HIGH SCHOOLS /JIM LINDGREN : Change in Attitude Brings Change in Fortunes for Curtis

While establishing himself as one of the county’s all-time great running backs, Kearny’s James Curtis has impressed Komet Coach Willie Matson even more with his change of attitude and field demeanor this season.

“His (increased) maturity level has carried the team,” Matson said. “I can’t say enough about that. I really think that’s been the key to our success this season.”

Three years running, teams have been trying to devise schemes to stop Curtis, but the most successful, according to Matson, had been to taunt the tailback. The old Curtis would retaliate, become infuriated and lose concentration.

“You don’t see that anymore,” Matson said. “You don’t see him jawing anymore. I’ve had (opposing) coaches come up to me after games and tell me what a difference they see in our program, and that’s a reflection of James’ maturity. He’s the leader.”

As a result, the Komets have won seven in a row after an opening loss to El Capitan.

Barring injury, Curtis will win the county rushing title and place his name high on a number of career lists in the section record book. Believed to be the section’s first three-time 1,000-yard rusher, Curtis has 1,381 yards this season, averaging 7.8 yards per carry and 172.6 yards per game. Anthony Davis of Castle Park is second with 1,052 yards and Juaquin Randall of Orange Glen is second with 153.8 yards per game.

Curtis is fourth in all-time Section standings with 4,374 rushing yards, second with 49 rushing touchdowns and fourth with 324 points.

Given that Kearny has at least three more games and possibly six, Curtis should easily move up to second in career yards and points. Markeith Ross of Rancho Buena Vista holds both those records (5,158 yards, 484 points). Curtis has a good shot at the section record for rushing touchdowns--56--set by Terry Rodgers of Sweetwater.

Matson likes his team’s chances to play even more games.

Center Will Plemons, guards Glenn Walker and Seepoleta Imo and tackles Steve Butler and Kenny Hood have been solid all season, but the emergence of junior quarterback Sam Norris and the return of receivers Scooter Anderson (out three weeks with a broken finger) and Billy Baker (six weeks, broken thumb) and fullback Aaron Cones (three weeks, hamstring) have given Matson and offensive coordinator Steve Miner more options.

“It’s been a real slow growing experience for our offense, but they’re starting to kick in now,” Matson said. “For the first five weeks, James was our offense, basically.”

BILL KNOWS TENNIS?

A Times reporter, calling the home of Rancho Bernardo tennis Coach Tony Goffredo on election Tuesday, enjoyed this exchange with Goffredo’s wife:

“Clinton headquarters.”

“Is Tony home?”

“Oh, I thought you were looking for Bill Clinton.”

RUNNING MATES

Today’s Palomar League cross-country tri-meet between Mt. Carmel, Fallbrook and Rancho Buena Vista at Rancho Buena Vista Park presents an interesting match-up in the girls’ race.

Mt. Carmel, the three-time defending large school San Diego Section champion, is ranked fifth in the state among Division I schools. Fallbrook had been ranked ninth before falling out of the top 10 this week. Mt. Carmel and Fallbrook are Nos. 1 and 2 in the San Diego County coaches’ poll.

In Milena Glusac and Melanie Hand, Fallbrook has arguably the top two runners in the county--with consideration also going to San Pasqual’s Melissa Keim for the No. 2 spot.

On the other hand, Mt. Carmel has the best depth of any team in the county. In no particular order, Jennifer Vergith, Erica Boone, Melanie Pickett and Courtney Kurth are the top four runners, and Kim Ricks, Heidi Culea, Kim Wright, Rebecca Kenyon and Sarah O’Connor have all scored for the Sundevils this season.

“Basically, you give them 1-2 and see what happens,” Mt. Carmel Coach Dennis McClanahan said. “We beat them that way last year, but they’re a little better this year.”

BUMP, SET, SPIKE

Three days after winning the prestigious ASICS National Volleyball Tournament Saturday in Santa Barbara, Poway was forced to a fourth game for the first time by a San Diego County team in Tuesday’s 15-8, 12-15, 15-6, 15-7 victory over Orange Glen.

Call it a brief lapse and forgive the Titans. After all, they beat three teams ranked in the State CIF top 10 in the ASICS tournament, including a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Laguna Beach in the semifinals, and a 3-2 triumph over No. 6 Los Altos in the finals after trailing, 2-0.

Poway, which has won seven of the past eight large-school section titles, entered the tournament ranked 11th in California.

Poway’s Kara Milling was named the tournament’s most valuable player, and teammate Korie Rogers made the all-tournament team, as did Torrey Pines’ Carey May.

Locally, Kristie Smedsrud of Grossmont was selected as the MVP of last weekend’s Hilltop Tournament. Grossmont lost in the finals to San Dieguito, 2-1.

AROUND THE RIM

Poway’s Jamie Shadian and Carlsbad’s Vanessa Nygaard, The Times’ player of the year in 1991-92, are among Cal-Hi Magazine’s Fantastic 15, a listing of the state’s outstanding basketball players. Both girls helped their teams win a San Diego Section title last season and are likely to repeat the feat this winter.

Shadian has made a verbal commitment to play next year at the University of San Francisco, and Nygaard has chosen defending NCAA champion Stanford.

Last year’s boys player of the year, Scot Pollard, who transferred to Kamiakian High in Washington from Torrey Pines, announced he has chosen Kansas over Arizona and will sign with the Jayhawks during the early letter-of-intent signing period, Nov. 11-18.

PATRIOT GAMES

Point Loma has beaten Patrick Henry in 11 consecutive football games, but it hasn’t been easy . . . for either team.

The Pointers won in 1980, 16-14, on a field goal with no time remaining and moments after a Patriot penalty on a missed field goal attempt.

In 1981, Point Loma preserved at least a tie by blocking a Patriot 35-yard field goal attempt with two seconds left, then won it, 13-7, when John Madruga returned an ensuing Patrick Henry fumble 70 yards for a touchdown.

Other victories have been by six points in 1982, six in ’88 and seven in ’89. Both teams enter tonight’s game at Henry 4-4.

THE FINAL COUNT

Appropriately, Josh Schelhorse is the water polo goalie for Mt. Carmel, Tyler Rutter plays water polo for Rancho Bernardo, Cam Colt is a runner for Mission Bay girls’ cross-country team and John Henry Cottrell runs for Orange Glen . . .

Point Loma’s four defeats have come against teams with a combined 30-2 record--El Camino (7-1), Helix (8-0), Kearny (7-1) and University City (8-0) . . .

Kudos for the girls’ tennis playoff pairing committee. All four seeds in both divisions made the semifinals.

Statistical Leaders

TEAM OFFENSE

School Games Points Per Game University City 8 252 31.5 El Capitan 8 251 31.4 St. Augustine 8 251 31.4 Torrey Pines 8 247 30.9 Morse 8 238 29.8

TEAM DEFENSE

School Games Points Per Game University City 8 22 2.8 Helix 8 39 4.9 Poway 8 52 6.5 Morse 8 53 6.6 El Camino 8 53 6.6