RUNNING BACKS IN RACE TO THE TOP.Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- What a terrific showcase tonight should be for Canyon's J.J. DiLuigi and Hart's Delano Howell, two of California's top running backs who go head to head in the Foothill League opener at 7:30 tonight at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . Howell already has scored 20 touchdowns in six games, chasing DiLuigi's 2005 league record of 43. DiLuigi, who rushed for nearly 1,900 yards last season, is again solid this year with 658 yards, 17 receptions and eight touchdowns; Howell has 716 yards and 22 receptions, and he's also averaging 50 yards per kick return, including a 95-yard touchdown. Both figure to be on the run in a big way tonight, and there's a good chance the top performer can lead his team to victory, as Hart (3-3) looks to end a three-game series losing streak to Canyon (3-2), which defeated the Indians 21-13 in December in the Southern Section Div. II championship in Carson. Howell and DiLuigi are very fast breakaway break·a·way adj. 1. Designed to break, bend, or fall apart easily upon impact, especially to create an illusion, as with a theater prop, or for safety, as with a highway sign or barrier. 2. types who combine open-field speed with impressive strength and power. There are a lot more similarities than differences. ``They have different styles but they're similar, too. They are both good players,'' Hart quarterback Alex Pettee said. ``There's going to be big attention on both running backs during the game.'' Who's better? Perhaps tonight will be the test. ``I'm not comparing myself to anybody,'' Howell said. ``I just run hard and try to keep my legs moving and just use the ability that God gave me.'' Canyon linebacker Blake McMartin admitted that stopping Howell is part of the game plan. ``Oh, it's a big part,'' McMartin said. ``He's a key player and a real good athlete.'' Naturally, their teammates favored their own. ``Watching films, Howell looks like a real good runner, but honestly I think J.J. is a lot tougher,'' Canyon offensive lineman Marc Valdez said. ``J.J. runs over people, and I haven't seen Delano do that.'' Hart receiver/defensive back Brandon Arndt likes Howell. ``He's amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. . He can do anything, play any position,'' Arndt said. ``J.J. was good last year, and he looks just as good this year, but I wouldn't want any other running back on my team. I'd want Delano.'' gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5218 Top running backs J.J. DiLuigi of Canyon and Delano Howell of Hart go head-to-head tonight at College of the Canyons. Here's how they compare: Delano Howell, Hart YR: Jr. HT/WT: 6-0, 205 STATS: 715 yards, 7.2 avg., 22 receptions for 417 yards, 20 TDs MISC MISC Miscellaneous MISC Miscellany MISC Miscarriage MISC Malaysia International Shipping Corporation MISC Maui Invasive Species Committee MISC Minimum Instruction Set Computing MiSC Microsoft Software Center (Indonesia) : Brothers Keith (Harvard) and Dan (Washington) played at Hart and at NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Div. I programs. Scored league-record six TDs against Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Sept. 29. Also runs track. J.J. DiLuigi, Canyon YR: Sr. HT/WT: 5-9, 188 STATS: 658 yards, 7.1 avg., 17 receptions for 215 yards, 8 TDs. MISC: Committed to BYU BYU Brigham Young University BYU Bayou BYU Bob's Your Uncle BYU Bayreuth, Germany - Bindlacher Berg (Airport Code) BYU Beyond Your Understanding . Scored league-record 43 TDs last year. Son of Canyon assistant John DiLuigi. TONIGHT'S GAMES HART (3-3) vs. CANYON (3-2) at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m. KEEP AN EYE ON: Kenny Shanahan, Canyon, LB/S -- Shanahan, a 5-10, 212-pound senior who transferred from Stockdale of Bakersfield prior to Friday's victory at Crespi, is a big-time player who was a three-year starter and returning first-team all-league selection at Stockdale. He played well against Crespi and figures to make a major impact for Canyon. OUTLOOK: Foothill League competition jumps right into the fire with this much-anticipated showdown between league favorites. What makes tonight's game even more intriguing in·trigue n. 1. a. A secret or underhand scheme; a plot. b. The practice of or involvement in such schemes. 2. A clandestine love affair. v. is it's a rematch REMATCH Cardiology Clinical trials–Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance Therapy as an alternative in Congestive Heart failure–related to use of a portable, electric left ventricular-assist system–LVAS–eg, HeartMate® of last year's Div. II championship won by Canyon, 21-13, in December. That game ended on Canyon's 1-yard line, as Hart drove 98 yards but was stopped on fourth down in the waning moments. Hart won 13 in a row over Canyon prior to 2004, but Canyon has won three in a row over the Indians, including two tight victories last season. J.J. DiLuigi, a BYU-bound RB, is Canyon's big gun. He's rushed for 658 yards - an average of 131.6 per game - with 17 receptions and eight TDs. Ben Longshore long·shore adj. Occurring, living, or working along a seacoast. [Short for alongshore.] has passed for 1,089 yards (57.4 pct.) and nine TDs, and he's also rushed for two TDs. Mark Urbina has 22 receptions and one TD. Hart is similar offensively with a dominant RB in Delano Howell and top QB in Alex Pettee. Howell, a