NOTRE DAME'S QUIET STORM LITTLE FANFARE AS KNIGHTS ADD TITLES.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

Rodney Glass might never hear Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks mentioned in the same sentence as Mission Viejo when top Southern California high school football programs are talked about.

Glass and his teammates are used to walking in others' shadows, whether it's Mission Viejo's higher ranking in national polls, or Long Beach Poly's and Mater Dei's greater success in Southern Section history; St. Bonaventure of Ventura making more title-game appearances, or Hart of Newhall winning more league championships, or Loyola of Los Angeles playing a tougher schedule. Notre Dame has achieved plenty with minimal fanfare.

After defeating Mission League rival St. Francis of La Canada Flintridge 28-0 in the Div. III semifinals to return to the championship game for the fourth consecutive year, Notre Dame again became back-page news when, 30 miles away, Hart upset Mission Viejo, the nation's No. 2 team, according to USA Today, snapping the Diablos' 26-game winning streak.

``When you see something like that happen, you realize that not every team, regardless of their skill or who they are, can win every time out,'' said Glass, a senior running back/defensive back. ``Seeing a team like that get knocked off, it shows you that you have to work that much harder, because you don't want that to happen to you.''

Notre Dame (13-0), ranked 11th in the nation by USA Today, hasn't needed a ton of publicity as motivation during its current run of success, which includes a 35-game winning streak and three consecutive Div. III titles. But seeing Mission Viejo, which had been Cal-Hi Sports' No. 1 team in the state, fall short of its goal has benefited the Knights' preparation for Dominguez of Compton (12-1) in this afternoon's division final at Home Depot Center.

``Mission Viejo is an amazing team, but it just proves it could happen to anyone at anytime,'' senior quarterback Garrett Green said. ``It's tough to stay on top. When you're winning, everybody is trying to take you out. Being at Notre Dame, it forces everyone to step it up week in and week out. But that's the beauty of it.''

Although he has guided six teams to championship games and won four titles during 25 years as Notre Dame coach, Kevin Rooney believes this group might have raised its level more than any previous team he's coached.

``They've done everything we've asked up until this point. It's a group that has really met our expectations and certainly exceeded them in some areas,'' said Rooney, who replaced most from his starting offensive and defensive lines and developed a new corps of linebackers after last year's championship. ``When guys have gone down with injuries, other players have stepped in and did a great job. I'm very proud of what they've accomplished.''

Since the beginning of the 2000 season, Notre Dame has won 74 of 79 games - only St. Bonaventure (80) and Mission Viejo (77), among California schools, have more victories in that time.

During their 35-game streak, the Knights have outscored opponents 1,363-454, an average margin of victory of 26 points per game. Only eight games have been decided by 10 or fewer points. Their streak is tied for fifth-longest in Southern Section history.

Loyola won 35 in a row in 1962-64, and some of its alumni voiced that the Cubs' streak was a greater accomplishment because it came against competition tougher than Notre Dame's.

``When we get criticism like that, we go back to the younger guys and tell them to try not to let it get their morale down,'' said Glass, who has rushed for 2,033 yards and scored 38 touchdowns. ``We just try to feed off that (negativity) to play better.''

Rooney said one of his team's greatest attributes is its ability to remain focused no matter the distractions.

``We're pretty fortunate to have a crew of people who do keep things in perspective,'' said Rooney, who won his first Div. III title in 1994 with a 27-20 victory over Ayala of Chino Hills. ``We can't forget that this is an educational experience for these kids, regardless of how many games we win.

``Right now, we're just trying to do our thing and do it the best we can. We try not to worry about rankings and streaks and things like that. We just want to have a great week of preparation and enjoy each other's company.''

The 23 seniors on Notre Dame's roster, especially championship-game veterans such as Glass, Green and kicker Kai Forbath, want their second trip to Home Depot Center to be as enjoyable as the first, a 31-7 victory over Palmdale two years ago.

``That's one of the big reasons why I'm so proud to be at Notre Dame,'' said Green, who has passed for 1,367 yards and 13 touchdowns. ``It's not about how high we're ranked or where we are in the standings. It's about playing for our friends around us and our teammates and our community. We still play for the thrill of competition, to compete and play our best every time we step on that field.''

Said Glass: ``You can't say you've achieved anything until after you've won that final game. We might be No. 1 in the papers and everything, but it doesn't mean anything unless we go out and do what we set out to do. To finish 13-1, regardless of how good that sounds, it's not good enough.''

Green agrees.

``Going 13-0 and making it to the finals is an amazing task,'' he said, ``but getting that 14th win is a great thing.''

After Notre Dame defeated Valencia 35-28 on Oct. 7, Rooney chuckled when he learned that one spectator on the Vikings' sideline had called his team ``boring.''

``We're not thinking about trying to be entertaining,'' he said. ``Different people have different approaches, and our approach is what it is. As long as we keep winning, then I guess we'll continue to be boring.''

Erik Boal, [phone]

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com

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Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney instructs players during preparations for today's Div. III final.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer