Preseason High School Top 10 : Many Factors Are Hard to Predict, but Morse Appears to Be No. 1

After a high school football season that left several questions unanswered--Who won the section 2-A championship anyway?--it’s not easy to predict what’s in store for 1988.

It’s hard enough to guess which area of the county will have the strongest teams, let alone try to pick the teams themselves.

Two years ago, 3-A offered an all-Palomar final. And Fallbrook upset Vista.

Last year, the power switched to the City Eastern League, and Point Loma beat Morse in the final.

Last year’s top 2-A teams were in the Avocado League; San Pasqual and San Marcos played--and tied--for the championship.

Some things to look for:

--Trends not likely to be repeated: It seems safe to say there won’t be as many ties, as in the 14-14, 2-A championship game between San Pasqual and San Marcos.

Last year, 13 regular-season games ended in ties, and two playoff games were extended to overtime. Chula Vista had three ties and was eliminated in the first round of playoffs in overtime by Orange Glen.

--Person who will be missed most this year: That will likely be Gene Alim, who retired after leading Sweetwater to two championships and a county-record winning streak in the mid-’80s.

Andy Sanchez takes over, and Sweetwater probably still has enough talent to win the weak Metro Conference. But Alim’s departure has ended an era of sorts.

--Quickest construction of a winning team: At Rancho Buena Vista, a school in just its second year, Coach Craig Bell’s team is expected to contend for the Avocado League championship.

--Strongest area: Probably the North County. Last year, the Palomar League had a 19-3-2 record in nonleague games, and each team won at least twice during league play.

Vista finished fourth. San Dieguito, which was fifth, made the playoffs. Torrey Pines might be the team to beat this year. Torrey Pines also could finish last. It’s that even.

--Most fun to watch: Helix tried an onside kick on the opening kickoff of the 3-A championship game in 1985. When Coach Jim Arnaiz has good athletes, he tries some fun stuff. And this year, Helix has the most talented team in the Grossmont League.

--Game that will mean the most: It’s not even a league game, but Morse vs. Lincoln Oct. 7 figures to provide some clues for the season. Two years ago, Lincoln won, 51-0, and went on to the 2-A title. Last year, Morse romped, 47-12, and reached the 3-A final.

--What about last year’s champions? That would be Point Loma in the 3-A and San Pasqual and San Marcos in the 2-A. Graduation hurt all three.

Don’t count them out. Point Loma has a quarterback named Danny White. San Pasqual and San Marcos were only .500 teams during the regular season last year. They got hot at the right time, in the playoffs.

--The winner this year: Morse is the team to beat. But don’t forget, Point Loma, San Pasqual and San Marcos were unranked at the beginning of last season.

The Times Top 10 (Last year’s record listed) 1. Morse (10-4-0) 2. Lincoln (9-3-0) 3. Helix (8-3-1) 4. Torrey Pines (4-4-1) 5. Vista (6-4-0) 6. Point Loma (13-0-0) 7. Oceanside (5-5-2)-- 8. Orange Glen (7-4-1) 9. Sweetwater (8-3-0) 10. Rancho Buena Vista (4-5-1)