Los Osos 41, Bishop Amat 38

Amat had the game. They had it at halftime, when they where up 28-14. They had it when they went up 38-34 with 1:51 left in the game, and Los Osos out of timeouts.

"Defense didn't finish them up," Bishop coach Mark Verti said after the game.

When I was driving to my house from the game, I came up with the concept of highlighting The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of each local team from the games I cover.

So here we go ...

BISHOP AMAT

The Good: RB Marcus Wagner and offensive and defensive lines. Wagner finished the game with 197 yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries. In the first half he was battling what appeared to be dehydration and in the second half, cramps. He showed great vision and tremendous instincts. A lot of those runs, though, would not have be possible without the offensive line.

The Bad: Junior QB Nick Lenhart. He finished the game with OK numbers, 12 of 21 for 214 yards and one touchdown. But he also had an interception, a fumble and a sack on the first play of the Lancers' last drive. Lenhart won the job leading up to the opener, but he is going to have to show more poise if he's going to keep it.

The Ugly: The defense in the final two minutes of the game. With Los Osos out of time outs, Amat should have won the game. But give a lot of credit to Los Osos quarterback Richard Brehaut and the Grizzlies. Brehaut broke out of the pocket, got a great block from receiver Charles McCall, and ran 32 yards into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Before the the referee could lifts his hands to signal touchdown, a Bishop Amat coach in the roof of the press box was in such disbelief that he just kept screaming to no one in particular "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!?!?" I wanted to say, "No," but realized that it wasn't the time or the place to make jokes.

Things don't get any easier for the Lancers. Up next for Bishop Amat is defending Division II state bowl winner Orange Lutheran (also nicknamed the Lancers) at home next week.

- Jaime Cárdenas

Just don't scuff the hardwood

When it came time for pregame warmups Friday evening at Corona Centennial, only Compton Dominguez took the field. Centennial Coach Matt Logan chose to keep the Huskies in the air-conditioned gymnasium for their stretching and walk-throughs instead of spending additional energy outdoors, in the triple-digit temperatures.

The decision paid off, as Centennial scored at will in the second half and cruised to a 38-17 victory.

"We thought if we hung on until halftime, or halfway through the third quarter, we'd overtake them,'' Logan said. "We live out here, but it's not usually this hot.''

Centennial fumbled on its first offensive play from scrimmage -- it's only miscue of the night -- but Logan said it wasn't for lack of preparation.

"We did everything we normally do,'' Logan said of the team's pregame routine, "just in a smaller space.''

- Dan Arritt

Tale of the tape: Scott vs. Audagnotti

As a running back, he delivered more than anyone expected. No, not Darrell Scott of St. Bonaventure,  but Carlo Audagnotti of Santa Margarita.

Audagnotti, a 5-9, 175-pound senior, rushed 24 times for 192 yards. He scored from 11 yards with 8:35 remaining to give Santa Margarita a 7-0 lead, and peeled off a 63-yarder to set up the second score to make it 14-0 with 3:54 remaining.

Scott, the mega-transfer from Moorpark whose presence propelled the Seraphs into the national rankings, rushed 17 times for 76 yards against a spirited defense. He had one carry for 18 yards, his only rushing gain of more than eight yards, and he did have a nice 19-yard pass reception on the game-winning drive in which he carried a number of tacklers after the catch.

Scott got the last laugh when he converted a two-point conversion with 37 seconds remaining to give St. Bonny a 15-14 win. it was the only time he was is in the end zone.

When it was over, St. Bonaventure had a victory, but Scott was on one knee trying to catch his breath. "I'm gassed," he said.

It was a shame that Audagnotti, who is more of the little-engine-that-could, didn't get to enjoy the victory; it might otherwise have been a night to remember instead of one to forget.

- Martin Henderson

Foothill League Preview

Hi, my name is Austin and thanks for viewing my first “ceremonial” blog. Here at The Times, we’ll do our best to try to keep you informed and entertained in a way that’ll give you no choice but to respond to our postings in an aggressive, heart-felt manner.

With that out of the way, let’s play everyone’s favorite game: Reality Check: Foothill League edition.

REALITY CHECK #1: Canyon will not repeat as state champs. Heck, the Cowboys won’t even repeat as league champs. Which brings us to…

REALITY CHECK #2: Hart will take its first league title since 2003 thanks, in part, to having guys named Delano Howell, Patrick Larimore and B.R. Holbrook.

And to a lesser extent, REALITY CHECK #3: Saugus will make the playoffs again and Valencia won’t.

Now, I’m not suggesting the Indians will do anything crazy like begin a 65-game league winning streak or something, but their ascension to the top of the league will have little to do with Canyon’s expected return to football mortality. The Stanford-bound Howell is the league’s top running back (although I have to give a shout-out to Saugus RB Ryan Zirbel, who had a stunning sophomore year over on Centurion Way) and Holbrook is capable of orchestrating a solid passing game. Larimore, a linebacker who’s committed to UCLA, headlines a defensive contingent poised to be the stingiest in the league.

As for Canyon, let’s see: Harry Welch is gone, so is J.J. DiLuigi and Ben Longshore. So who’s left?

