And You Thought the BCS was Bad?

Consider the dilemma faced by CIF commissioners in determining who would represent southern California in the open Division State Bowl Game. First of all, let me start off by saying I have no complaints with the CIF’s selection of Servite as Southern California’s representative in the open bowl game. The Friars just completed an undefeated season having won 25 games in a row dating to last year, including last season’s victory in the state division II bowl game. Servite played one of the toughest schedules of any team in Southern California and the cherry on top of that sundae was knocking off previously un-beaten and top ranked Mission Viejo in last Saturday’s Pac-5 championship game.

But consider the fate of several schools that had equally successful seasons. Starting in the ultra-competitive Northern division where 3 schools from the powerful Marmonte league took turns knocking each other out of the top spot. St Bonaventure (Ventura), Westlake Village, and eventual champion Oaks Christian all finished with identical records of 12-2 and except for one loss by Oaks Christian to an undefeated Alemany team, all of the losses were suffered against each other during the regular season and the playoffs. Westlake Village for instance lost 2 games by a combined total of two points including Saturday’s heartbreaking 29-28 defeat to Oaks Christian in the Championship game. To show you how close these teams were on the field, Oaks Christian only secured the Northern Division title after Westlake’s last second field goal attempt hit the upright.

By far the loudest complaint over the Open Division Bowl snub is coming from a little further south and east where Inland Division Champion Centennial High School (Corona) completed a 14-0 season. That was good enough to earn the selection as Southern California’s representative in the State Division I bowl game. But with signature wins over perennial powers Mater Dei and Chaparral plus an almost unbelievable 37-point margin of victory the Huskies clearly had a claim on the Open Division Title Game.

Gardena Serra is yet another 14-0 team that is also a defending state champion, is on a 29-game winning streak that spans the last 2 seasons (Oaks Christian was the last team to defeat Serra). Serra, like Centennial doesn’t have too much to complain about however since the Cavaliers will be going to a State Bowl game (Division II) for the 2nd year in a row. But Serra stocked with so much top division I caliber talent that the Cavaliers captured state titles last season in basketball and track & field as well could clearly make a case for the Open Division Bowl slot.

What about last year’s representative from Southern California? The Crenshaw Cougars went 12-2, captured their 2nd consecutive Los Angeles City Section division title and boast one of the most exciting players in the history of Southern California football in RB/DB De’Anthony Thomas. Crenshaw dropped its first two games of the year including a season opening loss in Georgia, and then dropped their next 12 opponents by an average score of 61-6. But the Cougars season as well as the career of USC-bound De’Anthony Thomas is over, a fact I’m sure won’t disappoint many coaches in Southern California.

As you can see the state bowl championship series is every bit as muddled as the infamous BCS that governs College Football’s postseason and that’s only southern California. Geography and a schedule that is already bordering on too long prevent any further playoffs to resolve more of this confusion. Servite deserves the credit and recognition for an extraordinary season that resulted in their selection as the Open Division representative from Southern California. But there are at least 2, and possibly as many as 6 other teams in the area who may have a legitimate point when you look at the overall body of work.

That being said ... Bring on the North!!!

A Game of Inches Sends Vista Murrieta Back to Championship Game

Murrieta, CA.

Trailing Vista Murrieta 28-35 in the second overtime of the Inland Division semifinal playoff game you can understand why Rancho Cucamonga head football coach Nick Baiz would go to tailback Sateki Finau on 4th and goal at the one yard line. The Cougars had a mammoth offensive line that averaged over 285 pounds and had repeatedly opened holes in the Broncos defense all night long. Finau has been Rancho’s all everything back all season going over the 2,000 yard rushing mark during Saturday night’s playoff game at Vista Murrieta high school and the senior had already scored two similar touchdowns including one on the first possession of overtime. But when Finau took the handoff and broke to the right side of the line of scrimmage Bronco linebacker Manuel Moreno led Vista Murrieta defenders as they smashed through the Cougars offensive line hitting Finau and dragging him to the ground short of the line of scrimmage. With anxious fans waiting for a sign from the officials the Bronco defenders began storming off the field in celebration heading for Vista Murrieta’s second appearance in the CIF Southern Section Inland Division Championship game in as many years.

