FOOTBALL: ROSAMOND'S BIGGEST CHALLENGE BISHOP'S DEFENSE IS A HUGE OBSTACLE.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

ROSAMOND - Rosamond High is preparing to face one of the Southern Section's most feared Small School defenses in one of the Roadrunners' biggest games in years.

Trouble is Bishop's 3-5-3 defensive package and propensity for stunting with reckless abandon isn't that easy to prepare for.

That's a concern for Rosamond (6-2 overall, 3-0 High Desert League), who will be home Friday against Bishop (7-1, 3-0) in a game that, barring a stunning Week 10 upset, will decide the league title.

Bishop is ranked No. 1 in Southern Section Div. XII. No. 4 Rosamond, which hasn't beaten Bishop since 2000, is seeking its first league title since 1999.

Rosamond's high-powered offense is averaging 31.5 points, but the Roadrunners haven't faced a defense such as Bishop's. The Broncos have allowed only 8.5 points per game, made 18 sacks and blocked three punts.

``I'm not really sure you can prepare for (Bishop's defense),'' Rosamond coach Kevin Rizer said. ``They have five guys who can come at you at any time and in any combination. It's very difficult to get a sense of what triggers stunting for them. They stunt even in situations you wouldn't expect them to.''

Preparing for a defensive package not often seen in high school football is especially difficult for smaller schools such as Rosamond.

``It's really hard to replicate what they do in practice at a small school,'' Rizer said. ``At a bigger school, we might be able to get a better look, but we just don't have that many athletes.''

Rosamond employs a zone-blocking scheme designed to keep things simple for an inexperienced and undersized line.

Guard Chris Winner, a second-team all-league selection last season, is Rosamond's only returning lineman. Center Jason Del Toro and guard Javier Navarro are converted running backs. Tackle Jesus Chamorro is a converted tight end, and tackle Cody Hubkey is a first-year player.

Winner and Hubkey are the only players who weigh more than 200 pounds. Del Toro and Navarro each weigh 180 and Chamorro 170.

The unit will get help. Rizer said he plans to take advantage of tight end Eric Leon's and running back Spencer Rodney's athleticism and versatility. The coach also said he likes his chances with an offensive line that's overachieved under the tutelage of offensive line coach Chance Tapia, a former Rosamond player.

``They've done a remarkable job in the trenches for some smaller guys,'' Rizer said.

--Ejection: Vasquez quarterback Joe Perez was charged with an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for his involvement in an altercation in Friday's 56-14 victory over Santa Clara of Oxnard. The penalty carries a one-game suspension, so he won't eligible to play in Vasquez's homecoming game Nov. 11 against Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia.

Vasquez coach Doug Odum said Perez retaliated after being struck by one of the Santa Clara players in the game's final seconds. He plans to appeal the suspension.

``(Perez) got nailed from behind, and, of course, he gets the flag,'' Odum said.

Odum said the Santa Clara coaching staff didn't properly control its players, who he alleged took cheap shots at his players throughout the game.

Vasquez will not renew its contract with Santa Clara, Odum said.

``We're not going to bother playing with those creeps again,'' he said.

--Also: Vasquez slot receiver Garrett Watt played Friday despite an Achilles' tendon injury originally feared to be season-ending. He's awaiting results of an MRI taken last week but is expected to continue playing in a limited role. ... Mojave snapped a three-game losing streak Friday with a 46-13 High Desert League victory over Kern Valley of Lake Isabella. The Mustangs (3-4, 1-2) need to win their two remaining regular-season games (against Desert and Frazier Mountain of Lebec) to secure an eighth consecutive playoff appearance.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com