A FEW BLUNT SURPRISES OUT OF SAN FERNANDO; TIGERS SURPRISE TAFT TO BOAST A PERFECT RECORD.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore

Sean Blunt kept quiet for four weeks, silently ignoring detractors who claimed the perfect record of his San Fernando High football team was a mirage. From a distance, it looked pretty and shiny. Up close, it vanished into thin air, more the result of an easy schedule than anything else.

Inside, Blunt churned with frustration. Yet he never said a word.

Consider it calculated restraint. Blunt knew at some point people would understand that special things could be happening at San Fernando. All that was needed was a big win against a quality opponent.

It wasn't much of a surprise, then, when Blunt erupted after the Tigers moved to 5-0 last Friday by beating defending City Section champion Taft 25-20. Taft is down this year, but the Toreadors are the measuring stick by which area City Section teams are judged.

``OK now, this shows we're a good team,'' Blunt said afterward, lifting his self-imposed gag order. ``I don't have a bunch of guys who can run 4.4s, but I do have a bunch of hard workers.''

The win validated every assumption Blunt had about the low-key Tigers, who use a lack of superstar power to their advantage. Instead of relying on one player or a specific strength to win, San Fernando spreads things around, getting contributions from different sources each game.

``That's what makes us real good,'' Blunt said. ``On any given day, you don't know who it may be. There isn't any one guy that stands out, just a lot of guys that have stepped up at different times.''

That's how good teams win.

In week one, Bobby Stanley ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns during a 33-16 win over Jefferson. A week later, William Lang stepped in for an ailing Stanley and provided 137 yards and two scores in a 19-12 victory over Los Angeles. Then it was Thomas Hoohuli's turn, completing 10 of 13 passes for 197 yards - including three for 88 yards to Jose Montes - and two touchdowns in a rout over Jordan. Last week, the secondary limited Taft's Brandon Hance to 101 yards passing while picking off the Purdue-bound quarterback twice.

And throughout, San Fernando has gotten tough defense from highly regarded Steve Nevarez, fellow run-stuffers Sal Del Guadio and Fernando Camberos and defensive back Gerardo Rubi.

Nevarez, also a top offensive lineman, is a major-college recruit.

``He's done everything we've asked him to do and he's done it at a level that helps us win football games,'' Blunt said of the 6-5, 275-pound Nevarez.

The same can be said of any number of San Fernando players, a critical aspect to the team's success thus far.

``We're playing as a team this year and that's the difference between this year and last year,'' said Nevarez, who had two sacks and forced a fumble against Taft. ``Last year everyone was just in it for themselves and now we've come together.

San Fernando hasn't accomplished everything yet; even Blunt concedes that. The perfect record through the first half of the season is a nice start, but to finish, the Tigers must play well in late October and November.

This is a school that hasn't seriously threatened for a City Section title since the Charles White era more than two decades ago. The Tigers have yet to win a playoff game in four tries under Blunt, now in his sixth year.

On Friday, San Fernando opens Valley Mission League play against Kennedy, which is enjoying a resurgence, winning four of five games. The Tigers end the regular season against typically powerful Sylmar. Those two games will determine whether San Fernando is the product of its schedule, as some skeptics think, or a good football team, as Blunt believes.

``I think we're a good team that can be great, but the biggest problem, and I can say the same thing about last year's team, is that in a 10-game schedule you have to hope you don't sustain any injuries,'' Blunt said. ``That's the key. We've got a little depth at some positions, not as much at others. If we can keep everybody healthy, we'll be tough to beat.''

The Tigers are beginning to believe, too. More important, they understand their successful start brings heightened expectations, and that their ability to deal with those rising standards will be a major factor.

``With winning comes responsibility, because everybody wants to be a winner. It's just that not everybody wants to pay the price to be a winner,'' Blunt said. ``You have to be prepared every week, because people are going to be coming after you even harder. I believe this team is up to that challenge.''

Time will tell.