San Diego Prep Review / Steve Scott : Baranski Gives Nod to Vista

Walt Baranski of Patrick Henry and Bob Woodhouse of San Pasqual will be on the sidelines when the football playoffs begin Friday.

But they will be reluctant viewers in the stands instead of intense coaches on the field.

Patrick Henry and San Pasqual did not qualify for postseason play, but Baranski and Woodhouse have a vested interest in what happens on the way to the title game. The two have coached against seven of the playoff teams during the regular season.

In the 3-A division, Sweetwater (10-0) is seeded first and Vista (10-0) is second.

“Right off the bat, I’d have to pick Vista as No. 1,” Baranski said. “I saw Vista on films against Morse early on. They’re well coached. They have a winning tradition. They have two of the best backs in the county, starting with the quarterback (Sal Aunese), who directs the attack.”

Those backs, Aunese and running back Roger Price combined for 349 yards in Vista’s Palomar League title clinching win against Fallbrook, 28-7, Friday. Baranski, whose Patriots faced four 3-A teams during the regular season, believes Vista is noticeably better than Sweetwater, which plays host to Fallbrook (8-2) on Friday.

“Sweetwater is beatable,” Baranski said. “They don’t play the quality clubs consistently throughout the season. But they have a winning tradition and the winning streak (35 games) behind them.”

Teams Baranski is familiar with are the City Eastern League representatives, Morse and Mira Mesa. Both scored two-touchdown wins over the Patriots. Morse (7-3), the City East champion, plays host to Helix (9-1) Friday. Mira Mesa (7-3) plays at Vista on Saturday.

“I don’t see the Eastern League teams doing very well,” Baranski said. “Helix will play Morse pretty good. Morse has a lot of quickness, but that quickness can be slowed down by keeping the offense off the field. Morse’s defense is susceptible.

“Mira Mesa is going right into the den. It’s tough to beat what I think is the No. 1 team in their own backyard.”

Baranski is impressed with the two Grossmont League representatives, Granite Hills (10-0), which plays hosts to Chula Vista (8-2) Friday, and Helix. Granite Hills and Helix scored lopsided victories over Patrick Henry this season.

“Granite Hills is greatly improved,” Baranski said. “They come right at you with their power bone. Their defense is suspect. But, Granite Hills wears you down with their ground game.”

Baranski is a firm believer that defense will decide the championship. And that was his main criteria when ranking the contenders.

“Vista is No. 1,” Baranski said. “Sweetwater will be there and the Grossmont League teams. And then whoever has the next best defense.”

The 3-A playoff teams have a combined record of 69-11. Of those 11 loses, four were in head-to-head play against other playoff teams. Comparatively, the depth of the 2-A playoff teams is suspect. Three 2-A teams finished at .500 or worse.

“The 2-A has some real weak teams in it,” Woodhouse said. “There’s something wrong with the system when teams with 4-6 records make it.

“I’m not saying that because we didn’t make it. We didn’t deserve to. The best two teams from the (Avocado) League are in the playoffs.”

San Pasqual (7-3) is arguably one of the best eight 2-A teams in San Diego, but it finished third in the Avocado League behind defending 2-A champion El Camino (6-3-1) and San Marcos (6-4).

“Both play good defense and both have good speed,” Woodhouse said. “El Camino has a real good chance of going to the title game. They are very quick defensively.”

Both Avocado League teams are expected to advance to the second round. Both play title winners of four-team leagues in the first round. El Camino plays Castle Park (4-6) Friday at Oceanside High and San Marcos plays at El Capitan (4-4-1) Saturday.

The top-seeded 2-A team, Crawford (7-1-1) plays University (5-5) Friday at Patrick Henry High. Lincoln (7-3), which finished behind Crawford in the City Central League and is expected to contend for the title, plays University City (6-3) on Saturday. A site for the game has not been determined.

“Chris Miller (Crawford’s coach) has done a heck of a job,” Baranski said. “They blitzed the hell out of Lincoln (in Crawford’s, 23-15, win two weeks ago). If they get back together in the title game, there might be a different outcome.

“Lincoln has the best overall team speed, including Morse, that I’ve ever seen on a ballclub. If they (Crawford and Lincoln) meet again, I’d rate it a toss up. I’d have to favor Crawford though because they’ve beaten them before.”