Brentwood combines brains with brawn
ERIC SONDHEIMER / ON HIGH SCHOOLS
School is best known for its strong academics, but its football team is attracting attention now too.
Brentwood School is known for its strong academics, which helps explains why the children of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson and Oliver Stone attend the school.
But the football team has started to attract attention, thanks to two players in particular, safety Brett Pierce and kicker Charlie James.
Pierce made his eighth interception in eight games on Friday, tying him for most in the state. James kicked a 51-yard field goal, giving him 11 field goals in 14 attempts. Thirteen field goals is tops in the state.
"He just seems to be in the right place at the right time," Brentwood Coach Patrick Brown said of Pierce, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior who also pitches for the baseball team.
Pierce didn't play football last season. He's also a member of Brentwood's choir and will get to sing at Carnegie Hall in March.
Asked what's more important, eight interceptions or singing at Carnegie Hall, Pierce said, "I don't want to upset my teachers or coaches. I'm excited to do both."
James, 6-3, 210 pounds, is a top soccer player, leading receiver and standout defensive player.
He didn't want to attempt the 51-yard field goal, waving to Brown. But Brown refused to take the hint.
"I didn't think I could make it," James said. "I should have had more confidence in myself."
Brentwood (7-1) is ranked No. 3 in the East Valley Division, where San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's (8-0) is king.
Mistake on ice
Calling a timeout to freeze a kicker is usually considered the correct strategy, but it backfired in a double-overtime game on Friday.
St. Francis had just scored a touchdown in the second overtime to pull within 14-13 against St. Paul. The Golden Knights' kicker was ready to tie the score when St. Paul called a timeout.
That caused St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds to reconsider his decision.
He remembered how his team lost to Loyola last season, 21-20, on a missed extra point, so he decided to go for the win, and quarterback Justin Sciarra completed a two-point conversion pass to Dietrich Riley for a 15-14 victory.
"They couldn't adjust to our new formation," Bonds said. "It was pretty exciting."
Keyshawn speaks
The Crenshaw-Dorsey game brought out alumni from both schools, and one of those standing on the field was former Dorsey, USC and NFL receiver Keyshawn Johnson. He wasn't too happy about Dorsey's 34-0 loss, and as always, he had something to say.