Plenty -- just not enough to stop the Indians.

Rookie Head Coach Chris Varner has many talented players at his fingertips, including third-year starting receivers Mark Urbina and Stephen Wirthlin. A.J. Wallerstein heads a trio of returning offensive lineman and linebackers Mike Spagnola (played defensive line last year) and Justin Stevens (transferred from Hart) will spearhead the defensive effort. Longshore’s backup Sean Gavin will be the quarterback.

“I personally think the Foothill League this year is going to be as even as it’s ever been,” said Varner, Canyon’s former J.V. coach. “I know Hart and Valencia and Saugus are all really solid teams, but we certainly have a good shot (at the league title)."

Through talking with him, it seems Varner has a pretty good feel for the league, but I just can’t see the rookie coach with seven returning starters toppling a Mike Herrington-coached Hart squad ranked No. 10 in the state by Rivals.com and CalHiSports.com.

Here’s my prediction: 1. Hart, 2. Canyon, 3. Saugus, 4. Valencia, 5. West Ranch, 6. Golden Valley

Must-See Games:
Sept. 7 – Canyon at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 – Hart vs. Moorpark at College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 – Canyon at St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 – Canyon vs. Hart at College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 – Saugus vs. Valencia at College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.

- Austin Knoblauch

Football family

The press box overlooking Nickoll Field at Beverly Hills is dedicated to Beverly Dordick Faigen, a former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher who died on Oct. 13, 1981 at the age of 46 after losing a six-year battle with breast cancer.

Playing for the Normans Friday night was Faigen's grandson, junior running back/linebacker Dylan Dordick.

- Lauren Peterson

Not so innocent

If I heard this correctly, Santa Margarita's dance team performed at halftime to something called "Age of the Innocent," or something innocent, but from a quick glance at the field, it appeared they were dressed anything but.

I'm just saying ... 

- Martin Henderson

Venice puts it away in second half

Well, all right. The Gondoliers didn't keep it close. They showed they could finish off a team they should beat -- at least on this night.

Venice (1-0), ranked 17th by The Times, broke open a close game against host San Fernando by scoring 27 consecutive second-half points and breezing to a 41-14 win. San Fernando (0-1) made it interesting in the first half, trailing only 14-7, but was outplayed by Venice the rest of the way.

All summer, Venice Coach Angelo Gasca has been touting his team as a legitimate threat to win the City Section championship that so far has proved elusive. Traveling to the stifling hot San Fernando Valley for a night game (thank goodness!) wasn't just a chance to get off to a good start but also show their worthiness as a contender.

Gasca got what he wanted. It was the Tigers, not the Gondoliers, who wilted on Friday.

"We weren't looking to necessarily make a statement," Gasca said. "But we know we're a good team because the whole team was returning and it was improved.

"I read John Wooden's book ("Wooden on Leadership") this summer. And it said if you do what you're supposed to do and give it your best effort, the scoreboard will take care of itself.  That's the approach we are going to take."

With a schedule that includes nonleague road stops at Oaks Christian and Santa Monica, and a key Western League battle against Hamilton, Venice is not thinking of an undefeated season.

But the Gondoliers are definitely thinking of going past the second round of the playoffs, the round they lost in last year.

This opening-game win over San Fernando reinforced such thinking.

- Mike Terry

Injury Report

Beverly Hills played its season opener against Long Beach Cabrillo without two starters who recently suffered concussions.

Junior outside linebacker Mike Kerman was injured when he tackled a teammate while blocking on a punt return in practice on Tuesday, and senior center Nick Urteaga is still recovering from a concussion suffered in a workout two weeks ago.

Cabrillo senior receiver Maurice Stamps, who set up the Jaguars' touchdown in their 6-2 victory over Beverly Hills when he caught a 42-yard pass from Roman Lewis with 3:12 to play in the third quarter, left the game with a left-shoulder injury with 9:16 remaining after he made a 12-yard catch near the Normans' sideline.

Both coaches hope to have their players back in time for next week's games.

- Lauren Peterson

Taking his turn

Long Beach Cabrillo Coach Marcus Turner's son, a 6-foot senior receiver and defensive back of the same name who intercepted a pass by Beverly Hills quarterback Dex Lucci in the fourth quarter, will play football at Stanford next season, his father said.

- Lauren Peterson

That championship feeling

It was only a season opener, but Long Beach Cabrillo's 6-2 nonleague victory over Beverly Hills on the Normans' home field had the feel of a championship game for the Jaguars' third-year coach, Marcus Turner.

That is, all wet.

The Jaguars' victory celebration included the players dumping the contents of a large jug of Gatorade onto their coach. And they chased him halfway across the field to do it.

Turner, who played cornerback at UCLA, first soaked up all the Gatorade, then did the same with the atmosphere, thoroughly enjoying his players' happiness after snapping a 13-game losing streak that dated back to Oct. 28, 2005 and included a winless 2006 season.

"It was different. We haven't gotten to do that very often," Turner said. "It was hard to go through, and I hurt for them, but we have some fighters, and look at them. They're just so happy."

- Lauren Peterson