SIDELINES : Football Express and ‘Diesel’ Turn in Performances of Note

The boys in the band at Harvard-Westlake High include a quarterback, a linebacker and a former defensive end. As one would imagine, the members of “Diesel,” an alternative rock ‘n’ roll quartet, can bang some heads. In more ways than one.

Linebacker Mike Seid sings and quarterback Derek Lemkin plays guitar. They both scramble from football drills to band practice on weekdays, then search for weekend gigs after games. The group also includes UCLA student Danny Abdelmalak, a former Harvard lineman, on drums and another Harvard student who plays guitar.

“It’s kind of a mix of everything,” Lemkin said. “Everything from rock ‘n’ roll to Bob Dylan to grunge.”

So far, so good--in both endeavors. The Wolverines are 2-1-1 after whipping Calabasas last week, 56-26. Lemkin was in tune, passing for 243 yards and four touchdowns.

What’s more, the band recently played at the Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip.

Said Lemkin: “If you know any football players who play bass, let me know.”

Slapped back: Chaminade High has a quarterback who doesn’t like his number being called.

Tom Racius, who calls signals for the Eagles’ football team, was ejected late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s 16-14 loss to Trabuco Hills for delivering a head slap to a defender.

Racius said he lashed out because the player repeatedly taunted him and deliberately tried to injure his knees.

“He kept saying, ‘Hey, 12. Hey, 12,’ ” Racius said. “I kept telling him to stay away from me.”

Instead, it will be Racius staying away--for one game. Southern Section rules stipulate an ejected player must sit out the next game.

Friends and family: In his first start at fullback for the Cal State Northridge football team, Darren Walton scored on a 71-yard run, caught a 52-yard scoring pass and gained 81 yards in three carries.

Not a bad outing, and especially timely because Walton spent a good deal of time before the game excitedly calling friends and relatives with the news he had cracked the lineup.

About 20 of them showed at the game, forming Walton’s own personal rooting section.

Title run: The Thousand Oaks High boys’ cross-country team has a chance to win a mythical national championship despite losing, 37-44, to top-ranked Kingwood (Tex.) in Saturday’s Southwestern University Invitational.

Second-ranked Thousand Oaks came close despite the performances by seniors Jeff Fischer and Kevin Marsden, who still are recovering from injuries. Fischer and Marsden, third and fifth in last year’s state Division I championships, finished 10th and ninth, respectively. They were more than 50 seconds behind fourth-place Keith O’Doherty, the Lancers’ top runner.

Assuming Fischer and Marsden regain form, the gap between them and O’Doherty should close and might be wiped out altogether, giving the Lancers a superb 1-2-3 punch and a great chance at winning their second consecutive state Division I title.

After that, it would be up to The Harrier magazine to determine No. 1.

Stats

Since switching positions two weeks ago, Burroughs quarterback Scott Boldvich has completed 22 of 41 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns, and receiver Mike Barrett has seven receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Record pace: After 11 matches, Jill Gallegos has 21 goals for the Cal Lutheran women’s soccer team. With eight regular-season matches left, Gallegos needs 16 goals to surpass the school single-season record, set in 1991 by Rachel Wackerman.

Quotebook

Ventura High football Coach Phil McCune, on preparing this week for Hueneme’s Ronney Jenkins, who has gained 586 yards in his last two games: “I don’t think anyone looks forward to facing Ronney Jenkins, but as long as you’re facing him, you have a chance. If you see his backside, you are in trouble.”

Honors

For the second time in three weeks, Northridge safety Joseph Vaughn was selected the American West Conference defensive player of the week.

Defensive end Ken Freitas, returning last week after missing two games because of a sprained ankle, recorded three sacks against Cal State Chico and was selected the Matadors’ defensive player of the week.

Two-time winner: Valley College quarterback Jim Arellanes was selected Western State Conference offensive player of the week--for the second time in four weeks--after completing 21 of 40 for 340 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-21 victory over Hancock.

Royal royalty: Setter Heidi Ferguson, a Royal High senior, was selected most valuable player in the Royal tournament last weekend after the Highlanders defeated Moorpark, 15-4, in the final.

Teammates Diana Detlof and Susan Torst were named to the all-tournament team, along with Shelly Crandall of Simi Valley, Lauren Brownson of Louisville, and Angela Ramirez and Amy Thomas of Moorpark.

Things to Do

Today, 2:45 p.m., Van Nuys High gymnasium. The Van Nuys girls’ volleyball team will play host to Sylmar in a matchup of undefeated Valley Pac-8 Conference teams. The top players are Sylmar outside hitter Mayra Ariza and Van Nuys setter Connie Chae.

Today, 4 p.m., Crescenta Valley High pool. Crescenta Valley, ranked fourth among Southern Section Division III teams, will play host to seventh-ranked Glendale in a water polo match between the top teams in the Pacific League.

*

Compiled by Mike Hiserman. Contributing: Steve Elling, Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus and John Ortega.