Week 13: The number of teams have dwindled, but not the quality
And the there were four.
The Daily News area began the CIF Southern Section, divisional football playoffs with
10 participants. Four of them are left, three - La Habra, California and Schurr, of the six that began play in the Southeast Division, and one, St. Paul, still alive in the Western Division.
Friday's game:
Schurr will host Fullerton at 7 p.m.
It will be the gutty Schurr defense trying to contain Fullerton's Michael Allain, a 5-10, 165-pound whirlwind who has rushed for 580 yards and eight touchdowns in two playoff games. He burned La Serna for 260 yards and three scores last week.Fullerton, the division's No. 3 seed, doesn't pass much, but the Indians haven't had to with Allain performing in spectacular fashion.
The pick from here:
Roger Murray: You stick with the program you believe in - Schurr
Andrew Campa: Injured RB Edwin Molina is the motivation here - Schurr
Saturday's games:
La Habra at California, 7 p.m.
This isn't Goliath vs. David, but it's hard to imagine anyone having a complete enough package to harness all of La Habra's weapons. Offense, defense, special teams, running the ball, throwing the ball, catching the ball, punting the ball, kicking the ball, blocking, tackling, physical football, finesse football, and the area's most interesting, fog-shrouded entry to the field ... have I left anything out...?
This is not meant to discourage California from showing up. The Condors have enjoyed a mystical season. Eleven-and-one? Obviously, they're doing most everything right. Operative word there, "most." That passing game needs some help, and that may be the key to whether California can keep up with the Highlanders. It will be necessary to sustain possession, which will be necessary to keep La Habra's offense
off the field, which will be necessary to keep them from running away with the game.
Supermen RBs Matt Urquiza and Jasper Meza can't keep doing it alone offensively.
Hmmmmmm, or can they? Is it fair to ask them to?
Sometimes it's just better to be the underdog. Motivation comes more easily.
The pick from here:
Murray - Love 'em both, but La Habra is title-bound - La Habra
Campa - Too much of everything - La Habra.
St. Paul at Gahr, 7:30 p.m.
Defense-dominated St. Paul can't try to run with the pass-happy, speed-oriented Gladiators, so the Swordsmen defenders must step up one more time to take some pressure off the offense.
There is no question they are capable, but in a game like this the team that makes the fewest mistakes, no fumbles, no ill-timed or foolish, drive-killing penalties, no lack of focus, not even for a split second, most likely will survive to play another week.
The season has been filled with heroes on both sides of the ball. It's time to ask they be heroic once more, step into the breach once more, dig deep and see what happens.
The pick from here:
Murray - The little engine that could, or make that can - St. Paul
Campa - Not the first time Swordsmen have faced great QB - St. Paul
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Shurr will be looking for a new head coach next year.
Rumor has it that a coach from LS staff is applying for the position. I wonder who it could be????
just responding to Patriot69, and dashman7, see you next year, SCHURR SPARTANS will be back in the thick of it, and we will have great showing in the playoffs, good luck to La Habra and Fullerton.
drl alumni, La Habra for many years has recieved the short end of the stick. We don't get respect from Orange County nor do we get it from the local area cities.. We don't complain as you wrote, nor do we care who we play.. We don't look at home field advantage. What we look at are facilities that will allow visitors and others interested to enjoy a respectful game of football. By the way, thanks for recognizing a great tradition. Go Highlanders!!! Class starts at home!!!!!
The head-coach's job at Schurr should go to Coach Ramirez(line coach)!!! The kids love him and he knows the game..
STAY WITHIN THE SAME COACHING STAFF!!!!!! You have something good going.
if the schurr administration is smart they will seriously consider giving one of coach dicks staff members a shot at the head coaching job!!! they kept it in house after mayral left and look how succesful they have been during dicks 3 year tenure..3 almont league championships..1 CIF championship...return to semi-final
Anthony Moreno, how does it feel to be 0 for 4. I guess that I won't be asking you to go to Vegas with me. Schurr lost, big, CalHi lost, even bigger, UCLA lost big and I don't see Kobe going anywhere. My only disappointment for this season is that we don't get to prove to Schurr that La Habra has a better program than theirs. I can't wait for next week. Fullerton vs. La Habra will be the "Game of the Year" for the Southeast Division. I wonder if Murray and the Whittier Daily News will cover it as well as they would a game with CalHi or any other DRL team in it. Probably not but that is to be expected. To the WDN staff you have my personal invitation, as booster VP, to visit our Hospitality tent at next weeks game. We would love to show you what Championship Football is all about. Here we go La Habra, bring home the ring.
