PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : EASTERN : Claremont vs. Darrien : 12-1 Wolfpack Out to Repeat

It should come as no surprise that Claremont High School has advanced to the Southern Section’s Eastern Conference championship football game.

After all, the Wolfpack (12-1) won the title last year and has won 26 of its last 27 games.

But La Verne Damien? Now that’s a surprise.

Not that the Spartans haven’t had a successful tradition. Under Coach Dick Larson, Damien won Southern Section championships in 1977 and 1981.

But even Larson had difficulty picturing his team as a title contender after Damien lost all three of its nonleague games.

“I didn’t even think about us going that far,” Larson said. “I was just disappointed in the fact that we didn’t have any wins because I knew we were a good football team.”

The Spartans (9-4) have won 9 of their 10 games since then to earn a berth against their Baseline League rival in the conference title game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Citrus College.

The only team that beat Damien during that span was Claremont, which posted a 21-0 victory.

Claremont Coach Bob Baiz is expecting the rematch to be much closer.

“I would think it has to be harder for us this time,” Baiz said. “These schools are so close together (about three miles apart), the kids know each other and they’ve played against each other a lot. It’s almost like brother against brother.”

To defeat the Wolfpack this time, Larson said, the key will be ball control. That means keeping the ball away from Claremont’s prep All-American quarterback Dan McGwire.

“If you don’t give them the football, McGwire doesn’t have a chance to throw the ball,” Larson said.

Larson has good reason to be concerned about McGwire, considering that the 6-foot 8-inch, 215-pound quarterback has completed 179 of 294 passes for 2,869 yards and 31 touchdowns. McGwire has thrown for 6,256 yards in his three years as a starter, leaving him second in Southern Section career passing yardage behind Pat Haden of La Puente Bishop Amat.

McGwire is not the only offensive player Larson has to worry about. Another is wide receiver Travis Watkins, who has 91 receptions for 1,561 yards and 20 touchdowns. Watkins also returns punts and kickoffs and has rushed for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns on reverses.

Two other standouts are 6-1, 235-pound fullback Dean Lambo, who has rushed for 924 yards and 13 touchdowns, and placekicker Steve Bayer, who has excellent range and has made 79 straight extra point kicks, a Southern Section record.

That will put a burden on Damien’s defense, which is led by senior linebacker Rene Recio and defensive back Hector Macias, who leads the team with five interceptions.

“Those guys don’t get too much credit, but they’ve sure done a great job,” Larson said.

Claremont’s defense has been led by Sean Telish at linebacker, who has 182 tackles, Bobbie Warren at defensive end and Bayer at defensive back.

Baiz said his most pressing concern about Damien is its size, especially in the offensive line led by A.J. Chuha and Dan Ruiz. The line averages 230 pounds across.

“We’ve played all of the top teams in the conference, and without a doubt they’re the most physical team we’ve faced,” he said.