SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : Imperial’s ‘Rebuilding Year’ a Success

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Imperial High School football team. Imperial had lost its offensive and defensive lines to graduation and weren’t considered contenders in the Desert/Coastal League.

“Most people figured we wouldn’t be .500,” Imperial Coach Mike Swearingen said. “This was a rebuilding year.”

But Imperial surprised opponents by going 7-3 and 4-1 in the league and will play Holtville in the 1-A playoffs Friday at Holtville.

This will be the teams’ third meeting. Holtville (10-0, 5-0) beat Imperial, 34-13, last Friday. In the first meeting, Holtville won, 21-14.

Both coaches agree it’s unusual meeting the same team two weeks in a row.

“It’s weird,” Holtville Coach Sam Faulk said. “We have to play as good a game or better.”

Last year, Holtville went into the playoffs undefeated and lost to Marian, 13-6.

“It was disappointing last year,” Faulk said. “We weren’t prepared in the playoffs. This year we’re not going to let up. We’ll have a good week of practice.”

Holtville is led by senior quarterback Alex Wells, who is eighth in the county in passing. Wells has passed for 1,602 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“He was most valuable player in the league last year,” Faulk said. “He’s a sensational quarterback.”

David Rodgers is Wells’ favorite target. Rodgers has 41 receptions for 569 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Mario Lizarraga has scored 17 touchdowns.

Imperial running back Leon Jackson has rushed for 1,001 yards and leads the Tigers with 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Richie Bonillas, who missed one game with a concussion, is 57 of 90 for 922 yards and eight touchdowns.

Francis Parker, three-time defending 8-man champions, will go into Saturday’s playoff game against La Jolla Country Day as the underdog.

But that’s OK with Parker Coach Dan Kuiper. In 1986 and 1987, Parker was the second-place team going into the playoffs but emerged champions. Last year, as the Coastal League champion, Parker defeated Santa Fe Christian, 61-34, in the playoffs.

In their first meeting this year, La Jolla Country Day (8-1, 5-0) defeated Parker (7-3, 4-1), 48-30.

Parker’s challenge will be stopping Country Day’s leading rusher Rashaam Salaam. Salaam, who played in only the five league games because he hadn’t turned 15, has rushed 1,058 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

Country Day also has one of the leading kickers in the county--Eric Abrams. Last week, Abrams kicked nine extra points and broke the San Diego Section season record for conversions with 49. The previous record was 46. Earlier this season, he kicked a 53-yard field goal, third longest in section history.

Parker’s senior dominated team is led by quarterback Jim Adelizzi, who has thrown for 1,686 yards and 12 touchdowns. Adelizzi, a linebacker on defense, has 92 tackles. The defensive line is bolstered by James Wegge, 123 tackles, and Sean Davis, 121.

Parker’s Brian Khoury has gained 1,448 yards rushing and scored 15 touchdowns.

Serra won section field hockey championships from 1980-85, lost to Fallbrook in overtime in 1987, and enters this year’s playoffs as two-time defending champions. No. 1 Serra (15-1) will host Rancho Buena Vista (11-7) in the today’s first round.

No. 2 Mira Mesa (15-2), which lost to Serra in last year’s playoffs, 2-1, will host San Marcos (11-7). No. 3 Fallbrook (11-5) will play Hilltop (11-6) and No. 4 Bishop’s (12-6) will host Torrey Pines (11-4).

The semifinals will be played Thursday and the championship game will be Saturday at noon.

Markeith Ross, one of the county’s leading rushers, did not play Friday night. He was suspended for disciplinary reasons by Rancho Buena Vista Coach Craig Bell. Bell said Ross would return to practice this week and play in the playoffs.