2019 Week 10: Playoffs Next as First Season Nears End

The 18 San Diego Section leagues put a wrap on the regular season this week and most of their members will take a breath and await playoff seedings, which will be determined on Saturday.

Championships have been won in several circuits.

AVOCADO

Champion Carlsbad (6-0, 8-1 overall) is getting ready for a nonleague test with Vista and a possible shot in the four-team Open Division playoffs.

CENTRAL

Champion Serra (4-0, 7-2) has a nonleague encounter with Patrick Henry and awaiting its seeding in the Division IV playoffs.

CITRUS

San Diego Jewish Academy (5-0, 7-0) will meet Ocean League runner-up San Pasqual Academy in an eight-man, semifinal round, winner advancing to championship game against Foothills Christian-Ocean View Christian survivor

CITY

Scripps Ranch (3-0, 9-0), setting all kinds of records with its best season since the school opened in 1993, could lose  to Mission Bay (not likely) and would be tied for first if San Diego (2-1, 6-2) beats Kearny (probable).  However, the Falcons own  a 34-6 win over the Cavers.

COASTAL

The Bishop’s (3-0, 9-0), averaging 56 points a game, must get past tough, old rival Santa Fe Christian (2-1, 6-3), and Santa Fe holds a 16-11-1 lead in the series, which dates to the eight-man game in 1988.

EASTERN

La Jolla (3-0, 5-4) can clinch by defeating defending champion Christian (2-1, 5-4) and the Vikings can erase the memory of a 49-0 loss to the Patriots in 2018.

GROSSMONT HILLS

Helix (3-0, 8-1) is a substantial favorite, according to all scientific equations, but the Highlanders can’t dismiss fast-closing Steele Canyon (3-0, 9-0), which forced a three-way tie for the title in 2018 with a 22-21 victory over the Highlanders and get them at home.

GROSSMONT VALLEY

Beat West Hills and the 3-0, 5-4 Monte Vista Monarchs of coach Ron Hamamoto have their fifth straight win and second title in three years.  Lose and Monte Vista could be tied if Santana bests El Cajon Valley, but the Monarchs whipped the Sultans, 37-10.

IMPERIAL VALLEY

El Centro Central (4-0, 7-2) and Brawley (4-0, 7-2) are at it again, battling for the league championship and possession of The Bell, which has rung for the winner since 1944. The Wildcats lead the series since then, 49-27-2, although the rivalry goes back to 1921.

MANZANITA

Calexico Vincent Memorial (3-0, 6-3) clinches with a win over Mountain Empire and also holds a 23-16 verdict over Holtville, which could tie if Vincent loses (doubtful) and the Vikings beat Calipatria (expected).

METRO MESA

Eastlake has clinched at 4-0 and 5-5.  Paco Silva is 4-1 as coach John McFadden’s replacement.  McFadden is on mandated leave.

METRO PACIFIC

Castle Park, 2-0 and 9-0, and Montgomery, 2-0 and 8-1, will vie with Helix-Steele Canyon in this week’s most intriguing matchup.

METRO SOUTH BAY

Hilltop is in driver’s seat at 2-0 and 8-1 but must get by Mar Vista, or shaere the crown with the Mariners.

OCEAN

Ocean View Christian (5-1, 6-2), enjoying its best season since a 7-3 campaign in 2015, meets Foothills Christian (6-0, 9-0) and 35-6 since 2016, in the second  eight-man semifinal.

PACIFIC

La Jolla Country Day, 3-0 and 7-2, will play Parker, 3-0 and 4-5, will decide things.

PALOMAR

Vista, 5-0 and 7-2 with a forfeit loss in its opening game, has clinched, having beaten Rancho Bernardo, 37-20, last week.

VALLEY

It’s an intra-city battle, with San Pasqual (4-0, 8-1), trying to clinch against Escondido. (3-1, 5-3). An Eagles loss could lead to a three-way finish at the top, with Valley Center (3-1, 4-4) also in picture.

WESTERN

Cathedral (3-0, 8-1) is a heavy favorite to beat Lincoln, which would prevent St. Augustine, a 44-38 loser to the Dons, from getting a share of first.

