Thursday, September 23. if PREP BEAT l.THi: IWIIV - III RAI U Provo, Utah Page B3 u 1 Wasatch running back bursts onto local prep football scene Herald Correspondent Darnell Dickson The setVan where Ryan ting Roosendaal plays looks something like a football version of the movie "Hoosiers." Just east of the Wasatch High football field, stacked bales of hay provide the backdrop behind the visitors' section. Cows are among the spectators, and the student cheering section barely outnumbers the group of cheerleaders on the HEBER CITY I'm not a -- BYU scout, I'm only a sports writer -- It seems I'm always being 'mistaken for someone important. When you cover high school sports, don't cheer for one particular team and carry a notebook, it's inevitable. But I'm really no one of importance. I'm just here to watch a pj game and write a story, I'm only a sports writer. j(( AT PREP football games, I walk the sidelines. Inevitably, someone will ask Jme which college I'm scouting for that night. Most of the time, I tell them n?i'm just covering the game for the local paper. Occasionally, I'll have fun 'with them. "I'm with BYU," I'll say. "La Veil told me to come watch your quarterback." That's how rumors get started. ifl After a game, I'll walk onto i, the field to find a coach or player to interview. Invariably, I'll be mistaken for someone important. "Good game," the coach or player will say, reaching for anmy hand. At basketball games, I'm sometimes mistaken for someone on the stats crew. "Foul on No. 22, blue, on the arm," a referee will say, look! ing right at me. If I just stare at the guy, repeat himself, like he thought maybe I didn't hear him. So I usually nod, and he goes about his business. , e'll sideline. The games are sponsored by businesses local, family-owne- d with names that match some of those listed on the team's roster. And Wasatch's uniforms are as simple and old school as you get, with plain black helmets and jerseys complete with white pants. It's small town football at its best. In Heber City on Friday nights, football is the main event and Van Roosendaal has a lot to do with that. By the numbers Four games into a campaign that has seen his team jump out to a start, the senior 3-- rushing for 313 yards on 32 carries. Wasatch's next opponent, Carbon, took notice. They stacked the line with an eight-mafront, but still ended up losing Despite the extra attention, Van Roosendaal still managed 123 yards. Last week against Union, Van Roosendaal tallied 198 yards before sitting out most of the fourth quarter of the blowout victory. He could have touchbad more, but a down run was whistled dead while Van Roosendaal was busting through a pile. After four weeks of staggering statistics, Van Roosendaal has everyone wondering just who is this kid from Heber putting up such insane num101-yard- By AARON SHILL 1 tailback is on a tear. In only four games, Van Roosendaal has logged a total of 846 yards. And the way he has been running, reaching 1,000 yards in this Friday's matchup with Park City is certainly a possibility. Van Roosendaal started the rushseason with a ing game against Tooele, a 25-victory for Wasatch. The next week against North Sanpete the team's only loss of the seaVan Roosendaal betson tered his first week total by 212-yar- d 6 f! n 32-1- 50-yar- d bers. Mr. ROBERT JOHNSOVThe Humility For starters, Van Roosendaal has running back etiquette down pat. It's no secret that he's the main attraction at football games. The chants of "Here we go Rosey" coming from the crowd at Wasatch's home games are proof of that. But Van Roosendaal always makes sure to give all the credit to his teammates who are blocking ahead of him. "I've got good blockers," Van Roosendaal said. "I'm able to see my blockers and they do a good job holding off the guys." But Van Roosendaal's modesty shouldn't hide the fact that the kid has his share of skills. His football hero is former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, but Van Roosendaal doesn't always need to throw Barry-lik- e shifts and cutbacks to get by defend- - ers. Usually, the back just runs right past them. "I think his greatest assets are his quickness and his great acceleration," said Wasatch coach Ron Tree, who also coached Van Roosendaal in track and field. It was that kind of speed that helped Van Roosendaal win the region championship in the event. But when a defender does get in his way, the senior does have some moves at his disposal. His father, Martin Van Roosendaal, coached his son in little league. "He's always dreamed of being a running back," Martin Van Roosendaal said. "I saw some uncanny moves that he made. You don't teach those 190-poun- d 400-met- You're mine started a conversation. I realized this Warriors fan thought I was with the Jazz organization. Hey, why disappoint the guy? I never told him differently as we talked about play er moves, the NBA, and the in upcoming season. He's probably still wondering what became of that Karl s Barkley trade. Malone-for-Charle- :t t. jwi! .... Mi&m ROBERT JOHNSONThe Wasatch goalkeeper Ali Darnell Dickson is only a "sports writer for The Daily Herald. VALLEY PfKP FOOTBALL STANDINGS Mountain VBw Am VALLEY PREP VOLLEYBALL 4 3 Mountain View Timpenogos Orem Aha Brighton Jordan 6 SpanishFork 02 0-- 4 CtawSA 1 Emeiy Delta North Sanpete Dana Carbon Richfield Emery FlKhfleld 10 Perk City Umtan Wasatch Lehl i 3 Judge Unwn 2A 12 0 Gunnison South SunvnK Grantaviae 44 Union Wasatch Uintah Judge Lehl eniy) Mountain View Brighton Orem Hdtcrest Timpanogoe A 44 4 4 CLASS 3A itogkxi 8 20 0- - 3 10 34 30 - 4 CLAS84A 7 American Fork Timpview Spnngvee Spanish Fork Lone Peak Provo Payson Pleassnt Grove Waterford Delta St. Joseph's 4- -4 5- - CLASS 3A Ragaaii 3 24 04 10-- RowlWHel South Summit Grand North Sanpete Juan Diego 34 34 34 0- - 11 2 Park City Judge 0 Sevier CLASS SA 40 ParkQty South 4 PMP GIRLS SOCCER STANMNCS Jordan Provo Spanish Fork Spflngvfle Pleasant Grove Payaon Lone Peak Timpview Arnerican Fork .2-- Carton North Sanpete Mantl North Sevier Gunnison VALLEY 13 CLASS ' STANMNCS CLASS BA l Tmpview Provo tone Peak Amertcan Fortt Pleasant Grove Payaon Spnngvike s FHSP SXKZV.'