Opportunity for Repayment Motivates Montclair Prep

In a roundabout way, Montclair Prep will defend its Southern Section championship tonight.

The Mounties, who were banned from the playoffs in 1991 because of recruiting violations, have been waiting two seasons to defend their 1990 Division X championship. Instead, they will play Bishop Diego in the Division IX championship game tonight at 7:30 at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara.

“It’s going to be hard to stop our team this year because we really want it,” running back Eliel Swinton said. “It’s like the (Southern Section) stole something from us last year and this year is our chance to take it back.”

Montclair Prep (12-0), which also won a section title in 1976, will be making its fifth championship-game appearance. Bishop Diego (9-3-1) had not survived beyond the first round of the playoffs until this season.

The Mounties, who competed as a free-lance team this year after being ousted from the Alpha League, have outscored their opponents, 466-76.

“We still have our best game left to play,” assistant John Hazelton said.

Bishop Diego Coach Norris Fletcher can only hope the same is true of his team.

The Cardinals are led by junior Michael Hayes, who holds the school single-season rushing record with 1,011 yards. He also has 550 yards in receptions playing in the team’s modified run-and-shoot offense.

Most of Hayes’ carries are on sweeps. When teams key on the outside, the Cardinals give the ball to Able Salcedo, who gained 149 yards--all of them up the middle--in last week’s semifinal victory over West Torrance.

Bishop Diego is well balanced, Fletcher said. Junior quarterback Greg Van Wik has completed 51.7% of his passes for 1,570 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior Benito Rivera, who holds the school reception record at 105, is Van Wik’s favorite target.

On both sides of the ball, Bishop Diego’s strength is its speed. Fletcher said Montclair Prep, will be the first team the Cardinals have faced that is faster than they are.