 

 




2019 Week 9: Road Gets a Little Tougher for Scots, Dons

Helix and Cathedral, the San Diego Section’s two big ones, have had to regroup.

The Highlanders lost running back Elelyon Noa, probably for the season with a foot injury, and Cathedral quarterback D.J. Ralph sustained what was reported as a broken collarbone on his non-passing side.

Ralph was replaced by Charlie Mirer, son of former Notre Dame and NFL quarterback Rick Mirer, and Delshawn Taylor picked up for Noa .

No. 2. Helix moved on seamlessly, administering its annual punishment of old rival Grossmont, 54-14, as Taylor rushed for 170 yards in 12 carries and scored twice.

The victory was the Scots’ 24th in a row over the Foothillers and now lead the series, which began in 1951, by a 45-18-2 margin.

Helix has scored at least 50 points five times in the teams’ last seven meetings.

SECOND GENERATION

Trailing, 14-6, at halftime, Cathedral’s Zavien Watson took charge of the 53rd “Holy Bowl”, and the Dons, now leading the series, 32-21, defeated St. Augustine, 35-14.

Watson rushed for 280 yards in 18 carries and scored four touchdowns in the second half on runs of 48, 1, 6, and 30 yards.

Longtime prep followers remember another Watson.

Zavien’s farther, E.J. Watson, led La Jolla to a 13-1 record and runner-up finish in the 1991 San Diego Section 2-A finals.  The Vikings lost to El Camino, 29-7.

E.J. was the San Diego Section’s leading scorer in 1991 with 30 touchdowns and 182 points. He had 120 points on 20 touchdown as a junior. Zavien has 120 points through the season’s first nine games.

The regular season will be complete in next week. Playoff seedings will be determined Nov. 2.

Helix and Cathedral will have to continue adjusting to their losses.  Perhaps there will be a rematch of Helix’ earlier, 45-27 victory over the Dons in the playoff Open Division championship.

QUICK KICKS

San Pasqual won a barnburner from Valley Center, 35-32, and can claim its first outright Valley League title since 2000 next week against Escondido…the Golden Eagles shared the title in 2013 and ’15 and Valley Center has won the last three…the list of undefeated teams is down to four: Steele Canyon, Castle Park, and Scripps Ranch, each 8-0, and The Bishop’s, 7-0…Foothills Christian (8-0) and San Diego Jewish (6-0) are perfect in eight-man football…St. Augustine and Cathedral have met every season since 1966 except for 2007, when the San Diego Section canceled all games for one week because of smoke from the Witch fire, which rampaged through much of Rancho Bernardo….

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 9 poll:

Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1. Helix (31) 7-1 310 1
2. Cathedral 8-1 292 2
3. St. Augustine 6-2 237 3
4. Carlsbad 7-1 213 4
5. Steele Canyon 8-0 198 5
6. Mission Hills 6-2 163 6
7. Madison 5-3 84 10
8. Oceanside 5-3 76 9
9. Vista 6-2* 54 NR
10. Grossmont 6-2 30 7

Others receiving votes: The Bishop’s (8-0, 25 points), La Costa Canyon (4-4, 25), Lincoln, (5-3, 6), Rancho Bernardo (6-2, 5), Scripps Ranch (8-0, 3), San Pasqual (7-1, 2), Montgomery (6-1, 1)

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

  • John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
  • Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
  • Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
  • Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
  • Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
  • Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
  • Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
  • Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
  • Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
  • Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
  • Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
  • Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
  • Bob Petinak, free lance.
  • John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
  • Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
  • Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
  • Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
  • Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
  • Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team Record Cal.Preps.Com Max Preps Cal-Hi Sports
Helix 7-1 61.5/60.1 11/10 9/9
Cathedral 8-1 65.9/64.6 5/7 12/13
St. Augustine 6-2 51.4/51.6 21/18 28/20
Carlsbad 7-1 46.1/45.6 28/31 39/40
Steele Canyon 8-0 38.1/38.1 58/50 47/50
Mission Hills 6-2 42.9/40.7 38/43 49/Bubble
Grossmont 6-2 32.3/30.3 96/98 NR
La Costa Canyon 4-4 35.6/36.2 73/62 NR
Oceanside 5-3 31.4/31.7 99/84 NR
Madison 5-3 37.8/36.7 62/60 Bubble/Bubble

The second set of numbers or scores in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..