.CZ North Summit ISA UhMl3 Reejsoal Now that my mug appears weekly in the sports section, I'm ,afraid my cover might be blown. So my davs of pretending to be someone important might be over. ; That's OK. I'm only a sports writer. , Herald The penalty for defensive pass interference is 15 yards from the previous spot (where the ball was snapped) and an automatic first down. If the pass interference is ruled intentional an additional 15 yard penalty is assessed. Defensive pass interference occurs when any defensive player beyond the neutral zone interferes with an eligible opponent's opportunity to move forward, catch or bat the pass. Hindering an opponent's vision without making an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball, is also pass interference even though no contact was made. Pass interference restrictions end for the defense when a pass is touched by any player. .'ALLEY Tknpenogos Bnghton Jordan Orwn amateur. Daily Jarvis reaches for a ball against Lehi during prep soccer action this fall. BYU-Notr- h Your attention, please With a 211.5 yards per game, attention is going to come. Which isn't a bad thing, especially considering that Van Roosendaal would like to make football part of his life beyond high school. According to Martin Van Roosendaal, his son has gotten some attention from both BYU and Wyoming, as well as some schools back east. Ryan Van Herald just Roosendaal, however, said he's net looking at anywhere in particular at this point. Academically, Van Roosendaal uses his hands almost as well as he uses his legs in football. He is one of the finalists for Wasatch's visual arts Sterling Scholar award. Van Roosendaal's main emphasis is on pencil sketches, and last year, his drawing of a cow skull won "Best of Show" at the Kimball Art Show. But football is his first love, and Van Roosendaal said he came into the year with hopes of becoming the best running back in the state. And at least in Heber, Van Roosendaal is well on his way to winning "Best of Show" on the Wastach High football field as well. Defensive Rule pass interference jthe coach Lou Holtz. 4 Someone with Cougar 'Stadium field security even handed my friend two yellow photographer's ponchos. Compared to John, I'm an moves. He has some great moves. He always wanted to run the ball. So we'd give him the ball and he'd go crazy." Van Roosendaal has a simpler way of describing his style. "I don't really think when I run," he said. "My body just kind of works for me." in Pass interference is a judgment call MY WIFE says I'm a mag-joinfor people who think I'm usomeone important, u A few years ago we went to the Rocky Mountain Revue at Delta Center. A man sitting in the row below us turned and I'VE GOT a friend who's practically made a career out of pretending to be someone important. That's how he got into Disney World free, and that's how he got down on the football field as a photographer at e Dame game the several years ago. He just brought his camera, hopped over the railing, and traded nods with then-Iris- Daily Strike a pose: Wasatch High running back Ryan Van Roosendaal has piled up 846 rushing yards four games this season. 34 34 Lent Uintah Wasatch Union 64 33 -5 Whether or not a pass can be caught has no bearing on pass interference. The ball could be thrown 20 feet over the receivers head and it would not matter as far as pass interference is concerned. Another misunderstanding of the high school pass interference rule is a so called bumping zone. There is no such thing in high school football. Pass interference is one of the most subjective rules in football. When contact between opponents occurs beyond the neutral zone, on a forward pass, the official has to determine whether or not an advantage was gained. The defender is only allowed to use his hands on the receiver if he is fending off a AFTER THE WHISTLE latitude is usually given by the official if the receiver is in position to throw a block. However, if the receiver is clearly trying to make a cut in order to run a pass pattern and there is no obvious attempt to block, the defender cannot hinder the receiver. Also to be taken into consideration is that a defender is entitled to his position on the field, but the defender cannot go through the receiver to make a play on the football. Is it complicated enough? There's more. Illegal contact by the defender with the hands prior to the ball leaving the passer's hand is holding. Also, a pass has to have been thrown beyond the line of scrimmage. Pass interference cannot occur on a pass that does not cross the line of scrimmage or if the ball is not thrown (ie. the passer is sacked) you may have holding but not pass interference. Finally if two opponents are simultaneously making a bona fide effort to catch a pass and unavoidable contact occurs, it is not pass interference. This is a judgment call by the official. block, Officials from the Utah High School Activities Association will contribute to this weekly column, which will help to clarify prep football rules.