BONDING WITH CLAUSEN; ALEMANY JUNIOR QUARTERBACK RECEIVES SPECIAL TUTORING.

Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer

Between every offensive play, Alemany High football coach Jim Bonds walks a few yards on the field - as far as the officials allow - and talks to his quarterback.

``(Bonds) will come up to me and ask, `What did you see?' '' Casey Clausen said. ``It's a big advantage playing for him. He sees everything. He explains things a lot easier.''

The relationship between Bonds - who as a prep quarterback led Hart to a Southern Section title in 1986 - and Clausen has helped turn Alemany into a winner.

Alemany, ranked No. 2 by the Daily News, faces Bonds' alma mater - top-ranked Hart - in a Division III semifinal Saturday at College of the Canyons.

Bonds returns to the Santa Clarita Valley with a proficient offense led by Clausen, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior who is just not being coached by Bonds. Clausen, who is second in the area in passing yards and touchdowns, is being molded.

Bonds almost never hesitates to give instruction, especially during a game, that Clausen would probably not get from most high school coaches.

``If he has something to say,'' Clausen said, ``he'll say it.''

Bonds said he learned most of his coaching techniques from Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel. Neuheisel was Bonds' quarterback coach at UCLA.

``I try to teach (Clausen) the intricacies of the game,'' Bonds said. ``I take a lot of pride in how he plays. Any former quarterback who is a coach . . . you kind of live vicariously through your quarterback.''

Bonds is living well. Clausen has completed 179 of 322 passes (56 percent) for 28 touchdowns and 3,020 yards. Clausen started as a sophomore, but he was inconsistent and threw for only 1,670 yards and 13 touchdowns.

``I think I've made drastic progress,'' Clausen said. ``I think I'm growing as a quarterback. The main thing I'm trying to concentrate on is seeing the game.''

Bonds sees the game. In just his second season, Alemany has improved from 2-8 to 9-3. Alemany has won five consecutive games and has scored 395 points - second-most in the area behind Hart - and won the Mission League for the first time since 1975.

Bonds has compiled an impressive staff that includes offensive coordinator Scott Marshall, a wide receiver at Granada Hills in the 1970s who played at Long Beach State, and Reggie Kinlaw, who played with the Raiders in the 1980s. Kinlaw's son, Reggie Jr., is a senior tight end-defensive end with Alemany.

Marshall hadn't coached in years and was settling in as dean of discipline at Alemany when Bonds was hired. He said he was impressed by the new coach.

``(Bonds) can be sensitive when he needs to be and aggressive when he needs to be,'' Marshall said. ``He's very transparent. You know where's he's coming from.''

Honesty has been Bonds' best asset, especially with Clausen.

``He's a straightforward coach,'' Clausen said. ``He's an excellent guy to be around, on and off the field.''

Bonds was never a full-time starter at UCLA, but he played Division I football despite being only 5-foot-10. Now he is starting a quarterback tradition at Alemany with Clausen.

``As much as I can talk to him during the game,'' Bonds said, ``it can only help.''

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Photo

PHOTO Alemany coach Jim Bonds, left, who played at Hart High and UCLA, works closely with QB Casey Clausen.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News