By Erik Boal, Special to the Daily News

Granada Hills accomplished two firsts Monday night by advancing to the final of the Ralph Brandt boys' soccer tournament and scoring against Crespi of Encino goalkeeper Omar Zeenni.

But thanks to some veteran leadership and a few favorable bounces, it was the Celts who left Occidental College with the first-place trophy.

Although Rafael Rojas scored the first goal against Zeenni in five tournament matches, Ryan Lannutti had the final say for the Celts.

The senior assisted on Victor Mercado's tying goal just before halftime and redirected the winning score in traffic in the penalty area in the second minute of the second overtime period to lift Crespi to the 2-1 victory and the program's first Brandt championship.

"It's huge to be able to do it in the finals, in overtime, it doesn't get much better than that," said Lannutti, who received all-tournament honors, along with Anthony DaPello. "I've done it before against St. Francis last year, but it never gets old."

After Granada Hills (4-3-1) missed a couple of early chances, Rojas headed a ball inside the left post off a cross from Manny Ponce past a diving Zeenni in the 25 th minute to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. But Lannutti pulled the Celts (6-0) even just before halftime, crossing a ball to an unmarked Mercado - the tournament MVP - who blasted a shot in the upper-left corner past Chris Slagle.

Lannutti's goal came off the initial ball from DaPello, which was then played into the penalty area by Nicholas Gomez-Garcia.

"What I love about these guys is they have a certain sense of resiliency," Crespi coach Rob Kodama said. "For us to be good, we have to learn to play from behind. We have some guys who can do some great things on offense, but our main focus this year has been on defense and I thought those guys did an incredible job (Monday)."

Crespi's ability to withstand Granada Hills' mounting pressure in the second half enabled the Celts to start fresh in overtime, and the experience showed against a young Highlanders group, which tied St. Francis of La Canada Flintridge - which finished unbeaten in the tournament - and defeated Taft of Woodland Hills and La Canada en route to the final.

"The boys are going to leave here proud," Granada Hills coach Emanuel Martins said. "We did everything we could've done. A little more luck would've been great, but from a soccer standpoint, I would have changed anything."

St. Francis defeated Cleveland of Reseda 3-1 to finish ninth and Fontana knocked off La Canada 3-2 in the third-place match.

The Varsity soccer won the 17th Annual Ralph Brandt Boys Soccer Tournament last night in pouring rain. The Boys secured a victory over Granada Hills high school in the finals at Occidental College.

Granada Hills went up 1-0 in the 27th minute and the Celts came back to tie the game in the last minute of the first half. Victor Mercado scored off a cross by Ryan Lannutti, who received an outlet pass from Charlie Onorati.. The celts came up with a goal 8 minutes into the overtime period to win the game. Anthony Dapello drove a ball into the box, Nicholas Gomez-Garcia collected the ball inside of the 18 and struck a ball that was deflected in by ryan Lannutti for the game winner. The team improves to 6-0 on the season.

Victor Mercado was named the tournament MVP while Ryan Lannutti and Anthony Dapello were named to the All-tournament team. By winning the tournament, the team will appear in an upcoming Soccer America Magazine. The team plays in the South Torrance Tournament this upcoming weekend.

Well…Saturday was a rough day for the Celts…

Going into Saturday, our program was 12-1 (varsity 3-0; jv 3-0; frosh 6-1)

Varsity was in the championship of the Beverly Hills Tournament against Santa Monica.
JV was in the championship of the Simi Valley Tournament against Notre Dame.
Frosh was in the consolation championship of the Valencia Tournament.

All 3 teams lost. We will persevere!

Blake Stanton and Gabe Borboa were all-tournament for the Varsity (currently 3-1).
Justin Rubia and Sean Frankwick were all-tournament for the JV (currently 3-1).
The freshmen team is currently 6-2.

This week:

Varsity will help host the 32 team San Fernando Valley Invitational…..we play at home on Thursday (7 pm vs. Milken) , Friday, and Saturday….check out the tournament website:  www.sfvtournament.com
JV will be a part of the 24 team San Fernando Valley Tournament…they play at El Camino Real HS on Thursday at 6:15 pm vs. Van Nuys HS….and then again on Friday and Saturday.
Frosh is off until Dec. 26 when they compete in the Calabasas Tournament.

Happy Holidays to all,
Coach White

Paul V. Rawate ’94

Crespi Soccer has high hopes this year led by returning seniors, Anthony Dapello, Jeff Knecht, Ryan Lannutti, Victor Mercado, and Charlie Onorati. Last season, the team finished second in league and set a school record for least goals allowed in a league season. Other notable players are juniors, Craig Nitti, Nicholas Gomez-Garcia, and Omar Zeenni, Mission League Goalkeeper of the Year. Although Crespi Soccer lost some quality players due to graduation, the blend of strong core players and some new talent, “will serve us very well this season,” said varsity head coach Rob Kodama. Crespi Soccer will play in two of the top tournaments in the region. Catch the Celts in action 7:30 pm, this Thursday at the Burroughs tournament, as Crespi Soccer will host Valencia at the “Pit”. The second game is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 pm also at Crespi Carmelite. Crespi Soccer will travel to the SouthBay before the Christmas weekend in South Torrance tournament and follow with a trip to the Conejo Tournament after Christmas. Coach Kodama believes, “All three are going to be tough tournaments, but building on our previous year’s success is definitely in the cards for us.” When asked about the Mission League outlook, Coach Kodama says, “That is the big question, every team in our league is strong and talented. Three probable favorites will be Loyola, St. Francis and Harvard Westlake, as always staying healthy is the key to our season. Best of luck Celts!!!

By Gerry Gittelson, Staff Writer

PREP FOOTBALL: Celts will display strength in trenches tonight against Serra rival Notre Dame.

There will be star quarterbacks for both teams. Game-breaking running backs. Fleet receivers who can score at any moment, from anywhere on the field.

Football powers Crespi of Encino (6-1) and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (7-0), who face off at 7:30 tonight in a much-anticipated Serra League showdown, have enough firepower to blow out just about anyone they play.

The game is being streamed live at dailynews.com, and whether you're watching on the computer or in person at the stadium, Crespi lineman Hroniss Grasu has a tip to pass along:

While all those skill players will attract the most attention, it will be the activities most people don't notice that will make the biggest difference - blocking, controlling the line of scrimmage and protecting the quarterback.

In the trenches, that's where tonight's showdown will be won or lost.

"As the linemen, we don't get much media (attention), but we help out the team a lot," Grasu said. "How well the offensive and defensive line plays, that's what it all depends on, whether you win or lose. The more physical team is going to win."

Crespi has every intention of succeeding, and Grasu and fellow standout juniors Ben Loth and Mike Mitchell, the Celts' three top blockers, are intent on protecting quarterback Bryan Bennett and opening holes for running back Jeremiah McKibbins.

