Don Hegerle, a leader and playmaker for 1950s San Diego State basketball teams and who later coached at Escondido High, passed away on Sept. 9.

Hegerle, 82, was a fast, slashing guard who fearlessly drove to the basket and fired jump shots for one of the best teams in Aztecs history.

He was a vital player on the 1955-56 Aztec team that overcame three straight losses at the start of the season and went on to post a 23-6 record.

Hegerle averaged 10.9 points and scored 315 points, third highest on the team, which was paced by Tony Pinkins (18.1) and Danny Newport (14.7).

The Aztecs earned a berth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament in Kansas City by defeating Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 93-69, Pasadena Nazarene, 78-62, and Humboldt State, 91-63.

After enduring a 30-hour trip to the Midwest by rail, the Aztecs’ opening contest following a first-day bye had a 10:30 a.m. tipoff.  They defeated Alderson-Broaddus of Philipi, W.Va, 77-64.

San Diego State’s season came to an end in another contest that began the next morning.  The Aztecs were eliminated by Gustavus-Adolphus of St. Peter, Minnesota, 69-60.

Hegerle, who played high school football, basketball, and baseball at Point Loma, was head coach at Escondido for five seasons before going into administration.

The 1957-58 team, paced by brothers Toby and Steve Thurlow and Jim Gabbard, posted a 20-11 season  and tied for the Avocado League championship.

Hegerle’s overall record with the Cougars was 73-50.

A lifelong basketball fan, Hegerle’s favorite team became the University of San Diego Toreros.  His son-in-law is Ky Snyder, athletics director at USD.  Snyder’s wife, Sue, was a standout in track and field at San Pasqual and later the women’s volleyball coach at USD.

Three traditional strongholds among the San Diego Section’s smaller schools are a combined 12-0 and staking their turf in Division III.

Christian, Francis Parker, and The Bishop’s each is 4-0.  Christian, of the Central League, will take on the Coastal League’s The Bishop’s in Week  5 in a possible, midseason playoff preview.

Christian was ranked second in Southern California by Cal-Hi Sports going into this week’s games, behind Santa Barbara Bishop Diego.

Parker was fifth and The Bishop’s ninth.

The Patriots  have outscored their opponents,  185-16. Their victories are 42-0 over San Luis Obispo Mission Prep, 42-0 over Santana, 66-3 over El Cajon Valley, and 35-13 over Ontario Christian.

Mission Prep (3-1) has rebounded and was seventh in the Cal-Hi Sports rankings before a 24-6 win over Santa Monica St. Monica this week.

Parker, which has outscored its opponents, 166-52, defeated Santana, 52-13, and The Bishop’s edged Coronado, 20-17. The Knights have a 144-65 edge in their scoring.

Other D-III teams that could make noise under the San Diego Section’s new playoff format include Hoover, Coronado, and Santa Fe Christian.

PIRATES UNLOAD ON TITANS

Oceanside’s 61-0 victory over Poway was the worst defeat for the Titans since a 61-0 loss to Orange Glen in 1978.

Oceanside has topped 61 points five times in its 87-year football history:

The Helix Highlanders had four graduates on NFL rosters when teams reached the 53-man limit earlier this month.

Scots alums include running back Reggie Bush of Detroit, quarterback Alex Smith of Kansas City, cornerback Jaemar Taylor of Miami, and tight end Levine Toilolo of Atlanta.

A total of 16 players from the San Diego Section made NFL roster at cutdown:

NORLAND AND ST. THOMAS AQUINAS LEAD

Helix is among 14 other U.S. schools tied for third in NFL contributions.

Norland of Miami and St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale lead with 6 players. Pahokee, Florida, has 5.

The next 15, with 4  each:

Helix; Southlake Carroll, Texas; Colton; Concord De La Salle; Cincinnati Bishop Elder; Belle Glade Glades Central, Florida; Greenwood, South Carolina; Long Beach Poly; Mission Viejo; North Miami Beach; Houston North Shore; Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rock Hill, South Carolina; Austin Westlake, Texas.

LOUISIANA HAS MOST WITH LEAST

California leads with 225 players, followed by Florida, 186; Texas, 184; Georgia, 95; Ohio, 74; New Jersey, 63; Lousiana, 62; Pennsylvania, 58; South Carolina, 54, and Virginia, 50.

Louisiana has one player for every 73,119 residents.  South Carolina is second with one for every 85,655, and Mississippi  third with one for every 92,728.   California is not in the top 10.

Miami, with 24, is the hometown with the most players, followed by Houston (16), and Detroit, 14.

Information is provided annually  by the NFL communications department.