 




2019 Week 8: The Bishop’s Joel Allen Close to No. 100

And another milestone is near.

Joel Allen of The Bishop‘s rampaging Knights of La Jolla could become the 43rd San Diego Section coach to win a 100th career game.

The Bishop’s will have to win out but you’d have to go to eight-man football to find any team scoring 55 points or more six times in a season, which the Knights have done.

Allen, 95-34-1 record in 10-plus seasons at the school, will have the favored team in the last three regular-season games, versus Tri-City, Classical, and Santa Fe Christian.

Win those and go deep into the Division II playoffs to get the necessary wins for 100.  Right now Allen is looking only to winning No. 96.

The Knights blew out La Jolla Country Day, 60-14, last week as Tyler Buchner, who has 29 touchdown passes in seven games, and his teammates overwhelmed the Torreys, who have their own gifted quarterback, Eric Kreutzman, author of 30 touchdown passes.

I gave the Knights a top 10 vote in the Union-Tribune poll this week, but they’re not getting much traction with my colleagues and still are in the “also receiving votes” category.

BY COMPARISON

Allen was 10-13-1 in his first two seasons.  San Diego’s Charles James is following a similar trajectory.

James was 1-9, 2-8, and 2-8 in his first three seasons at the famous school that originally overlooked the city but had lost relevance as students who could play football were moving east, to Lincoln and Morse, and eventually to all locales in the city.

San Diego went into a downward spiral, with infrequent breaths of success, after coach Duane Maley retired following the 1959 season.

The Cavers are enjoying a renewal.  Since that 4-26 start they are 29-4 and James now has an above water, 33-30 record.

Things will get tougher for the erstwhile Hilltoppers, beginning with a City League home game against 7-0 Scripps Ranch this week.

The Cavers moved up from Division IV to D-III this season and are 5-1, including a  reality-check, 41-7 loss to the Central League’s D-IV Serra, which has won five straight  after opening with losses of 18-0 to Scripps Ranch and 30-14 to Santana.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 8 poll:

Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1. Helix (31) 7-1 310 1
2. Cathedral 7-1 264 2
3. St. Augustine 6-1 253 3
4. Carlsbad 6-1 211 4
5. Steele Canyon 7-0 188 5
6. Mission Hills 5-2 157 6
7. Grossmont 6-1 82 9
8. La Costa Canyon 4-3 59 10
9. Oceanside 4-3 51 9
10. Madison 4-3 44 7

Others receiving votes: Vista (5-2*, 37 points), The Bishop’s (7-0, 19), Santana (7-0, 6),  Lincoln (4-3, 4), Scripps Ranch (6-0, 2), Granite Hills (4-3), Montgomery (6-1), Rancho Bernardo (5-2), 1 each.

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

  • John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
  • Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
  • Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
  • Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
  • Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
  • Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
  • Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
  • Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
  • Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
  • Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
  • Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
  • Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
  • Bob Petinak, free lance.
  • John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
  • Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
  • Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
  • Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
  • Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
  • Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team Record Cal.Preps.Com Max Preps Cal-Hi Sports
Helix 6-1 60.1/59.6 10/8 9/9
Cathedral 7-1 64.6/64.2 7/7 13/14
St. Augustine 6-1 51.6/48.3 18/16 20/21
Carlsbad 6-1 45.6/38.1 31/30 40/40
Steele Canyon 7-0 38.1/35.8 50/40 50/Bubble
Mission Hills 5-2 40.7/27/1 43/57 Bubble/Bubble
Grossmont 6-1 30.3/26.5 98/115 NR
La Costa Canyon 4-3 36.2/36.2 62/53 NR
Oceanside 4-3 31.7/29.7 84/90 NR
Madison 4-3 36.7/35.8 60/56 Bubble/NR

The second set of numbers or scores in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..




