HIGH SCHOOLS : When Talk Covers Helix, Morse, Debate Gets Fierce

The debate began shortly after Torrey Pines upset No. 1 El Camino, 22-3, Friday in Del Mar, and it could continue for weeks.

And we are not discussing injunctions or ethics in sports--at least, not yet.

No, this argument has to deal with who’s No. 1, Helix or Morse?

Morse, of course, has the best record in the county, but Helix was higher last week.

Who would you pick?

The arguments:

Morse is 5-0 and has played what appears to be the tougher schedule, having beaten Hawaii Kamehameha, Rancho Buena Vista, Carson, Vista and Lincoln. A closer look, however, reveals that four of those schools have losing records--Kamehameha (1-4), RBV (1-3), Carson (1-2-1) and Lincoln (0-4)--and are a combined 6-14-1.

Helix has yet to be challenged by Patrick Henry (2-2), El Capitan (3-1), West Hills (0-4) and Point Loma (2-2) and has outscored them, 129-28.

Helix has played three home games and has three remaining. Morse will not play on campus until Oct. 23 and has only two home dates all season.

Both schools lost in the quarterfinals last year, but Helix (8-3-1) had a better record than Morse (7-5), had more returning starters this season and was improved by the addition of Mt. Miguel transfers Teneil Ethridge and Robert Crayton. Morse is fielding its youngest squad in years, and among six sophomore starters, three of those are on the offensive line.

Helix was ranked third in the preseason and Morse fifth. By last week, Helix had moved up to No. 2 and Morse No. 3.

Neither coach was too convincing, and both took a low-key approach about the issue.

“In all honesty, we’re getting to be a pretty good ballclub,” Morse Coach John Shacklett said. “I think we deserve to be looked at as a No. 1 team.”

Helix Coach Jim Arnaiz: “We’ll take it, but I don’t put a lot of stock in rankings.”

How about a third opinion? Here’s how Morse fullback Conan Smith viewed the situation after Saturday’s game: “I think we should be No. 1,” he said. “But Helix--I saw them play (Friday)--they’re really good. If they’re No. 1, they probably deserve it.”

Smith’s politicking notwithstanding, Helix gets our vote this week.

CAN’T GO WRONG

Helix’s Arnaiz has instructed his players not to read the newspapers’ rankings, but he didn’t say anything about calling them.

Linda Johnson, the mother of Highlander offensive lineman Ken Johnson, placed a call Monday to find out where Helix and Morse would be ranked.

Despite working for San Diego Unified as a bus driver for Morse, Linda said: “We’re pushing for Helix.”

LYNCH MOB

A temporary restraining order issued Thursday allowed Torrey Pines quarterback/strong safety Ryan Lynch to play in the Falcon’s upset of El Camino on Friday.

Under San Diego Section rules, regarding ethics in sports, Lynch was supposed to have been ineligible for that game after being ejected the previous week against La Jolla for an unsportsmanlike hit in the third quarter.

Section rules do not permit an appeal for such an action. But being forced to sit out a game without an appeal did not appeal to Lynch. So he challenged the Section in court, and the case will be heard Oct. 19.

“We honestly believe he’s innocent of this situation,” Torrey Pines Coach Ed Burke said. “Not totally innocent. He should have been penalized (15 yards) for what he did but not ejected.”

Stay tuned. But for now:

Asked if he had any idea what procedures would likely take place in court, Burke slipped: “I’m not very legal on these things.”

WILDCAT WOES

El Camino’s loss snapped a 14-game winning streak--tied for seventh longest in Section history--and it was the Wildcats’ first loss to a San Diego Section team since Oct. 6, 1990, when it lost to rival Oceanside, 17-16.

In addition, El Camino’s top running back and starting safety Mike Flanagan sprained an ankle Friday. It is not known whether Flanagan will play this Friday against Escondido.

AZTECS NO CHARGERS

Two weeks before Friday’s Metro Conference opener, some of Castle Park’s players mentioned they had a chance to go undefeated this season. So after Montgomery beat Castle Park in the opener, Montgomery Coach Roger Rice was asked if his Aztecs would continue the rest of the season unbeaten.

“Well, I’m not going to give any Shawn Jefferson guarantees,” Rice said. “But I think we’re going to be around at the end.”

TROPHY DASH

Well, they’ve waited this long . . .

The Mira Mesa girls’ volleyball team won the 15th annual Serra Tournament Saturday at Serra, and for the Marauders, whose school opened in 1976, it was their first volleyball championship in school history.

But when the time came for the awards presentation, it was discovered the first-place trophies had inadvertently been left at the trophy shop.

The Marauders, including two-time most valuable player Jennifer Miner, should get their just reward Thursday when Mira Mesa plays host to Serra in a City Eastern League match.

Football Top 10

No. School (Record) LW 1. Helix (4-0) 2 2. Morse (5-0) 3 3. El Camino (3-1) 1 4. San Pasqual (4-0) 5 5. Fallbrook (4-0) 6 6. Vista (3-1) 7 7. Point Loma (2-2) 4 8. El Capitan (3-1) NR 9. Montgomery (2-1-1) NR 10. University City (4-0) NR

Others receiving consideration: Torrey Pines (3-1), Mt. Carmel (2-1-1), Orange Glen (2-2), Castle Park (3-1).