Eisenhower Is Mighty, but Not Invincible

Top-seeded Rialto Eisenhower is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today heading into the Southern Section Division I playoffs, but the high-flying Eagles can be beaten, according to El Toro Coach Mike Milner.

Milner, whose team lost to Eisenhower, 20-9, in the fourth week of the season, offered some tips to the 15 teams standing between Eisenhower and a section championship.

“The team that beats them will have to execute well and put together a couple of 12- to 15-play drives for touchdowns,” Milner said. “The quarterback will have to throw effectively for 150 or more yards, yet play within his limitations.

“Defensively, you’re going to need some luck. By that, I mean you can’t let Eisenhower turn a busted play into a 65-yard touchdown or let a back reverse his field and run 80 yards for a score. You need a secondary that has good run support from the perimeter.

“You have to go into the game assuming that they’ll break one big play for a score. That’s a given with a talented team that Eisenhower.”

How talented is Eisenhower?

“They remind me of the good (Long Beach) Poly teams of the ‘80s,” Milner said. “They have six or seven Division I (college) players. Their running back, Omar Love, is as good as I’ve seen since Derek Brown was at Servite.”

Eisenhower showed its vulnerability in its final Citrus Belt League game against San Gorgonio. Eisenhower stopped a two-point conversion attempt by San Gorgonio with 2:19 to play and hung on for a 7-6 victory.

Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson, whose team upset Eisenhower, 34-20, in the quarterfinals last year, said Eisenhower and rival Fontana are the teams that set the standards in the division.

“Fontana has made the playoffs 15 straight years, and they’ve been the team that you measure yourself against during that time,” he said. “Every kid dreams about playing Fontana in the playoffs.

“Eisenhower has emerged as the power the past two years. If we were lucky enough to get to the finals, we could be playing the No. 1 team in the nation. That should be enough motivation for any player.”

Eisenhower and Fontana, ranked 1-2 in the division all season, are the teams to beat, but the tri-champions of the Angelus League--Bishop Amat, Mater Dei and Loyola--are strong contenders for the title.

The league designated Loyola as its No. 1 entry, Bishop Amat as No. 2 and Mater Dei as No. 3 following a coin toss.

“We screwed up the brackets with the coin flip,” Rollinson said. “The lower bracket is stacked pretty good. I wouldn’t be surprised if two Angelus League teams advanced to the semifinals.”

Looking for the dark horse in the division? A team capable of turning the division inside out? Santa Ana is a contender despite its 5-5 record.

“I’ve watched them on film against Mater Dei and their talent is as good as anybody’s in the division,” Loyola defensive coordinator Jon Dawson said. “They’re a team to watch out for.”

Division I

Last year’s champion--Loyola (12-2 in 1990).

Top teams--Eisenhower (10-0), Fontana (9-1), Bishop Amat (9-1), Loyola (8-2) and Mater Dei (9-1).

Dark horse--Santa Ana (5-5).

Key players--Billy Blanton, Mater Dei, quarterback, the county’s best offensive player with 2,539 passing yards and 25 touchdowns; Chris Econn, Loyola, defensive end, best defensive player for the defending champion; Scott Fields, Bishop Amat, running back, a force when healthy but limps into the playoffs with a sprained ankle; David Knuff, Mater Dei, tight end, 45 catches for 798 yards and six touchdowns; Omar Love, Eisenhower, running back, 8.2 yards per carry; Ingmar Northcott, Marina, nose guard, overpowered every opponent this season; Kevin Pola, Santa Ana, running back/linebacker, 1,129 rushing yards; Aparicio Tate, Eisenhower, defensive end, an intimidating force at 290 pounds; Erik Thomas, Quartz Hill, running back, rushed for 1,149 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Noteworthy--The 16-team bracket was thrown into confusion when Loyola, Mater Dei and Bishop Amat tied for the Angelus League championship. Mater Dei was designated as a No. 3 entry when it lost a coin toss, and it meets Quartz Hill in the first round in a rematch of last year’s semifinal; Quartz Hill won easily, 37-7. Edison, which also qualified because of a coin toss, got a good draw with Long Beach Poly in the first round. If Edison beats Poly, it probably would play host to Loyola in the second round. Santa Ana’s record is deceiving. The Saints lost to Esperanza, Mater Dei and Hawthorne--teams with a combined record of 27-3 in nonleague games.