Fired-Up and Undefeated, Etiwanda Pursues a League Title

Larry Tisdale, the football coach at Etiwanda High School, wasn’t trying to be prophetic on a Monday about a month ago when he gave his team its weekly mantra. He gives his players a different phrase or word every Monday, and the team recites it as a motivational exercise for the next game. That week, it was “fire and desire.”

The sad irony, however, is that Tisdale was prophetic.

Later that week, a fire in the hills above Etiwanda--it’s in western San Bernardino County--threatened homes, closed the school and almost forced Tisdale to cancel that week’s game against Covina Northview. The game was to have been played at Chaffey College in Alta Loma, which was also threatened by the fire.

Tisdale purposely scheduled the nonconference game against Northview, the 1987 Eastern Conference (now Division 5) champion, because he thought it would be a good test for his team, which plays in Division 4. Northview is in the Valle Vista League with Diamond Bar and Los Altos, both highly regarded teams.

Fortunately, Pete Johnson, Etiwanda’s athletic director, was able to switch the game to Chaffey High School in Ontario. Playing at Chaffey High, though, wasn’t a comforting thought to Tisdale.

“Etiwanda is only 6 years old, and the year the school was supposed to open, it wasn’t ready on time, so all the Etiwanda students attended classes on the Chaffey campus and we played our football games there,” said Tisdale, who has coached the Etiwanda football team since the school opened.

“We only won 1 game on that field the entire year--we were 1-8--so I wasn’t so excited about going back there. Plus, when you change any routine you are in, even when you travel, kids don’t seem to be in the same kind of routine. But they responded, and we had one of the best games ever.”

Etiwanda scored on a 60-yard desperation pass play in the last 2 minutes and beat Northview, 39-36, ending Northview’s 15-game winning streak dating back to last season.

Better than that, however, the fire was contained, and there was no damage to Etiwanda High or Chaffey College.

The victory apparently provided the confidence--and desire--the team needed to continue undefeated this season. Etiwanda is 7-0 overall, 2-0 in the Hacienda League. Saturday, Etiwanda will put that record and perhaps the league title on the line when it plays host to Ganesha (6-1, 2-0).

Christian Brothers Academy of Lincroft, N.J., showed up the best of California’s high school cross-country teams Saturday at the Mt. San Antonio Invitational, winning the boys’ team sweepstakes race with a combined time of 79 minutes 28 seconds. Camarillo, California’s top-ranked team, finished second in 80:07, and Poway was third at 80:37.

This was the first time in 10 years that a team from outside California won the race. In 1978, South Eugene High of Eugene, Ore., did it.

John Coyle led the way for Christian Brothers with a time of 15:03 over the hilly 3-mile course. He finished second in the race, however, behind Mike Williamson of Thousand Oaks, who had the fastest time of the day at 15:01.

In the girls’ division, the top five runners from Palos Verdes won the team sweepstakes race easily in 94:03. Agoura, the only other team to break 100 minutes, was second in 99:28.

Senior Kira Jorgensen of Rancho Buena Vista in Vista, the defending state champion in the 1,600 meters, won the individual sweepstakes race in 17:32. Jamie Park of Santa Barbara, the only other girl under 18 minutes, was second in 17:48.

After an opening-game loss to Washington, 18-14, Locke has won 6 consecutive games to establish itself as the team to beat in the Central League.

In the annual Watts Classic Friday, the Saints defeated local rival Los Angeles Jordan, 28-6, raising their record to 6-1.

Locke Coach E.C. Robinson’s team has overcome a shaky start with a strong defense.

Key players have been senior cornerbacks Almond Mosely and Marcus Porter, who has returned 7 interceptions for 140 yards.

Defensive end Pierre Morrison has also played a major role in Locke’s defensive scheme with his consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Morrison had 3 solo tackles and 10 assists against Jordan.

Senior wide receiver Carl Winston, an All-City selection last season, continues to be the main force on offense with 8 touchdowns. Quarterback Dwayne Bryant also has been impressive. Junior running back James Fuller rushed for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns against Jordan.

The Saints will face their toughest challenge of the season this Friday against undefeated South Gate.

Prep Notes

Quarterback Tim Gutierrez of Oxnard Santa Clara completed 23 of 25 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 52-28 victory over Calabasas Friday. Gutierrez has a 79% completion rate (105 of 132) and has 1,602 yards passing, the highest in Ventura County.

It will be showdown time Friday night for Los Angeles City schools in the Southern League. Carson (6-1-0) plays host to Crenshaw (5-1-0) at Gardena High, and Dorsey (6-0-0) will meet Banning (6-1-0) at Harbor College. Carson is favored, but Crenshaw has three running backs who could give Carson trouble. In Crenshaw’s 33-8 win over San Pedro last Friday, Kevin Hicks rushed for 80 yards in 10 carries; Shown Ellerbe gained 68 yards in 11 carries, and Jerry Majors had 77 yards in 5 carries.

Banning’s Keith Minns rushed for 125 yards and scored a touchdown, and Derrek Sparks ran for 148 yards with 2 touchdowns in the team’s 24-6 win over Washington. . . . In Dorsey’s 40-0 win over Gardena Friday, Beano Bryant scored 3 touchdowns--2 rushing and 1 on a pass; quarterback Roman Foster had 4 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and completed 6 of 12 passes for 137 yards and another touchdown, and Kevin Copeland caught 4 passes for 119 yards, including one for 65 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown.

In Loyola’s 35-0 win over Mission Hills Alemany, Johann Fuller carried the ball 14 times for 112 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. He has a total of 616 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns this season. Mike Buckley had 11 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore quarterback Corby Smith, son of USC Coach Larry Smith, completed 6 of 7 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Pasadena Muir’s Darick Holmes rushed for 172 yards in 12 carries and scored all 5 of Muir’s touchdowns in a 34-7 win over Glendale Hoover Saturday. . . .

Times staff writer Lonnie White contributed to this story.

TIMES’ PREP POLLS

Southern Section

No. School, League Record

1. Loyola, Del Rey 7-0-0

2. Fontana, Citrus Belt 7-0-0

3. Mission Viejo, South Coast 7-0-0

4. Bishop Amat, Angelus 6-1-0

5. LB Poly, Moore 5-0-1

6. Antelope Valley, Golden 6-1-0

7. Rubidoux, Citrus Belt 6-1-0

8. Santa Barbara, Channel 8-0-0

9. Woodbridge, Pacific Coast 7-0-0

10. Leuzinger, Bay 7-0-0

11. Servite, Angelus 6-1-0

12. Edison, Sunset 6-1-0

13. Walnut, Valle Vista 7-0-0

14. CC Canyon, Golden 6-2-0

15. Etiwanda, Hacienda 7-0-0

City

No. School, League Record

1. Franklin, Northeast 6-0-0

2. Carson, Southern 6-1-0

3. Banning, Southern 6-1-0

4. Dorsey, Southern 6-0-0

5. Granada Hills, North Valley 6-1-0

6. Reseda, Mid Valley 6-0-0

7. Crenshaw, Southern 5-1-0

8. Locke, Central 6-1-0

9. South Gate, Central 7-0-0

10. Monroe, Mid Valley 6-1-0