California: Unbeaten Vista Murrieta looking to take next step

It was an important victory given the other programs in the Inland Division, No. 1 Redlands East Valley (10-0), No. 3 Norco (9-1), No. 4 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0), two-time defending champion Corona Centennial (8-2) and last year's finalist Temecula Chaparral (7-3).

"Our identity is defense and special teams," said coach Coley Candaele, referring to a squad led by outside linebacker Ryan Hofmeister and kick-blocking specialist John Hardy. "We don't have one guy on defense over 200 pounds. We've got a defensive tackle who's 160, another who's 190."

Yet Vista Murrieta runs a sophisticated scheme that gets the most out of its undersized players. And on special teams, Hardy is simply smashing. He is the career leader in the state, having blocked 24 punts or field goals in the last 26 games.

Last week, he told his coach he needed to be a decoy on a punt deep in Murrieta Valley territory; it worked, as teammate Eddie Lackey blocked the punt to set up a short scoring drive. Hofmeister recovered a fumble on the next possession to set up another short drive as Vista Murrieta scored twice in the final two minutes of the third quarter to seize control of a game that had been tied at 17.

"Special teams is our claim to fame," Candaele said, the topic headed toward Hardy. "We figured it out as a sophomore on the scout team that he had a knack for blocking our punts. From then on, we've averaged a block a week."

Junior punter Derrick Brown, who is also the quarterback, is averaging 47 yards a kick, and headed into the game against Murrieta Valley, the Broncos had averaged 70 yards on their five kickoff returns.

Yet making a run through the playoffs can't be done solely on defense and special teams. In addition to a little luck, at some point the offense has to take charge, and that's what Brown did last week: Take over. For most of the season, he had been too selfless, content to let someone else make the play.

"He's only played quarterback for a year-and-a-half and he has to start making more plays with his arm," Candaele said. "He's 6-3, 230, and he can run and he can throw. He has all the tools, it's whether he wants to use them or not. I've instructed him to use them."

Vista Murrieta – ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps state rankings behind Huntington Beach Edison, Mission Viejo, Anaheim Servite and Los Angeles Crenshaw – hopes that over the next four weeks, all the elements come together to prove that it belongs with the Southland's elite teams.

Here's a playoff preview of the top divisions in the Southland:

The seeds: 1. Crenshaw (10-0), 2. Carson (8-2), 3. Venice (9-1), 4. Woodland Hills Taft (6-4).

The dark horse: Harbor City Narbonne (5-5) was originally seeded 12th after it lost its last two games – including an upset to Wilmington Banning – and will have to do it all on the road from the No. 11 spot in the bracket. The Gauchos won't get an easy one in the first round against L.A. Jordan, which played Santa Ana Mater Dei tough before losing, 23-20, but Narbonne has been competitive against several of the top programs in the Southland, including a victory over Orange Lutheran, which beat Mater Dei. Narbonne's path is through Venice, which is preferred to going through Carson, and it's in the bracket opposite Crenshaw. It doesn't really get much better than that for an above-average team with an average record.

The pick: Crenshaw, Crenshaw, Crenshaw. From the first game, a 28-27 upset of Lakewood, the Cougars have been the team to beat in the City. Nonleague opponents Lakewood (No. 4 in Pac-5), Norco (No. 3 in Inland) and Culver City (No. 2 in Western) are a combined 27-3, but Crenshaw's offense has scored 123 points against them. Who in the City can match that?

The seeds: 1. Edison (10-0), 2. Mission Viejo (10-0), 3. Servite (9-1), 4. Lakewood (9-1).

The dark horse: Orange Lutheran (6-4) could easily be one and done, but Dana Hills (8-2) is an opponent the Lancers could have success against, and second-round opponent Edison needed double overtime to beat Mater Dei (6-4) – something Lutheran did in regulation. And who's to say Mater Dei won't string together an upset or two and emerge as the semifinal opponent? Mater Dei's first round-game against La Puente Bishop Amat (9-1) is the division's top game of the first round for a reason. And how's this for a wild card: If QB Bobby Wheatley comes back from his arm injury, Lutheran – which has won five of its last six – has even more bite.

The pick: Edison could have lost twice this season, but beat Mater Dei in overtime and Los Alamitos without the benefit of an offensive touchdown. You don't have to win every game going away, you just have to win. Led by QB Matt Viles and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, Edison has been tested, has had to make plays down the stretch in each facet of the game, and has proven it knows how to win under pressure.

Inland Division

The seeds: 1. Redlands East Valley (10-0), 2. Vista Murrieta (10-0), 3. Norco (9-1), 4. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0).

