HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: KNOX LEADS PATRIOTS' CHARGE BIRMINGHAM FACES LOCKE TONIGHT.Byline: KEVIN CONNELLY Kevin Connelly was born in Middlesbrough, England. He is an impressionist comedian, and after dinner speaker and is probably most famous for his role on the popular BBC television programme 'Dead Ringers'. Special to the Daily News Milton Knox stared off into the distance as the final seconds whittled off a 31-12 loss to Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks last September. The loss dropped Birmingham of Lake Balboa Balboa, town (1990 pop. 2,751), Colón prov., in the former Panama Canal Zone, on the Gulf of Panama. The port for Panama City, Balboa was the administrative headquarters of the Panama Canal Zone. It was also the site of a U.S. navy base (closed 1999). to 1-3, leaving Knox, an unusually optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op running back, to start wondering what kind of season was in store for the Patriots. Four weeks into the season, they had already dropped a close game to Crespi of Encino and been embarrassed in blowout Blowout The rapid sale of all shares in a new securities offering. See: hot issue. blowout The nearly immediate sale of a new security issue because of great investor demand. See also hot issue. losses to Long Beach Poly and Notre Dame. ``We knew we were a good team but we weren't playing like it,'' Knox said. ``We were worried, but we weren't panicking.'' Which is good, because the Patriots ultimately turned things around after surviving their difficult nonleague schedule, winning the West Valley League title and grabbing the top seed in the City Championship playoffs. They head into tonight's home quarterfinal game against Locke with a seven-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" , outscoring their opponents by 28 points per game during thatstretch. ``We started off really rocky this year, but now we're hot,'' said Knox, a junior who has 1,727 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns on the season for Birmingham (8-3). ``The game seemed too fast those first few weeks, but something started to click after that and everything started to slow down for us.'' Whatever the explanation is, the Patriots appear to be a team on a mission entering tonight's game. Not that they're looking past Locke, which upset Taft of Woodland Hills -- last year's City runner-up -- by a score of 44-22 last week. ``Will we be overlooking Locke even a little this week? Heck no,'' Birmingham coach Ed Croson said. ``They earned our respect last week with how they beat Taft. In the first round we came in convinced we could win, but in the second round anybody can beat anybody. We are very aware of that.'' While Birmingham is led by Knox, others have emerged this season for the Patriots on both sides of the ball. Senior leader Willie Chandler has 649 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver, and a team-leading four interceptions as a defensive back, which has helped secure him a scholarship offer from UNLV UNLV University of Nevada, Las Vegas . Quarterback James Beloff has thrown 11 interceptions on the season, but has been impressive at times with 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns. Juniors Donovan Carter (11 tackles) and Malik Noun 1. malik - the leader of a town or community in some parts of Asia Minor and the Indian subcontinent; "maliks rule the hinterland of Afghanistan under the protection of warlords" Jackson (10.5 sacks) lead the defense, and cousins J.J. Fafita, Henry Lui and Joe Misini have shored up the offensive line. ``The cousins have been key for us on the offensive line,'' said Knox, who is being recruited by UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , Florida State and Ole Miss. ``They let me know when I miss a hole, and I let them know when they miss a block. But I generally stay out of their way, because I know better than to mess with mess with Verb Informal, chiefly US to interfere in, or become involved with, a dangerous person, thing, or situation: he had started messing with drugs family.'' But while three members of the offensive line may be connected by blood, another type of bond has been forged this year between the Birmingham football players. The lineman might be the only ones eating Thanksgiving dinner The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States is a large meal, starring a large roasted turkey. All of the dishes in the traditional American version of Thanksgiving Dinner are made from foods native to North America, according to tradition the Pilgrims received these together tonight don't think about telling the Patriots this could be their last week together as a team. ``With everything else in life that can be crazy, like recruiting or whatever, I look forward to getting out on the football field with my team and letting all that stuff go,'' Knox said. ``For the rest of this season, we're a family. Football has helped us all come together, and now our goal is to win a City title.'' kevin.connelly@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 2) Above, running back Milton Knox has helped carry the Birmingham High football team into the playoffs. Right, Cousins (from left) Joe Misini, J.J. Fafita and Henry Lui are a key part in the success of Birmingham's offensive line. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer Box: PEERLESS PROGNOSITCATION |
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