"The blocking is a big help," Bennett said. "The three juniors have really stepped up this year, and so have (fellow linemen) Andre Alvarez and Chris Costello. Having a solid line, that helps me a lot with my confidence. I mean, it all starts with the line. I tell them every week: `Tomorrow in the paper you're not going to get the publicity, but it's about the team."'

Mitchell plays left tackle, a crucial position because he protects Bennett's blind side.

"Keeping Bryan safe, I take a lot of pride in that. We all do," Mitchell said. "I think Bryan Bennett is a great quarterback."

People are paying to see Bennett vs. Kasdorf, as two of California's top quarterbacks go head to head. And that's fine with Mitchell.

"I don't want to make that comparison between Bryan and (Notre Dame's) Ryan Kasdorf," Mitchell said. "They're both good, and at times unbelievable."

Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross, himself a former offensive lineman, knows there is a lot more to this event.

"I played on the offensive line for eight years, and the only time we ever got any notice is when one of us was screwing up or holding," Ross said. "But we always took pride in how well the quarterback was doing and how well the running backs were doing. It's all about working hard up front."

With a huge standing-room-only crowd expected, the excitement of performing in such a high-profile game will give Loth the strength to keep going, no matter the circumstances.

"It's a big game, two great football teams, and just a good challenge for us to go up against Notre Dame," Loth said. "It's going to be a lot fun, seeing the crowd around you. You don't even have to look up to know when something happens, because the crowd goes crazy."

Some experts are picking Crespi, while others are pointing to Notre Dame.

"I don't necessarily think about who is the favorite and who is underdog," Loth said. "It's a football game, and we'll go out and play it out."

Tonight's game is at Crespi, and Grasu said: "We'll see what happens (tonight). We want to protect our house."

The Celts' line averages 6 feet, 3 inches, and 260 pounds. Grasu (6-3, 250) also plays on the defensive line. And he makes no secret of Crespi's intention to do everything possible to make life miserable for Kasdorf.

"That's a real big priority," Grasu said. "We're doing our thing, and we're going to do what we do and swarm to the ball."

A prediction?

"I don't make predictions, but it's going to be one great football game," Grausu said. "It's going to be a great battle."

Added Loth: "I don't want to make a prediction, either, but it's going to be a fun football game. We're looking forward to this game a lot. Notre Dame vs. Crespi, at our house, No. 1 vs. No. 2. It's going to be a lot of fun."

By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News Columnist

The showdown everyone has been waiting for is here.

It's the Daily News Game of the Week, as two of the area's winningest football programs, No.1 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (7-0) and No. 2 Crespi of Encino (6-0), go head to head in the Serra League opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Crespi.

The game is scheduled to be streamed live at dailynews.

com.

Expect a tantalizing quarterback duel between two of California's most coveted juniors. Notre Dame's Ryan Kasdorf has passed for 2,067 yards and 22 touchdowns, and he has scored three touchdowns. After leading Crespi to the Southern Section Pac-5 final last year, Bryan Bennett has passed for 887 yards and seven touchdowns.

Fans are urged to arrive early if they expect a seat, because this event could sell out.

"It should be a great game. We're playing really well and coming together as a team," said Crespi's Christian Nastos, who kicked two field goals Friday in a 34-0 victory over St. Francis of LaCanada Flintridge.

By Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Crespi High of Encino dominated in all the facets of the game Friday - offense, defense and special teams - in a 34-0 nonleague football victory over St. Francis of La Canada, as the Celts (6-1) surged to an early 20-point lead and held the Golden Knights (5-2) to 104 yards.

Bryan Bennett completed 14 of 17 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown - all in the first half - and Crespi did not allow St. Francis to cross midfield until just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

"We came out to do what we do, and we played as a team - one heartbeat, no individuals," Crespi receiver/ defensive back Blake Stanton said. "Our pass rush affected them a lot. They couldn't get the ball off. We came at their quarterback from everywhere on the field."

The victory sets up a much-anticipated showdown against Serra League rival Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (7-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Crespi.

"We will be very focused for that game," Stanton said. "That's going to be a big one, so we're going to come ready to play."

Leading 20-0 at halftime, the Celts scored the first two times they touched the ball in the second half - a 62-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah McKibbins and a 59-yard punt return by Brad Lattanzio that made it 34-0.

On the punt return, the football was slowly rolling to a stop when Lattanzio picked it up at the last moment, weaved his way through a couple of defenders, then picked up a terrific downfield block by DeShawn Roberts.

"I just saw the ball and trusted my team to get a wall going," said Lattanzio, who has taken over return duties over the past two games for injured Mikio Island.

St. Francis' standout running back Dietrich Riley was held to 57 yards on 19 carries, and teammate Justin Sciarra completed just 4 of 11 passes for 23yards.

"We knew they were going to come after us and that Crespi was going to be physical, but it was still a little confusing," Riley said. "Our offensive line fought hard, and we will learn from our mistakes."

Crespi also scored Kevin Cummings' 38-yard reception, Chris Carter's 1-yard touchdown and Christian Nastos' field goals of 37 and 23 yards.

"This was our best team effort of the season," Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross said. "I was happy, but we can still play better."

Cummings scored Crespi's first touchdown, breaking free at the last moment in the end zone on a long pass down the left sideline.

On Crespi's next possession, the Celts drove 50 yards on eight plays, as Bennett completed five passes for 59yards, including a 22-yarder to McKibbins, and Chris Carter scored on a 1-yard run.

Crespi overcame 85 penalty yards.

In the first half, Crespi outgained the Golden Knights 226-30, as Riley was held to 19 yards on nine carries.

McKibbins finished with 79 yards on four carries. Pierce Richardson added four receptions for 68 yards, and Cummings had four receptions for 65 yards.

By Jeremy Balan, Daily News Correspondent

ENCINO - With only 123 yards of total offense, visiting St. Francis High School fell to Crespi in a nonleague game on Friday night.

The Crespi offense was as efficient as St. Francis (5-2) was faulty.

Celts quarterback Bryan Bennett threw for 206 yards on 14-of-17 passing, all in the first half.

Bennett connected with receiver Kevin Cummings on a 32-yard score early in the second quarter and Crespi (6-1) added two field goals and a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Chris Carter to take a 20-0 lead at the half.

Bennett returned for only one play in the third quarter, when he handed the ball off to running back Jeremiah McKibbins for a 62-yard touchdown run.

St. Francis running back Dietrich Riley ran for 53 yards on 19 carries.

"The only positive thing (coming out of this game) is that everyone seems to be healthy going into league," St. Francis coach Jim Bonds said. "We have a lot to work on, but we played a darn good football team."

By Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News

PREP FOOTBALL: Quarterback rushes and passes for TD for Celts.

VALENCIA - Crespi High of Encino has fashioned its offense around running backs Jeremiah McKibbins, Brad Lattanzio and Rhasheed Johnson this season.

Quarterback Bryan Bennett gave the Celts a fourth option in a 37-14 nonleague victory over Saugus at College of the Canyons on Friday night.