2019 Week 7: San Diego Section Coaches Make History

Ron Hamamoto’s crashing the top five in San Diego Section coaching ranks wasn’t the only significant career achievement last week.

–Grossmont’s Tom Karlo became the 42nd to reach 100 wins.

Hamamoto, whose Monte Vista squad defeated Chula Vista, 34-17, now has 229 victories, tying the 35-season mentor with Morse’s John Shacklett, who won 229 at Morse from 1971-2002.

Cathedral’s Sean Doyle won his 200th a couple weeks ago.

Another milestone will be in sight Friday night.

–Valley Center’s Rob Gilster has 228 victories and could gain a share of fifth, although No. 229 will require the Jaguars getting past the tough La Costa Canyon Mavericks.

Karlo, 56-31 at Grossmont since 2012 and 44-31-2 at Mount Miguel from 2005-11, tied Monte Vista’s Ed Carberry, 100-59-3 in two stints and 14 seasons, in the Foothillers’ 49-14 romp over Valhalla

For a complete list of 100-game winners through 2018 search the home page “Football” menu and scroll down to “Coach 100 Club.”

QUICK KICKS

Rob Gilster’s Valley Center teams are 0-3 against La Costa Canyon since Gilster opened the Jaguars program in 1998…they lost to the Mavericks, 38-10, in 2000, 13-8 in ’01, and 30-19 in 2018…a San Pasqual victory this week will advance the Golden Eagles to 7-0 for the first time since 2013…Blythe Palo Verde Valley, 4-2 for the first time since 2015, will try to break a 19-game losing streak against Brawley, also 4-2…the Yellow Jackets have not beaten the Wildcats since the schools joined the San Diego Section in 2000…Brawley, as usual, will be a heavy favorite…Cathedral closes the regular season with 3 games on the road, beginning this week at Madison….

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 7 poll:

Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1. Helix 5-1 310 1
2. Cathedral 6-1 273 2
3. St. Augustine 5-1 253 3
4. Carlsbad 5-1 217 4
5. Steele Canyon 6-0 185 5
6. Mission Hills 4-2 133 8
7. Madison 4-2 127 9
8. Oceanside 4-2 58 6
9. Grossmont 5-1 40 NR
10. La Costa Canyon 3-3 37 NR

Others receiving votes: Vista (4-2*, 33 points), Lincoln (4-2, 23), The Bishop’s (6-0, 5), Santana (7-0, 4), El Camino (3-3, 3), Scripps Ranch (6-0), San Diego (4-1), Serra (4-2), & Torrey Pines (3-3), 1 each.

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

  • John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
  • Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
  • Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
  • Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
  • Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
  • Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
  • Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
  • Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
  • Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
  • Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
  • Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
  • Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
  • Bob Petinak, free lance.
  • John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
  • Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
  • Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
  • Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
  • Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
  • Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team Record Cal.Preps.Com Max Preps Cal-Hi Sports
Helix 5-1 60.7/59.6 8/9 9/9
Cathedral 6-1 63.9/64.2 7/7 14/17
St. Augustine 5-1 51.0/48.3 16/21 21/21
Carlsbad 5-1 44.4/38.1 30/39 40/42
Steele Canyon 6-0 39.5/35.8 40/44 Bubble/Bubble
Mission Hills 4-2 35.8/27/1 57/89 Bubble/Bubble
Madison 4-2 35.9/28 56/74 Bubble/Bubble
Oceanside 4-2 29.7/32.9 90/60 NR
Grossmont 5-1 26.5 115 NR
La Costa Canyon 3-3 36.2 53 NR

The second numbers or score in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..




2019 Week 6: Scots Have Sock

Half the regular season is complete for all but a handful of teams and Helix has emerged as the front runner for the longest postseason.

The Highlanders arrived at this juncture after having beaten No. 2 Cathedral and No. 3 St. Augustine, which followed  a surprising, overtime loss to Utah’s Herriman West Herriman.

The loss to Herriman in Week 2  did not go over well in the foothills community.  Helix had beaten the same team, 35-0, in 2017.

