Spread Offense

From Staff Reports The following are previews of today's high school football games featuring local teams: La Canada at Monrovia, 7 p.m.: The Spartans played arguably one of their worst games of the season in a 23-8 Rio Hondo League home loss to San Marino on Oct. 18. La Canada (3-3, 0-1 in league) went backward, committing nine penalties and rushed for minus-27 yards. A similar act won't work against Monrovia (6-0, 1-0). The Wildcats, favored to win the league championship for the first time since 1999, have lost two consecutive games to the Spartans, including a 21-7 decision last season.

GLENDALE ? A new chapter in Hoover High football was officially opened on Tuesday afternoon, as Chris Long became the Tornadoes head football coach. ?How do you create that buzz?? was one of Hoover Principal Kevin Welsh?s biggest concerns when interviewing potential candidates. ?Chris had great responses. ?We felt, without a doubt, he was a great match for Hoover High football.? Those responses included not just improving the Hoover program on the field, but recruiting players from on campus, getting parents and the student body more involved and fundraising.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — There were hiccups to be sure, but that’s to be expected in any season opener. But as far as first games go, the Crescenta Valley High football team really could not have hoped for any better performance than it got on Thursday night. “As far as first games go, it was probably more than I expected,” said Falcons Coach Tony Zarrillo after his team excelled in just about every facet of football en route to a 39-7 dismantling of nonleague rival La Cañada at Moyse Field.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — With the end of spring football practices at St. Francis High comes the completion of one more step en route to what the Golden Knights hope will be a successful season come the fall. “We’re just trying to get everybody on the same page,” reigning All-Area Player of the Year Dietrich Riley said. “Get ready for passing league.” Passing league for the Golden Knights begins today at Pierce College in a seven-on-seven tournament strictly for schools that have already ended their years, meaning St. Francis will see a lot of City Section opponents.

Grant Gordon Times have drastically changed for CIF Southern Section Division XIII champion Flintridge Prep. As much was evident throughout the team's lackluster nonleague campaign. It became more apparent Saturday as the Rebels walked away from a rainy Friedman Field with a 35-28 loss to Chadwick in both teams' Prep League opener. The Rebels, who finished second in league last season, didn't go without a fight, but the Dolphins (6-0, 1-0 in league)

Corona del Mar High has defeated district football rival Costa Mesa three straight seasons and 27 of their 35 meetings. And first-year Mustangs Coach Jay Johnson enters Friday's nonleague clash -- kickoff at 7 p.m. at Newport Harbor High -- with an inauspicious history of his own against the Sea Kings. Johnson, then coaching Calvary Chapel, suffered a 50-8 setback in his only meeting with Coach Dick Freeman's CdM squad in 2002. CdM is looking for its second straight win over a Newport-Mesa school, after dispatching Estancia, 26-6, in Friday's opener.

Both coaches and their players are relieved to have the opportunity to face an opponent with different colored jerseys. But both Corona del Mar High and Estancia enter Friday's 7 p.m. nonleague football opener at Orange Coast College with a thematic color in common: Green. Both teams have four returning starters and both lack experience and proven production at the offensive skill positions. CdM, 6-5 last year, will feature first-year starters at quarterback (senior Shaun Mohler)