The junior's 80-yard touchdown run at the start of the third quarter helped visiting Crespi (4-1) pull away against Saugus (2-3).

Leading 7-0 on the first series of the second half, Bennett scrambled 80 yards for a score on a broken play. He had dropped back but bolted up the middle and then zig-zagged down the left sideline on a play that consumed 15 seconds to give the Celts a 14-0 lead in the opening minute of the second half.

"It was a pass play and I got out of the pocket and just tried to see what I could do," Bennett said. "It ended up well."

Crespi extended its lead to 17-0 just over three minutes later on a 26-yard field goal by Christian Nastos with 8:26 to play. Saugus never got any closer than 10 points thereafter.

Crespi scored five of its six touchdowns on running plays. The other came on a 51-yard pass from Bennett to Blake Stanton in the first quarter for the only score by either team in the first half.

Bennett led Crespi on the ground with 85 yards on three carries. He also completed 9 of 16 passes for 183 yards. McKibbins, Lattanzio and Johnson each rushed for a touchdown. Stanton caught six passes for 124 yards.

McKibbins, a senior, had 76 yards in 11 carries after just one carry for two yards in the first half. Johnson picked up 74 yards in eight carries, scoring on a 37-yard run in the final minute. Lattanzo scored on an 8-yard run in the third quarter that gave Crespi a 24-7 lead with 10 mintues to play.

"We have solid three running backs and we rotate them enough so they can stay fresh and go hard every time," Bennett said.

Crespi, which had two weeks to prepare for Saugus after a bye last week, bottlenecked the Saugus running game. Running back Ryan Zirbel was limited 21 yards in 13 carries.

Saugus quarterback Desi Rodriguez had 41 yards in 13 carries. Rodriguez completed 15 of 25 passes for 192 yards, including 10 for 137 yards to Manny Padron. Padron had only four catchess on the season before Friday night's breakthrough.

"Having a week helped our defense prepare for that offense," Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross said. "Offensively, we're still trying to get better. Maybe we need to stop trying so many things and do what we're good at."

1. Notre Dame (3-0): Leapfrogs Serra League rival Crespi

2. Crespi (3-1): Bye week comes at good time after ugly loss to St. Bonnie

3. Oaks Christian (4-0): Train keeps a-rollin' all night long

4. Alemany (3-0): RB Malcolm Marable (240 yards, 3 TDs) had game of his life

5. Saugus (2-1): Needs to get a lot better vs. Notre Dame

6. Newbury Park (3-0): Defense is saving the Panthers

7. Thousand Oaks (3-0): No one can stop T.O.'s running game

8. Valencia (2-1): Should win next two before league starts

9. Palmdale (2-1): Weaknesses exposed in loss to Valencia

10. Westlake (2-1): QB Ben Conlin injured in win over Hart

11. Taft (3-0): Lots and lots of speed

12. Hart (1-2): When is last time Hart fell out of top 10?

13. Moorpark (2-1): Showdown vs. Newbury Park in league opener

14. St. Francis (3-0): Everyone should get into act vs. Rio Mesa

15. Agoura (2-1): School spirit is sky high heading into league play

16. Birmingham (0-4): At some point, two-time City champ will win a game

17. Canyon (2-2): QB Adamczyk: 317 yards, two TDs in loss to T.O.

18. Quartz Hill (3-0): Has defeated three soft opponents by average of 38 points

19. Harvard-Westlake (2-0-1): Huge test vs. Alemany

20. Royal (2-1): Two impressive wins in a row

October 7, 2008
For the meet at Crescenta Valley Park under ideal running weather, cloudy skies and eventually rained on the final races of the day. The Crespi Cross Country Team did an excellent job.  Some of the highlights of the day:

Varsity Men:
Willy MacMiller came in 3rd with a time of 16:57 on the 3 mile course.  Willy received a trophy for being of the top ten to finish.  The varisty men missed 3rd place by 1 point!   The Varisty team consisted of  Willy MacMiller, J.J. Grube, Daniel Arteaga, Jonathan Nery, Kevin Ryan, Matthew Jodziewicz and Matthew Casalenuovo.  They did an excellend job!!

JV Men:
JV scored and took home the 3rd Place trophy.  The JV team consisted of  Tony Kratz, Alex Milojkovich, Benjamin Calove, Scott Detweiller, Kevin Wenzel and Kyle Jacobson. Tony, Alex and Benjamin each received a trophy for finishing in the top 15.

Sophomore Men:
The sophomores took 5th place with a score of  97 points.  There was a tie for 3rd place with each team scoring 96 points; it was decided by the 6th runner to determine the 3rd & 4th place winner.  The sophomore team consisted of Edward Bonilla, Shane MacMiller, Zane Fulkerson, Benjamin Schaffels, Levine Chin and Brian Hopton.    Edward and Shane each  took home a trophy for their efforts for being on the top 15.

For the Freshman,  we did not have 5 men  to make a team but we had 3 runners that ran like champions. They were  Nick Privitelli,  Devin Barjus and Jacob Acevedo. Nick Privitelli took 1st place with a time of 18.24!!!  He proudly took home a trophy for his outstanding race.

Celts give up game's first 31 points in loss to St. Bonaventure

By Gerry Gittelson L.A. Times Staff Writer

VENTURA - With so much returning talent and momentum, the prospect of losing a football game never occurred to Crespi High of Encino.

But that's what happened Friday, as Crespi surrendered the first 31 points and was defeated 31-14 by St. Bonaventure of Ventura in a showdown between two of California's top programs at Ventura High.

Crespi (3-1), which advanced to the Pac-5 Division final last season, managed just 298 yards - nearly half of which was accumulated in the final five minutes as the Celts scored a couple of inconsequential touchdowns.

Crespi quarterback Bryan Bennett, who totaled seven touchdown passes over the first three games, completed just 9 of 26 for 76 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Bennett's final pass was intercepted by Kody Kurtz and returned 38 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-0.

That was it for Bennett. He was replaced by Dusty Kramer, who orchestrated two touchdown drives in the final five minutes.

The loss avenged a 25-9 victory last season by Crespi over the Seraphs, who lead the series 4-1.

USC-bound Patrick Hall rushed for 146 yards on four carries, scoring on runs of 53 and 82 yards. He also had an interception on defense, as defending Northern Divison champion and CIF State Div. III Bowl champion St.Bonaventure forced four turnovers.

Ranked No. 2 in the Pac-5, Crespi got off to a shaky start, fumbling away a fair catch on its own 13 that led to Derek Kirk's 28-yard field goal twominutes into the game.

The next time St. Bonaventure touched the balll, Hall scored on a 53-yard touchdown run to make it 10-0.

Crespi's next four possessions ended with a punt, an interception, then two more punts, as the Celts remained down by 10 at halftime.

Crespi totaled just 82 yards in the first half, as Bennett was 5 of 14 for 41yards, including two completions and an interception over his final 11attempts.