Anthony Moreno:
Don't give up your day job because you stink as a forecaster, both weather and sports. You had it all bass ackwards. La Habra enjoyed a beautiful night and the heavens (and Fullerton) poured on your Spartans.
I expected more outta Schurr bc the supporters "schurr" do talk alot.
Tonights games will be wet,
Im still picking La Habra over Cal, La Habra can run and pass, They have power, speed, and quickness in every facet of the game.
Im also still taking St. Paul over Gahr, SP would win in any weather.
GO SP!!!
I just read the SPH Football Creed and it still gives me goose bumps. After 50 years I still remember the Pit. We seeded it to play on.Every game I go to I get the same feeling.Its the family,dedication,team work and knowing we have been a giant killer. GOOOO BLUE. Old Warrior
OUCH! That is what happens when you don't play good teams through out the season. So much for Schurr defending their title. Hope all of you that were blogging it up comment on the game. Yes the ones putting down every local team. Actually the way Schurr played you will probably be to emberassed to post anything.
Dashman7,
Cal is all about the money????? we are in a district that only sees 2 schools not 5 and neither of those are still in the playoffs. Cal is not about the money... Our kids are just fine where they are, they wanted to play on their field. so because of that you say we are all about the hating? maybe you should look in a mirror when you say that. Can we please just let the kids play ball, thats what they want to do. I hope that both teams have a good time and play as hard as they can. To whoever looses this game, you have had a good run, for you seniors, you have a lot of great memories!!!!!
Go Cal Hi!!!!!!!!
I want to congratulate the Spartans on a great season. You know Schurr is on top when making the semis is not enough. Boys hold your heads up high. Valdez, Estrada, Pintado, Almonte thanks for the memories. No one can ever take away your CIF ring. Coach Dick thanks for all you have done for Spartan fotball. Good luck in Las Vegas. Now the question is: Who will be the Spartans head coach next season?
Hey Spartans, your own lousy field and you couldn't score a point? Anthony Moreno you were wrong about Fullerton over Schurr and you will be wrong about all your other predictions. La Habra will win, SC will win and the Lakers have already stated that Kobe isn't going anywhere anytime soon. You must live in a fantasy world or you are the ultimate underdog fan. Good Luck NEXT season and come by tomorrow to the La Habra tailgate party and I will treat you to a hot dog or a braut. Congratulations to the Indians I can't wait to see you next week. Get a better stadium for the final will you? Can probably get you Cerritos College.
drl alum
What is sad is the fact that you would bad mouth the La Habra fans. Did you attend either the Schurr or Cal games last year? The seating was inadequate and hundreds of fans had to stand even though they bought tickets just like the home team fans did. Some could not even get into the Cal game until the second quarter. No wonder they complain! I will agree with you that La Habra has a great program and their goal each year is to win CIF. Perhaps the DRL teams should adapt the same philosophy and maybe you wouldn't be "on the outside looking in" every year.
ya thats right everyone said schurr was going to win and defend their title. no fulerton won and is going to try to win the championship. shows how much you fans know.so anyone want to take back their decision on the cal-la habra game?
how could u say we were lucky last year against you guys, did u go to the game? did u see that awesome hit on that punt in the 1st qtr? in which we should have scored on that play but they called it down on the 1 yd line, and did u see all those dropped passes after that hit? thats what u call intimidation......GO SPARTANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck to all you Young Warriors playing tonight and tomorrow. Leave it all on the field and win or lose, honor yourself, family, and school by showing your opponent respect before and after the game. God bless our troops, families, and Country…and remember to stand for our National Anthem; show support to our sons and daughters who are in harms way by standing for our colors…RED, WHITE, and BLUE!!!!
P.S.
GO SP!!!
50 yr old Football fan ,
Finally someone with some kind words. You Sir, are a gentleman in everyway possible. I wish more people would really listen to what you have to say. Good luck to the swordman on Sat. night!!!
BREAKING NEWS: IT'S STARTING TO RAIN, FORECAST RAIN ALL WEEKEND. DID THE HIGHLANDERS BARGAIN FOR THIS, IT'S NOT A FAST TRACK,DID THE LA HABRA COACHES HAVE A PLAN "B" FOR WET TURF,CAL IS LICKING IT'S CHOPS NOW, THEY HAVE YOU RIGHT WHERE THEY NEED YOU...IN MUD!GOOD OLD FASHION FOOTBALL.THE CONDORS STOCK JUST WENT UP, THEY WILL UPSET THE LA HABRA HIGHLANDERS AND FACE SCHURR IN THE FINALS.GO SPARTANS!! BACK TO BACK
Anthony Moreno,
Are you talking trash or do you really think that Schurr is going to repeat as CIF Champs? And if so what is your reasoning behind it? Do you honestly think that they are a better team then La Habra? Do you know anything about football - or are you just supporting your team and talking unrealistic non-sense. Please respond.
