CAREY SHOULDERS LOAD FOR VIKINGS QB CRUCIAL TO VIKINGS' RUN.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

CIA - Quarterback Colin Carey finally is healthy, and that's good news for the Valencia High Vikings. Without his recovery, it might have been difficult for the football team to have made it to tonight's Southern Section Division III quarterfinal against Crescenta Valley at Glendale High.

After separating his shoulder five weeks ago, Carey trudged on but wasn't his old self until last week, when he completed 8 of 13 passes for 131 yards and rushed for 113 yards in a first-round victory over Leuzinger of Lawndale.

was honest to my coaches but I kind of kept to myself how hurt I was,'' Carey said. ``I had to go through an adjustment period and I certainly didn't want to reinjure my shoulder. It was tough.''

Carey, a starting defensive back last year, brought a defender's mentality with him when he switched to quarterback. No matter how many times he watches NFL quarterbacks take slides or scurry out of bounds, he just doesn't play that way. One of the strongest weight lifters on the team, the stocky 5-foot-11, 195-pound Carey bulldozes linebackers with the ferocity of a fullback. He has 500 yards rushing, third highest among regional quarterbacks, with five touchdowns. He also has completed 77 of 170 passes for 1,040 yards and eight touchdowns.

His versatility gives Valencia's opponents more about which to worry than running back Charles Burnley, who has 1,518 yards, 21 receptions and 23 touchdowns.

``Now that Colin is healthy it makes it a lot easier to run our offense,'' Valencia coach Brian Stiman said. ``When he was hurt we tried to be creative, but it just made us too one-dimensional even though we did keep winning.''

But can Carey and the Vikings upset fourth-seeded Crescenta Valley on the road? The Falcons feature quarterback Hudson Gossard, the state's leading passer with 3,311 yards and 32 touchdowns, and receiver Danny Moody, whose 102 receptions are a regional single-season record.

``Hudson is a good player. I give him a lot of credit,'' Carey said. ``But for the most part, we're worried about ourselves and about our own positions, not him. I know this: Everyone on our team is committed to keep going in the playoffs, and I think we have the ability to do it.''

Carey, who has completed 45 percent of his passes, doesn't have the pure passing skills of last year's starter Kyle Bauer, now at College of the Canyons. But Stiman believes in Carey 100 percent.

``Colin is just a very mature and down-to-earth young man,'' Stiman said. ``I've been coaching for 20-something years and been around a lot of great kids. Colin is one of the top five as a person.''

Carey is an excellent student as well. His grade-point average is above 4.0, and he scored 1,260 on his SAT exam. He wants to go to college at Dartmouth, Yale or Princeton.

COLIN CAREY FILE

Team: Valencia football

Position: Quarterback

Year: Senior

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 195 pounds

Stats: Passing - 77 of 173, 1,040 yards, eight TDs. Rushing - 500 yards, five TDs.

Future: Plans to attend an Ivy League college, then go into the food business. His father works for Sara Lee.

VALENCIA vs. CRESCENTA VALLEY

What: Southern Section Division III playoffs

When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m., at Glendale High

Records: Valencia 9-2; Crescenta Valley 11-0

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Valencia's fortunes have improved as quarterback Colin Carey's separated shoulder has improved.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) COLIN CAREY FILE (see text)

(2) VALENCIA vs. CRESCENTA VALLEY (see text)