Rasheed Johnson, a third-string sophomore, led Crespi with 32 yards rushing on six carries, scoring on a 19-yard run and a 12-yard reception from Kramer, who was 5 of 6 for 47 yards.

St. Bonaventure's Logan Meyer completed 8 of 15 for 112 yards.

Crespi has more difficult opponents ahead, beginning with Saugus High next Friday at College of the Canyons.

One of the biggest impact players behind Crespi's 3-0 start has been WR/DB Kevin Cummings. On Friday, Cummings scored on a 31-yard interception return and on a 65-yard pass from QB Bryan Bennett in Crespi's 21-20 victory over visiting Servite.

Here's what Cummings had to say about his big night.

-- Austin Knoblauch, L.A. Times

Crespi's Bryan Bennett was another guy who played a leading role in the Celts' 21-20 victory over visiting Servite on Friday night. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 261 yards and two TDs. It seems this kid gets better every time I see him play.

Of course, the Friars didn't let him have too easy of a night. A second-half interception by Bijon Samoodi coupled by the Celts inability to run out the clock on their last possession added up to some pretty harrowing times for the junior QB.

Click here for Bennett's take on the game.

-- Austin Knoblauch, L.A. Times

Celts win, 21-20

From L.A. Times Staff Reports

Junior quarterback Bryan Bennett completed 11 of 21 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Kevin Cummings scored two touchdowns, the first of which came on a 31-yard interception return, to push Encino Crespi (3-0), ranked No. 4 by The Times, to a 21-20 victory over visiting No. 6 Anaheim Servite (2-1) on Friday night.

Servite quarterback Cody Fajardo connected on 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Teammate Greg Portis rushed for 164 yards. Southern Methodist-bound kicker Michael Loftus missed a 57-yard field-goal attempt for Servite as time expired, as the Friars suffered their second loss to Crespi in less than a year.

By Jon Gold Special to the Daily News

Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross appeared to have a big sense of his relief, as his face was frozen, his shoulders were slumped, his head was down.

His Celts had just pulled out a 21-20 victory over visiting Servite as a 57-yard field goal attempt by Friars kicker Michael Loftus fell three yards short.

Finally, Ross exhaled.

"It's one of those things of checks and balances," Ross said. "We had opportunities, they had opportunities. Fortunately, breaks bounced our way like that. Sometimes breaks go back and forth like that."

Particularly on a blown PAT after Servite's last score.

Friars running back Willie Matthews scored from a yard out with 2:33 left, but on the ensuing PAT attempt the snap squirted on the ground past the holder's hands, continuing 30 yards back until kicker Nicholas Echeverry corralled it. He was immediately tackled by a Crespi defender.

"We had our opportunities, and we'll learn from this," Servite coach Troy Thomas said. "I think we should've won that game, though."

They had a chance at the end.

Rather than attempt a Hail Mary into the end zone, Thomas opted to let Loftus attempt the long kick. As it fell short, Thomas just smiled, shook his head and slapped his hands.

"The kid's got a bomb, man," Thomas said. "The kid can kick it. We gave him a shot, and he almost hit it. Would've been nice, though, huh?"

The missed kick and muffed snap were only two of the Friars big lapses.

Crespi got two long touchdown passes from Bryan Bennett, a 65-yard connection to Kevin Cummings in the second quarter and a 50-yard toss to Mikio Island in the third quarter. On both plays, the Servite defense collapsed in the middle.

On the 50-yard touchdown to Island, Bennett - who finished 10 of 18 passing for 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception -hit the senior receiver in stride.

"Our team knew we had to make big plays to beat this Servite team," Island said. "Coach said it all day, `Play big, play with your heart and have pride. Bennett put it right on point. I concentrated on the ball, and I had to catch it, so that's what I did. Catch it and burst, catch it and burst, just like we did in track."

Cummings, meanwhile, had to battle a little more for his touchdown reception. Cummings, who had an interception return for a touchdown on the fourth pay of the game, caught the Bennett pass off a Serviter defender's shoulder pads and dragged the defender four yards before crossing the goal line.

"He's a great kid, and he made some big-time throws against the pressure," Ross said of Bennett. "We've got to keep getting better with him. Their job obviously was to stop the run tonight, and we had to get some throws with Bryan."

Bryan Bennett couldn't have expected to play much for Crespi last year. In reality, there wasn't a real need for the sophomore to see the field, not with Kevin Prince around as the team's quarterback. But when the Celts' starter went down with an injury in the first game of the season, guess whose number was called ...

Go ahead an give yourself a pat on the back if you said Bennett.

Remarkably enough, the inexperienced signal-caller filled in admirably, leading Crespi to an impressive postseason run. Nearly 12 months later, the 6-foot-3 and 175-pound junior has taken over the leadership role for the Celts and heads into his first real test of the season Friday against Birmingham with plenty of confidence.   

With senior teammates such as Austin Shanks, E.J. Woods and Joseph Fauria around to help during his trial run a season ago, Bennett didn't have to do much. Making the spectacular play wasn't necessary. However, playing within himself and making the smart play was necessary. These numbers indicate he did the job well.

His efforts didn't go unnoticed by Division I scouts. Several high-profile programs have been in contact with him recently, including Notre Dame, UCLA and USC. Needless to say, all eyes will be on Bennett against the Patriots, a City Section power. And I have a feeling he'll do just fine with a year of on-the-job training underneath his belt.

-- Sean Ceglinsky, L.A. Times

By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News Staff Writer

In a showdown Friday between two of the San Fernando Valley's top high school football programs, Crespi of Encino reigned supreme with a 31-0 victory over Birmingham of Lake Balboa in front of about 4,200 at Crespi.

Crespi (2-0), which finished as the Pac-5 Division runner-up last year and has won two section titles over the past four years and three overall, proved a much more fluid team than Birmingham, which has won five upper-division City titles, including four over the past six seasons.

The Celts dominated up front with superior blocking and a fierce pass rush, and they were more successful in taking advantage of opportunities and avoiding costly mistakes.

The loss was Birmingham's second in two games. The first was a one-point upset against Garfield of L.A. that ended on a controversial call, but there was no doubt about this one.

The Patriots, rebuilding after losing many key players to graduation, are not the same team this season after finishing 13-1 a year ago.

Crespi, which was the only team to defeat Birmingham last year, has a lot more returning talent, and it showed. Quarterback Bryan Bennett completed 8of 14 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns - including TD passes of 17 yards to Blake Stanton, 37 yards to Kevin Cummings and 51 yards to Mikio Island. Jeremiah McKibbins added 83 yards on 11 carries, including a 9-yard touchdown run.

Birmingham committed four turnovers, three in first half. Morey Croson completed 8 of 19 for 138yards. Trajuan Briggs added 99yards on 21 carries.

Birmingham started nervously, as its first three drives ended with a lost fumble on its own 20, a fumbled punt snap on its own 20, and then a lost fumble in the end zone.

Following Birmingham's second turnover, Crespi cashed in two plays later with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to Stanton, who faked out several defenders near the goal line.

Birmingham had a prime opportunity to tie the score, but Briggs fumbled just as he was about to score on a 4-yard run, and Cummings recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

On the ensuing series, Crespi's Brad Lattanzio had runs of 24 and 21 yards, and three plays later Bennett threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Cummings. Kahlil Bass' two-point conversion run on a quick snap made it 15-0.

Birmingham did not record a first down on its next two possessions, but had a good chance to score in the closing minutes of the first half after recovering a fumble on the Crespi 35. The Patriots drove to the 6, but Croson was tackled at the 2 while trying to scramble as the halftime clock ran out.

Croson had difficulty handling Crespi's blitzing defense. He was sacked just once but was constantly chased out of the pocket, finishing the first half 6 for 12 for 89 yards.

Cummings makes big plays on offense and defense to lead Encino Crespi
From Staff Reports, L.A. Times

Kevin Cummings was seemingly all over the field during Encino Crespi's 31-0 inter-sectional victory over Lake Balboa Birmingham on Friday night at Crespi.

The 6-foot-1 senior recovered a Trajuan Briggs fumble in the second quarter, thwarting a Birmingham drive.

He scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass play from Bryan Bennett on the ensuing drive to give Crespi, ranked No. 5 in the Southland by The Times, a 15-0 lead at halftime.

Any comeback hopes the Patriots might have had were spoiled by Cummings when he intercepted a Morey Croson pass to open the second half.

Cummings rarely came off the field, even making a couple of tackles on special teams. On offense, he provided some timely downfield blocks for Jeremiah McKibbins and finished with two receptions for 62 yards.

By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News Prep Football Columnist

After opening with two impressive football victories, including a 31-0 win Friday over two-time City champion Birmingham of Lake Balboa, Crespi High of Encino (2-0) gets serious this Friday with a much-anticipated showdown against visiting Servite of Anaheim (1-0) in a rematch of last year's Pac-5 Division semifinal, won by Crespi in overtime.

Adding to the intrigue is the return of Servite coach Troy Thomas, a Crespi alum who coached the Celts from 2001-04, winning a section title in his final season.

"We're going to have some tough practices so we'll really be on point," said Crespi quarterback Bryan Bennett, who has five TD passes in two games. "If we do what I think we can do, we'll get 'em, but we've got to work hard because Servite is a good team."

Meanwhile, Crespi continues to unravel eligibility issues, as the transfers of Brandon Graves from Los Alamitos and Sergio Sylvestre from St. Bernard of Playa del Ray have been contested by their respective schools, and neither has been cleared.

Graves, who caught 31 passes as a sophomore at Los Alamitos, has been relegated to the JV team while awaiting an appeal. He scored four long touchdowns Thursday in a JV victory over Birmingham.

Sylvestre, an offensive lineman, is a 6-foot-8, 385-pound project-type who said Friday he is hoping to be cleared this week.

"I thought I was going to be all approved a week ago, but then I heard St. Bernard sent a letter to the CIF," Sylvestre said.

Miscues have absolutely killed Birmingham early on in Friday's game against host Crespi, ranked No. 5 in the Southland by The Times. And if the Patriots continue with the mistakes it could end up being a very long night.

A fumbled snap and a muffed punt gave the Celts great field position on two occasions, the second of which they cashed in when Bryan Bennett passed to Blake Stanton on a 17-yard play to give Crespi a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.   

-- Sean Ceglinsky, L.A. Times

Kevin Cummings was seemingly all over the field during Crespi's 31-0 nonleague victory over Birmingham on Friday night. And there was nothing the Patriots could do to prevent the 6-foot-1 senior from making big play after big play, on both sides of the ball, no less.

He was responsible for the game's first momentum-changing sequence. In the second quarter, Cummings recovered a Trajuan Briggs fumble, thwarting a Birmingham drive. He then scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Bennett on the subsequent drive to give Crespi a 15-0 lead at halftime.

Any comeback hopes the Patriots might have had were spoiled by Cummings, who intercepted a Morey Croson pass to open the second half. Jeremiah McKibbins essentially put the game away minutes later with a 10-yard touchdown run for the Celts, ranked No. 5 in the Southland by The Times.

Cummings rarely came off the field. He even pitched in with a couple of tackles on special teams. Offensively, he provided some timely downfield blocks for McKibbins and finished with a pair of receptions for 62 yards.

-- Sean Ceglinsky, L.A. Times

By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News Staff Writer

Crespi High of Encino's football team and its dynamic young quarterback, Bryan Bennett, feel as if they're onto something special, and they might be right.

The Celts (1-0), a Pac-5 Division finalist last season, are ranked No.1 by the Daily News heading into tonight's showdown against two-time City Section champion Birmingham of Lake Balboa (0-1), and no team is more heavily stacked with young talent than Crespi. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Crespi.

Bennett was an emergency replacement last season when starting quarterback Kevin Prince (now at UCLA) went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 against Birmingham. Then a sophomore, Bennett responded by leading the Celts to a 20-6 victory over the Patriots that night - a loss that would eventually cost Birmingham a berth in the CIF State Division I Bowl championship.

Bennett passed for 2,133 yards and 17touchdowns, leading Crespi to victories over state powers St. Bonaventure of Ventura, St.Paul of Santa Fe Springs, Loyola of L.A., Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, Mater Dei of Santa Ana and Servite of Anaheim before the Celts lost 13-3 to Long Beach Poly on a muddy field in the Pac-5 title game at Home Depot Center.

Under Bennett's leadership, Crespi finished 11-3 and came within one victory of an almost-certain state bowl berth after going 6-5in 2006.

"Bryan had to kind of grow up in the limelight, and he has done a great job," Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross.

One thing about the limelight: Bennett likes it, and he wants to remain there. He has continued to progress and is bigger (6-foot-3, 180 pounds), stronger and more accurate.

Bennett is part of a group of juniors and sophomores who figure to make a vital impact as Crespi looks to build a dynasty.

Among the other top underclassmen are receivers Blake Stanton and Devin Lucien, sophomore running back Rasheed Johnson, linemen Hroniss Grasu, Ben Loth and Michael Mitchell, defensive back Kevin Williams, tight end Pierce Richardson and sophomore defensive lineman Reggie Coates; all have the talent to eventually play major-college football.

"We definitely do have a lot of really good juniors," Bennett said. "I think it's good for us to have a good young class so we can keep building for next year."

Added Stanton: "The junior class is strong. We're the dominant part of the team."

Bennett and Stanton (32 receptions last year) continue to bond, working together when they have free time so they'll know what the other is doing - and thinking - at all times.

"We've got a lot more chemistry than we had in the past - on and off the field," Stanton said. "I know the routes better, and Bryan has his timing down. We work hard and take extra reps after practice."

