SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW : San Diego High School Football Preview : Fallbrook Hopes to Stop Vista’s Ground Game . . . and Quiet Its Fans

Besides getting his players ready for Vista High School’s famous running game, Fallbrook Coach Tom Pack has been preparing them for something nearly as menacing.

“I’ve told my players to plan on going into Vista’s stadium and having 4,000 or 5,000 fans booing at them,” Pack said. “This football team (Vista) and its fans have thought about only one thing since Dec. 13, and that’s Fallbrook.”

Dec. 13 was the night Fallbrook upset Vista, 28-14, in the San Diego Section 3-A championship.

Tonight, No. 3 Vista (2-1) and No. 10 Fallbrook (2-1) meet in the Palomar League opener for both teams. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Vista High School.

Vista Coach Dick Haines--who says Vista fans never boo opponents--recognizes the rivalry that exists between the two North County powers, but he says the Palomar League is too balanced to place too much importance on one game.

“Our league is so tough, if you expend all of your energy this week, you will be in trouble a week or two down the road,” Haines said. “The kids are talking about a revenge factor, and I don’t think revenge is a bad word, but on the (practice) field, they haven’t shown much of a difference.”

Said Pack: “You know you can’t have your team play up every week; it’s impossible. But, on the other hand, you can’t look by anybody, either.”

Vista lost its second game of the season, 12-7, to Fontana, the No. 1 team in the state. Fallbrook lost last week to El Camino, 23-14.

“I say a loss is bad no matter what,” Pack said. “While some kids lose confidence, others face reality.”

The key to the El Camino loss, however, was the absence of quarterback Mike Turiace, who sat out with a broken jaw. Despite playing in one fewer game, Turiace continues to lead the county in passing, completing 32 of 66 passes for 524 yards and 5 touchdowns. Pack said the senior quarterback is expected to return tonight.

Fallbrook’s primary receiver, Darrow Nelson, leads the county in receptions with 19 for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“When you’re playing a team and they throw for 10 yards on one play, everybody says, ‘Hey, they can’t defend against the pass,’ ” Haines said. “We need to keep our poise and not panic when they complete a pass. We have to be in the frame of mind that, hey, they are going to complete 50% of their passes.”

But Vista has an offense that is just as threatening. Haines said people don’t make a big deal about a running team gaining 10 yards in one play. And that is something Vista has the ability to do with tailback Marc Jones, who is third in the county in rushing, with 275 yards in 32 carries (137.5 yards a game).

“With their size, experience and speed, Vista has to be 14-point favorites,” Pack said. “Our job is not to let them get the ball rolling big.”

Fallbrook’s other job is not be intimidated by Vista’s roaring crowd, said Pack.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than shutting up 5,000 fans,” he said. “These are the games you dream about and dream about being a player in, no matter what sport it is.

“I think some of the kids will be petrified.”

Other Games to Watch

TODAY El Cajon (3-0) at No. 2 Mount Miguel (3-0)--If El Cajon wins this game, it will match its victory total for the previous four seasons combined. At the same time, the Braves would put an end to their 39-game losing streak against Grossmont League teams. However, Mount Miguel gives El Cajon Coach Gene Watkins cause for concern: “They are so loaded, I don’t know how we’ll be able to match up with them. We’re better than we’ve been, but this is going to be some test for us.” Mount Miguel has allowed just seven points in three games and is ranked No. 1 in the county defensively. Both teams feature good running quarterbacks, Jimmy Dutra for El Cajon and Anthony Rivera for Mount Miguel.

Crawford (2-1) at No. 4 Point Loma (3-0)--Crawford’s defense has recorded back-to-back shutouts since a 21-0 season-opening loss to Mt. Carmel. The Colts beat Kearny, 6-0, and Serra, 27-0. Crawford will attempt to stop Point Loma’s Kelby Downey, the No. 5 rusher in the county with 367 yards in 34 carries. Point Loma defeated Lincoln, 24-21, two weeks ago to move into the rankings. Last week, the Pointers rolled past Hoover, 30-8.

Poway (2-0-1) at No. 8 Mt. Carmel (3-0)--There’s no question that Bill Christopher and his Mt. Carmel staff are pointing for this Palomar League opener. Earlier this week, the Sundevil coaches decided to keep all media out of the team’s practices. “We don’t want any distractions,” Christopher said. Mt. Carmel’s defense has allowed seven points in three games. Poway, averaging better than 22 points per game, opened its season with consecutive victories over San Pasqual and Rancho Buena Vista. Last Friday, Poway tied San Marcos, 7-7.

SATURDAY

No. 5 Lincoln (2-1) at No. 1 Sweetwater (3-0)--This game matches one of the strongest 2-A programs in the county, Lincoln, against one of the strongest 3-A programs, Sweetwater. The last time the two met, in 1984, Sweetwater rolled to a 28-0 victory. That year, the Red Devils went on to become undefeated champions of the 3-A section. Since then, Lincoln has won 2-A titles in 1985 and 1986. Lincoln comes into the game as the No. 1 scoring team in the county, averaging 45.7 points per game. Sweetwater is second in scoring with a 28.0 average. The Sweetwater defense has allowed just 7.3 points per game.