L.A. Baptist Passing Connection Finds Same Wavelength to Lead West, 14-0

VAN NUYS â€”  L.A. Baptist High’s unbeatable passing combination resorted to its old tricks Thursday in the 15th annual Daily News All-Star football game to pace the West’s 14-0 victory over the East in front of an estimated 4,000 at Birmingham High.

When L.A. Baptist quarterback Zack Hernandez and receiver Jim Romero work together, it’s as if they share a brain.

Both were struck by the same thought late in the second quarter when the West broke from its huddle on first and goal at the East seven-yard line.

The play called in the huddle was a pitch to the running back, but Hernandez and Romero both noticed that the play would not succeed when they saw the defensive formation.

No problem. This pair, which led L.A. Baptist to a Southern Section Division X title and a 13-0 record seven months ago, has done this innumerable times in the past.

Hernandez slapped the side of his helmet and touched his hip. Romero responded with a hand signal and all systems were go. Hernandez lofted a perfect pass to Romero, who ran a fade pattern to the right corner of the end zone for a 6-0 lead with 4 minutes 36 seconds left in the first half.

“We didn’t have an audible in this all-star game,� said Hernandez, the Division X player of the year, who threw for 3,634 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Knights last year. “It was so weird because I knew we couldn’t run the play (that was called) and I looked over and Romero was standing there. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is perfect.’ �

To hear Romero tell it, Hernandez might as well have yelled, Jim, run a fade to the corner. “I was hoping no one saw it,� Romero said. “It was kinda scary because I thought he made it too obvious.�

It also was obvious that Hernandez and Romero can compete against players from larger schools. Hernandez outshined the three other premier quarterbacks in the game, rolling out repeatedly to complete nine of 14 passes for 120 yards.

Romero, Cal-Hi Sports’ state small schools athlete of year who is headed for Arizona on a football scholarship, caught five passes for 79 yards and rarely had trouble getting open.

The West increased its lead to 14-0 on a one-yard run by Reseda’s DeWayne Johnson with 10 minutes 16 seconds remaining.

Hernandez engineered the 75-yard drive, completing three of four passes for 50 yards. Kennedy running back Donte Scarbrough chipped in 11 yards on three carries, finishing with a game-high 40 yards in 10 carries.

Except for a few long-yardage gains by Palmdale receiver Tony Coleman (four catches, 126 yards), the East struggled offensively.

Sylmar’s Tyrone Crenshaw, the two-time City Section 4-A Division player of the year, had relatively little to do with the East’s run-and-shoot scheme.

Crenshaw, who is headed to Michigan State, carried five times for 14 yards.

“I hope Michigan State doesn’t get into a run and shoot,� Crenshaw said. “That’s a runner’s nightmare.�

East quarterbacks Mike Kocicka of Hart and Rocque Sandoval of Palmdale had a tough go of it against a swarming West defense. Kocicka and Sandoval were sacked seven times and completed only nine of 22 passes for 182 yards.

The East got inside the West 10 on its final two drives, but couldn’t punch the ball over. Reseda’s Tyrone Francis picked off an underthrown pass by Kocicka in the end zone to stop one drive and Crenshaw was cut down at the two as time expired.