Both play multiple sports. Bennett runs track, and Stanton is a top basketball player.

"Blake is a phenomenal athlete. He was a go-to guy last year, and he's a go-to guy this year," Bennett said. "We've spent the whole summer together, hanging out a lot on the weekends, and we've become better friends. That carries over to the football field."

Crespi also has a group of top seniors such as receiver Kevin Cummings, running back Jeremiah McKibbins, linebackers Chris Carter and Khalil Bass, defensive back Mikio Island and kicker Christian Nastos, so there's a nice mixture.

For a second there, Ross almost cracked a smile.

"I've got a lot of good kids, but there is still a lot of work to be done," Ross said. "I think we need to tackle better and to block better, but I'm happy to have so many great kids. I just tell them to focus, and I try to help these young men learn the game."

By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News prep sports columnist

It's been a year since Crespi of Encino's 20-6 victory over Birmingham of Lake Balboa that all but ruined the eventual City Section-champion Patriots' chances of qualifying for a CIF State Div. Bowl berth.

The rematch is Friday night at Crespi, and perhaps some of the luster has been removed because Birmingham lost its season opener Thursday, a shocking 29-28 upset to Garfield of L.A.

But Blake Stanton, Crespi's standout receiver, doesn't think so.

"Maybe in the back of our minds that's what some of us were thinking, but Birmingham has always been known for coming back strong after the first week," Stanton said. "We've got to stay focused and play hard no matter who we're playing. Plus, it's our first game on our new field, so it's all good."

By Jon Gold, Special to the Daily News

Welcome to the future, where football prototypes are built with powerful arms, laser eyes and lightning feet.

And that's just on the high school level.

Just in our region alone, high school football programs churn out future college and NFL players on a yearly basis. The proof is easy enough to find - just scan the rosters of teams from the Pac-10 to the Big 12 conferences and you'll find enough players from the Daily News coverage area to field a team worthy of any in the country.

In the past, we've honored the best of the best by selecting a postseason Daily News All-Area team. Last year we took it a step further by putting together our first-ever preseason All-Area team.

When we gathered to choose this year's preseason All-Area team, we got to thinking.

How cool would it be if we could combine all the great individual talents of our best players to build two Ultimate Daily News Football Players, one for offense, the other defense?

First step: Assembling the parts.

Some attributes were easy; it wouldn't be the ultimate offensive football player without a throwing arm. Enter Crespi's Brian Bennett, who threw for 17 touchdowns in 2007 as a sophomore, while leading the Celts to the Southern Section Pac-5 Division title game.

Running backs Malcolm Jones of Oaks Christian and Ryan Zirbel of Saugus were tabbed early as the hips and eyes of the Ultimate Football Player, after each ran for more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last year.

Likewise, wide receivers De'Von Flournoy of Birmingham and Blake Stanton of Crespi were easy sells as the ultimate hands and speed guy, respectively.

Perhaps the most appropriate selection was Matt Goudis' foot. Chaminade's sophomore kicker made seven-of-eight field goals as a freshman, including a game-winner against Canyon.

Defensively, the Daily News had little trouble, as certain positions lend themselves directly to specific skills.

Fastest? That would be a defensive back; namely, Taft junior cornerback D.J. Morgan, who can stick with the speediest wide receivers in the country.

Strongest? Naturally, a defensive lineman; Moorpark's Corey Sandoval fits the bill.

Smartest? Typically a linebacker; say hello to Hart's Demetri Diamond.

But some designations were a little harder to come by.

Most inspirational, AKA biggest mouth? Without being in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage, it was difficult to find the truly talkative teammates.

But then we put the camera on Birmingham of Lake Balboa offensive lineman Timote Tonga and we were sold. You'll likely agree by checking out his video - and the entire Ultimate Daily News Football player - at Dailynews.com/sports.

Ultimately, this ultimate football player takes only one aspect of each particular athlete.

But don't be mistaken: Chris Coyle, Oaks Christian's star tight end, checks in at strongest arms, but very easily could be the heart of the team. Sebastian Valenzuela of Burroughs is the brains of the offensive operation, but very well could be the legs, too.

In general, each attribute is itself an attribute to the player selected. The 2008 Daily News All-Area team is an honor bestowed upon only the top players in the region. Each said that it took hard work and dedication to earn the selection; we think it took a bit of talent as well.

Crespi finds a running back
Eric Sondheimer, L.A. Times

One question for Crespi's football team was who would help replace the graduated Austin Shanks, a speedy running back from last season's Pac-5 Division runner-up team.

The answer came on Saturday night in the form of Jeremiah McKibbins, who rushed for 119 yards and scored one touchdown in the Celts' 30-13 victory over Layton (Utah) Northridge in St. George, Utah. Quarterback Bryan Bennett also scored two touchdowns.

Crespi Records Historic Win with Two Big Plays
By Paul V. Rawate, Crespi Public Relations

Late Saturday night, the Crespi Celts became the first team outside of Utah to win a game in the “Utah vs. the Nation” High School Football Classic. The 30-13 victory over the Northridge Knights of Utah was not easily earned by the Celts. The Celts really showed some first game jitters by committing 119 yards in penalties and three fumbles, while the Knights looked a little more seasoned coming off a victory from the previous week. However, the Celts resolve was stronger than the Knights as Crespi held a half time lead of 16-13. After a scoreless third quarter, the Celts blew the game wide open in the 4th quarter with two big plays. The first was a blocked punt and 38 yard touchdown return. After the defense held on 4th down, the Celts ripped off a 45 yard run to ice the game.

For detailed stats please click on the link below.
http://community.icontact.com/p/crespi/blogs/crespi-football-in-utah2/posts/the-celts-ready-for-action-in-st-george-utah?page=2

Football player Ben Loth ends up a good fit at Crespi High: An all-boys Catholic school may seem an unlikely place for the Jewish offensive tackle, but Loth flourishes at Crespi and is emerging as a big-time college prospect.
Eric Sondheimer

Once a month, Ben Loth, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound offensive tackle, defies conventional wisdom by attending mass at Encino Crespi High.

He sits respectfully as teammates take communion and listens intently as a priest reads passages from the Old Testament in Hebrew scripture.

It's a mandatory requirement to attend mass at the all-boys Catholic school, and Loth finds a way to fit in even though everyone knows he's Jewish.

"Crespi has been very accommodating," he said. "You go to mass and be respectful."

Although his father, David, is a part-time cantor, educational and athletic opportunities persuaded Loth to try the Catholic high school experience, and he's flourishing while maintaining his Jewish identity.

Besides his 3.4 grade-point average, he has become a giant presence on the football field, using his size-16 feet and growing strength to emerge as a big-time college prospect entering his junior season, which begins tonight in St. George, Utah, when Crespi faces Layton (Utah) Northridge in its season opener.

"When it's all said and done, he'll be playing on Saturdays in big games," Coach Jeremiah Ross said.

