AUDIBLE PAYS OFF IN THE END, CZERNEK SAYS DECISION WAS RIGHT.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - The numbers are mounting at a rate that leaves Chris Czernek unsure of the exact total. He estimates he is in debt about $25,000. A few other escalating numbers explain why Czernek believes the money is well spent.

In his third season since giving up a free ride and his dream of playing Division I college football by transferring to Cal Lutheran, Czernek is enjoying the type of success that once was taken for granted during his record-setting career at Newbury Park High.

The senior quarterback is on pace to break the Kingsmen's single-season passing record in Saturday's 1 p.m. season finale at home against Claremont-Mudd. Just as important to Czernek, CLU could finish with its most wins since 1982 after winning only three games each of the past two seasons.

``I figured this is what it'd be like all along,'' Czernek said.

He had good reason to think so. At Newbury Park, he became the first prep player in the county to pass for 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons. His 4,360 yards as a junior were a state record and his 45 touchdowns that season were a Southern Section record.

His 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame scared away many colleges, but those who had seen Czernek play expected similar results when he headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. But he played just one game and did not attempt a single pass in two years with the Mustangs after the coach who recruited him left.

Remembering CLU's offer that he always would be welcome there, Czernek gave up his scholarship and returned home to play for the small Division III school.

``It was a huge decision,'' said Czernek, who saw the financial implications of the move amplified last year when he no longer could live at home because his dad's job prompted the family to move to Monterey. ``It was a tough decision. But I wouldn't say there's any regrets.

``I miss my friends and my teammates and I miss the school and living up there. As far as football goes, I couldn't have made a better decision.''

He's completed 230 of 365 attempts for 2,562 yards and 15 touchdowns this year to lead the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an average of 320.3 yards a game. He ranks fifth in the nation in total offense (317 yards per game).

Czernek needs 257 yards to break Russ Jensen's school record of 2,818 season passing yards set in 1982, and he already holds the mark for most career games (10) with at least 300 yards. He also ranks second in CLU career passing - 1,107 yards shy of the leader - despite having one less year in the program.

Even in defeat, Czernek has excelled. He completed a season-high 40 of 60 attempts for 427 yards and four touchdowns in an Oct. 20 loss at Menlo.

Such accomplishments have sparked interest from professional teams in Europe as well as arena teams.

When Czernek arrived at CLU, he was touted as the program's savior, and he passed for 1,665 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season. But for the first time in his career, he was being sacked consistently. He finished with more than three times as many interceptions as his team had wins.

``People were expecting a lot out of him, but he was basically a freshman since he hadn't played in a couple years,'' said Kingsmen coach Scott Squires, who never sensed any regret by Czernek. ``There was pressure on him, but I think he handled it well.''

Czernek's response to the sophomore season was an offseason training regimen so intense, he and a few teammates sometimes slept at the school during the summer because they were spending so much time there.

CLU's response was instituting a new offense with an emphasis on passing, and Czernek's experience with a similar pass-happy system at Newbury Park allowed him to adjust quicker than most of his teammates. He threw for 2,439 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2000, though the Kingsmen struggled to stay out of last place.

A much-improved defense and senior leadership this year allowed Czernek and Cal Lutheran to blossom together. Until last week's loss at first-place Occidental, the Kingsmen (5-3, 2-2) were in contention for the SCIAC title.

``We knew he was a gunslinger,'' wide receiver Geno Sullivan said. ``When he came here, we had high expectations because we had heard about his high school days and everything he did. He's done everything we've expected. He's a huge factor in what we've done. He leads us - on and off the field. He's a leader in every sense of the word.''

Squires agreed.

``He deserves quite a bit of the credit,'' Squires said. ``... The systems he's had in high school and here have allowed him to put up the big numbers.''

``The impressive part is, he comes out and does it year after year. The systems help, but when you've got someone that keeps doing this, you've got to look at the core of it and see what type of work is going into it. He's always had a strong work ethic. That's what drew us to him as a high school player. He doesn't just talk about working harder or being a leader. He walks the talk.''

The question is how much longer the talk will be about football. Czernek, 22, has a job in real estate waiting for him when he graduates in December. But the chance to keep playing football leaves him with another difficult decision.

``That would be real cool (to play professionally),'' Czernek said. ``But I don't want to keep chasing something that's not there. I know I'm not going to play in the NFL or anything, so if I do play, it'll be because I love football and I want to have fun for another year. But I've got to grow up.

``I've tried not to think too much about this being the end. It's been a long ride. For the most part, it's been a good ride.''

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Chris Czernek is 257 yards shy of CLU's single-season passing record.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer