Eastlake, Helix look to be championship caliber in San Diego

The Titans of Eastlake (Chula Vista) are undefeated – the top-ranked team in the CIF-San Diego Section with eyes of earning a bid to the California State Bowl Games at the Home Depot Center in Carson next month.

Riding a 21-game winning streak, the Titans (10-0) are a versatile bunch with a pair of quarterbacks, Jordan Hines and Josh Palet, who have combined to pass for 1,149 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Probably the biggest collaboration between the two signal-callers was a game-winning 21-yard scoring pass from Palet to Hines with 15 seconds left to knock off Steele Canyon 20-17.

"We got away with one there," Eastlake coach John McFadden said. "Jordan is an incredible receiver and Josh can throw it pretty well. We got lucky."

Those on the Cougars sidelines believed Hines was guilty of offensive pass interference. Furthermore, on the winning pass, there was a non-call when an Eastlake slotback appeared to move forward before the ball was snapped.

All that aside, the Titans have pulled other great escapes including 24-21 over Moorpark and 24-22 over Cathedral Catholic.

Additional Eastlake weapons include senior slotback Chris Fletcher (1,104 yards, 9 touchdowns) and junior running back Jude Isbell (99 rushes, 1104 yards, 10 touchdowns).

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HELIX'S HIGHLANDERS ARE ON A MISSION
This a brand new band of Highlanders. Sure, there are no Reggie Bushes or Alex Smiths or future Heisman Trophy winners in the huddle. Nonetheless, this Helix (La Mesa) team plays stinging defense and is sure to make its mark in CIF-SDS history.

Coach Troy Starr is not one to make predictions or boast about achievements. The former University of Florida assistant coach never loses focus.

"All we're concerned about is what we are doing rather than the other team," he said.

No question the Highlanders' stealth weapon is junior quarterback Brandon Lewis, who has completed 130 of 215 passes for 1,875 yards and 25 touchdowns.

"You have to realize how hard Lewis throws the ball," Starr said. "In our Steele Canyon game he knocked our receiver out when he hit him in the numbers."

No doubt that is why only 3.3 percent of Lewis' passes have resulted in interceptions.

Defensively, the Highlanders, are anchored by senior Division I lineman prospects Sam Meredith and William Milo, corner Jimmy Pruitt, Kenny Keys and KC Smith as well linebackers Rocky Fuga and Gary Thompson have surrendered only six touchdowns in 10 games.

KING OF THE IMPERIAL VALLEY RETIRES
When Brawley head coach John Bishop talks, everyone listens.

One of the life lessons he tells them is, "When you leave, they'll have someone take your place tomorrow and they'll forget you in a week," Bishop told the Imperial Valley Press.

Bishop officially announced he will retire after Friday's quarterfinal duel between the Wildcats (9-2) and Olympian (9-1) in South Bay.

Undoubtedly, Brawley will surely not forget him — at least not in a week.

In his 17 years as head coach of the football program, Bishop has posted impressive numbers. He has won 13 league titles and finished second the other four years. He's won the annual Bell Game 13 times and has made the playoffs all 17 years. He's won more than 150 games combined and lost only 39.

MONTGOMERY'S RODRIGUEZ DAZZLES WITH 5 TDS
With a career-high five rushing touchdowns in the first half alone, Diego Rodriguez and the Montgomery (San Diego) Aztecs steamrolled San Marcos 44-7 in the first round of the CIF-SDS Division III playoffs. The Knights, seeking their first playoff win since 2004, finished 4-7.

"He's a guy I would have recruited," said former USC and NFL coach John Robinson, now a volunteer defensive coordinator at San Marcos.

Rodriguez finished with 103 yards on 20 carries to give him 2,168 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.

SCRIPPS RANCH GIVES MORSE THE BOOT
Scripps Ranch senior Nick Sloan kicked field goals of 44, 29 and 37 yards plus three extra points in addition to propelling seven kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks in the Falcons' 30-0 romp over Morse in the first round of the CIF-SDS Division II playoff opener.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
* Granite Hills (El Cajon) wide receiver Michael Millien caught a school-record 12 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in a CIF-SDS Division I playoff game against Poway.

* Senior quarterback Garrett Krstich of La Costa Canyon clicked on 10 of 11 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns as the Mavericks mauled Hilltop in the CIF-SDS Section Division I playoff opener.

* Junior Evan Gray of Poway played long ball in a 42-33 Division I playoff win over Granite Hills. He ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns on six carries and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score.

* Cory Lockman, a senior quarterback at Granite Hills, accounted for 280 yards total offense and three touchdowns in the Eagles' playoff game at Poway.

COMING ATTRACTIONS
A key quarterfinal encounter in Division II pits six-time CIF-SDS Division II champion Oceanside (7-3) against La Costa Canyon (7-4). The Mavericks, who dropped down from Division I this season, have found the going tough. The Pirates pushed them off the plank 38-14 during the regular season. No. 3 seed Vista (9-1), which lost only to Mission Hills 31-28, hosts Poway (7-4) in a CIF-SDS Division I quarterfinal.

DICKENS' DEALINGS
One thing that is clear about the CIF-SDS football playoffs is there are no sure things. That would be labeled parity.

To be sure, there are winning streaks yet none of those riding lengthy unbeaten skeins are hardly invincible. From a ticket-taker's focus the CIF-SDS should be a major money-maker since there will be a majority of close calls.

From a fan's perspective, this means more fights to the finish.

What this depends on is whether high school football playoffs should be based on making money or exciting games.

The shame here is those in charge of the CIF playoffs are more interested in dollar bills than touchdowns.

Something needs to change.