PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : SCORECARD / COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK 8 : A WELCOMED RETURN

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 29, 1994 12 AM PT

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It was Homecoming for Santa Margarita High, but no one received a better or more deserved welcome back than Darren Wedertz.

On Nov. 6, 1992, Wedertz, then a junior, was severely injured during a junior varsity football game. He suffered brain damage and spent two months in a coma. Exactly one year later he returned home from the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and on Friday, made his second appearance at an Eagles football game.

“He’s doing so much better,” said his mother, Charlene. “He can walk with a cane now and he wants to walk by Christmas. That might be a little soon but his goal is to go (snow) skiing.”

Darren said during the game he wished he could play football again but was happy to be back on the sidelines.

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY

Pacifica’s cheerleaders need to figure out what means more, the Beastie Boys or their football team.

The cheerleaders had a nifty dance routine choreographed to a medley by that raucous New York hip-hop trio, and they trotted it out at the end of the first quarter. But the routine kept going, and going, and going. Meanwhile, Covina Northview was driving as the second quarter began.

So while “Girls” played in the background, Northview’s Dalano Rhyne carried for 11 yards to the Pacifica three. Then, “Brass Monkey” was blaring as Rhyne carried to the one. Finally, Nathan Romero scored during “Hold It Now,” cutting Pacifica’s lead to 14-7.

Pacifica won the game, 34-14.

ON THE RECORD

“People came down here again to watch us lose . . . but we’re still here.”

--Tony Hartley, Los Alamitos wide receiver, after the Griffins defeated Esperanza, 35-32, in front of 10,000 fans at Long Beach Veterans Stadium Thursday. The victory extended Los Alamitos’ unbeaten streak to 43 games.

LOOKING AHEAD

The playoff picture should begin to solidify next week.

Canyon plays Villa Park Thursday at El Modena High in a game that could decide second place in the Century League.

Kennedy defends its hold on first place in the Empire League Thursday, when the Fighting Irish play host to El Dorado at Western High.

The inaugural Golden West League title is up for grabs Friday night at Cal State Fullerton, where Servite plays host to Westminster.

Only Woodbridge has been mathematically eliminated from the title hunt in the Sea View League, where, as usual, every game figures to be key this week.

Fountain Valley still has a shot--albeit a very long one--at the Sunset League title; however, the Barons end with No. 1 Los Alamitos on Thursday and Esperanza the following week.

A FOND FAREWELL

After the game against Sonora Friday, Troy Coach John Turek caught a 1:15 a.m. flight to Texas to attend Parents Day at Baylor, where his daughter, Lindsay, attends.

Asked about Turek’s departure, Troy defensive coordinator Dane Ilertsen said, “It should make for a long day for John, depending how the game goes. . . . but it will be fun for us (coaches and players) when we watch the game films Saturday without him.”

A JUMP START

The start of the Ocean View-Santa Ana game was delayed 15 minutes Friday. The Saints’ team bus was held up in a police barricade around a drive-by shooting en route to Friday’s game at Huntington Beach High.

ON THE RECORD

“At this point, Savanna is the team to beat. And if we can beat the team to beat, that makes us the team to beat.”

--Jon Looney, Brea-Olinda coach, commenting before his Wildcats’ 24-20 victory Friday.

HOW TOP 10 FARED

Results of games involving teams in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll:

1. Los Alamitos (8-0)

beat Esperanza (5-3), 35-32, Thursday.

2. Mater Dei (8-0)

beat Capistrano Valley (4-3), 31-3.

3. Esperanza (5-3)

lost to Los Alamitos (7-1), 35-32, Thursday

4. Newport Harbor (8-0)