2-A Grossmont League : Playoff Hopes Now a Reality

In the Grossmont League 2-A division’s inaugural season last year, three of the four teams found themselves in a strange position--battling for a playoff spot.

Before last season, the smaller schools had been dominated in football by larger programs. El Capitan in 1983 was the only one of the teams now classified 2-A to win a league title in recent years.

The Vaqueros won the first-ever 2-A division title last year and advanced to the playoffs, where they ended the year with a losing record (4-5-1). Although the league’s 2-A representative made a quick exit last year, losing to San Marcos, 20-6, in the first round, league coaches say the “experiment” was a success.

“I think the 2-A division is a legitimate division,” said Grossmont Coach Lynn Cole. “I think we will get a lot more respect this year.”

Said Valhalla Coach Carl Iavelli: “I think it really gave our teams in the 2-A a boost. At the end of the season, there’s still light at the end of the tunnel. It was a positive thing.”

Although the 2-A schools are allowed to drop the 3-A teams from their schedules, only El Cajon Valley has chosen to do so.

Because there are just four teams in the 2-A division, only the champion will advance to the playoffs.

The 2-A/3-A split will be reevaluated after this season. School officials could recommend returning the league to its past format (all 3-A) or juggle teams depending on their enrollment and recent success.

El Cajon Valley

Last season’s record: 0-10, 0-3.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Gene Watkins.

Top returners: Mark Manning (6-0, 175) G, and Steve Miller (6-0, 220) LB.

Top newcomer: Tim Burton (6-5, 230) NG/T, and Scott Boyd (6-1, 190) RB.

Outlook: Watkins has dropped 3-A opponents Santana, Helix and Mt. Miguel and replaced them with 2-A teams. The Braves return their entire offensive line. Not returning is running back Frank Daugherty, who is playing football at Harvard. On defense El Cajon Valley returns just one starter, but Watkins has last year’s Grossmont League junior varsity champion squad coming up. Junior running back Scott Boyd ran for close to 1,000 yards in leading the JV last season. The Braves may be able to break the county’s longest losing streak, 16 games.

El Capitan

Last season’s record: 4-5-1, 2-0-1.

Finish: First.

Coach: Joe Rockhold.

Top returners: Glen Reese (6-2, 240) T; Matt Purcell (6-1, 220) C, and Bryan Palmer (6-2, 180) DB/RB.

Top newcomers: David Hillburg (6-4, 190) QB, and Jason Birkshire (6-6, 195) T.

Outlook: El Capitan is the biggest team in the 2-A division and probably bigger than some 3-A squads. But what the Vaqueros are lacking is speed. Coach Joe Rockhold says El Capitan will stick to the ground again this year. The El Capitan defense was tops in the division, giving up just 13.1 points per game. On offense, however, El Capitan averaged just 10.8 points per game in the regular season.

Grossmont

Last season’s record: 2-6-1, 1-1-1.

Finish: Third.

Coach: R. Lynn Cole.

Top returners: Jerry Brewer (5-10, 180) LB; Mark Cappelletti (6-0, 185) Top newcomer: Mark Stillwell (5-11, 170) QB.

Outlook: Grossmont returns nine starters from one of the league’s top defenses, including the defensive player of the year, linebacker Jerry Brewer. But Grossmont scored just 76 points in nine games (8.3 average) last season. The lack of a throwing quarterback in ’85 forced the Foothillers to stay on the ground. Grossmont figures to stress the running game, but Coach Lynn Cole plans to open up the offense with junior quarterback Mark Stillwell, who led the junior varsity last season. Valhalla

Last season’s record: 4-6, 2-1.

Finish: Second.

Coach: Carl Iavelli.

Top returners: Don Leoncini (6-0, 200) LB; Chris Sias (5-11, 180) TB, and Joe Crisci (5-11, 165) QB.

Top newcomers: David Kilpatrick (6-1, 185) WR/DB; Jeff Lapinski (5-9, 160) WR/DB.

Outlook: Nobody expected much from Valhalla last season in Coach Carl Iavelli’s first season. The Norsemen have never advanced to the playoffs, and a loss to champion El Capitan in the final game of the regular season cost Valhalla its first bid. Valhalla’s success last year was primarily because of county passing leader Chadde Wolf, but he has graduated. Valhalla led all 2-A division teams in scoring with 204 points last year. The Norsemen had an edge with their passing offense playing in a league dominated by the run. And Iavelli doesn’t plan to change a thing.

Friday: Metro Mesa.