EVANS WILL RUN, RUN RUN FOR CITY ALL-STARS.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer Birmingham High's Emmanuel Evans is doing what no football player has done before him. He is harnessing coach Armando Gonzalez's relentless passing strategy. Evans' presence at running back means Gonzalez - the Franklin High coach who is commanding the L.A. City Section all-stars against the Southern Section in the Daily News Valley Classic at Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 4 p.m. - won't be calling pass plays on every first down, his tendency with the high-scoring Panthers. ``With a back like Emmanuel Evans, I'm going to be a great coach and give him the ball,'' Gonzalez said. ``He's a super back at 6-3 and 235 pounds with speed. When you're that big and that fast, you're the real deal, so we're going to balance it out as much as possible.'' Evans' skill as a runner is well documented. He carried Birmingham into the 4-A playoffs with 2,172 yards (8.7 average) and 27 touchdowns in 11 games. He was at his best against premier opponents, rushing for 353 yards and four touchdowns against City 3-A semifinalist Chatsworth, 337 yards and four touchdowns against perennial San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. power Kennedy, and a school-record 355 yards and four touchdowns in a first-round playoff loss to Banning. Evans totaled 4,632 yards (7.2 average) and 52 touchdowns in a stellar three-year career that also saw him dominate at linebacker, special teams and punter Punter 1. An trader who hopes to make quick profits. Basically, another term for speculator. 2. In the U.K., it is generally used to describe someone who gambles. It is also used to mean a client or customer of any business. . But will Evans, who caught just three passes for Birmingham this season, adapt to Gonzalez's one-back set, which involves pass-blocking and swing patterns? ``This really doesn't feel much different,'' said Evans at Thursday's practice. ``I'm not really used to coming out of the backfield (on pass patterns), but it's not a big adjustment.'' Birmingham coach Dave Lertzman couldn't help laughing when asked if Evans might be challenged by the new scheme. ``You're talking about arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. the best all-around athlete in the history of the City Section - an all-state football player who was all-city in basketball, and the city semifinalist in track (triple jump),'' Lertzman said. ``He can throw a football 65 yards, kick just as far, and he's the best punter in the City. Emmanuel Evans can do anything he wants. I haven't seen a better athlete, but we didn't throw to him last year because we didn't have to. So can he catch a swing pass? I think so.'' Evans was on every college recruiters' must-have list even before his senior season, just a small notch below Justin Fargas Justin Fargas (born January 25, 1980 in Encino, California) is a football player in the NFL. Professional career He was drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. As of 2006, he is the Raiders' second-string running back. . A solid B student, Evans unfortunately did not score high enough on his SAT to qualify for a four-year program. So some very lucky junior college - Evans said he hasn't decided which one - will welcome him in the fall. Gonzalez, who has won four City section titles at Franklin, knows a great player when he sees one. ``Emmanuel is definitely a college prospect,'' Gonzalez said. Offensive line coach Fernando Trevino, a 10-year Franklin assistant, is blown away by Evans' ability, specifically his pure running skill. ``Evans is not a slasher slash·er n. One that slashes. adj. Characterized by gory violence: slasher movies. slasher Noun Austral & NZ and he's not a juker,'' Trevino said. ``He just runs people over. He's a thoroughbred Thoroughbred Light breed of racing and jumping horse descended from three desert stallions brought to England between 1689 and 1724. Thoroughbreds have a delicate head, slim body, broad chest, and short back. Most are bay, chestnut, brown, black, or gray. .'' City Section notes: El Camino Real's Quincy Wright Philip Quincy Wright (28 December 1890 – 17 October 1970) was an American political scientist known for his pioneering work and expertise in international law and international relations. (RB) and Demond Daniels (WR/DB) have dropped out. Wright's track schedule (he is competing in the state 100 meter dash finals) is a conflict. Daniels simply stopped showing up, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. coach Gonzalez. . . Birmingham quarterback Scott Doherty, backing up Franklin starter Erik Garcia, says playing more than one quarter will be a bonus: ``It depends on the score in the second half. If it's a big margin, I'll probably play more.'' . . . Line coach Trevino says his plan is ``less thinking and more attacking.'' With all new faces and just a few practices to work on timing, Trevino is ``minimizing technique but maximizing effort.'' . . . Sylmar's Shaun Avalos is handling the punting, and North Hollywood's Heloyt Cervantes, who had eight field goals this season, is the place-kicker. Strong-legged Evans will kick off. Southern Section notes: Palmdale's Imad Rodriguez, at 5-8 and (maybe) 165 pounds the smallest player on the field, has earned a starting spot at cornerback. ``Yes, the guys are all bigger than me,'' Rodriguez said, ``but I've got skills.'' . . . Westlake's Matt Goldstein was sidelined from practice Thursday after root canal root canal n. 1. The chamber of the dental pulp lying within the root portion of a tooth. Also called pulp canal. 2. surgery. . . Kicker Kicker A right, warrant, or some other feature added to a debt instrument to make it more desirable to potential investors. Notes: The ability to trade a bond or other debt instrument in for stock may entice investors, if they feel the stock will appreciate. David Rosenberg, who kicked a 59-yard field in a playoff win over St. Bonaventure this season, boomed a 62-yarder in practice that ``cleared with room to spare,'' according to co-coach Mark Bates Bates , Katherine Lee 1859-1929. American educator and writer best known for her poem "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 and revised in 1904 and 1911. . CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Coaches do not anticipate any problems with Birmingham's Emmanuel Evans adjusting to a different offensive scheme in Saturday's all-star game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games . Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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