CRIST'S MEMORY FUZZY, BUT HE'LL PLAY.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

GITTELSON BITS

When football players get concussions, they sometimes can't remember preceding events, even after they recover -- something Dayne Crist is going through.

The standout quarterback from Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (8-2) is expected to play this week after suffering a concussion Friday in a 22-3 loss to Crespi of Encino, and his memory remains fuzzy.

"The last thing I remember is the coin toss," Crist said. "I came out of the game in the second quarter but, really, I don't remember anything after the coin toss. No memory at all -- that's pretty crazy."

Crist is expected to play Friday in the first round of the Pac-5 Division playoffs against visiting Newport Harbor (7-3).

"I actually feel a lot better now, and most of the symptoms have gone away," Crist said.

Crist, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame, has passed for a school single-season record 2,121 yards (57 percent) and 16 touchdowns with just one interception in 224attempts.

Anthony Espinosa, a linebacker from Alemany of Mission Hills who is considered the team's top defensive player, won't be available for the playoffs because of an ankle injury. Espinosa has missed the past two games, but there was hope he'd be OK.

"We thought they might be able to take the cast off, but now it looks like he's done," coach Dean Herrington said of Espinosa. "He's one of the best sophomores I've been around. He's like a coach on the field."

A.J. Borquez and Ray Benson have been alternating as Espinosa's replacements.

San Fernando welcomes back running back Daniel Lopez, who was academically ineligible for most of the season. Lopez returns just in time to play for the Tigers in their first-round City Division play playoff game Thursday against Banning of Wilmington at Gardena High.

Monroe of North Hills is focused on its City Invitational football opener at North Hollywood because the Vikings (7-3) have won just one playoff game over the past six seasons.

"We had everyone in attendance on Monday (when there was no school because Veterans Day was celebrated), and that's pretty good because usually (the holiday) is on a Friday," Monroe coach Don Senegal said.

This is the sixth time in nine years North Hollywood (7-3) has qualified for the playoffs, but the Huskies have survived the first round just once during that span.

Krista Cobb, a returning All-City pitcher and reigning West Valley League MVP from ElCamino Real in Woodland Hills, has committed to UC Santa Barbara. As a junior, Cobb was 23-6 with a 0.89 ERA and a City-best 319 strikeouts in 196innings. She struck out 49 in 20 playoff innings.

Santa Clarita Christian's Collin Keoshian rushed for 325yards and scored seven touchdowns, and he also totaled 23 tackles in a 49-42 8-man football playoff victory over Rolling Hills Prep last week.

Delano Howell of Hart of Newhall needs 283 yards rushing to eclipse Ted Iacenda's school career mark of 4,094 (1993-95). Howell has rushed for 3,812 career yards, and has 1,550 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.

If history is any indication, Howell will probably play in at least two Northern Division playoff games because Hart has advanced past the first round 18years in a row -- every season since coach Mike Herrington signed on in 1989. The Indians (9-0-1) open against Thousand Oaks (5-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at College of the Canyons.

Another running back who is having a great season is Jorge Chaidez of Bell-Jeff of Burbank. He's rushed for 2,079 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. Chaidez has rushed for 200 yards or more seven consecutive times heading into the Northeast Division playoffs.

Palmdale has switched the site of its Western Division home playoff opener Friday against Warren of Downey. Instead of playing at its own stadium, the game is at Knight High in Palmdale.

The College of the Canyons' womens golf team was crowned CCCAA state champion Tuesday at Sunnyside Country Club in Fresno. Freshman Jenny Lee took medalist honors.

[e-mail]