Ratings Bode Well for City-Southern Section Game

Although most of the final numbers from last Friday night’s inaugural California Interscholastic Federation/Reebok Bowl at Anaheim Stadium were predictable, few could have expected the high television rating the game enjoyed on Channel 13.

The game, matching the Southern and City sections’ large-division champions, beat both Channels 5 and 9 for the evening and improved on the station’s normal movie programming.

The matchup of Southern Section Division I champion La Puente Bishop Amat High and City Division 4-A titlist Sylmar High started with an impressive 6.7 rating and 12 share, but those numbers fell as the score become more lopsided. It ended with a final 5.0 rating and 9 share, twice the audience that watched the King-Edmonton Oiler hockey game on Channel 5. Bishop Amat took a 24-0 halftime lead on its way to a 31-10 victory.

Each rating point represents 50,000 homes in the Greater Los Angeles area, meaning 250,000 homes were tuned to the game.

Station officials were hoping for a 4.0 rating, so they were were excited about the final numbers.

“If the game had been closer, those numbers would have been even higher,” said Rick Feldman, Channel 13’s vice president and general manager. “But we were certainly pleased with the final numbers. I think the game might have a future here.”

Feldman said he plans to sit down with CIF representatives after the holidays and discuss activating the second year of their tentative five-year contract. The station can refuse to pick up the option if it’s not happy with the ratings and cannot sell advertising for the game.

The bowl, first of its kind in California, had been talked about for many years. It became a reality when Channel 13 stepped forward with an offer to televise the game by paying a $50,000 rights fee.

Although the rating was encouraging, several aspects of the game were not so promising. Bishop Amat’s decisive victory showed how far behind the smaller City Section is in terms of quality competition.

The crowd of 8,132 also was disappointing; game organizers were hoping for 25,000.

While it is likely that the bowl will be renewed for a second year, do not be surprised if it is moved from Anaheim Stadium. It is expensive to rent--about $40,000 this year--and Channel 13 officials did not like all the shots of empty seats. Venues such as Mt. San Antonio College, Cerritos College, East Los Angeles College and El Camino College are better suited for showcasing high school games.

Chris Thomas, marketing director for the Southern Section, said early returns from the bowl probably will result in his section favoring a second game.

“We don’t have all of the figures in that we need yet,” Thomas said, “but we definitely see a future in this game. We’re probably going to lose money on it this year, but there is potential down the road to make some money.”

Because Bishop Amat and Sylmar were each guaranteed $12,000, the bowl could lose a significant amount of money this year. But if Channel 13 decides to pick up its option for next season, the rights fee increases to $65,000. That figure rises to $100,000 for the fourth and fifth years of the contract.

“We realize that it takes time to make anything work,” Thomas said. “It would be unfair to decide this bowl’s fate based on one game.”

Bishop Amat finished 15-0, breaking the record of 14 victories in a season held by numerous schools.

Although few have mentioned Bishop Amat as one of the best teams in state history, it deserves consideration. The Lancers played a tough regular-season schedule with games against such powers as Carson, Long Beach Poly, Loyola and Encino Crespi. It came back to beat Loyola for the second time this season in the Division I title game, 7-3.

Many of Coach Mark Paredes’ best players are underclassmen. Running back Rodney Sermons, who rushed for 1,412 yards, is a junior. Leading receiver Daylon McCutcheon and starting fullback Randy Guanko are sophomores.

Look for the Lancers to be rated at the top of next year’s preseason polls.

Prep Notes

It was no surprise last week when defensive lineman Travis Kirschke of Anaheim Esperanza said he would be going to UCLA. Kirschke, the two-time Orange County lineman of the year, said he has dreamed of attending the Westwood school since he was a child. . . . Running back Eliel Swinton of Van Nuys Montclair Prep rushed for 2,384 yards in 1992, a single-season rushing record in the San Fernando Valley.

The Crescenta Valley boys’ basketball team has improved since guard Adam Jacobsen transferred from Glendora. Jacobsen, a senior, scored 40 points Friday to lead the Falcons (8-0) to a 92-59 victory over previously undefeated Bellflower St. John Bosco in the championship game of their own holiday tournament. . . . Jacque Vaughn, a point guard at Pasadena Muir, was named the boys’ recipient of the Dial Award, given annually to the top scholar-athlete in the nation. Vaughn, who has a 3.94 grade-point average and has signed to attend Kansas, will be given the award in Washington next month.

The Santa Ana Mater Dei boys’ basketball team, considered the best in the state, improved to 9-0 by beating Long Beach Poly, 85-54, Saturday night in the title game of the Ocean View High Tournament of Champions.

Times’ Top 20 Football Poll

FINAL

The Times’ top 20 high school football poll, with teams from the City and Southern sections.

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Bishop Amat SS I 15-0 1 2. Los Alamitos SS II 13-0-1 2 3. Esperanza SS II 12-1-1 4 4. Loyola SS I 12-2 5 5. Muir SS II 11-2 6 6. Sylmar City 4-A 13-1 3 7. Irvine SS IV 13-1 7 8. Fontana SS I 11-2 8 9. Eisenhower SS I 10-2-1 9 10. Hawthorne SS III 12-2 10 11. Cres. Valley SS II 11-2 11 12. Hart SS II 11-1 12 13. Servite SS II 9-2-1 13 14. Sunny Hills SS VII 12-1-1 14 15. Mater Dei SS I 9-2-1 15 16. Bell Gardens SS III 12-2 16 17. San Pedro City 3-A 12-1-1 17 18. Norco SS V 14-0 18 19. Ran. Alamitos SS VII 10-3 19 20. Valencia SS VI 11-1-1 20