Football: Oaks Christian has BCS title-game ties

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Oaks Christian is used to leaving its mark on championship games at the high school level; the Lions will attempt to win an unprecedented sixth consecutive Southern Section title on Friday when they play host to Gardena Serra in the Northwest Division championship game.

Now the Lions might be able to claim a sliver of influence in the Bowl Championship Series title game. Two former Lions players will compete against each other in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 8 in Miami.

Of course, they might get to play only if it’s a blowout.

Oklahoma senior backup quarterback Joey Halzle could conceivably face a pass rush from Florida sophomore defensive end Duke Lemmens.

Oaks Christian players have impacted dozens of college programs in the last five years. Eleven players from the 2006 team received Division I scholarships, including quarterback Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) and running back Marc Tyler (USC).

‘Most leagues are lucky to have one or two players who can play D-I football,’ Lions Coach Bill Redell said. ‘We’ve had an abundance of them.’

This year’s team features plenty more college-bound standouts. Redell said senior receiver Brian Owusu is headed to Harvard; senior tight end Chris Coyle is bound for Arizona State; junior running back Malcolm Jones has received scholarship offers from Colorado and Arizona; junior quarterback Nick Montana has received offers from Arizona, Louisiana State and Stanford; senior receiver Ryan Landseadel has drawn interest from Portland State; senior lineman Niall Padden has been pursued by Oregon; junior lineman Cassius Marsh has received offers from Arizona and Oregon; junior lineman Erik Kohler has received offers from Arizona and UCLA; and junior running back Zac Stout has received interest from Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State.

--Ben Bolch