The dark horse: Corona Centennial (8-2) plays a tough nonleague schedule to get ready for this portion of the season. The two-time defending champion Huskies platoon quarterbacks that average 180 yards passing, and have a running game with Denzel Hawkins and Dion Bass that averages 205 yards. After losing in the final seconds in league to third-seeded Norco, Centennial has the opportunity to play through the No. 4 spot in the bracket: That will make for one monster quarterfinal against Rancho Verde.

The pick: Vista Murrieta doesn't have the offensive flash of the other teams, but possesses such a strong defense and special teams that it won't need a lot of points to advance. It's also in a good position in the bracket – it beat first-round opponent Corona Santiago already, 35-7 – and could face run-oriented Norco in the semifinals. The Broncos have shown this season they can stop the run, and they won't face the gantlet staring at top-seeded REV.

The seeds: Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (8-2), 2. Culver City (9-1), Mission Hills Alemany (7-3), 4. Palmdale (8-2).

The dark horse: Mission Hills St. Francis (8-2) nearly upset Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (8-2) – a legitimate threat in the Pac-5 – and lost to third-seeded Alemany by a touchdown. The Golden Knights, who have not allowed more than 25 points this season, are two plays away from being undefeated. If they make those plays in the playoffs, they might win a championship.

The pick: It's a bit dull to pick the favorite, but what's not to like about Mira Costa, which went 2-2 against Division I level competition, including a victory over Newport Harbor?

Northern Division

The seeds: 1. Valencia (10-0), 2. Ventura St. Bonaventure (9-1), 3. Westlake Village Westlake (10-0), 4. Moorpark (9-1).

The dark horse: If you really want to go for a longshot, how about Thousand Oaks (5-5), the fourth-place team from the Marmonte League that lost three of its first four games? The Lancers were beaten by only three points in Game 1 by its first-round opponent, top-seeded Valencia, 39-36. Thousand Oaks also played Moorpark to within a touchdown, so who's to say TO won't make up the TD and get four Ws?

The pick: Quarterback Alex Bishop (29 TDs, 2 INT) and running back Steven Manfro (26 TDs) make Valencia a scoring machine, but the Vikings' schedule was a little light this season. Adding fuel to the public-private school debate, the pick is two-time defending champion St. Bonaventure, which went 3-1 against Pac-5 opponents and whose loss was by one point in overtime to Bishop Amat.

The seeds: 1. Colton (9-1), 2. Ontario Colony (9-1), 3. Elsinore (8-2), 4. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (6-4).

The dark horse: Upland (8-2) is the fourth-place entry from the Baseline League, but lost by a combined five points to Etiwanda and Rancho Cucamonga. A second-round matchup against second-seeded Colony is favorable for last season's section runner-up: Colony lost to Los Osos by 19 points and beat Alta Loma by 22; Upland beat Los Osos by 17 points and Alta Loma 35.

The pick: Rancho Cucamonga (8-2) is the defending champion with three-point losses to Los Osos and Etiwanda (in overtime). The Cougars were this close to being undefeated and seeded, and will be the best opponent Colton has faced since a Game 1 loss to Vista Murrieta. By the way, Rancho Cucamonga will be the home team when it faces Colton in the second round.

Eastern Division favorite Perris Citrus Hill (10-0) has won 38 consecutive games. . . . East Valley favorite San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's (9-1) , last year's small-school champion, is trying to become Orange County's first four-time defending champion. . . . Lancaster Paraclete (6-4) begins defense of its Mid-Valley Division title in the same quarter as top-seeded Monrovia (10-0); Paraclete could host in the second round. . . .

Since winning the eight-man small-school championship in 2001, Northeast favorite Rio Hondo Prep (10-0) won 11-man titles in 2008 and 2005 and was a finalist in 2004. . . . Westlake Village Oaks Christian (10-0) has won six consecutive small-school titles, but next season moves into the Northern Division with the likes of Moorpark, Westlake and St. Bonaventure. If all goes as expected and there is a rematch in the Northwest Division, second-seeded Gardena Serra (10-0) will be the toughest opponent Oaks Christian has ever faced in a title game. . . .

Top-seeded and defending champion Covina Charter Oak (9-1) opens against Pasadena Muir (4-6), which won its last three games and lost to fourth-seeded Burbank, 29-28. Second-seeded Covina South Hills (8-2) is playing an opponent with only three wins, La Verne Bonita (3-7), the third-place team from the Miramonte League. . . . Garden Grove League champion Garden Grove has its first-ever 10-0 start and its first outright league title since 1991. The top-seeded Argonauts have dedicated the season to Kevin Telles, a fullback and linebacker who collapsed in the season-opening game on Sept. 11 and died. . . .

The top two seeded teams in the Southwest division boast two of the outstanding power backs in Orange County. Top-seeded La Habra (9-1) has won back-to-back titles with Josh Quezada (144.3 yards/game, 18 TDs), and second-seeded Tustin (9-1) counters with Anthony Wilkerson (221.4 yards/game, 32 TDs).