PICKING A TEAM FOR THE AGES BOLLER, WHITE, NORTON AMONG AREA'S ALL-TIME PREP FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

High school football practice picks up again soon, as local schools Hart, Canyon, Valencia and Saugus prepare for what figures to be another exciting season.

That in mind, I thought it would be fun to assemble an All-Time Santa Clarita Prep Football Team. Sort of a local prep football Hall of Fame. So I did some research, called a few trusty contacts, and imposed one rule: Candidates must have graduated at least four years ago.

The most important thing to consider is what each player did during his high school career - not what they might have accomplished after graduation. So a player like Hart's Joe Kapp, who became a star quarterback in the NFL, didn't make the cut; in high school, Kapp was better known as a basketball player.

Here's how it turned out:

OFFENSE

--QB - Kyle Boller (Hart, 1999): The only Southern California prep quarterback who comes close to Boller is John Elway, who starred at Granada Hills in the late '70s and won two Super Bowls during a Hall of Fame career with the Denver Broncos.

Boller followed Elway's footsteps into the NFL after starring at Cal, but it was at Hart where Boller's legend began. His arm strength was incredible to watch - he routinely lofted 70-yard spirals to Hart receivers for touchdowns. As a senior, Boller threw for 4,851 yards (64.2 percent) and 59 touchdowns against just three interceptions while leading Hart to the Southern Section Div. III championship.

--RB - Manuel White (Valencia, 2000): White's remarkable running was responsible in large part for putting Valencia football on the map. Over three seasons - plus one game as a freshman - White mixed speed and power to rush for a then-regional record 6,743 yards and 83 touchdowns. As he senior, he rushed for 2,517 yards and scored 40 touchdowns.

``You look at Manuel White compared to (other great high school running backs), and there's no question Manuel didn't have the same kind of supporting cast around him,'' Valencia coach Brian Stiman said. ``He had to carry the team more by himself. ... And when he did get shut down, we all know what the results were.''

White went on to play at UCLA and recently signed with the Washington Redskins.

--RB - Ted Iacenda (Hart, 1995): Iacenda capped a remarkable high school career by rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns in an improbable 35-28 upset against Antelope Valley in the 1995 Southern Section Div. II championship game. The three scores gave Iacenda the state career touchdown record (99) and helped him to section Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row. As a senior, he rushed for 1,884 yards and 39 touchdowns. A two-time Cal-Hi Sports All-State selection, Iacenda went on to play college football at USC and New Mexico.

--OL - Mark Manskar (Canyon, 1994): A first-team SuperPrep All-American and second-team USA Today All-American, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Manskar was widely considered the top lineman on the West Coast as senior, when he didn't a allow a sack all season. Manskar played at USC after graduating from Canyon.

--OL - Tim DeGroote (Hart, 1990): Hart coach Mike Herrington, who played offensive line for Hart and Cal State Northridge, called DeGroote the most aggressive lineman in Hart history. Also considered a top defensive lineman, DeGroote was Hart's only two-way starter and carried the Indians to the Southern Section Div. III semifinals before moving on to play for Oregon.

--OL - Shawn Stuart (Saugus, 1992): One of the nation's most highly touted prospects as a senior, Stuart earned Cal-Hi Sports first-team All- State honors and was named to two All-America teams.

A 6-4, 280-pound center, Stuart played at UCLA after turning down scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Miami, Cal and Washington.

--OL - Brent Parkinson (Canyon, 1984): As a senior, Parkinson was the Daily News Player of the Year - not an easy achievement for an offensive lineman - after helping Canyon win its second of what would be three consecutive Southern Section championships. The 6-6, 230-pounder played at USC before joining the Denver Broncos.

--OL - Brian Jacobs (Hart, 1987): An All-USA Today selection, Jacobs was among Southern California's most celebrated prospects. Over three seasons at Hart, Jacobs allowed one quarterback sack in more than 600 pass attempts. The 6-5, 270-poundner went on to play at UCLA.

--OL - Jim Elford (Canyon, 1971): The first Canyon player to be accorded All-Southern Section honors, Elford was a 6-2, 220-pounder who starred in the football and baseball. Elford's baseball prowess led to a contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

--TE - Fred Cornwell (Canyon, 1978): A three-year starter who excelled as a receiver and defensive lineman at Canyon, Cornwell also was a three-year starter and All-Pacific-10 performer at USC. Cornwell was a third-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he played three seasons.

--TE - Brian Allen (Hart, 1988): An All-State selection, Allen caught 59 passes and scored 13 touchdowns as a senior before turning down a USC scholarship offer to sign with UCLA. The 6-4, 210-pounder also was a top basketball player.

--WR - Jerry Owens (Hart, 1998): At 6-foot-3, with blazing speed and sure hands, Owens was nearly impossible to cover. After receiving All-America honors with 63 receptions for a school-record 1,439 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, Owens again caught 63 passes as a senior but missed the playoffs, as Hart won a Southern Section title, because of an injury.

