THE BIG GAME : Southwest Hoping It Can Turn on Chula Vista

Entering the seventh week of last high school football season, Southwest had won five consecutive games, was No. 2 in the county in defense and No. 6 in offense.

But in Game 7, Chula Vista, then 3-3, squelched the Red Raiders’ hopes for a first Metro Conference championship, 10-0. Jose Perez’s 96-yard interception return was the game’s only touchdown.

At 7:30 tonight at Chula Vista, Southwest will try to return the favor under reverse conditions.

Chula Vista is second in county defense, fourth in offense. The Spartans, winners of five in a row, are allowing just 5.8 points per game and scoring 28.8. Southwest’s numbers last year were 8.7 and 28.3.

Tonight’s winner, as last year, will have the inside track to the Metro title.

“People say it’s for the championship, but I don’t believe that,” Southwest Coach Carl Parrick said. “There’s still four weeks left after this one. We just feel we’re playing this game for respect. We want people to realize we’re a darn good football team.”

So is Chula Vista (5-0, 2-0). The defending Metro champions are ranked No. 2 in the county by The Times and No. 8 in the state by Cal-Hi Magazine. After losses to No. 9 San Dieguito and No. 10 Mira Mesa, Southwest (3-2, 2-0) has won three in a row, including a 21-18 victory over Lincoln, then ranked second in the county.

Chula Vista is led on offense by Trennel Hicks (eight touchdowns on 495 combined rushing and receiving yards), Derek Chapman (129 passing yards per game), Brandon Gregg (13 catches, 123 yards) and kicker Art Castro (18 of 20 extra points and two field goals).

Southwest will counter with Dion Walker (20 catches, 289 yards) and Junior Ochoa (101 rushing yards last week). The Raiders have lost top running back Jason Silva, who had reconstructive knee surgery earlier this week.

In 1988, Southwest outgained Chula Vista by nearly 300 yards and had the ball inside the Spartan 20 six times. But three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a missed field goal helped Chula Vista shut out Southwest for the fourth time in their 13-game series.

“They ran up and down the field all night,” Chula Vista Coach George Ohnesorgen said. “But it was all between the 20s. They kind of self-destructed.”

Said Parrick: “Mistakes are going to happen. We realize that. But we can’t make mistakes at critical times like last year.”

Chula Vista holds a 10-3 lead in the series--continuous since Southwest’s opening in 1976--and has outscored Southwest, 266-78. Southwest has scored in double figures just twice.