But Herriman is formidable.

The Mustangs are 6-1, ranked third in the state and 48th in the country, according to Max Preps (Helix is 50th). Herriman’s only loss was 21-0 to Draper Corner Canyon, Utah’s No. 1 and Max Preps’ U.S. No. 13.

10 SEASONS OF EXCELLENCE

The Highlanders embark on Grossmont Hills league play against El Capitan this week, flush with the knowledge that history is on the Highlanders’ side.

The Scots are 43-2 in league play in this decade, with only a 24-17 defeat to El Cap in 2014 and a 22-21 loss to Steele Canyon in 2018.

Since the advent of the Grossmont League and its ensuing incarnations in 1960, Helix has won or tied for first in 31 of the 59 seasons, including 15 since the turn of the century.

GOOD VIBES

–Montgomery, if it defeats Sweetwater after a bye this week, will clinch a 16th winning season in the 50 the school has played since opening in 1970.

The Aztecs’ 5-1 record has been bettered only by the 6-0 of the 1982 John DeVore-coached squad and equaled by DeVore’s 1979 team.

–Castle Park’s 6-0 start is the best since 1996 and matches similar achievements in 1982, ’75, ’74, ’69, and ’68.

The Trojans will face several obstacles before they have a piece of the school record.

Coach Gil Warren’s 1996 squad used that 6-0 start and rolled to a 13-0 record, including a 37-10 win over Carlsbad in the San Diego Section finals.

–San Diego Southwest’s  first foray into overtime was a success after 432 games, dating to its first in 1977.

The Raiders spotted Clairemont a 21-0 lead in the first half but battled back to tie, 21-21, and win in the first extra session, 27-24. Ray Flores, ran 12 yards for a touchdown after the Chieftains settled for a field goal in the opening possession.

NOT SO GOOD VIBES

–Never, in a storied history that began in 1947, has Chula Vista reached this point with an 0-6 record.

The Spartans were 0-5-1 in 2005, 1962, and ’58.

–Eastlake never has been 1-5 and coach John McFadden, 131-49-4 in 15-plus seasons, is on a mandated leave.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 6 poll:

Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1. Helix 4-1 310 1
2. Cathedral 5-1 274 3
3. St. Augustine 4-1 253 2
4. Carlsbad 4-1 211 4
5. Steele Canyon 5-0 187 5
6. Oceanside 4-1 132 8
7. Lincoln 4-1 103 7
8. Mission Hills 3-2 70 9
9. Madison 3-2 55 NR
10. Torrey Pines 3-2 23 10

Others receiving votes: La Costa Canyon (3-2, 22  points), Grossmont (4-1, 22), Vista (3-2*, 14.), Granite Hills (3-1, 8), Scripps Ranch (5-0), The Bishop’s (5-0), & La Jolla Country Day (4-1), 3 points each.

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

  • John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
  • Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
  • Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
  • Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
  • Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
  • Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
  • Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
  • Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
  • Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
  • Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
  • Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
  • Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
  • Bob Petinak, free lance.
  • John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
  • Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
  • Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
  • Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
  • Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
  • Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team Record Cal.Preps.Com Max Preps Cal-Hi Sports
Helix 4-1 59.6/55.1 9/13 9/0
Cathedral 5-1 64.2/67.7 6/5 17/18
St. Augustine 4-1 48.3/47.5 21/23 21/22
Carlsbad 4-1 38.1/37.5 39/37 42/42
Steele Canyon 5-0 35.8/34.6 44/49 Bubble/Bubble
Oceanside 4-1 32.9/30.9 60/65 Bubble/Bubble
Lincoln 4-1 28/29.6 81/68 Bubble/Bubble
Mission Hills 3-2 27.1/26.3 89/83 NR
Madison 3-2 29.3 74 NR
Torrey Pines 3-2 25.1/24.9 101/92 NR

The second numbers or score in the three columns to the right represent last week’s ranking. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..

 

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2019 Week 5: Overtime Finally Pays Off for Oceanside

Oceanside and La Costa Canyon set a record when they played four overtime periods last week.

