POINTS ARE PLENTIFUL IN FOOTHILL LEAGUE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Don't blink during Foothill League football games this season. You might miss a touchdown.

Never before has the league seen so many high-scoring teams. Heading into the final week of the five-game nonleague season, Canyon, Valencia and Burbank are averaging more than 41 points per game. Hart (35.7), Saugus (32.0) and Burroughs (27.0) of Burbank, also are scoring a lot of touchdowns.

There's no such thing as three yards and a cloud of dust on artificial grass, and these teams are more sleek than newly-installed Astroturf.

``On any given night, all of these schools can score a lot of points,'' Canyon coach Harry Welch said.

The touchdowns and yardage are adding up to a lot of victories, too. The six league teams have a combined winning percentage of .750 (18-6). And the combined records of opponents that have beaten Foothill League teams is 21-4.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Burbank's league-leading average of 44.2 points per game. In its three victories, Burbank has scored 54, 66 and 63, and the loss was a 66-36 defeat to powerful Oaks Christian of Westlake Village two weeks ago. Burbank's Mike McDonald has passed for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns - numbers that put him on pace to shatter every passing record in school history - and he's performing without top receiver Jesse Ayers, who's yet to return from an injury in the season opener.

Yet, Burbank (3-1) isn't expected to finish better than fourth once league competition begins. Valencia (4-0), led by quarterback Michael Herrick, and Canyon (4-0), led by running back Justin Williams, remain undefeated against more talented opponents. And reigning champion Hart (2-2) is still Hart despite losses to state power St. Bonaventure of Ventura in Week 2 and City Section contender Birmingham of Lake Balboa on Friday.

--College of the Canyons' football team is idle this week. But instead of taking his annual midseason getaway to Santa Maria, coach Chuck Lyon said he'll probably stick around to attend the USC-Cal game Saturday. Former COC running back J.J. Arrington is Cal's key player, and Lyon said he wants to catch up with him.

``Oh, it's huge. It's a great feeling seeing kids when they come back,'' Lyon said.

--After switching from running back to receiver to defensive back, former Valencia football standout Charles Burnley finally is settling in as an Oregon State freshman. He earned his first official tackle on special teams in the opener against LSU last month, and Burnley is hoping to work his way into the rotation at cornerback soon.

``I was kind of disappointed when they switched me from running back, but it's a great experience being up here and playing for Oregon State. I'm having a great time,'' Burnley said. ``Of course, I've never played football in front of this many people in my life. You look out and every single person in the stadium is an Oregon State fan dressed in orange. It's fun.''

Burnley spends much of his off-time with teammate Brandon Browner, who graduated from Sylmar and has given Burnley a familiar face to ease the transition from home.

But there is one thing Burnley misses more than his mother's home cooking: ``Southern California still has the best girls,'' he said.

--This has got to be first: All four local football teams play against Catholic schools on Friday night - Valencia vs. Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, Hart vs. Loyola of Los Angeles, Saugus vs. St. Francis of La Canada, and Canyon vs. Crespi of Encino.

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Mike McDonald has 15 touchdown passes for Burbank, which is averaging 44.2 points a game.

Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News