FOOTBALL BEAT : FARGAS HAS FABULOUS FUTURE.

It has taken junior tailback Justin Fargas just seven games to break Notre Dame High School's single-season school record for rushing with 1,401 yards. He is averaging 10.2 per carry and already has broken the career-rushing record with 1,970 yards.

``It means he's the best running back we've had for certain and is definitely a special talent,'' Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney said. ``He has a lot of physical gifts but also has the kind of work ethic, determination and will that makes a great running back.''

Fargas, 6-foot and 184 pounds, was a fullback last season as a sophomore. He also was a top triple jumper. But improved speed and strength made him a step faster and even tougher.

``I worked hard in the offseason to get bigger and I'm going to keep trying,'' he said.

Fargas, 16, is a year away from accepting recruiting calls, but the college coaches surely have heard about him. He went to a UCLA game on recruiting tickets earlier this season.

``He could go Division I right now,'' St. Francis assistant head coach Jim Bonds said. ``He's that good.''

Agoura has a bunch of punks

When Agoura's Shayne Sobel, Oliver Gold and Ryan O'Corrigan aren't banging heads on the football field, they like to unwind by making music that makes other people bang heads in mosh pits.

The three teammates - along with former Agoura student Chris Desmond - have formed a punk band called Brief Nudity. And they aren't too bad, according to devoted fans like Chargers running back Jason Gordon.

``They sound pretty good,'' Gordon said. ``It's not just noise.''

Agoura student Ryan Iwanoff thinks Brief Nudity is by far the best punk band in the area.

``I've heard a lot of other bands around and they're nothing compared to these guys,'' Iwanoff said. ``They're just a real good punk-rock band.''

Sobel, one of the top receivers in the Marmonte League, is the group's lead singer. Gold plays the drums and O'Corrigan is the bass player. Desmond plays lead guitar and writes most of the music.

``(Desmond) is one of the best guitar players around that I can think of,'' Sobel said.

Brief Nudity practices on weekends at Gold's house - he swears his parents don't care - and when the season ends they hope to play more local gigs.

``It's fun to play parties and stuff,'' Sobel said.

Gordon thinks the future is bright for Brief Nudity.

``If they stay with it they can go big time,'' Gordon said. ``To me they sound just as good as any other punk band out there.''

Power + finesse should beat finesse

It's the most-anticipated City Section game of season - Kennedy (5-2) at top-ranked Taft (7-0) on Friday night.

One person in good position to provide insight is El Camino Real coach Bob Ganssle, whose team lost to Taft 24-21 and lost to Kennedy 17-3.

``Kennedy has a very large, powerful line,'' Ganssle said. ``That could make the difference. Taft is a finesse team. Kennedy is a power team with the ability to show great finesse. Given their ability to do both, I would think Kennedy is going to win.''

Instruments of destruction

The school band is supposed to provide halftime entertainment, but those attending a prep game in Norfolk, Va., last week must have thought they were watching a boxing match.

A fight broke out between band members during halftime of the Norcom-Booker T. Washington game. It happened after the Booker T. band trotted off the field, running into the Norcom band.Witnesses said the pushing and shoving escalated into a full-scale melee on the track as instruments and punches were thrown. It took 20 police officers using pepper spray about five minutes to restore order.

ETC

Recruiting news:Royal defensive end Ryan Nielsen has set up recruiting visits to Miami, Texas and USC. He also plans a trip to Arizona State. He will play only football in college despite being a top basketball player, too.

Headed to 4,000 yards?:Last season, en route to setting a state passing record with 4,363 yards, Newbury Park's Chris Czernek threw for 2,227 yards in the first seven games. This season, after seven games, he has surpassed that total with 2,235 yards.

No. 1 scout: Taft quarterback Nick DiPadova has completed all the requirements to become an Eagle Scout. Now he just needs to turn in his application form to receive final approval. Whether that will help him deal with Kennedy All-City defensive back Waking Bailey this week remains to be seen.

Political intrigue: Notre Dame football coach Kevin Rooney has a rule for his assistant coaches: no discussing politics. ``Otherwise, the coaches could come to blows,'' he said. The reason is defensive coordinator Joe McNab is a Democrat and line coach Jeff Kraemer is a Republican. Kraemer hasn't been in a good mood lately, which might have something to do with an upcoming election.

Fumbleitis: During its three-game losing streak, Monroe has committed 10 fumbles. ``We're just laying the ball down like there's a fungus on it,'' Vikings coach Don Senegal said.

Mission implausible: A high school pep band can be a motivational force at a football game.

But not the Chaminade band last Friday at Notre Dame.

Behind 27-0 as they took the field for the second half against the rival Knights, the Eagles were treated by their band to the capitulatory tones of the theme from ``Mission Impossible.''

Air ball: For the first time this season, North Hollywood picked up more yardage through the air in Friday's loss to Sylmar than it did on the ground.

Huskies quarterback Cameron Heflin completed three passes for 114 yards, four more yards than Sylmar allowed the vaunted North Hollywood rushing game and just 16 yards fewer than the Huskies had thrown for in the previous six games.

Two of the three completions were touchdown passes to Dante Clay and David Harlow, the Huskies' second and third of the season.

``He kept his poise and he did a good job of stepping up into the pocket and letting the ball go,'' said North Hollywood coach Gary Gray, who wanted to throw more to take some pressure off talented running back Clay. ``And Dante and Harlow did their thing. We just wish they could have done more of it.''

Future watch:Moorpark freshman running back Artie Lopez continues to run wild at the freshman level. He rushed for 247 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns last week against Santa Clara.

Lopez has rushed for 200 or more yards in all five games he has played. He also has scored 10 touchdowns.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1) No Caption (Justin Fargas)

Gene Blevins / Special to the Daily News

(2) Brief Nudity (clockwise from left): Chris Desmond, Oliver Gold, Shayne Sobel and Ryan O'Corrigan.

John MccCoy / Daily News