Somewhere Bennie Edens was smiling.

The late coach at Point Loma was instrumental in the city schools’ adopting overtime sessions as a way to solve the inconvenience of tie games in 1975.

The entire San Diego Section agreed in 1976 to use the state’s California Tie-breaker for the postseason.

Eventually regular-season games went into overtime along with other tweeks to the system used today.

Oceanside outlasted La Costa Canyon, 19-13, in the longest ever San Diego Section game.

RECORD WAS THREE

There had been three, three-overtime games, all in this century.

*Vista defeated Torrey Pines, 36-28, in a semifinal playoff in 2002.

*Cathedral topped San Pasqual, 37-31, for the San Diego Section Division I championship in 2013.

*Mira Mesa won, 36-28, over Escondido in a regular-season game in 2014.

There have been 129 regular and postseason games of at least one overtime since Edens got his colleagues in the city to vote 8-2 in favor of extra playing time.

The city’s pre-1976 overtime rules rewarded the team with the most yards gained after four downs.

As a headline in The San Diego Union stated, “Edens feels Sting of Own Prep Project.”

Madison was credited with a 1-0 victory when the Warhawks advanced the ball further in the first use of the so-called Edens tie-breaker in Week 8.

The California tie-breaker was introduced here the next year but not without some false starts.

BRAND CRITICAL

Part of my narrative for the season (search “1976: “Birt’s Legacy….”) included much of Steve Brand’s account of the semifinals game between Morse and El Camino.

“History-making events are supposed to be heralded with sounding trumpets and helium balloons,” noted The San Diego Union scribe.

But the writer said the 6-6 tie resulted in “disappointment and confusion”.

A long delay had taken place as game honchos sorted things out.

“A twenty minute discussion between officials, coaches, and statisticians over first downs, penetrations inside the 20-yard line, and a mysterious stopping of the clock before the (regulation) game ended,” Brand complained (he was on a morning newspaper deadline).

The teams tied in regulation play with 7 first downs each and both had made two penetrations inside their opponents’ 20-yard line.

When play resumed after the delay, Morse lost the coin toss and had first possession, which resulted in a two-yard loss after four plays and a 15-yard penalty.  El Camino took over, according to Brand, “and essentially fell on the ball for four consecutive plays.’

The Wildcats were declared winners.

La Costa Canyon and Oceanside tied, 6-6, in regulation play, matched scores in the second overtime and again in the fourth before Oceanside put across one more touchdown in the fourth on Kavika Tua’s 25-yard run that ended the game.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 5 poll:

Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked.

RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1. Helix 3-1 310 1
2. Cathedral 4-1 272 3
3. St. Augustine 4-1 252 2
4. Carlsbad 4-1 212 4
5. Steele Canyon 4-0 185 5
6. Grossmont 4-0 122 8
7. Lincoln 3-1 105 7
8. Oceaside 3-1 91 NR
9. Mission Hills 3-2 60 9
10. Torrey Pines 3-2 50 6

Others receiving votes: La Costa Canyon (3-2, 15  points), Vista (4-1, 11), Poway (4-1, 11), Madison (2-3, 10), El Camino (2-2, 8), Granite Hills (3-1, 6), Scripps Ranch (5-0).

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

  • John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
  • Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
  • Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
  • Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
  • Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
  • Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
  • Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
  • Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
  • Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
  • Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
  • Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
  • Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
  • Bob Petinak, free lance.
  • John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
  • Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
  • Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
  • Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
  • Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
  • Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

TEAM RECORD CAL PREPS.COM MAX PREPS CAL-HI SPORTS
Helix 3-1 55.1 13 10
St. Augustine 4-1 47.5 23 22
Cathedral 4-1 67.7 5 18
Carlsbad 4-1 37.5 37 42
Steele Canyon 4-0 34.6 49 On bubble
Grossmont 4-0 26.8 80 NR
Lincoln 3-1 29.6 68 On bubble
Oceanside 3-1 30.9 65 On Bubble
Mission Hills 3-2 26.3 83 NR
Torrey Pines 3-2 24.9 92 NR

Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..