What's startling about Loth is that he's still in the infancy of his football career, having never played the sport until the day he showed up at Crespi as a freshman because he was always too big.

"I had never put on a pair of shoulder pads in my life," he said.

It was a challenging first season playing for the freshman team. Plenty of times he didn't know what he was doing.

"There was a big learning curve. The first few games, I was kind of lost in the clouds," he recalled. "Toward the end, I started to get it."

Last season, he started all 14 games for a varsity team that lost to Long Beach Poly, 13-6, in the Pac-5 Division championship game.

That was the game Loth faced his most talented opponent, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, a 6-1, 280-pound senior who helped give Loth a preview of what he might encounter at the next level. Casey is now a freshman at USC.

"It was the only time I felt myself moving more than I like to be," he said. "We'd down-block on him, and he was very difficult to move. It was a good experience. I learned tons in that game. It was the fact I have to work that much harder. I learned you got to hit him before he hits you because if you're the aggressor, you're going to be in better position. If you're the one getting hit, usually you'll be the one going down."

All summer, whether spending time in the weight room or working on blocking techniques on the practice field, Loth focused on doing the little things that separate good players from average players.

He'd show up on time, listen to his coach's instructions, test himself to the limit and give that extra drive when he got tired.

It all fits in with his makeup of constantly seeking knowledge, doing his best and being respectful at all times

"We have very strong morals in my family," he said. "It's important. It's just something we do naturally. You don't do the wrong thing. You present yourself well, you're courteous, you're nice to people."

Except on the football field. There, he changes personality. Loth has come to love the sport because of the competition in the trenches.

"It's a punch, punch, drag-down, knockout battle," he said. "You have to improvise. That's why football is such a great sport. The whole line shifts and all of a sudden you're going someplace else. As long as you know what you're doing, even with the shift, you'll be fine."And the biggest thing is having all five guys on the line on the same page doing the same thing."

Any initial concerns Loth had about being Jewish and attending a Catholic school have vanished.

His religion teacher, Mike Suppan, said, "He might be more respectful than a lot of Catholics. It is a sensitive thing, and we try to be sensitive about other religions."

Among Crespi's student body of 600, the Jewish population is estimated at less than 30.

Several play football, and one of Loth's line teammates last season was Buddy Fishman, who used to joke with Loth "about having the right religion."

As for his son attending mass, Loth's father said, "I just told him to look at it as a history lesson."

David Loth is constantly receiving questions from friends wondering why his son is attending a Catholic school.

"They don't know what quite to make of it," he said.

The answer comes when watching Loth flatten a linebacker during a football game.

He's comfortable in all settings.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Statisticians and Managers needed for upcoming basketball season:

• Get community service hours
• Possibly get paid
• Travel with the team to games
• Get gear
• Work with Frosh, JV or Varsity team

See Coach White if interested.

FIRST TEAM
Tyler Johnson, Crespi, P, Sr. - Johnson was 10-0 with a 1.06 ERA to finish his three-year career 20-0, one of the few pitchers to Southern Section history never to lose a game. Johnson had a 1.06 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 66 innings.

SECOND TEAM
Sean Gilmartin, Crespi, UTIL
Jeremy Rodriguez, Crespi, C

HONORABLE MENTION
Ryan Hawthorne, Crespi, UTIL
Carlos Lopez, Crespi, INF

For a complete list of players, click here to be directed to the Daily News article.

Matthew closed out his career at Crespi with a remarkable 1016 kills over four years.  He also received Mission League M.V.P. this year.  Matthew will attend CSUN in the fall on a volleyball scholarship.

Sean Gilmartin, who was the closer for Crespi this season, was drafted as an outfielder by the San Diego Padres with the 945th overall selection Friday during Round 31of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.

Crespi alumni Brian Horwitz blasts the first homerun of his big league career for the San Francisco Giants on June 2, 2008.

By Chris Haft / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- This was a rare sort of victory for the Giants, one they could bask in like a hot tub.

Monday night's 10-2 decision lacked the scrambling and drama typical of most Giants conquests. They scored six first-inning runs off Mets starter Oliver Perez, whose one-third inning outing was the shortest of his career. Instead of lapsing into the inconsistency he displayed earlier in the season, Jonathan Sanchez pitched determinedly for seven innings, limiting the Mets to 2-for-9 hitting with runners in scoring position.

The Giants' triumph also featured personal achievements, making it easier for them to savor the afterglow.

Rookie left fielder Brian Horwitz, appearing in his third game and starting his second, concluded the big opening inning with his first Major League home run.

Having called his promotion to the Major Leagues "surreal" last week, Horwitz groped for synonyms after batting .500 (4-for-8) thus far.

"Unbelievable, extraordinary ... it's an out-of-body experience and I'm really enjoying it," said Horwitz, who obtained his home run ball from the fan who caught it by giving him an autographed bat.

Horwitz allowed himself a sense of satisfaction in implicit defiance of the "people who critique me" -- referring to the talent evaluators who branded him bereft of power for hitting 14 home runs in five Minor League seasons.

"When I get it, I get it, though," he said, referring to his no-doubt-about-it drive off Perez.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged Horwitz's reputed inability to hit the long ball, but added, "What he does do is go up there and give you quality at-bats. Since he's been up here, he's done that for us." Nevertheless, Horwitz is expected to return to the bench Tuesday night as left-handed-batting Fred Lewis returns to the lineup against Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez.

Another Giant who could celebrate not only the win but also himself after defying the experts was catcher Bengie Molina, who collected career hit No. 1,000 with a second-inning single. Molina went 3-for-4, including a first-inning RBI single and a seventh-inning single in a two-run uprising that ended San Francisco's scoring.

"It means a lot to me," Molina said of his milestone. "It's like most of the guys hitting 3,000. I know and I understand I'm not a superstar. I understand I'm not a Hall of Famer. But to get a thousand hits -- for a guy who wasn't supposed to sign [professionally], then I signed for $1,000 [bonus], $750 after taxes, for a guy who wasn't supposed to make it in the Minor Leagues, for being the slowest guy in the world -- it's really an honor for me."

For the Giants as a whole, simply winning was enough. They secured a second consecutive victory at home, where they own a 13-17 record, for only the fourth time this season.

"We've had our struggles at home, so it's good to win two in a row, I'll say that," Bochy said.

Sanchez (4-3) also has won two in a row, which isn't an aberration. Since working five innings or fewer in five of his first eight starts and allowing seven runs in two of them, he's 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his last four outings. The Giants are 9-3 when Sanchez pitches, matching Tim Lincecum for tops on the staff (San Francisco is 8-3 in Lincecum's starts and won the April 2 game in which he relieved for four innings).

Sanchez loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning but ended the threat by slipping a called third strike past Fernando Tatis, one of eight strikeouts the left-hander amassed. But what has distinguished Sanchez lately is his knack for escaping such jams without needing to fan hitters.

