BIG GAME : When El Capitan Faces Helix This Season, a Tie Won’t Fit : Football: Helix’s stingy defense will challenge El Cap’s prolific offense.

Like a year ago, two exceptional high school football teams will take the field when Helix meets El Capitan at 7:30 tonight at El Capitan.

Helix is ranked second. El Capitan is 10th. Helix, again, appears to have one of the best defenses in the county. El Capitan, again, has one of the top offensive units going. Both are undefeated after one week, and there have been references from both sides that this is the game of the year in the East County.

But unlike a year ago--when both teams botched fourth-quarter field-goal attempts and were forced to settle for a 7-7 tie--both teams know what to expect this year, and neither will consider a tie a successful night’s work.

“Last year, there were two good teams in this game, but only one of them knew it,” El Capitan Coach Dave Waastad said.

Leading up to last year’s game, the Vaqueros were stuck in a two-year 2-18-1 funk they didn’t figure to escape for some time. Furthermore, El Capitan hadn’t beaten the Highlanders since 1983 and had scored only 30 points against them during that span.

“Deep down, I knew we were good,” Waastad said. “But it was hard convincing the kids of that.”

They are convinced now.

Since the Helix tie and a heartbreaking 22-21 loss to Grossmont the following week, El Capitan has won 10 of its last 11 games, including last week’s 24-7 romp over then-No. 10 Kearny.

Perennial power Helix finished 8-3-1 in 1991 and began this season with a 26-7 victory over Patrick Henry.

“It’s a coin-toss game,” Helix Coach Jim Arnaiz said. “I really think it’ll be a very even game.”

Both teams feature tremendous skill-position players.

El Capitan tailback Joe Rockhold (1,459 yards last year) rushed for 229 yards in only 11 carries (20.8 yards per carry) last week against Kearny. Key on Rockhold, however, and fullback James Hopkins, wingback Greg Ryan or quarterback Bobby Vickery could burn you.

Helix counters with defensive backs Samiji Akili and Keith Harrison and linebackers Ryan Baxter, Ryan Vanderhoffen and Robert Crayton on a defense that scored two touchdowns last week and has allowed only 160 points in its last 25 games, an average of 6.4 per game.

A key could be how well Helix tailback Chris Baker has recovered from a thigh bruise he sustained last week against Patrick Henry. Baker, a three-year starter, missed last year’s game with a broken hand and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.