The Biggest Game Will Be Decided in Bigger Stadium

The Southern Section’s most prestigious football championship game has more commercial flavor this year, a sign that high school sports are no longer only for family and friends.

Friday night’s Division I matchup between top-ranked and undefeated Rialto Eisenhower and fourth-ranked and once-beaten Santa Ana Mater Dei will be played at Anaheim Stadium.

The game had been scheduled at Cerritos College, which seats 12,000, but section officials, fearing a crowd two or three times that size, moved it Monday.

“A game of this magnitude, with these type of teams, it just didn’t make sense to play it at Cerritos College,” said Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner. “We were aware that a move to Anaheim Stadium was likely if we had a draw like Eisenhower and Mater Dei.”

The same teams played for the Division I title in 1991 at Anaheim Stadium and a crowd of 33,204, third-largest in playoff history, watched as Mater Dei upset the previously undefeated Eagles, 35-14.

Crowley said he is hoping for a similar crowd Friday, adding that it will take at least 18,000 for the section to break even. It costs about $50,000 to play a game at Anaheim Stadium.

Attendance might be hurt, however, because the game will be televised live by Channel 13. The telecast is a first for the section, so officials are not sure what to expect.

Last year, Channel 13 televised the now-defunct Reebok Bowl, which matched the Southern Section and City Section major division champions. The game between La Puente Bishop Amat and Sylmar drew only 8,132 at Anaheim Stadium, but it was a ratings success. Channel 13 recently extended its high school commitment by signing a three-year deal with the Southern Section to televise the Division I game. The contract pays the section $40,000 this year and $50,000 in 1994 and ’95.

Further illustrating the marketability of the game are official sponsors for the game ball and drink. The CIF is also expected to add another major corporate sponsor in the next few months.

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The main drawback to playing at Anaheim Stadium is that the Southern Section is at the mercy of Mother Nature. To protect the playing field for the Rams, the Division I game will be moved to Cerritos College if it rains within 24 hours of the kickoff.

Last year’s Division I championship between Bishop Amat and Loyola was moved to Cerritos College only hours before kickoff because of rain.

“I’m praying for blue skies all week,” Crowley said.

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Cerritos College will be the site of Saturday’s Division II championship game between two 13-0 teams, Los Alamitos and Huntington Beach. A capacity crowd is expected.

John Barnes, Los Alamitos’ coach, is leading the Griffins to their fifth title game in the last seven years. They beat Anaheim Esperanza for the Division III championship in 1991 and tied Esperanza for the Division II title last season. Los Alamitos is 33-0-1 in its last 34 games.

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The Times will honor the top high school football players and coaches in Southern California on Sunday. A look at the finalists for player of the year:

--Tony Gonzalez, Huntington Beach: The two-sport standout is a starting tight end and linebacker for the Oilers. Gonzalez has 54 receptions for 860 yards and 15 touchdowns and is also the team’s leading tackler.

--Keith Smith, Newbury Park: The senior quarterback has passed for 3,988 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. He is the nation’s second-leading passer for career yardage with 9,715. The Panthers are 13-0 and will play Hawthorne for the Southern Section Division III title Saturday at Moorpark College.

--Glenn Thompkins, Rialto Eisenhower: He is the team’s quarterback and also starts at a variety of positions on defense. In addition, he returns punts and kickoffs.

Times’ Top 20 Football Poll

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

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Eisenhower SS I 13-0-0 1 2. Los Alamitos SS II 13-0-0 2 3. Newbury Park SS III 13-0-0 3 4. Mater Dei SS I 12-1-0 4 5. Hunt. Beach SS II 13-0-0 7 6. Bishop Amat SS I 11-1-0 6 7. Hawthorne SS III 12-1-0 8 8. Norco SS V 13-0-0 10 9. Irvine SS IV 12-1-0 12 10. Antelope Vly SS I 7-6-0* 5 11. Hart SS II 10-2-0 11 12. Dominguez SS II 10-2-0 12 13. LB Poly SS I 10-2-0 13 14. Cyn. Springs SS IV 12-1-0 17 15. San Pedro City 3-A 12-1-0 20 16. Dorsey City 4-A 10-3-0 16 17. Quartz Hill SS I 10-1-0 19 18. Fountain Vly SS II 10-3-0 15 19. Carson SS 4-A 9-4-0 NR 20. Sylmar City 4-A 10-2-1 14

* indicates three losses by forfeit.