LOCAL COLLEGES: SO FAR, CAL LUTHERAN HAS NO LETUP IN A TOUGH SCHEDULE.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

Cal Lutheran football coach Scott Squires wasn't around when the school put together this season's Kingsmen schedule.

He wishes he had been.

After playing NAIA power Pacific Lutheran and NCAA Division I-AA San Diego, Squires' team played defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champ Redlands last week, losing 28-21 at Mt. Clef Stadium.

Saturday, Cal Lutheran travels to La Verne to play the Leopards, who won three consecutive SCIAC crowns before Redlands upset them last year.

``It's a tough schedule,'' Squires said. ``And next week we've got Whittier, who's got it going over there.''

For next season and beyond, Redlands and La Verne will come at the end of the year, when Squires hopes the Kingsmen will be contending for league titles, too.

``That'll be good because we'll be in the hunt,'' he said.

Maui gone: Glendale College starting defensive back Maui Pena has not been seen since Saturday's 20-14 loss to Southwest at Glendale High.

Vaqueros coach John Cicuto said Pena, a 6-foot, 185-pound freshman from Glendale High School, talked to a teammate Monday to say he wouldn't attend that day's practice but would return Tuesday. He missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday and didn't attend Thursday's team meeting.

``He's had a lot of family problems,'' Cicuto said. ``It's a shame, because he's a good player who could use football to better his life.''

The glass is half full: With last week's loss, Glendale is off to its worst start since 1987.

That year, however, the Vaqueros won the remainder of their games, finished 6-4, won the conference and beat Antelope Valey in the Southern California Bowl.

``It turned out good,'' Cicuto said. ``But that was '87, not '97. That team was able to rally in the fifth game and get some confidence. A win would help this team's confidence.''

Quarterback John Carnevali will start this week after Chris Cervantes suffered a thigh contusion in last week's loss.

QB shuffle: After a bye week with which to ponder, Ventura coach Terry Morris said transfer quarterback Patrick Bartley will start Saturday's game against Harbor, replacing starter Rolando Garcia.

``Rolando just hasn't been getting it done for us and we needed more leadership from the position,'' Morris said. ``Rolando has a stronger arm, but he's not ready to be a leader yet.''

Passing fancy: Pierce may be 0-4, but the Brahmas are putting up some impressive numbers nonetheless.

In last Saturday's 45-21 loss to Harbor, quarterback Dan McMullen was 32 of 44 for a season-high 431 yards and all three touchdowns. He is ranked second in the Western State Conference in passing and third in total offense.

The passing windfall Saturday benefited the receiving corps. Basil Duncantell caught nine passes for 182 yards and a touchdown and was named a WSC Offensive Player of the Week. Vaughn Corley had eight receptions for 123 yards and a score.

Extra Points: James Jenkins, who was in the Navy for four years after graduating from Hueneme High School, will start at fullback for Ventura on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound brother of BYU's Ronnie Jenkins played the position in high school but had started at linebacker for Ventura. . . .

Cal Lutheran quarterback Zack Hernandez was ``a bit cuckoo,'' after getting hit hard in Saturday's loss to Redlands, according to Squires. He missed the last series, when backup Derek Brown threw an interception. Hernandez will start Saturday against La Verne. . . .

Glendale punter Ed Melgar punted six times in the Vaqs' loss to Southwest. He averaged 52.8 yards per kick, including bombs of 74 and 75 yards. . . .

In Moorpark's 27-23 loss to Hancock on Saturday, backup quarterback Justin Holtfreter threw four interceptions on four consecutive possessions, a school record. . . .

Mt. San Jacinto's victory over Antelope Valley was just the fourth in 22 meetings between the two schools. It was also the Eagles' first victory at Marauder Stadium. . . .

JC TOP 10

Southern California

1. Bakersfield def. Valley 25-7

2. Long Beach def. Palomar 43-21

3. Cerritos def. Riverside 25-14

4. Mt. SAC def. Orange Coast 66-14

5. Hancock def. Moorpark 27-23

6. Saddleback def. Pasadena 29-22

7. Valley lost to Bakersfield 25-7

8. San Bernardino Bye

9. Chaffey def. Grossmont 21-7

10. Santa Monica def. Santa Barbara 26-25