HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE : Arroyo vs. Victor Valley

Leland Eudy, the football coach at Victor Valley High School, is right when he says his team is fortunate to be in the Southeastern Conference final.

Just a year ago, the Jackrabbits finished a frustrating, injury riddled season with a 2-8 record. But Victor Valley rebounded this season to win a share of the San Andreas League championship and finish with a 10-2-1 record.

Victor Valley plays El Monte Arroyo 7:30 p.m. Friday at Victor Valley High School.

“We really are the Cinderella team of the playoffs,” Eudy said. “We were picked to finish second from the bottom in our league.”

After beating Rosemead, 32-0, in the first round, the Jackrabbits defeated fourth-seeded Baldwin Park, 21-14.

Their reward was to play host to undefeated Central of El Centro in the semifinals. El Centro had scored 458 points in 12 games before the semifinal.

Again, Victor Valley won, 5-0, in a rainstorm. And, typically, the victory did not come easily.

“We won on a goal-line stand in the last minute,” Eudy said. “We stopped them four straight plays. It was the first time (Central) had been shut out all year.

“We were fortunate to win.”

Scott Morgan, the Jackrabbit quarterback, Byron Pray, a tailback, and slotback Justin Frazier--all seniors--have provided much of Victor Valley’s offense.

Bryan Griggs, a senior who plays nose guard on defense and tackle on offense, is another top player for Eudy.

Arroyo (11-2) seemingly has had a smoother route to the final. The Knights were the No. 1 preseason pick in the Southeastern Conference.

Each school is trying to win its first Southern Section championship. Victor Valley advanced to the 2-A final in 1966 but lost to Lawndale, 19-7.

Arroyo lost in the semifinals the past two seasons.

“We started off kind of shaky,” said Don MacKinnon, the Knight coach. “After the second game, we didn’t look anywhere near second in our league.”

The Knights righted themselves and won the Mission Valley League with two juniors leading the way.

Tailback Fernando Zabala gained 1,102 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, and quarterback Willie Reyna directed the rushing game.

“Running the football is what we do best,” MacKinnon said. “We don’t throw the ball very often.”

Rick Fuller, a junior, is the Knights’ top lineman. Rick Perales, a senior back, anchors the defense for Arroyo.