HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : EASTERN CONFERENCE : Northview vs. Los Altos

It is not so much the Hacienda Heights Los Altos High football team that concerns Covina Northview’s Coach Brian Beveridge heading into the Southern Section Eastern Conference championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

It is the winning tradition of the Conquerors that has Beveridge worried.

“That’s really an intangible,” Beveridge said. “They’ve been there before and they just expect to win it. I used to coach at Temple City, so I know what that’s like.”

Los Altos Coach Dwayne DeSpain has taken his teams to the championship game six times in the past and has yet to lose. The most recent appearance was last year, when the Conquerors won in their first year in the Eastern Conference. Another title would tie DeSpain with former Temple City coach Bob Hitchcock for the most in Southern Section history.

The Conquerors, seeded No. 3 in the conference at the start of the playoffs, have a 12-1 record, and Northview, seeded No. 4, is 11-1-1. Both teams have won 11 in a row.

It is the first time the Vikings have reached the championship game.

“That’s the biggest thing,” Beveridge said. “The first time in a game like this, a team tends to have jitters. I just hope we play like we normally do and don’t make mistakes that hurt us.”

Northview, which won the Valle Vista League title for the second straight year, had not won a playoff game in Beveridge’s eight years as coach until this season. The Vikings were 10-0 last year before losing in the first round of the playoffs.

With key players such as quarterback Bill Gallis and defensive lineman Angel Chavez returning, this was supposed to be another good year for Northview. That was before the Vikings went winless in their first two games.

“We really felt we were going to be a good team after our success last year,” Beveridge said. “Our biggest concern was our (inexperienced) line, and, after the first two games, we were really concerned. So we made a couple of adjustments and filled in some other areas.

“If somebody had said we would get this far after the first two games, I would have said no way.”

Gallis has passed for 1,380 yards, and the Vikings also have a good rushing game with fullback Mike Galindo, who has rushed for 1,200 yards, and tailback Marcus Green, who has rushed for 750. Northview has been led on defense by a strong line that includes Chavez, Sean Hutchinson and Steve Sanderson.

Things have gone as expected for Los Altos, although the Conquerors have relied more on rushing and defense than usual.

The Conquerors have been led on offense by running back Larry Verdugo, who has rushed for 905 yards despite missing six games because of injuries. Running backs Owen McIntosh and Steve Minnicucci have also combined for more than 1,200 yards.

Los Altos has also been successful with its usual approach--the passing game. Quarterback David Olson has thrown for 1,609 yards and 14 touchdowns, and his top receiver is Blake Hayward with 46 receptions for 810 yards and 8 touchdowns.

As for the defense, which has allowed only 96 points, the leaders have been linebackers Royce Risser and Hans Ruiz, lineman Mike Zorn and defensive back Scott Mahaffey.