CENTRAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW : Riding the Air Ways : Chisum Hopes to Lead Sunny Hills Past Saddleback

David Chisum, quarterback of Sunny Hills High School, faces his most difficult challenge of the season when the Lancers meet Saddleback tonight, but at least Chisum and his teammates will be well armed.

Sunny Hills (10-1) and Saddleback (10-1) play a Central Conference quarterfinal playoff game starting at 7:30 tonight in Santa Ana Stadium.

If any team can upset Saddleback, the defending conference champion, it is Sunny Hills, a team with a high-powered offense led by Chisum and a defense that one coach has called the best in north Orange County.

In last week’s first round playoff game against La Quinta, Chisum led the Lancers to a 51-35 victory.

Chisum scored two touchdowns on short runs, but perhaps more important, his passing kept the La Quinta defense from keying on running back Tim Imperiali, who provides the bulk of the Lancers’ rushing.

Chisum completed 10 of 13 passes for 161 yards. He has completed 67 of 118 (56.7%) for 1,119 yards and 7 touchdowns. Chisum finished the regular season rated as the county’s fifth best passer.

Sunny Hills is hoping the combination of Chisum’s passing and Imperiali’s rushing will be enough to overcome Saddleback, a team that defeated Norwalk, 49-18, in its playoff opener.

“We’ll have to be at our best to beat them,” said Tim Devaney, Sunny Hills coach. “They are blessed with a really good group of kids at the skill positions.”

But Devaney knows his skill players also have talent, starting with Chisum.

“He’s a very coachable kid, a very intense competitor,” Devaney said. “And if the quarterback is like that, usually the team follows. There’s good camaraderie among the team this year.”

Chisum was sophomore class president last year but hasn’t had the time for student government this year because of a hectic three-sport schedule.

During the summer, Chisum found himself bouncing between a summer passing league, baseball and basketball.

For the time being, however, Chisum is hopeful that his football season will stretch three more weeks to the conference championship.

But first, Sunny Hills must defeat Saddleback.

“They have a real quick, swarming defense,” Chisum said. “We played baseball against them last season and they all liked to steal bases a lot. They have good athletes all the way around.

Last week against Norwalk, the Saddleback secondary intercepted four passes, giving the Roadrunners 25 for the season. Valencia, with 28 interceptions, is the only Orange County team with more.

Chisum, a 6-foot 1-inch, 170-pound junior, thinks his greatest improvement this season has been reading defenses better.

“Overall, I’ve been getting rid of the ball quicker and if I can’t find a receiver, I’ll just throw it away,” said Chisum.

In other Central Conference quarterfinal playoff games tonight:

La Habra (7-3) vs. Anaheim (7-4) in Glover Stadium--La Habra must certainly be buoyed by its comeback victory over University last week. Down 27-7 in the third quarter, the Highlanders rallied for four touchdowns and a 35-7 victory. The passing of junior quarterback Matt Shackelford ignited the rally, and he will be one of the main players Anaheim must stop if the Colonists expect to advance.

Anaheim ended La Mirada’s four-game winning streak last week, 14-7, with a last-minute interception by safety John Cloverly preserving the Colonists’ victory. Quarterback Ernest Johnson and wingback Steve Yabarra must have good games for the Colonists to move the ball on La Habra’s defense.

Tustin (9-2) at Bolsa Grande (10-1)--This game matches young programs on the rise. Bolsa Grande won its first home playoff game ever last week by defeating Fullerton, 39-28. Quarterback Damon Fisher led the victory, but running backs Travin Lui and Ricky Lepule have provided Coach Greg Shadid’s Matadors with a good running game all season long.

Tustin counters with quarterback George Menges, a 53% passer who has thrown for 1,054 yards and 4 touchdowns, and tailback Lani Machado, who has 1,043 yards rushing on 194 carries. The game will be Tustin’s greatest test since facing Saddleback in Sea View League play earlier this season. Tustin upset Saddleback, 9-7. Last week, Tustin beat Western, 21-14.

Both teams have strong defenses that capitalize on mistakes. It is an evenly matched game.

In a Central Conference quarterfinal game on Saturday:

Valencia (9-1-1) vs. Artesia (8-3) in Bradford Stadium--It will be running game versus running game in this matchup of the Orange League champion Valencia and Suburban League champion Artesia.

Dorian Estes and Keef Leasure have been running well for the Tigers, as have Victor Matos and Damon Davis for the Pioneers. Last week, Artesia beat Troy, 34-13, so Valencia, the conference’s No. 1-seeded team, can hardly take the Pioneers lightly.