#junior-high-football

#junior-high-football

I had some conversations with higher-ups in the NFL. They all usually start with conversations about our current players and turn into: Would you be interested in making a transition to the NFL? I'm glad I had those conversations. I learned a lot.

Every year, rookies find that once they enter the NFL, their previously elite skill set in college is - at best - par for the course on an NFL team. NFL players are bigger, faster, stronger, and more talented than most college players because the NFL assembles only the most elite athletes it can find.

I thought from beginning to end, Gabe [Pec] looked like one of our most energetic players, it looked like nothing fazed him out there in terms of, the opportunities.

Jordan Ayala, 16, said he's moving his graduation date up to preserve his arm and take a look at becoming a professional after high school.

"Kids show up to school when they feel connected to adults, peers and are engaged in something meaningful," said Hedy Chang, chief executive of Attendance Works.

Curling requires physical strength, muscle memory and the ability to adapt quickly. But it's also a sport that accommodates all ages.

"I was born with it," he says. When the pressure is on and Mira Costa High's volleyball team needs someone to step forward and deliver, Fuerbringer doesn't need to raise his hand or ask for permission. He just delivers. "I'm able to be good under pressure in tough moments."

Quincy Wilson from Bullis High in Maryland is ready to unleash his speed in two relay races and the 400 at Saturday's Arcadia Invitational.

This is really a big win for us, said Norco pitcher Jacob Melendez, who picked up the save with a scoreless seventh. Melendez has hit three home runs in four games since becoming eligible and Brown is also contributing.

There was nothing quite like Tracy Murray scoring 64 points for Glendora in the 1989 Division II final at the Oakland Coliseum. Damien coach Mike LeDuc was then Glendora's coach. Glendora lost to Menlo 89-83.

Ryan, a junior in his first year on varsity, was the top player on the junior varsity team last season. Now he leads the defending City Section champions with a .412 batting average.

The final game of the night was Crespi pulling out a 65-61 win over Loyola when Isaiah Barnes scored while falling down with 15 seconds left for the game-clinching basket. Despite the loss, Loyola claimed fourth place in the seedings while finishing in a three-way tie for fourth with Crespi and St. Francis. The Cubs, though, are 14-14 and will need a win Saturday against the winner of Thursday's Bishop Alemany (No. 8) vs. St. Francis (No. 5) game to keep alive their Southern Section playoff hopes. You need a .500 or better record to be considered for an at-large berth.

How do you explain that Harvard-Westlake's boys' soccer team won the Mission League championship, beat fourth-place Sherman Oaks Notre Dame twice by shutouts but ended up being ranked four spots below the Knights in computer rankings? How do you explain Newbury Park's girls' soccer team with a 10-5-2 record and wins over No. 4 Oaks Christian, No. 12 Moorpark and No. 27 Camarillo failing to get an at-large playoff spot?

It's time for the CIF state championships in basketball and soccer (first time for soccer) in Sacramento on Friday and Saturday. Basketball will be played at Golden 1 Center. Soccer is at Natomas High.