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Veteran Villa Park football coach Dusan Ancich can’t recall ever playing a game at 9 a.m. but that will be the strategy to beat the heat on Saturday.
Yes, you read that correctly. The Spartans’ kickoff against Upland is scheduled for 9 a.m. at El Modena High.
The boys of Friday Night Lights will indeed wake up thinking about football.
“I feel good we get to play,” Ancich said. “The early start is crazy and (it’s) fun to do something new. Players adapt and will have to get up early and be ready to go.”
Villa Park’s football team and coach Dusan Ancich have moved their nonleague game against Upland on Saturday to 9 a.m. because of the heat wave in Southern California. (File photo, SCNG)
Coaches throughout Orange County have been adjusting the times of their practices and games because of the heat wave in Southern California. The higher temperatures arrive as schools are following new rules regarding assessing the dangers of heat-related conditions.
A new state law requires schools to follow procedures to prevent and manage heat illness. One of the steps is reading a wet bulb thermometer, which measures temperature, humidity and other elements, before practices and games.
El Dorado coach Zack LaMonda said Tuesday that the start time for the Golden Hawks’ practice depended on the temperature readings. The readings were being made every 30 minutes, he added.
“(The) steps are not easy or fun but ultimately (are) for the safety of the players,” LaMonda said. “My No. 1 concern every day is making sure they are safe.”
El Dorado joined several other schools in adjusting the schedule of lower-level games this week because of the heat.
The Golden Hawks and Tustin moved their freshman-level game up one day to Wednesday from Thursday. Kickoff was set for 5 p.m.
The start time for El Dorado’s junior varsity game against visiting Katella on Friday was pushed back 1 1/2 hours to 4:30 p.m.
Orange County football referee assignor Paul Caldera said several lower-level games scheduled for Thursday afternoon shifted to evening kickoffs or Saturday morning.
As of Thursday morning, no varsity games in the county had been canceled due to the heat, Caldera said.
El Toro moved its kickoff against Western on Friday back 30 minutes to 7:30 p.m., Chargers coach Peter Lofthouse said.
El Toro also practiced early Monday morning and late Tuesday night.
“For us, practice has been pretty normal because our program is familiar with the CIF guidelines,” Lofthouse said. “Our admin team, trainer, coaches, players and families work closely to ensure consistent communication on the color tiers and how practice will adapt accordingly.”
“Luckily, our players and parents have been understanding and patient, which has helped immensely,” the coach added.
TUSTIN ADJUSTS AT QB
Tustin had five different players take snaps at quarterback in its 42-14 victory against rival Foothill last week, Tillers coach Anthony Lopez said.
In adjusting to transfer Michael “Butter” Tollefson being denied eligibility at Tustin this season, the Tillers’ cast of signal-callers included defensive linemen Jon Ioane (6-3, 295) and Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 305) for a few plays. Ioane completed 2 of 3 passes while Williams rushed for a TD.
“That’s football. That’s life,” Lopez said. “You got to adjust.”
Lopez said Tollefson, a transfer from JSerra, is no longer enrolled at Tustin.
The coach also confirmed that Mater Dei lower-level quarterback Ayden Edwards, a freshman, has enrolled at Tustin. Edwards (6-3, 190) has offers from Oregon State, UNLV and Toledo.
The CIF Southern Section lists Edwards’ transfer as “processing.”
SHORT ROUTES
Mission Viejo senior wide receiver Phillip Bell III committed to Ohio State. …
Crean Lutheran senior offensive lineman Jacob Maiava, a transfer from Santa Margarita, will appeal the denial of his transfer eligibility by the CIF-SS, Saints coach Rick Curtis said. …
Los Alamitos linebackers Jackson Raguse and Johnny Howze have 19 and 13 total tackles, respectively, through two games.
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