HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

If St. Francis (9-2) defeats Antelope Valley (10-1) on Friday night in a Division III quarterfinal, Coach Jim Bonds won’t have any trouble motivating his team for the next game.

St. Francis would play the winner of the quarterfinal between Hart (9-2) and Crescenta Valley (10-1).

Crescenta Valley defeated the Knights, 24-14, earlier this season, and St. Francis was eliminated from the playoffs the previous two seasons by Hart.

Who would the Knights rather play?

“I’m kind of torn,” said Bonds, a Hart graduate. “I don’t think it would be a problem getting our guys fired up for either.”

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At the start of the season, a Hart-St. Francis final was almost a foregone conclusion.

But a 13-7 loss to Notre Dame three weeks ago cost St. Francis a probable No. 1 seeding. Hart is seeded No. 2 and wouldn’t have faced St. Francis until the championship game.

“[Offensive coordinator] Dean Herrington [of Hart] told me, ‘You screwed up, you choked,” Bonds said.

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Valencia needs a victory over No. 4-seeded Mira Costa to reach the Division III semifinals for the third consecutive season.

The Vikings (9-2) are succeeding again with a stable of talented multi-sport athletes.

Receiver Will Broadous, who has 13 touchdown catches, is a starting forward on the basketball team and plays alongside John Robinson, a starting linebacker.

Jimmy Rohan, one of the region’s top punters, starts at shortstop on the baseball team. Robert Herrick, who took over at quarterback last week for injured Kyle Bauer, is a promising left-handed pitcher.

Sophomore running back Charles Burnley, a transfer from Crespi, also intends to compete in basketball and track at Valencia.

“I think it’s a real plus when you get multi-sport athletes,” football Coach Brian Stiman said. “Everyone has been through the pressure before and knows how to handle things.”