Greig Carlson

Receiver Greig Carlson could not haul in a scholarship from USC when he completed his high school career at Palisades High. But the redshirt freshman's sure hands caught the eye of the Trojan coaching staff last spring and during training camp, earning the walk-on a long look as the team's primary punt returner.

Greig Carlson might be USC's most sure-handed player, but the former walk-on fumbles for words when asked to recount how he became the Trojans' top punt-return specialist. "There's a phrase I can never remember," Carlson said. "When opportunity strikes? If opportunity presents itself? "I don't know. The basic message is, if you get a chance, just make the play."

Greig Carlson might be USC's most sure-handed player, but the former walk-on fumbles for words when asked to recount how he became the Trojans' top punt-return specialist. "There's a phrase I can never remember," Carlson said. "When opportunity strikes? If opportunity presents itself? "I don't know. The basic message is, if you get a chance, just make the play."

Receiver Greig Carlson could not haul in a scholarship from USC when he completed his high school career at Palisades High. But the redshirt freshman's sure hands caught the eye of the Trojan coaching staff last spring and during training camp, earning the walk-on a long look as the team's primary punt returner.

David Koral of Palisades High completed 39 of 59 passes for a national-record 764 yards and seven touchdowns as the Dolphins defeated host Grant, 48-30, in a nonleague game Friday. According to the Student Sports national football record book, Koral, a senior, broke the previous record of 672 yards set last season by Rhett Lashlee of Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.) in a game against Junction City.

Taft High succumbed to a strong running attack for the second week in a row and was upset by Locke, 27-21, Friday in a nonleague game at Locke. Alvin Marshall rushed for 147 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 91-yard kickoff return, to lead the Saints (1-1). Locke, which was defeated last week by San Pedro, 30-8, set up the deciding score when Deshawn Cabong intercepted a pass and returned it 41 yards to the Taft 24.

The break between the regular season and bowl practice--not to mention a lightened practice load the last few weeks--might have done USC players some good. "When you step away and come back," Coach Pete Carroll said, "you see things a little more clearly." The result, Carroll said, was another focused practice on Saturday afternoon.

Boys Greig Carlson SCHOOL: Taft YEAR: Senior SPORT: Football SEASON AT A GLANCE: Carlson, unheralded before the season, has emerged as Taft's top receiver. He has 39 catches for 862 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 22.1 yards per catch. He has above-average speed and excellent hands, and is adept at out-wrestling defenders for high passes.

Palisades High quarterback David Koral established a national record by passing for 764 yards in the Dolphins' 48-30 nonleague victory over Van Nuys Grant Friday at Grant. According the Student Sports national football record book, Koral, a senior, broke the record of 672 yards set last season by Rhett Lashlee of Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.) in a game against Junction City. Koral completed 39 of 59 attempts and passed for seven touchdowns as Palisades improved to 2-1.

If last week's loss to Chatsworth didn't serve as a wake-up call for Birmingham High, the first half of its City Championship playoff opener certainly did. The No. 5-seeded Patriots (10-1) scored on six of their nine possessions of the second half to erase a 20-6 halftime deficit and held on to defeat No. 12-seeded Palisades, 53-47, Thursday night at Birmingham.

Birmingham's loss to Chatsworth last week did more than blow a chance for an unbeaten regular season. It also brought on an ominous weather report: a hailstorm of footballs. The Patriots (9-1) drew Palisades (8-2), which possesses the most prolific passing attack in the state. Quarterback David Koral has completed 253 of 410 passes for 3,963 yards and 43 touchdowns. Receivers Greig Carlson, Charles Ealy and Jacques Lazarus each have more than 60 catches.

Top-ranked USC's offense is so powerful it probably knocked freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez off the roster for the Pacific 10 Conference opener at Oregon. Pac-10 rules allow traveling teams a maximum of 64 players with the exception of games against traditional rivals. Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that redshirt sophomore Michael McDonald would travel to Eugene, Ore., as the No. 3 quarterback, even though Sanchez is further along running the offense.