NOTEBOOK / GARY KLEIN : Bishop Amat Players Earn Rest After Title

Bishop Amat put the finishing touches on a perfect season Friday when the Lancers defeated Sylmar, 31-10, in the inaugural California Interscholastic Federation Reebok Bowl at Anaheim Stadium.

Bishop Amat, which defeated Loyola for the Southern Section Division I title, finished 15-0 under Coach Mark Paredes.

“To have an unbeaten season, a lot of things have to happen, and two of those things are good luck and players that come through at the right time,� Paredes said. “That was indicative of this team. We had different kids come through all year.�

Bishop Amat’s Southern Section title was its first since 1971.

“Every year we were stopped, there was a reason, and the main reason was that the other team was better than us,� Paredes said. “At the end of this (bowl) game, I told the kids: ‘We beat everyone they threw at us. We are the champions.’ �

In past years Bishop Amat players would begin their off-season weightlifting program two weeks after the end of the season. Not this year.

“We’ll ease into the weightlifting program, and I mean ease,� Paredes said. “The kids need a chance to recover from a long season. They earned it.�

Chris Morgan, a tight end for the Mt. San Antonio College football team, was selected as a national scholar athlete by the J.C. Grid Wire.

Morgan, a sophomore, caught 22 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns for the Mounties.

He has a 3.4 grade-point average as an engineering major.