DIVISION IX : Montclair Prep Heads Deeper, Stronger Field

Southern California Christian football Coach Rick Hayes last year watched Carpinteria eliminate his team, a wild-card entry, from the Division IX playoffs.

The score? 55-8.

For many, that type of blowout upheld a tradition in the Small Schools Division, because for years, the division consisted of one or two great teams along with many that fell somewhere between so-so and pitiful.

This year, coaches say the division looks considerably stronger, deeper and more talent-laden than ever. Even SCC considers itself a dark horse.

“This year, we’re very optimistic,” said Hayes, whose Arrowhead League champion team is 7-3 and plays host to Valley Christian (9-1) in Friday’s first round. Although Valley Christian is an unseeded team, many coaches name it among the division’s best. Still, Hayes says his team shouldn’t be counted out.

If statistics alone could tell the story, SCC would certainly be looking good. Sophomore quarterback Nathan Lambie is the sixth-rated passer in the county, having thrown for 1,265 yards with 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Josh Carlson, a senior running back/linebacker, has gained 1,080 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. And receiver Mike Nickerson has caught 50 passes for 867 yards and eight touchdowns.

“I feel we match up with Valley size for size. . . ,” Hayes said. “(But) I’ll tell you, if I get embarrassed again like that this year, I’m going to be real upset.”

The who’s who of Division IX:

Although Montclair Prep of Van Nuys (10-0) is the division’s top-seeded team, second-seeded Whittier Christian (10-0), third-seeded Carpinteria (9-1) and fourth-seeded Tehachapi (9-1) are considered to be about equal in ability.

Montclair Prep, which beat Simi Valley, a Division III school, 28-6, earlier in the year, is led by running backs Derek Sparks (1,602 yards, 31 touchdowns) and Michael Jones (1,380 yards, 18 touchdowns). They are first and second, respectively, in rushing in the San Fernando Valley.

Montclair Prep, which lost in the first round last year to Oak Park, has outscored opponents 398-80 in 10 games this season.

Like Montclair Prep, Whittier Christian is a run-oriented team with two quality backs. Ron Papazian leads Orange County with 29 touchdowns and needs only four more to break the county record of 32 set by Esperanza’s Jim Farrell. Papazian, who is also the county’s fifth-leading rusher with 1,237 yards, is joined in the backfield by tailback Scott Jordan (1,169 yards, 11 touchdowns).

Whittier Christian Coach Phil Bravo, whose team opens against Leffingwell Christian (3-5), the only team in the division with a losing record, said: “To say we’re not taking Leffingwell seriously would be a false statement. They can make you look real silly if you don’t take it seriously. . . . But don’t count us out. This team is one of the top three teams in this school’s history.”

Carpinteria (9-1) probably has the division’s most talented quarterback in Coley Candaele, or at least the quickest over long distances. Candaele, the Southern Section track champion last spring at 1,600 and 800 meters, had the fourth-best time in the nation for the mile at 4 minutes 10.47 seconds as a junior in 1988.

But in football, where he has passed for 1,034 yards with a 57% completion rate, he is just as well-known.

“He’s a phenom,” Bravo said.

Tehachapi (9-1) is known for its physical, aggressive defense and an offense led by Anthony Kelly, who has gained more than 1,000 yards.

Along with Southern California Christian and Whittier Christian, Orange County’s only other Division IX entrant is Santa Margarita, which at 7-3 overall earned a wild-card berth from the Olympic League. For Santa Margarita, in its first season of varsity football, just making the playoffs was a great accomplishment, according to Coach Jim Hartigan.

Santa Margarita’s key players are quarterback Trevor Yankoff, running back Josh Ireland (1,080 yards, 13 touchdowns) and receiver David Shearer (28 receptions for 473 yards).

“It’s exciting for us,” Hartigan said. “Our goal this year was just to be competitive and gain experience. We had some tough times with the better opponents, but we’ve been playing better and better the last two weeks. But to say we’re a dark horse? I’d say we’re too young to be that.”

DIVISION IX IN A BOXDefending Champions: Carpinteria and Tehachapi (tied in 1988 final, 14-14)

Top Teams: Montclair Prep (10-0) and Whittier Christian (10-0).

Dark Horse: Valley Christian (9-1)

Best Draw: Whittier Christian plays Leffingwell Christian (3-5) in the first round.

Worst Draw: Bishop (9-1) must travel to Boron (7-3) in the first round, and if it wins, will likely face Whittier Christian in the second.

Key Players: Running backs Ron Papazian and Scott Jordan (Whittier Christian), quarterback Coley Candaele (Carpinteria), running back Anthony Kelly (Tehachapi) and running backs Derek Sparks and Michael Jones (Montclair Prep)

Noteworthy: The 16 teams in this division have the best combined overall record of any division involving Orange County teams: 124 victories, 33 losses and one tie. Nearly half the teams have records of 9-1 or better. Only one team--Leffingwell Christian (3-5)--has a losing record.