FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: HOT QBS TO FACE READY DEFENSES GOSSARD, MOORE COULD BE TESTED.

Byline: Jason David Special to the Daily News

Much is expected of high-profile quarterbacks Matt Moore of Hart of Newhall and Hudson Gossard of Crescenta Valley - both passed for more than 3,000 yards this past season - in the sixth annual East-West All-Star Football Game at 5 p.m. Sunday at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa.

However, they could face significant resistance: The defenses have been very effective in practices, according to the coaches.

``What makes us strong is the way we fly to the ball,'' West linebacker Brandon Robinson of Kennedy of Granada Hills said. ``We've got a lot of good athletes.''

Linemen Octavio Flores and Chad Hitt of Taft of Woodland Hills, defensive backs Mavery Davis of Kennedy and Kevin McCleary of Birmingham and linebacker Chad Henley of Crespi of Encino are some of the other top defensive players for the West.

The East's roster includes defensive back Albert Griffin of Alemany of Mission Hills, Burroughs lineman Gabriel Moise and linebacker Joe Martin of Paraclete of Lancaster.

--Handy versatility: Josh Geiger, a running back at Canoga Park, will play safety and cornerback for the West. He has experience on both sides of the ball, having blocked three field goals this past season in addition to scoring 17 touchdowns and gaining about 700 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving.

``I'm just trying to keep up with these guys,'' Geiger said. ``These guys are way bigger than me. Just give me a chance to prove I can play with the best of them.''

Geiger picked up football in the 10th grade in an attempt to get out of basketball conditioning and started for the varsity his junior year.

Now he's trying to decide where - or if - he'll play next year. College of the Canyons has expressed interest in him.

``I need to get back into the rhythm,'' he said. ``This game will help me determine if I'm going to play or not.''

--Spirit intact: East Running back Mike Perez from Burroughs of Burbank will play for the East even though he has a broken hand. The injury occurred last week.

``It's an honor to be on this team,'' Perez said. ``I wish I had two good hands.''

--Familiar stature: Armando Gonzalez, linebackers coach for the West, said Kennedy's Robinson reminds him of USC tight end Alex Holmes, a graduate of Harvard-Westlake in Studio City. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Robinson ``has good downhill speed and reads the field very well,'' Gonzalez said.

Defensive coordinator Julian Gomez compared Robinson to former Trojan Chris Claiborne, the punishing linebacker who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round in 1999.

``He's a man,'' Gomez said. ``Just a rock in the middle.''

--Roque to make decision soon: Defensive lineman Derrick Roque of Los Angeles will decide among San Jose State, Oregon and Oregon State in the next couple of weeks.

He sees the game as a chance for scouts to see what they might have missed during the season.

``It's great to be here playing in an all-star game,'' said Roque. ``It's just beautiful.''

--Kennedy, Taft and Valencia provide: Gomez was particularly pleased with the talent and mastery of fundamentals of his defensive players.

They're also tough. In the secondary, free safety Jason Spratt of Montclair Prep in Van Nuys has been an unlikely punisher. The undersized player has made big impressions on his West teammates.

``There isn't a running back or wide receiver he hasn't licked out here,'' Gomez said.

Gonzalez added, ``When he's got to hit someone, you hope it's not you.''

PASSING PARADE

MATT MOORE, HART

PA PC PI Yards TD Rating

352 234 8 3334 33 172.43

HUDSON GOSSARD, CRESCENTA VALLEY

409 279 6 3557 32 164.15

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

PASSING PARADE (see text)