junior, has scored 20 TDs (18 over the past four games), which ranks him No. 2 in the Southern Section (all divisions). He's rushed for 716 yards, caught 22 passes for 417 yards and scored on a 95-yard kick return. He's also averaging more than 30 yards on 13 punts. Pettee has passed for 1,353 yards (47 pct.) and eight TDs, including three in a 49-21 upset Friday over defending Div. I champion Loyola of L.A. Defensively, Canyon is led by DLs Mike Spagnola and Dillion Schelske, LB Blake McMartin and DBs Chris Kingsbury and Michael Loucks. Hart's top hitters are LBs Chris Hickox and Patrick Larimore and DBs Adam Reyes and Brandon Arndt. Hart has won eight section titles, the last in 2003, and Canyon has won four section titles. VALENCIA (1-5) vs. GOLDEN VALLEY (0-5) at Canyon High, 7 p.m. KEEP AN EYE ON: Shane Vereen, Valencia, RB - In fact, everyone should keep an eye on Vereen because if you blink blink the involuntary movement of one or both eyelids of both eyes simultaneously. The frequency varies between species. Cats blink the least, with the possible exception of owls. In birds it is the lower eyelid which is moved up to meet the upper lid. , you might miss him. Vereen, who placed seventh in the state in the 100 meters last spring, might be California's fastest football player. He scored on a spectacular 71-yard reception Friday in a loss to Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. OUTLOOK: Coming off four consecutive losses, including a heartbreaking heart·break·ing adj. 1. Causing overwhelming grief or distress. 2. Producing a strong emotional reaction: heartbreaking loveliness. 24-21 defeat against favored Notre Dame last week, Valencia would love nothing more than an easy game to boost team confidence. And here it is. Winless Golden Valley, which plays its first Foothill League game tonight after going 2-8 last year as a seniorless freelance program, is in survival mode after losing by an average of more than five TDs per game. If the Grizzlies The name Grizzlies may refer to:
Valencia's Graham Wilbert has passed for 1,496 yards (57.6 pct.) and five TDs. But he has also thrown 16 INTs and has gone three games without surpassing 300 yards after doing so three times in a row to start the season. Golden Valley's top defensive player, LB Luke Leonard, is questionable (shoulder), though fellow LB Trevon Smith returned last week from a finger injury. SAUGUS (3-2) at QUARTZ HILL (1-4), 7 p.m. KEEP AN EYE ON: Nick Gauthier, Saugus, QB - Gauthier, who has passed for 773 yards and seven TDs, is also a dangerous runner who scored on an 82-yard run last week in a loss to St. Francis of La Canada. Coach Jason Bornn said Gauthier is the league's most underrated player and should be granted a college scholarship. OUTLOOK: After blowing a 21-point lead in last week's late 30-27 loss to St. Francis, Saugus needs to pull together in this final tuneup before league competition. RB Ryan Zirbel, a 5-foot-7 sophomore, has come on strong for Saugus, rushing for more than 100 yards in two consecutive games, including a career best 136 and a TD last week. Teammate Kyle Monson, a returning two-way starter at WR/DB, has 22 receptions and two TDs. Ramsen Golpashin, Shane Watterson and Jon Bryant John Bryant is a former Welsh rugby union player. A centre, he played his club rugby for Pontypridd RFC, Newport Gwent Dragons and Sale Sharks and attained one Wales international cap. lead an experienced OL. Other key players are LBs Ryan and Justin McKillop and Richard Koval and DBs Mario Wright and Kyle Ernsberger. Quartz Hill, coming off an 18-14 loss to unheralded Knight of Palmdale, has yet to score more than three TDs in a game. SANTA CLARITA CHRISTIAN (4-0) vs. LONE PINE (0-5) at Canyon High, 7 p.m. OUTLOOK: Santa Clarita Christian must be chomping at the bit after last week's game vs. Dunn of Los Ovilos was forfeited for·feit n. 1. Something surrendered or subject to surrender as punishment for a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract. 2. Games a. by Dunn because of a lack of players. Santa Clarita Christian, which won its first three games via eight-man football's 45-point mercy rule A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule (or, less commonly, knockout rule and skunk rule), brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team. , has yet to play a full four quarters. RB Garrett Borden and multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective back David Odorizzi are among Santa Clarita Christian's key players. Lone Pine, coming off a 40-6 loss to Brighten bright·en tr. & intr.v. bright·ened, bright·en·ing, bright·ens To make or become bright or brighter. bright of Orange, has lost by an average margin of nearly 30 points per game. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 4 boxes Photo: (1) Hart's Delano Howell rushes for a gain during the St. Bonaventure vs. Hart High football game Sept. 1. Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News (2) Canyon Hizgh School's J.J. Diluigi runs the ball against Notre Dame High School Notre Dame is the name of the following high (secondary) schools: Bangladesh
Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: (1) Top running backs J.J. DiLuigi of Canyon and Delano Howell of Hart (see text) (2) TONIGHT'S GAMES (see text) (3) FIRST AND 10 (4) INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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