Adding a sinker -- and maturity -- has helped Sanchez progress.

"When he's pitching in traffic, he's keeping his composure and making his pitches," Bochy said. "He is much, much improved in that area. That's the difference. He would start overthrowing a little bit, but he has gotten out of that. He's pitching."

Sanchez summarized matters simply: "I'm throwing my sinker and fastball and focusing on throwing strikes," he said.

Sanchez also contributed offensively by driving a two-run double off the base of the right-field wall in the sixth. But the Giants' fortunes essentially revolved around the first inning, which equaled their largest scoring inning of the season.

It began with Winn's homer, the first by a Giants leadoff batter this year and the 14th such homer of his career. One out later, Aaron Rowand doubled before Molina stroked his first hit. Rich Aurilia, who played his second game in a row with that pesky kidney stone still lodged in his bladder, walked. That set up Ray Durham's two-run double to left-center field.

Up came Horwitz, who belted Perez's 3-1 pitch over the left-center-field barrier.

Any big inning comes as a mild surprise for the Giants, who entered the game ranked 14th in the National League in scoring. But their windfall might have seemed especially atypical against Perez (4-4), who had limited opponents to a .200 average (17-for-85) in his first time through the lineup.

Then again, Perez now is 0-5 with a 7.07 ERA in nine career starts against San Francisco, including 0-3, 7.71 in five games at AT&T Park. Any way you crunched the numbers, the bottom line favored the Giants.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

By Erik Boal, Special to the Daily News

Expect Mark Watley to be running with a little extra motivation today.

Not only is the Crespi of Encino senior looking to avenge his only loss of the season at 400 meters when he takes on Long Beach Poly's Joey Hughes at the Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College, but the Arizona-bound standout is returning to the track following one of the most stressful weeks of his career.

Watley won the 400 final at the Div. III championship meet Saturday at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, only to learn later in the day that he was disqualified for apparently stepping on the lane line.

Crespi coach Jess Garner was informed Monday by Southern Section assistant commissioner Paul Castillo that a meet official had mistakenly disqualified Watley instead of Covina's Arieus Williams.

After reviewing the video of the race, Castillo allowed Watley to be reinstated for tonight's 400 showdown and the overturned disqualification gave the Celts enough points to overtake Orange Lutheran for the Div. III team title.

"I was going to be at Masters for the (400 and 1,600) relays, but it would've been weird to sit and watch them run the 400," Watley said. "I'm going to run well, I just know it. I'm going to focus on keeping my form and getting to state."

After losing to Hughes 46.97 to 47.29 on April 12 at the Arcadia Invitational, Watley has been awaiting a rematch. Hughes, the Div. I champion, boasts the top qualifying mark of 47.47. Watley is fifth at 48.16.

"(At Arcadia) I thought I had it, and he came up out of nowhere," Watley said. "But now I know how he runs. He's a strong finisher, so I've got to get out fast."

Watley will also try to help Crespi qualify for state in the 400 and 1,600 relays, with a healthy Austin Shanks improving their chances in the former after the Celts earned the final Masters qualifying spot (42.15).

By Jahmal Corner Special to the Daily News

BASEBALL: Costly errors lead to top-seeded Celts being upset by La Serna.

WHITTIER - Crespi of Encino picked the wrong time to start making errors.

The wrong game, the wrong inning, the wrong situation.

Two major miscues by the Celts' defense in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday turned out to be their undoing in a heartbreaking 7-6 loss at LaSerna of Whittier in the second round of the Southern Section Div. III playoffs.

With one out, and runners on first and third for the Lancers, top-seed Crespi led 6-5.

Celts reliever Ryan Hawthorne induced a ground ball from hitter Victor Soto, but a badly thrown ball to first base went well into foul territory and both runners came around to score. Branden Montoya came in for the winning run, sliding under a tag by catcher Jeremy Rodriguez.

Montoya reached base on a booted ball to begin with, sending Casey Serna to third.

"We've been playing catch all year. We had the guys on the mound we wanted, we just couldn't keep them from getting on base and scoring runs," Crespi coach Scott Muckey said.

The Lancers (20-8) were able to generate both of their runs in the seventh without the benefit of a hit.

Soto, La Serna's starting pitcher and the co-MVP of the Del Rio League, kept his team close by throwing six innings and 90 pitches.

"He's our guy, and he was big for us," La Serna coach Anthony Gonzales Jr. said. "We knew Crespi was a great team, and no one gave us a chance."

La Serna certainly made a statement early by taking a 2-0 edge in the first - helped by another throwing error.

Crespi (23-6) responded by batting around for five runs in the third, including a two RBI double by Ryon Healy.

A called balk on reliever Tyler Johnson led to a two RBI single by Soto to make it 5-4. The Lancers added one in the fifth to tie the score.

Sophomore Kevin Williams, who spent all year at the JV level, but replaced Carlos Lopez (suspended, running into the catcher) in the starting lineup in Crespi's first playoff game, was 2 for 3 and had a leadoff double in the seventh before scoring the go-ahead run.

"This game shouldn't have been close," Williams said. "We have one of the best teams sometimes bad things happen."

With Watley's victory in 400 reinstated, Celts score enough to edge Orange Lutheran. Watley qualifies for Masters meet Friday.

By Dan Arritt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Encino Crespi, which had been named the second-place finisher at the Southern Section-Toyota Division III boys' track and field finals Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College, was declared the team champion Monday when a runner who had been disqualified after his victory in the 400-meters race, was reinstated, the section announced.

Crespi senior Mark Watley had originally won the one-lap race, but it was later ruled he had stepped on a lane line, resulting in his disqualification and the loss of 10 team points. The Celts lost the team title by one point to Orange Lutheran.

However, it was determined Monday that Watley had been misidentified as the runner who stepped on the lane line, and his subsequent victory gave Crespi enough points to finish ahead of the Lancers.

With the ruling, Watley also earned a berth in the state-qualifying Southern Section Masters meet Friday at Cerritos College. Kivon Grant of Compton Dominguez, who had the final qualifying spot in the 400 for the Masters, will now be listed as an alternate.

dan.arritt@latimes.com

By Erik Boal, Special to the Daily News

The true outcome of Mark Watley's 400-meter race wasn't validated until almost 48 hours after he finished.

But that didn't make the celebration any less sweet for the Arizona-bound standout and his Crespi of Encino teammates.

After being told that he was disqualified Saturday following his victory in the Southern Section Div. III final at Mount San Antonio College for allegedly stepping on the lane line, coach Jess Garner notified Watley on Monday that not only was the decision overturned, but the points were enough to give Crespi its first track and field title since 1973.

"All day (Monday) I was thinking that I didn't step on the line and then coach (Garner) told us that one of the guys on the track made a mistake and it was such a relief," Watley said. "We worked hard for this all year and now we got it."

Even after Watley anchored Crespi to victory in the 1,600 relay Saturday, the Celts left Mount SAC believing they had lost by one poi