Being a former Schurr graduate I was one who saw first hand how much heart and pride is put into each and every single football game. Last season Schurr was the underdog for every game and wasn't even supposed to win League... They brought back the League title to Schurr for the 4th consecutive year and brought home the CIF championship. Schurr has a great group of players. They might always be underdogs but they will never give up they will prove that they are the Defending CIF champs..
My predictions. Schurr over Fullerton
and Cal wil upset La Habra
GO BIG GREEN!
Good luck to all the young men who will be representing their communities tonight and tomorrow in the semi-finals. For many of these kids, it will be the very last time they will ever play football. I hope all remain healthy, play hard and may the best team win.
My picks:
California over La Habra: The upset will occur in the rain on a muddy field.
St Paul over Gahr
Again, the wet field and soft ground will benefit the defense and the swordsmen have a tough, talented defense who have faced some of the best teams in the CIF during pre-season. Coach Gonzalez's tough pre-season will prepare this St Paul team to yet another title game.
Lastly, lets be careful when we mention high school kids names and make bold statements about them. These are not pros nor even NCAA players...these are kids who deserve some respect as they earned what they have by spending hundreds of hours practicing and sweating and again, making their communities proud.
My sons played for St Paul and as a parent, I am proud of the job Marion Anchich did and I am also proud of this staff.
Peace to all and lets play some football!
From the outside looking in...
It is truly sad that La Habra's parents have taken every ounce of class that their boys have earned on the field and shattered it. All this talk of "poor facilities", take a look in the mirror. It sounds like there is a little animosity for having to play at Schurr and losing last year. La Habra fields more talent than anyone in the division. Coach Mazzotta does a phenomenal job with his program, minus bitter boosters, and if any other school were as talened as they, anything less than a CIF Championship is a failure. Unfortunately for La Habra, the game still has to be played. Anytime, anywhere, this game can come to haunt you. Wishing La Habra well and hoping that all of this external talk doesn't get in the way of you playing your best game. Cal, go get em. You have nothing to lose. It's been stated: you don't have enough size, speed, or athleticism to win. Show em heart and anything is possible...
schurr was obviously lucky last year beating LH. Schurr isnt a match for LH nor is Cal. Watch film and the teams we played, there isnt a team at LH's level in the southeast divison. #1 seed 45-0 halftime.
Well here we are , all the talking is done who will be left standing, here's my take, SCHURR SPARTANS will represent and repeat as Back to Back CIF champion, Cal will upset La Habra , SC will defeat UCLA. Hopefully Kobe Bryant gets traded.
GO SPARTANS !!
BACK TO BACK CIF CHAMPS!!
Go Highlanders! Murray and Campa both have it right just too much for the Condors. Too many weapons and too much defense for you too handle. It was a nice run but it will end for Cal Hi on Saturday night. It dosen't matter that you wouldn't provide better facilities for your teams last game. It would have been nice to give them at least one game in a decent stadium, but your not about providing the best for your players you are all about hating, the money and trying to get little advantages that in the end will mean nothing. That is the difference between winning programs and those who have an occasional good season. You have to step up if you want to have a quality program for the long haul. See you Sat. night. Go CLAN!
this weeks picks...
La Habra over Cal
LH is better everywhere and just as good on defense...and Harris is back at QB for Cal, that is a setback for Cal too bc they cannot afford to turn the ball over, not this game, not against this team.
Fullerton over Schurr
If Fullerton runs the ball, controls the clock, and doesnt turn the ball over they will win, but Schurr has played big all year...should be a close game
St. Paul over Gahr
SP Defense will have to step up again. Gahr's QB is #1 in the state. SP has faced great offensive teams, and Gahr has never met a physical team as St. Paul.
It's a miracle both Campa and Murray talking about St. Paul Football, what is the world coming too...Opps!! That right come and jump on the SP bandwagon.
Just feed the train …..Aubrey Haynes #23
Go St. Paul…. For all those SP supporters this saying says it all..
I have walked this field hundreds of times
I know every inch
I live in the shadows of the hundred of men that have played here before me
I feel their strength in every drill, every play
Their pride now lives in me
I am a St. Paul Swordsmen
The desire and dedication are now mine
My sweat, My determination
Now consume “THE PIT”
The ultimate tradition is carried on in me and my teammates
We are one, one goal, one mission
United by the Sword
WE ARE ST. PAUL!
Cal-La Habra game of the year? Thats funny. Thanks for the laugh.