HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

By PAIGE A. LEECH

Dec. 14, 1999 12 AM PT

Mother knows best. At least that’s what Kaelen Jakes of Valencia is hoping.

According to Jakes’ mother, Sandy Lassila, the prognosis is good for the Valencia defensive lineman, who injured his right knee on the second play of the Division III championship game Saturday. He sat out the rest of the game, won by Hart, 34-6.

Jakes, a 6-4, 250-pound junior, will have an MRI today.

But his mother is optimistic that her son will not require surgery.

“It really does look good,” Lassila said. “He’s not in any pain.”

That’s great news for the Vikings, who sorely missed Jakes against Hart, which uncharacteristically ran nearly a dozen quarterback draws to exploit the absence of the Vikings’ top lineman.

“That was a serious blow to our [defensive] scheme,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said. “He was the most dominant player on our team in the playoffs.”