FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK : Vaqueros Rocked by Transition

By nature, junior college football teams consist of journeymen players--those who after high school were passed up by major colleges.

Glendale College Coach Jim Sartoris has spent the past two seasons making major college recruiters look foolish. The Vaqueros have had 10-1 records in each of the past two seasons and 18 players from last year’s team received scholarships to four-year programs.

But inevitably, a junior college program goes dry, if only for a while.

“It’s a new team every year,” said Sartoris, whose Vaqueros have lost their first two games--the first while being ranked No. 1 in Southern California by the JC Athletic Bureau. “We’re having to rely on kids just out of high school to compete.”

Of the losses, he said: “We knew it could happen with a young team.”

One of Glendale’s problems is a suspect defensive secondary. In the opener, El Camino quarterback Dan Speltz completed 20 of 29 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-19 win. Last week, Fullerton beat Glendale, 21-14, but didn’t control the skies as easily as did El Camino.

Sartoris credits the turnaround to defensive back Jay Carballo, a 5-10, 180-pound sophomore from St. Francis High.

“He’s the only real solid player back there,” Sartoris said. “He knows what it’s all about. And he tries to keep the young guys in it when it starts to get tough.”

Add Glendale: Rocky Palamara, a sophomore wide receiver from Notre Dame High, caught nine passes for 105 yards against Fullerton. A preseason All-American candidate, Palamara caught five passes for 87 yards against El Camino. Last season he caught 50 passes for 705 yards and was an all-state selection.

High school games to watch: On Friday, La Canada plays at Burroughs, St. Francis plays at Damien, Brentwood plays at Flintridge Prep and Crescenta Valley plays Burbank at Glendale High, all at 7:30 p.m.

In 8 p.m games, Franklin plays Marshall at Wilson High and California plays Eagle Rock at Poly High.

On Saturday, Glendale plays Bell-Jeff at Burroughs High, Verdugo Hills plays at Sylmar, and Hoover plays Harvard at Glendale High. All games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.