RB ZIRBEL TRANSFERRING FROM SAUGUS TO ALEMANY LOSS OF PRIZE BACK A BLOW TO CENTURIONS' PROGRAM.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

SAUGUS -- Saugus High running back Ryan Zirbel, whom many considered the future of Saugus High football, plans to transfer to Alemany High of Mission Hills -- a devastating development for a Saugus program that hasn't won a playoff game since 1999.

Zirbel, who rushed for 1,249 yards (including a Foothill League-record 283 in one game) and 15 touchdowns in nine games on the freshman team last season, has met with Alemany administrators and Assistant Coach Ted Iacenda, who also serves as Zirbel's private coach.

Zirbel is expected to complete paperwork to make the transfer official within the next day or so, according to Alemany Principal Frank Ferry and Zirbel's mother, Janet.

``I'm really excited and happy to be going to Alemany,'' Zirbel said. ``I like Ted Iacenda's knowledge of the game and how he did in high school (at Hart). I want to be like him. He's my idol.''

Alemany's coach, Dean Herrington, a former assistant at Hart and College of the Canyons, said Thursday he was aware of Zirbel's plans but hasn't met him because Herrington is vacationing back East.

Saugus coach Jason Bornn, reached Wednesday, said he preferred not to comment but was hoping Zirbel would change his mind. The coach sent nine Saugus teammates to Zirbel's house Wednesday night to sway him, but Zirbel was not home.

``A bunch of the players also called me on the phone, but there's no chance I'm coming back to Saugus,'' Zirbel said.

Zirbel was promoted to the varsity squad for the playoffs last season, so he probably will be forced to change residences to satisfy Southern Section eligibility requirements to play varsity instead of JV at Alemany -- a course of action Zirbel said his family is willing to take.

Either way, Janet Zirbel said that if her son has to play JV for a season, that's OK.

``Ryan is really excited to play at Alemany even though it's hard because he'll miss his friends at Saugus,'' Janet said. ``We have nothing against Saugus or Jason Bornn, but how can I let my son not live out his dream? He wants to play in the NFL one day, so it would be stupid not to let him go.''

Zirbel's mother did not inform Bornn until after Zirbel transferred out of Saugus.

``Then Jason called and wanted him back,'' she said. ``He said they've invested a lot of time in Ryan and that he thought Ryan was going to be as good as (Canyon High star) J.J. DiLuigi, that they were comparable at Ryan's stage. He said Ryan had the whole package. But you know what? My son wants to play for Dean Herrington and Ted Iacenda, so how can I deny him?''

Janet said her father will pay for Zirbel's tuition at Alemany, a private school.

What makes the situation a bit sticky is the fact Ferry worked as a Saugus administrator before taking the Alemany job following the spring semester.

It isn't clear if Saugus will protest the transfer.

``Ryan is intelligent with good grades, and he's a good human being,'' Ferry said. ``I'm very impressed with him as a person. There shouldn't be any negativity because I think Saugus is a very good school academically and a great experience, and I told Ryan and his family that. They have only great things to say about coach Bornn.''

Ferry said he has talked to a Southern Section official about Zirbel's transfer.

``They said for Ryan to play varsity, the family has to move out of the Saugus attendance area, and the family seems committed to do that,'' Ferry said. ``I know this is a hard decision for Ryan, but he feels like it's a new opportunity for him. It's hard for me, too, but now that I'm the principal of Alemany, I've got to realize there are no school boundaries.''

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

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