PREP REVIEW : South Coast League Football: It’s Getting Too Big for Its Own Crowds

There’s little doubt that the best high school football in Orange County this season is being played in the South Coast League. Mission Viejo, El Toro and Capistrano Valley have been ranked as the top three teams in the county most of the year, and fans have anticipated the games between the schools since early September.

Capistrano Valley played host to Mission Viejo Friday night in the first of three league showdowns and an estimated 5,000 fans crammed into Capistrano Valley’s cozy, 2,500-seat stadium.

Many of them stood and lined the fence around the playing field for nearly three hours to watch Capistrano Valley upset No. 1 Mission Viejo, 27-14. Not exactly the comforts of Anaheim Stadium, or for that matter, Santa Ana Stadium.

But fans of the Saddleback Valley’s “Big Three” have come to expect little more than admission to the game in an area where stadium facilities have failed to keep pace with the blue-chip programs.

“There’s no doubt about it, there isn’t a stadium in this area that’s comfortable and equipped to handle a good crowd, and that’s a shame,” said Bob Johnson, El Toro coach.

El Toro, which has won three Section Section titles in the 1980s, shares its facility, a 3,500-seat stadium at Mission Viejo High, with Trabuco Hills, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo, all members of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.

Capistrano Valley’s stadium was a gift from the Mission Viejo Co. The facility has an excellent playing surface, but accommodations for fans leave much to be desired.

Two years ago, temporary bleachers were acquired to handle an overflow crowd attracted to a showdown between quarterbacks Todd Marinovich of Capistrano Valley and Bret Johnson of El Toro.

Two weeks later, a section of the temporary bleachers collapsed during the Mission Viejo-Capistrano Valley game, injuring several spectators.

Simply put, the stadium is ill-equipped to handle a big crowd.

The second round of the showdowns in the South Coast League is scheduled for Friday night at Mission Viejo Stadium, where El Toro will play host to Mission Viejo. It was the most anticipated game of the year, and even though Capistrano Valley upset Mission Viejo, officials are expecting another big crowd.

Saddleback Valley district administrators have contracted a Long Beach firm to add additional bleachers on the visitor’s side that will increase the stadium’s capacity to 5,000, at a cost of $7,000.

Another 500 to 700 tickets will be sold for a standing-room-only area behind the south goal post. Tickets for the game will go on sale at both schools beginning at noon today.

Johnson had a plan to switch the game to the 9,900-seat Santa Ana Stadium on Saturday night, but it was rejected by administrators at Mission Viejo and the Saddleback district office. The cost of renting the facility would be $1,175, according to Keith Sims, El Toro’s activities director.

Under league rules, the change of date required approval from Mission Viejo. And Mission Viejo Coach Mike Rush didn’t approve.

“I don’t think it’s good for two schools in the Saddleback Valley district to be playing a game in Santa Ana,” Rush said. “The game has always been played here. I also don’t think it’s fair to ask folks who spend so much time driving on congested freeways to drive to Santa Ana to watch their kids play.”

Rush makes a good point, but the move to Santa Ana would be cheaper. Why spend $7,000 for temporary bleachers to increase one stadium’s capacity to 5,700 when another stadium with a capacity of 9,900 can be used at a cost of $1,175?

“I think El Toro and the district could lose anywhere from $10,000 to $14,000 by playing the game at Mission Viejo,” Johnson said. “The district told us that it was too late to move the game, but we proposed it three weeks in advance.

“Our fans wanted the game at Santa Ana, and I think the general high school football fan would have supported the game on a Saturday night there.”

The Catholic Athletic Assn. executive board will meet at 9 a.m. today in Los Angeles to decide how to group member schools in athletic leagues for the 1990-91 season.

Surprisingly, Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Servite have been grouped in the same league in all four proposals which have been sent to member schools.

“We expect to be placed in the Mission League,” said Richard Schaff, Santa Margarita athletic director. “We’ll be lucky if we have 1,100 students next year, and I think it’s unfair that we’re being placed in a league with Mater Dei, Servite and Bishop Amat.”

Under the proposals, Santa Margarita will be placed in either the Del Rey or Mission League. Under one plan, the Mission League will include Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery, Mater Dei, Servite, St. Paul and Santa Margarita. Under another, the Del Rey League will include Bosco Tech, Loyola, Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita and Servite.

The recommendations will be sent to the Southern Section’s Executive Committee for approval.

Saddleback High School’s cross-country teams were treated to a world-class pep talk last Friday as Arturo Barrios of Mexico, world record-holder in the 10,000 meters, came to the campus for a lunchtime chat.

Barrios, in town to promote Latino education, spent an hour with members of the Saddleback boys’ and girls’ teams, answering questions and encouraging the runners to make education a high priority in their lives.

After lunch, Barrios joined the Saddleback team for a short run.

Said Saddleback Coach Mel Silva: “He spoke mostly about what everybody goes through in running, the aches and pains when they’re first getting started, and how its normal sometimes to feel like quitting in a race.

“Also he was sending along the message that you have to stay in school. The kids were thrilled, especially Eddie (Salinas, Saddleback’s top runner). Arturo is Eddie’s idol.”

In winning the girls’ cross-country team sweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational Saturday, Edison sophomore Shelley Taylor not only remained undefeated this season but also ran the third-fastest time ever on the course for an Orange County girl.

Taylor’s time of 17 minutes 50 seconds ranks third after the University High duo of Polly Plumer (17:27) and Teresa Barrios (17:43). Both ran those times in 1981. Along with Taylor, Mater Dei’s Claire Feit (17:52 in 1982) and Sonora’s Leslee White (17:54 in 1981) are the only county girls to break 18 minutes on the course.

Quotable: Ted Toner, son of Servite football Coach Larry Toner, after reading that his father said he rarely yells at his four children: “It was obviously a misquote.”

Mike Cunningham, Edison junior wide receiver, after catching the winning touchdown pass in a 28-25 victory over Fountain Valley: “It was the best play of my football career. That’s the way I want to end my career.”

Prep Notes

Dale Brown of LSU heads the list of guest speakers for the 12th Orange County basketball coaches clinic scheduled for Nov. 11 in UC Irvine’s Bren Center. Other guest speakers include Lynn Nance of Washington and Reggie Minton of the Air Force. The clinic is free to county coaches and includes a ticket to the UC Irvine-Brazilian national team basketball game. Registration begins at 8 a.m. . . . The eighth Fullerton College basketball clinic is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Hornets’ gymnasium. Among the guest speakers will be Bob Boyd of Chapman College, Roger See of Fullerton College, Wayne Carlson of El Dorado High and Pat Quinn of Saddleback High. For more information, call 992-7383.

Ocean View’s football team established a school record for most points in a game in a 41-12 victory over Westminster Friday. The Seahawks, who scored all their points in the first half, scored 35 points earlier this season against Tustin. . . . Santa Ana Athletic Director Bill Ross is accepting applications for two assistant wrestling coaches in a walk-on capacity. For more information, call 558-5896. . . . Tennis guru Vic Braden will be the guest speaker at the fall meeting of the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. on Wednesday night at the Anaheim Stadium Club. The organization will honor school board presidents.