HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : He Wears New Shirt for His Big Night

New jersey means more than an industrial state on the Eastern seaboard to Mark Harris of Chatsworth High.

And it put Birmingham in a state of shock.

Harris wore No. 77 while playing guard for two weeks to help patch up an injury-riddled Chancellor line.

But with the return of David Velasquez from a shoulder injury early in the game Friday against Birmingham, Harris returned to tight end.

And changed his jersey to No. 34.

On his first play as a receiver, he scored on a 23-yard pass from Matt Cassel. In the fourth quarter, Harris took a screen pass 46 yards for a touchdown, putting the finishing touch on a 33-10 victory.

Harris, who had 49 receptions last season, willingly moved to guard.

“He’s a tough kid who does what’s best for the team,” Coach Bill Coan said. “He doesn’t care which position he plays. His mom prefers receiver, though. She told me she likes him in No. 34.”

Mom will be pleased this week. Harris will start at tight end against Cleveland.

“But we’re bringing both jerseys just in case,” Coan said.

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To claim the state record for consecutive league victories, Sylmar must defeat Van Nuys on Friday. The Spartans tied the mark of 68 held by Salinas Palma with a 48-28 victory over Monroe in a Valley Mission League opener.

Coach Jeff Engilman told his Sylmar players after the Monroe game, “We go after the record by getting ready for Van Nuys!”

But the truth is the game would be more interesting if Sylmar was playing one of two unbeaten Valley Mission opponents--San Fernando or Reseda.

Van Nuys (1-5, 0-1) is the weakest team in the league, having been outscored, 180-35.

The Wolves were bolstered by the transfer of six players from Birmingham, but the group hasn’t been very productive.

Quarterbacks Max Parra and Luis Arreola are a combined 20 of 70 passing for 192 yards, with five interceptions and no touchdowns.

Five of the six transfers have carried the ball, combining for 491 yards in 135 carries, a 3.6-yard average. Yesel Manrique, who has 271 yards, and Parra, at 201, are the leading rushers.

Don’t expect those numbers to improve dramatically against Sylmar (4-2, 1-0), which scored on its first seven possessions against Monroe.