CIF Grid Playoff Wars Start Friday : Tradition-Steeped El Rancho to Wing-T It Against La Canada

The offense, in the coach’s words, was “mature.” And when summer practice began, he welcomed a large number of lettermen whom he committed to the old wing-T.

But when El Rancho High School football Coach Don Peterson was quoted as saying he thought the Dons would “play with anyone” during the 1985 season, the comment raised more than a few eyebrows.

Although the team finished second in the Whitmont League a year ago, a preseason poll of the league’s coaches picked the Dons to finish no better than third this year. A Times regional poll tabbed them fifth. Even midway through the season with one of the best records in its conference, the team failed to make the Eastern Conference top 10, published by the Southern Section CIF.

So much for polls. Nine wins and a league championship later, Peterson’s prediction, and the wing-T, has been borne out. Ranked second in the conference, the Dons (9-1) entertain La Canada (6-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, as they enter the first round of the Southern Section’s Eastern Conference playoffs in search of the school’s third CIF title.

“I believed that,” Peterson said of his early season prognostication. “But it doesn’t surprise me (that El Rancho was overlooked by its opponents). We have always been a good defensive team, but we’ve had trouble moving the ball.”

Not this season. Don running backs Robert Garcia (fullback), Francisco Barillas (wingback) and Adrian Ortega (halfback) gained 2,459 yards. After years of the traditional I-look, Peterson reached into history for the run-dominated wing-T offense because “it fit into our philosophy.”

Change Proves Value

The switch proved fruitful on all levels. The sophomore team finished second and the freshmen won their division this year. Peterson plans to stick with the offensive set as long as it is successful.

And success is no stranger to El Rancho football. Under Peterson (67-36-3), the Dons have advanced to the playoffs in eight of the past 10 seasons. The school is steeped in football tradition, dating back to the mid-1960s under Coach Ernie Johnson and his CIF 4-A titles (1966 and a tie in 1968 with St. Paul).

El Rancho’s domination of the five Long Beach high schools, as a member of the Moore League from 1969 to 1971, was a factor in its switch to the Pacific League in 1972. Often top-ranked and unbeaten, the Dons won all three Moore League titles during that period.

‘We Beat Ourselves’

The Dons bring an eight-game winning streak into the playoffs. El Rancho’s only loss was to Lakewood in its second game of the season.

“And we self-destructed in that game or we would be 10-0,” Peterson said. “We beat ourselves.”

That isn’t likely to happen Friday night. Yet Peterson is concerned.

“They (the Southern Section office) didn’t do us any favors,” he said about meeting La Canada. “They look impressive.”

Against all odds, so has El Rancho.

A rundown of the area’s big games, which all begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, follows:

Lakewood (5-4) at Bishop Amat (10-0)--Lakewood could have won a share of the Moore League title last Friday, but was upset by Wilson High. The loss placed the Lancers against the top seed in the Big Five Conference. Still, the past three playoff meetings of the schools have been decided by a touchdown or less. “We got the best of the bunch,” said Lakewood Coach Gene Melvin of the Lancers’ opponent. Lancer quarterback Rick Wildt threw for 11 touchdowns during the regular season.

St. Paul (7-3) vs. Poly (8-1) at Cerritos College--This game is so hot in prep circles that a site change from Wilson High to Cerritos College was necessary to hold the expected overflow crowd. Longtime St. Paul fans are hungry for a championship. First-year Coach Richard Ready has the Swordsmen, a perennial top-10 team in the 1960s and ‘70s, back into the playoffs for the first time in three years. St. Paul’s losses came in the tough Angelus League and all three were decided by less than a TD. Both teams come off disheartening losses. Formerly top-ranked Poly was rocked by Millikan last week, 15-13, and enters as the No. 2 representative from the Moore League. St. Paul lost to Bishop Amat, 28-23. Ready suggests the game will be a test of “strength vs. strength.”

Servite (8-2) at Millikan (5-4)--One of four Angelus League teams to make the playoffs, Servite is also one of three Angelus League teams to face the three Moore League representatives. First-year head Coach Dave Radford had a big chore this week in preparing the Rams for the Friars. Can Millikan come down off Cloud Nine after upsetting Poly last week? Quarterback Tim Rosenkranz of Servite has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this year. Millikan, led by the passing combination of Cliff Mosely (90-159-5, 1,639 yards, 14 TD) to end Ed Robinson (55-1,122 yards, 9 TD) averaged 33 points a game against its Moore League opponents.

Los Amigos (5-4-1) at Artesia (7-3)--Under first-year Coach Vince LaRosa, Artesia shocked top-ranked La Mirada last week to tie for the Suburban League title and advance to the Central Conference playoffs as the league’s top seed. Los Amigos finished third in the Garden Grove League. Running backs Tim Armenta and Victor Matos combined for 1,500 yards on the ground for the Pioneers, while quarterback Brian Smith threw for 1,131 yards. Receivers Mike Lau and Dan Bugay combined for 53 pass receptions.

Ventura (7-3) vs. Schurr (9-1) at Montebello High--Coach Ken Davis found out last week that it only takes one loss to be forgotten. Formerly top-ranked Schurr was undefeated until it lost to Hart last Friday, but that was enough to drop the Spartans out of the top seed in the Coastal Conference. Schurr quarterback Eric Rubalcalva has thrown for 2,465 yards and 24 touchdowns. Wide receiver Hubert Turner managed 52 receptions for 1,240 yards and 12 TDs. Turner has four interceptions as a defensive back. He returned three for scores.

Santa Ana (6-4) at Lynwood (9-1)--Lynwood is the top-seeded team in the Southern Conference. Santa Ana finished third in the Century League. Lynwood’s offense has sputtered most of the year, although quarterback Anthony Burnett has accounted for 14 touchdowns. Lynwood won the conference title in 1980. Knight Coach Larry Anderson called the first-round game “a pretty tough draw. The Century League is the most difficult in the Southern Conference,” he said. “The third-place team in that league in another league would be the first-place team.”

Los Alamitos (9-1) vs. Cerritos (7-3) at Gahr High--The seven wins by Cerritos are the most in the school’s history. Los Alamitos finished second in the Empire League. The Dons’ only loss of the year (two games had to be forfeited for use of an ineligible player) came last week in the San Gabriel Valley League title game at Lynwood, 11-8. Running back Andre Wooten ran for 1,415 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season for Cerritos, but Coach Wayne Manzo says he may go to the shotgun more against the Griffins. The home field advantage doesn’t exist for the Southern Conference playoff opener because both teams use Gahr as a home stadium.

La Mirada (8-2) vs. Troy (6-4) at Fullerton District Stadium--The loss to Artesia was a crucial one that dropped the previously top-ranked Matadors out of the top seed for the Central Conference playoffs. Troy finished a surprising second in the Freeway League behind La Habra. Running back Kelly Brooks is the Matador offense. He’s gained 1,776 yards on 233 carries. He’s rushed for 22 TDs, caught three more and scored a total of 158 points. Quarterback Eric Brooks (no relation to Kelly) will not see action in the playoffs after suffering a concussion two weeks ago.

Desert (5-4-1) at Valley Christian (10-0)--Top-ranked and seeded Valley Christian draws the at-large representative in the Inland Conference playoff. Many considered last week’s finale with No. 2 Ontario Christian (a 36-0 win for Valley) a preview of the conference final. Those same people see the next three weeks as just a tune-up for Valley Christian, which shut out all but one of its regular-season opponents. Rodney Bowman has 1,364 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Crusaders. Quarterback Mike Zoetewey completed 69% of his passes for 1,227 yards and 14 TD.