THE BIG GAME / MT. MIGUEL-GROSSMONT : Undefeated Teams Vie for Series Supremacy

Tonight’s game between Mt. Miguel and sixth-ranked Grossmont won’t affect any league standings or, at least for now, determine anyone’s playoff chances.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t be taken any less seriously. Much needs to be settled between these teams after the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Grossmont, not the least of which is who is historically better.

Over the past 24 years these teams have met, the series is tied, each team having an 11-11-2 record. This year, both teams are undefeated. Grossmont, coming off a 10-1-1 season, is 1-0 and has its position in the county top 10 to protect.

Mt. Miguel, which finished 5-5-1 in 1989, is 2-0. The Monarchs know a victory tonight will likely create a spot for them in the rankings.

“We know it’s a big game in that respect,” Mt. Miguel Coach Gary Cooper said. “We’re not trying to downplay it. But we want to take the approach that it’s business as usual. We want to beat Grossmont High School, and that’s it.”

Grossmont opened the season last week with a 34-0 victory over El Capitan. Mt. Miguel has started strong with victories against Bonita Vista, 21-12, and El Cajon Valley, 28-6.

Mt. Miguel has been stronger than Grossmont in head-to-head games in recent years, going 9-4-1 since 1976. But Grossmont has won the past two, 22-20 in 1988 and 42-19 in 1989. And what concerns Cooper the most is the physical nature of Grossmont. The Foothillers are big, and they use that size to punish their opponents.

“We do come to play,” Grossmont Coach Judd Hulbert said. “We pride ourselves on that.”

Mt. Miguel was able to keep the ball on the ground in its first two games. But Cooper said the Monarchs won’t be able to pound inside with Grossmont.