BRINGING OUT BEST IN VENTURA COUNTY; HELFMAN ENJOYED QB STINT.

Byline: Nevin Barich Daily News Staff Writer

It was quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened to the Agoura High football team.

And the best thing that could've happened to Marcus Helfman.

Five games into the 1997 season, the Chargers suffered a major blow when they lost starting quarterback and UCLA-bound Ryan McCann for four weeks with a separated shoulder.

At the time, Agoura was 4-1 and primed to make a major run at the Marmonte League title. But with their star passer out of commission for over a third of the season, the team needed someone to prevent it from going into obscurity.

It was the perfect time for Helfman to show what he could do.

``I was really excited,'' said Helfman, an 18-year-old senior who will be a member of the East team at the 25th annual Ventura County All-Star Football Game tonight at Royal High. ``I just wanted a chance to be a quarterback on the varsity team. Not that I wanted Ryan McCann to get hurt or anything. I just never played quarterback on the varsity level.''

But in the four games that he did, Helfman responded to the challenge, leading his team to a 3-1 record during McCann's injury to help guide Agoura to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Division III playoffs.

``I'm pretty proud about that,'' said the 6-6, 230 pounder. ``But my team really helped me. Like, in the first game, I was pretty rusty but (running back) Chris Poling had a good game and got me through it.''

But after the initial rust, Helfman, who at the time of McCann's injury hadn't thrown a football since playing on the junior varsity squad two years earlier, really fit into his role as Agoura's leader on offense. His finest performance came against eventual-Marmonte League champion Newbury Park when he threw for two touchdowns on 17 of 24 passing.

``The transition (to quarterback) was a little bit difficult,'' Helfman said. ``But the whole team made me feel a lot more comfortable. It made it a lot easier.

``I'm just really glad I got an opportunity to step up for the team. I'm proud. It was fun.''

But while he made major contributions as a quarterback, Helfman's biggest role was as a tight end. During the regular season, Helfman had 23 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns in just six games.

``He's just a good natural athlete,'' Agoura coach Charlie Wegher said about Helfman. ``In fact, I think he's the best tight end in the area.''

Wegher's assessment might not be far off. In fact, Cal Berkeley thought enough of Helfman as a tight end to offer him a full scholarship which Helfman later accepted.

``It was their offense, their West Coast offense. It revolves a lot around the tight end,'' said Helfman when asked why he chose Cal over UCLA, Arizona State and BYU, all of which also offered him scholarships.

Football is not the only sport Helfman excels in. He was a two-year starting forward on the Agoura High boys' basketball team, averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds a game his senior year.

But while Agoura High basketball coach Bill Sanchez admitted that Helfman was the best player on the team, he believes that Helfman's best bet is to pursue football.

``I think football is more his game. He's going to be a big, tough tight end,'' Sanchez said. ``But to be frank, his shooting really went down this year. I think the reason was his football training, his strength training, etc., etc., etc.

``With his size, you got to be pretty mobile on the court. Not to say he's not. But you either got to be light of foot, a good shooter or 6-6 and 300 pounds so that you could move guys off in the paint.''

But while Helfman's main focus for now is football, basketball remains in the back of his mind.

``One of my goals is to play basketball in college,'' Helfman said. ``I'm going as a walk-on. I'm going to try.''

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PHOTO For a month last fall, Agoura tight end Marcus Helfman shined at the quarterback position.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News