HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / TIMES TOP 10 : El Camino, Point Loma Stack Up as 1-2

Barring any ties, two of The Times’ preseason top five football teams will sustain a loss on the same field Friday night. It could be No. 1 El Camino or No. 2 Point Loma, No. 4 Rancho Buena Vista or No. 5 Morse--these four schools take part in a Week 1 blockbuster doubleheader at Vista High.

Recent history suggests two or three of them will be playing for a championship on Dec. 12 in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

After all, El Camino and Point Loma won 2-A and 3-A titles, respectively, last year; El Camino and Morse won in 1990; El Camino and Rancho Buena Vista in ‘89; Rancho Buena Vista and Morse in ‘88; and Point Loma in ’87.

Will the trend end? Can anyone break up this quartet?

Defense was the key to El Camino and Point Loma winning championships last year, and they could very well defend those championships.

That stated, here is a closer look at The Times’ preseason top 10:

1. EL CAMINO

Coach: Herb Meyer

1991 Record: 13-1

The Wildcats romped to an unprecedented third consecutive championship last year and are the early favorites to win another 2-A title this year. The reason again is defense. Three-year starters Bryant Westbrook and Mike Booker are two of the best cornerbacks in the state, and both could wind up playing on offense as well. Safety Mike Flanagan, tackle John Moore and linebacker Alex Munoz are three more returning starters from a defense that allowed only 63 points during the 1991 regular season, including a 20-0 season-opening victory over Point Loma.

This is not to say Herb Meyer, who has won six championships in 16 years at El Camino, does not have his concerns. His offense is missing two-year quarterback Noel Prefontaine and leading rusher Mike Gee, both of whom were graduated in June. In fact, center Brian Chapman and receiver Herman Gordon are the only returning starters on offense.

2. POINT LOMA

Coach: Bennie Edens

1991 Record: 13-1

Unlike El Camino, the defending 3-A champion Pointers have nearly every offensive starter back from a team that averaged 26.5 points per game last year. Shifty wingback Shaunta Baker and tailback Rantie Harper are the keys.

Still, Coach Bennie Edens says his defense will again be the team’s strength with lineman Robert Rabello, cornerback Jacques Ballard and linebacker Rashad Lewis leading the way. Edens acknowledges the defense won’t be as good as last year--the Pointers allowed only 65 points during 10 regular-season games and 23 in four playoff games--and it will miss La’Roi Glover dearly.

Said Edens, to the delight of every opposing coach: “We have no La’Roi Glovers.”

3. HELIX

Coach: Jim Arnaiz

1991 Record: 8-3-1

The Highlanders have gone 59-17-5 over the past seven years but have not made the 3-A finals since losing to Vista in 1986. This could be the year they return as one of the best coaches in the county, Jim Arnaiz, is loaded with skill players.

The keys will be blending a host of talented newcomers with a handful of talented returning starters and finding ample protection for rookie quarterback Jeremy Gottlieb, a wide receiver last year.

The newcomers include Mt. Miguel transfers Teniel Ethridge, a junior running back, and Robert Crayton, a senior linebacker, and a dozen or so players from a 10-0 junior varsity team that allowed only 16 points last fall.

Returning starters--and they are good ones--include cornerback Samiji Smith, safety Keith Harrison, linebackers Ryan Baxter and Ryan Vanderhoffen, linemen Gerard Burchard and Erik Moe and halfback Chris Baker.

4. RANCHO BUENA VISTA

Coach: Craig Bell

1991 Record: 5-6

Since the school opened in 1987 and won its first championship the following year, Rancho Buena Vista has had the most productive running game in the county. That should continue with sophomore tailback Leon Hawes running behind a gifted line, but the Longhorns also figure to throw more. Coach Craig Bell says Joe Walter could be the best quarterback the school has ever had.

The Longhorns weren’t bad last year--they again had two 1,000-yard rushers in O.J. Hall and Ragan Jackson--but a tough schedule left them reeling, and they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Mira Mesa.

5. MORSE

Coach: John Shacklett

1991 Record: 7-5

This is one of the youngest squads Coach John Shacklett has fielded in his 21 years at Morse. Which explains why the Tigers are ranked only fifth. If they can overcome their lack of experience and a brutal schedule, they could be playing in their fifth title game in six years.

Six sophomores started for Morse in its 22-20 victory over Honolulu Kamehameha on Aug. 28, including three on the offensive line--David Gates, Lamar Harris and Troy Loggins.

If they develop as planned, look for fullback Conan Smith, a three-year starter, and tailback Archie Amerson to have big seasons.

Morse’s defense is rarely bad, either, but often is overshadowed by the offense and underrated because of the Tigers’ annual tough schedule.

6. ORANGE GLEN

Coach: Rob Gilster

1991 Record: 6-5-1

Both lines are huge. The Patriots might have found a gem in San Bernardino transfer quarterback Brady Batten. Coach Rob Gilster employs one of the most effective and balanced offenses in the county. Earl Callander and Joaquin Randall are capable ball carriers.

Shonta Chaloux, Tom Stehly, John Nicol, Jason Golec and Ted Perrea are big hitters on defense. Thirteen starters return from a team that made the quarterfinals last year. And the Patriots are already 1-0, thanks to a season-opening victory in Hawaii.

You can bet they won’t be outscored by 36 points (204-240) like they were last year.

7. VISTA

Coach: Dick Haines

1991 Record: 13-1

The Panthers returned from a three-year slide with a vengeance in 1991, falling one championship game short of a perfect season. It might be asking too much for an encore. Rich with seniors a year ago, Vista has many holes to fill.

Danny Sears and Matt Stone will try to replace two-way star Chato Jackson at fullback and linebacker.

A strength should be a terrific offensive line led by Lee Carr, John Muir and David Viger.

8. SAN PASQUAL

Coach: Mike Dolan

1991 Record: 8-5

The Eagles rarely feature a big-name star, but Coach Mike Dolan always seems to have them at or near the top of the 2-A ranks. This year, like 1991, should be no different in that regard.

San Pasqual averaged 27.1 points per game during the 1991 regular season then scored 28, 28 and 49 in the playoffs. The 49, however, was one point fewer than La Jolla scored in their thrilling semifinal.

Fifteen starters return, including nine on defense. Defensive tackle Tom Callahan (6-3, 230) is a Division I prospect.

9. FALLBROOK

Coach: Tom Pack

1991 Record: 7-4

The fourth Palomar League member in The Times’ top 10, Fallbrook has perhaps the best quarterback in the county in John Dutton (154 yards per game in ‘91), and Dutton, in turn, has one of the best receivers in Travis Case (47 catches).

Both the offense (258) and the defense (126) finished 13th in the county a year ago, and all of the Warriors four losses came against teams with equal or better records.

10. KEARNY

Coach: Willie Matson

1991 Record: 7-4

The Komets were 7-0 last year before losing their last four games--a fact Kearny’s 14 returning starters and Coach Willie Matson will no doubt remember forever.

James Curtis, a three-year starter at tailback, is nearing the 3,000-yard career rushing milestone and could push 5,000 before the end of 1992. He’s that good and has a strong line supporting him.

Senior linebacker Rashad Wright had 33 sacks in his first two varsity seasons.