The game featured as evenly matched a pair of teams as I have seen in some time. The Cougars supporters got into the action first sounding off with a hardy “Let’s Go Rancho” chant minutes before kickoff. Not to be outdone on their home field the Broncos fans came back with the familiar “Broncos” call … good times in the CIF.

But it was also Rancho Cucamonga’s offense that got on the scoreboard first marching down the field on their first offensive possession behind running from Finau and short passes from Junior Quarterback Dmitri Morales to Receiver Donavan Harden and Fullback JT Huggins. When Finau slammed it into the end zone from 2-yards out Rancho had the first score of the game and a 7-0 lead. Vista Murrieta’s defense recovered after that initial possession and did not yield any additional points to Rancho Cucamonga’s offense in the half. However Vista Murrieta’s offense, normally one of the team’s strong points, struggled to move the ball against the champions from the Baseline league. Rancho’s defense seemed content to play Vista Quarterback Derek Brown on the option forcing Brown to hand off to tailback Jonathan Harden into the center of the Cougars big defensive line. Unable to effectively run the ball, Brown also struggled finding open receivers in the early going and the result was three consecutive offensive possessions without a first down and three booming punts from Brown.

It was on the 4th punt of the game by Brown that led to Vista Murrieta’s first score of the game. After failing to convert on yet another third down Brown dropped into punt formation. Brown needed every bit of his 6’3 frame and all of his athleticism to track down the high snap; however he didn’t have to worry about any Rancho defenders as all the special teams players had turned their backs and retreated into punt blocking assignments. Brown, surprised took off running up the middle easily getting the first down and wasn’t brought down until he had rumbled 21 yards deep into Cougar territory. From there Brown completed a 33-yard scoring pass to receiver Darion Williams and the two teams went into the half tied at 7-7.

This time it was Vista Murrieta taking the early lead after stopping Rancho Cucamonga’s initial drive of the 2nd half. Brown and Harden picked up consecutive first downs on the ground to get into Cougar territory before Cody Peukonis turned a short pass into a big gain inside the Rancho 15-yard line. A couple of penalties backed the Broncos up before Brown dropped back to pass and found favorite target Mike Mazur in the corner of the end-zone for the go-ahead score, 14-7 Vista Murrieta. Rancho Cucamonga had the answer. Seteki Finau, who exceeded 2,000 yard rushing mark on the season at some point during this drive, helped power the Cougars offense deep into Broncos territory and when Dmitri Morales found his favorite receiver Donavan Harden open at the Vista 12-yard line the senior who led Rancho Cucamonga in receiving did the rest outracing defenders to the corner of the end-zone and touching off a loud celebration among the Rancho supporters on the far side of the field. It was short lived.

On the ensuing kickoff Vista return man Darion Williams caught the ball at his 1-yard line, headed up the middle of the field and then sliced through a gap on the left side of the return, stayed on his feet despite a defender grabbing his face mask, and raced down the sideline to give Vista Murrieta the lead at 21-14 and silence the Rancho Cucamonga supporters at the same time. Vista had another opportunity following a Morales interception but the Cougars stopped the Broncos on 4th and one at their own 35-yard line and took possession of the ball with a little over 7:00 minutes remaining in the game. Rancho Cucamonga (11-2) methodically moved the ball down the field behind the running of Finau and the passing of Morales. With just under a minute to play, junior fullback JT Huggins plunged in from the 1-yard line and tied the score at 21-21. Vista Murrieta had one final chance but Rancho managed to block a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired sending the game into overtime.

After Finau scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, Derek Brown scored on touchdown runs of 25 and 12 yards in the next two overtime sessions to put Vista Murrieta ahead 35-28 and set up the final showdown. On 4th and goal from inside the Broncos 1-yard line the Vista Murrieta defenders made their final stand stopping Finau and ending the Cougars season just 12 inches short of their goal. Vista Murrieta (12-1) will be on the road next week at powerhouse Corona Centennial attempting to secure the Inland Division Title that evaded their grasp last season.

Rich Sharp