PREP NOTES : Division Switches Likely for Playoffs

Although member schools of the Southern Section won’t be surveyed until next month, look for some big changes in the 1992 football playoff groupings involving Orange County schools.

Every two years, members schools and their respective leagues are reviewed by a playoff grouping committee for the purpose of formating the section’s 10 divisions. The biggest change is anticipated in Division I where the Sunset League has struggled in recent years.

“I expect some significant changes,” said Bill Clark, Southern Section administrator for football. “We’ll be adding three new leagues in the section, and the addition of Mater Dei into the South Coast League will likely dictate a change.”

Look for the South Coast League to move into Division I. Last year, three South Coast teams--El Toro, Mission Viejo and Capistrano Valley--advanced to the semifinals. This year, Irvine and Dana Hills are in the semifinals.

The Sea View League, which competes in Division VI, probably will also change divisions. Tustin and University have advanced to the division’s semifinals and two new members--Santa Margarita and Irvine--have made strong playoff showings this year.

Final appeals and approval of playoff groupings are scheduled for April 30 at the spring meeting of the Southern Section’s general council.

Bye-bye: Bert Esposito, football coach at Southern California Christian High, now says his team’s 19-14 loss to Calvary Chapel for the Arrowhead League title three weeks ago was a blessing in disguise.

The loss meant Southern California Christian played a first-round game in the 12-team Division X playoffs while four other teams earned a bye.

Three of the teams receiving byes in the first week of the playoffs--Silver Valley, Maranatha and Linfield Christian--lost in the second round last week.

“A bye can take a team out of its normal routine of playing every week and really hurt a small school,” Esposito said. “I’m glad now that we didn’t get a bye.”

Top-seeded Calvary Chapel was the only school that survived the first-round-bye jinx, defeating Trona, 27-14, in the second round.

Those coin flips that are conducted each Saturday morning in the Southern Section to determine playoff sites can be costly to a school. Just ask Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo.

“I figured out losing a coin flip costs our school about $2,000,” Marrujo said. “When you figure the game programs, the snack bar and a 50-50 drawing, the profit margin for a home game is significant. That’s not even including ticket sales.”

Ticket sales are divided equally between the Southern Section (50%), host school (25%) and the visiting school (25%).