Owens initially signed with UCLA, but after catching just one pass with the Bruins, he transferred he to The Master's College, where he played baseball. In 2003, he was drafted in the second round by the Montreal Expos and is in the Washington Nationals organization.

--WR - Jared Bazar (Hart, 1999): Bazar finished his high school career as Hart's all-time leading receiver. As a senior, he made 68 receptions (19.2 average) and scored 15 touchdowns.

DEFENSE

--DL - Tom Gibson (Saugus, 1982): A dominant force during Saugus football's early years, the 6-7, 280-pound Gibson played college football at Northern Arizona and was drafted in the fifth round by the New England Patriots. He played four seasons with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.

--DL - George Kase (Hart, 1990): After setting a school record with 18 sacks as a junior, Kase broke the mark with 19 as a senior. The 6-3, 225-pounder, who signed with UCLA, also played tight end and running back.

--DL - Joe Zacharia (Canyon, 1985): Considered by many the most intimidating defensive lineman in area history, Zacharia was a force who helped Canyon win three consecutive Southern Section titles.

``He was the best,'' Hart coach Mike Herrington said.

Despite smallish size (6-0, 205 pounds), Zacharia consistently overpowered blockers 50 pounds heavier than him.

``When he touches the grass, it's like an electric charge,'' said former Canyon teammate John Watkins. ``He's fired up,''

Zacharia was an All-Conference linebacker at L.A. Valley College.

--DL - Chuck Osborne (Canyon, 1991): At 6-3, 242 pounds, Osborne terrorized opponents with the agility of a running back. After a dominant prep career, Osborne played at Arizona and signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a seventh-round draft choice. Osborne played 37 NFL games for four teams.

--LB - Randy Austin (Canyon, 1985): Many consider Austin, who also excelled as a tight end and punter, to be Canyon's greatest football player. The Cowboys were 41-1 during his prep career, with three consecutive Southern Section championships.

``He's certainly the most gifted football player I've ever coached,'' Canyon coach Harry Welch said. ``I've never known anyone who can block, catch, kick, punt, tackle and play the inside linebacker position as well as he could. There's no one close.''

Austin played tight end at UCLA and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

--LB - Kirk Alger (Saugus, 1979): A two-time All-Golden League selection, Alger, a ferocious 5-11, 190-pounder, probably would have excelled in college, but his football career was cut short by a knee injury his senior year at Saugus.

--LB - Ray Cassaday (Valencia, 1999): A hard-nosed hitter who intercepted four passes, Cassaday was the mirror image of Pat Norton from crosstown rival Hart. Also a top fullback, Cassaday played two seasons at UCLA.

--LB - Pat Norton (Hart, 1999): Norton, a 6-1, 250-pounder, helped Hart win back-to-back Southern section titles. The Indians were 14-0 his senior year, when he was selected Daily News Defensive Player of the Year.

A spiritual leader and versatile performer, Norton also excelled as a short-yardage specialist at running back, scoring 26 touchdowns in two seasons.

--DB - Soren Halladay (Hart, 1993): A big hitter who always played well against elite opponents, Halladay was a terrific all-around athlete who excelled in every facet of the game.

``He was also the best blocking wide receiver we've ever had,'' Herrington said. ``I still show the receivers on our team a highlight tape of his blocking ability.''

After high school, Halladay enjoyed a solid if not spectacular career as a receiver at BYU.

--DB - Clint McKinney (Hart, 1969): A star back when football was everything in the Santa Clarita Valley, McKinney was also a record-setting quarterback whose scrambling ability reminded many of Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton.

While at College of the Canyons, McKinney gained 1,490 yards rushing one season as a tailback. After signing with University of the Pacific, McKinney changed his plans because of a family tragedy.

--DB - Jeff Tracy (Canyon, 1977): An early standout in what would become a dominant string of top defenders at Canyon, Tracy received All-Golden League honors, then played two years at College of the Canyons and two seasons at University of the Pacific.

``I played against Jeff in high school and played with him at COC,'' Herrington said. ``He was a very good player.''

--DB - Chad Ziegler (Canyon, 1986): A terrific all-around player who dominated at safety and receiver, Ziegler's best performance as a senior came against Hart, when he returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown and caught 10 passes for three more scores.

After high school, Ziegler was an all-conference player at Pierce College.

--DB - Jibri Hodge (Saugus, 1992): One of the greatest players in Saugus history, Hodge, who had 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, excelled on defense and was a top receiver. He played two years at Pierce College, then signed with Oregon.

SPECIAL TEAMS

--K - Jim Harper (Hart, 1987): Other Hart kickers have scored more points, but Harper was the best, according to Herrington. At Hart, he recorded touchbacks on nearly 70 percent of his kickoffs, and he connected on a 51-yard field goal as a junior. After two years at L.A. Valley College, Harper was among the nation's top recruits and signed with Colorado.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) KYLE BOLLER (Hart, 1999)

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(2) MANUEL WHITE (Valencia, 2000)

(3) PAT NORTON (Hart, 1999)

(4) JERRY OWENS (Hart, 1998)

John Lazar/Staff Photographer