NOTEBOOK : Southeast: The Wildest and Woolliest

Halfway through the high school football regular season, the Southeastern Conference has emerged as the most competitive in the area, if not in the City Section.

With the exception of Jordan (0-5 overall, 0-4 in conference as of Oct. 8), every team has at least one win and is capable of an upset. Last week, previously winless Huntington Park (1-4, 1-3) humbled South Gate, 14-0.

Garfield (4-1, 2-1), the top-rated team in the preseason, lost its conference opener to Jefferson, but won its next two games. Locke (2-2-1, 2-1-1), led by talented quarterback Akili Roberson, has had trouble with its supporting cast. The Saints lost to Fremont and tied Roosevelt.

Bell (3-2, 3-1), last year’s Eastern League winner, also has struggled. The Eagles beat Huntington Park, Jefferson and Jordan, but lost to Fremont.

So who will win the City championship? According to Dorsey Coach Paul Knox, eight teams besides his own have the potential to win the 4-A title: Banning, Bell, Carson, Garfield, Jefferson, Locke, Sylmar and Taft.

“I think it will come down to which teams remain healthy,� Knox said.

In the 3-A Division, San Pedro (4-1, 1-1) won four consecutive games before losing to perennial 4-A power Banning. Roosevelt (4-0-1, 2-0-1), which leads the Central League, and Fremont (3-2, 3-1) are the area’s top contenders.

In the Southern Section, Loyola, 4-1 overall, continues to be one of the top teams in the state, but is playing in the same league with Bishop Amat, which is ranked second in the nation in one poll.

The Almont League title is expected to again come down to defending champion Bell Gardens (3-1-1) and Montebello (4-1).

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Busting loose--For Wilson High’s Buster Bradley, this football season has been anything but a bust.

The 5-10, 160-pound junior running back and defensive back had the game of his career Oct. 8 against Hollywood.

In the 47-7 Wilson win, Bradley accounted for 24 points. In addition to rushing 98 yards in 12 carries for one touchdown, he intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns of 65 and 50 yards. Wilson seized seven interceptions and two fumbles in the game.

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Bittersweet week--Loyola, coming off an impressive 37-7 shellacking of San Diego Morse on Oct. 9, received a severe blow Monday. During practice, running back Jerome Porter sustained a broken leg.