OFF AND RUNNING; FARGAS, FAKES GIVE WIN TO ND : NOTRE DAME 43, ALEMANY 15.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer / Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Justin Fargas is dangerous enough when carrying the football, but Notre Dame High School showed Thursday night that using their All-American tailback as a decoy also can produce quick, spectacular touchdowns.

When Fargas wasn't bursting through the Alemany secondary for long gainers, the threat of giving him the ball twice led to long touchdowns off play-action pass plays in top-ranked Notre Dame's 43-15 season-opening win over the Indians in Sherman Oaks.

Fargas, displaying power and speed, rushed for 268 yards in 24 carries and scored three touchdowns. Quarterback David DeMartinis completed 8 of 16 passes for 187 yards, including TDs of 59 yards to Rod Arzu and 71 yards to Todd Fenton.

``They totally got faked,'' DeMartinis said of the TD passes that first started with fake handoffs to Fargas. ``They were doing all they can to stop the run. The whole defense is basically trying to stop him, so they're not expecting the pass.''

DeMartinis was 6 of 7 for 165 yards in the first half when Notre Dame took a 33-7 halftime lead in a game televised by Fox Sports West 2.

Alemany, making its debut under first-year coach Jim Bonds, tried to move the ball with a four-receiver attack. But the Indians had trouble protecting sophomore quarterback Casey Clausen, who was repeatedly pressured by 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore defensive tackle Travis Johnson. Clausen finished 8 of 20 for 120 yards.

This was a game in which both teams unveiled new players who will make an impact this season. Among those to watch:

Notre Dame's Fenton. The junior safety/wide receiver starred on the Knights' JV team last season. On Thursday, he made two interceptions and really turned on the speed during his 71-yard TD reception.

Alemany's Deandre Scott. One of the area's top youth football players last season, Scott caught a pass on his first varsity play and ended up catching five passes for 57 yards and one touchdown. And he's only a freshman.

Notre Dame's Johnson. A transfer from Oak Park, Johnson was penetrating Alemany's backfield and making sure Indians tailback Miguel Fletcher (19 carries, 113 yards) didn't break off any long gainers.

Notre Dame's DeMartinis. In his first start at QB, DeMartinis showed that the Knights will be able to pass if teams decide to focus solely on stopping Fargas.

Alemany's Clausen. Only a sophomore, the 6-3 Clausen had poise and toughness. He clearly is going to prosper under Bonds' new passing offense once the Indians' line starts blocking better.

It was a cloudless, perfect evening for football. Notre Dame's field was so lush and immaculate that Alemany assistant Jamie Quaglino, an N.D. grad, said, ``I've never seen the field like this. Is the President coming?''

What Notre Dame proved in its opener is that teams can't just hope to contain Fargas and think they can win.

``We're not a one-dimensional team,'' assistant coach Jeff Kraemer said. ``If anyone is just going to play Fargas, we're going to beat them deep. There are other weapons to this team.''

Fargas gained 193 yards in 13 carries in the first half. Alemany briefly tied the game at 7 on the first play of the second quarter when Scott scored on a 19-yard shuffle pass from Clausen.

Then the Knights' big-play skills took over. Fargas scored on a 75-yard run. Arzu caught a 59-yard TD pass from DeMartinis. Then Fenton grabbed his 71-yard TD pass.

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PHOTO (color) Justin Fargas, evading Alemany's Deon Scott to score the first of his three rushing TDs, piled up 268 yards in the season opener.

Evan Yee / Daily News