ ”

P.A. announcer who could sell the Brooklyn Bridge: In the middle of a rainstorm, Dick Dornan of Crespi announced on the public-address system, “There’s no one waiting in line at the snack shack. And the press box could use five hot chocolates.”

Setting an example for little brothers: After Matt White of Edison intercepted two passes and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first half against Fountain Valley, his younger brother, Hunter, a freshman running back, said, “Whenever you watch your big brother do something, it’s awesome. He’s my hero.”

Linebacker who needs restraints: All-City linebacker Luke Laolagi of Lake Balboa Birmingham was not supposed to play against Reseda because of an injury, but he sneaked onto the field late in the game and made a tackle in his only appearance. Defensive coordinator Jim Rose took away Laolagi’s helmet to prevent him from entering again.

Anyone got a vacuum? After two of his players suffered foot injuries while stepping on objects in their bedrooms, Westlake Coach Jim Benkert told his team, “Clean your rooms!”

Give him a $20 chip: After his team tried a double pass, a fumblerooski and went for it on fourth down deep in his own territory, Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman said, “I wish I had that kind of confidence in Las Vegas, but I don’t.”

Top college prospects for 2005: 1. Quarterback Brandis Dew, Hemet; 2. Defensive back Cary Harris, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; 3. Quarterback Mark Sanchez, Mission Viejo; 4. Receiver Desean Jackson, Long Beach Poly; 5. Fullback George Hypolite, Loyola.

Top five teams for 2004: 1. Mission Viejo; 2. Edison; 3. Long Beach Poly; 4. Hart; 5. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com