HS FOOT: Zirbel looking good for all-star game

Expect a breakout performance Sunday from Saugus running back Ryan Zirbel in the 13th annual Daily News East-West All-Star Football Game at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.

After rushing for more than 5,200 yards and scoring 79 touchdowns in his three-year career, Zirbel should be the dominant player for the East team based on his performance Tuesday in a practice scrimmage.

"Ryan was unbelievable. He looked really good," said East coach Dean Herrington of Alemany of Mission Hills. "He's a pretty impressive player. On one play, he scored on a 60-yard touchdown and was weaving across the field."

Perhaps Zirbel has a chip on his shoulder, too. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder turned down his only scholarship offer to Portland State, partly because he expected more offers. But none came, so he plans to play JC football at College of the Canyons in Valencia and has been working out there the past few weeks with the Cougars.

For the West, among those who have impressed are quarterbacks Jordan Adamczyk (Canyon) and Morey Croson (Birmingham), running backs Trevion Johnson(North Hollywood) and Nick Bruce (Taft), receiver Ronald McCrory (Chaminade), offensive linemen Japeth Gordon (Canyon), Chris Costello (Crespi) and Andres Alvarez (Crespi), linebacker Chris Carter (Crespi), defensive back Oliver Johnson (Taft) and defensive lineman Timote Tonga (Birmingham).

Trevion Johnson, who is slated to start at running back for the West, could be an X factor. He's just 5-foot-4 and weighs 160 pounds but rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 25 touchdowns this past season for the Huskies - including 377 yards in one game - but never received much publicity because North Hollywood won just three games and failed to make the City playoffs despite participating in one of the Valley area's weakest leagues.

"Trevion is just a little guy but he can really play. I like him a lot," said West coach Ed Croson of Chaminade.

-- Gerry Gittelson