PREP EXTRA / FRIDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills Battle Could Be Quite a Rush

What qualifies as the biggest surprise of the 1994 prep season?

Well there’s Newport Harbor’s undefeated season, although the Sailors have been a regular in the playoffs for many seasons. There’s Western and Brea-Olinda challenging for the Orange League title, where many people figured Anaheim--among others--would be.

But nothing compares to having the state’s top two running backs--Charles Chatman of Costa Mesa and Brendan McGraw of Laguna Hills--from the same league and both rushing after the county single-season yardage mark of 2,596 set in 1992 by Rancho Alamitos’ Jeff Byrd. It adds spice to tonight’s game, which will decide the Pacific Coast League championship.

Chatman figures to get there first. Last Friday’s 340 yards against University leaves the 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior with 2,247 yards after nine games. Earlier this season, he had a 414-yard performance against Aliso Niguel, four yards short of the single-game county record set in 1979 by Dana Hills’ Jim Gleed--against Laguna Hills.

Chatman has a 300-yard lead on McGraw. But the Hawks’ 6-1, 190-pound senior is ahead of Chatman in the county scoring race. The six touchdowns (and 265 yards) he had last Friday against Laguna Beach--in one half--give McGraw 33 touchdowns and 198 points. That’s the fourth-highest single-season touchdown total in county history (Southern California Christian’s Mike Jacot set the record of 37 in 1991) and the fifth-highest scoring total (Jacot scored 222 in 1991 and Byrd 222 in ‘92).

“It’s amazing when you consider in three games he’s only played a half,” Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan said.

Chatman has 27 touchdowns (and 12 extra points) for 174 points.

Their final totals will include all playoff games, giving both a shot at the record.

Not surprisingly, both have the attention of opposing defenses.

“Obviously he will carry the ball,” Bresnahan said of Chatman. “We have to play hard every play; the one you let up on is the one he can go all the way.”

Said Costa Mesa Coach Myron Miller: “Laguna Hills is McGraw. We’ve got two other very good backs, so if Charles is under 100 yards we can still win. If we can keep McGraw under 100 yards, they lose. They need him to come up big, where any combination of our three has to come up big.”

Both players say they are aware of one another, but won’t make tonight’s matchup personal.

“It would be better if it was his team against my team instead of Chatman against McGraw,” Chatman said. “I don’t know how McGraw looks at it, but it’s more between who has the best line. I like to look at it like Chatman’s line is blocking good, not Chatman is running good.”

Said McGraw: “I’m not looking at individual things. That’s selfish. I want to win the league championship first. Whoever wins the rushing title that’s fine, but I want the league title.”

At least McGraw had an offensive history. Last year--mainly as a flanker--he had 22 catches for 499 yards and seven touchdowns. But with the graduation of Fred Kim, he moved to the backfield.

Said Bresnahan: “He’s the best I’ve ever had in 23 years and I’ve been at every level of high school and college. No question he is Division I caliber.”

Chatman, however, last season was primarily known as an outstanding cornerback; indeed, it is the position most colleges are interested in having him play. He was, at best, the third back on Costa Mesa’s roster, behind budding star Dewayne Crenshaw.

But Crenshaw’s season has been marred by a bad hamstring, a torn muscle in the shin and a sprained ankle. (He has still managed 717 yards.) Crenshaw is healthy now and will get more attempts, which figures to cut into Chatman’s carries.

Not that Chatman doesn’t have enough to do. Along with carrying the ball 25 times per game, he plays every down on defense at cornerback. “He is a Division I cornerback,” Miller said. “The people he covers stay covered.” And he’s not above playing on the kickoff and punt squads.

“Charles has done everything we’ve asked,” Miller said. “And I’ve never had a runner have a year like him.”

LAGUNA HILLS VS. COSTA MESA

Featured Game

When: 7 tonight.

Where: Newport Harbor High.

Records: Laguna Hills (7-2 4-0); Costa Mesa (7-1-1, 3-0-1).

Rankings: None.

Noteworthy: Both teams have standout runners--the Mustangs’ Charles Chatman (2,247 yards) and the Hawks’ Brendan McGraw (1,947 yards)--meaning the ball rarely goes into the air other than on punts and kickoffs. The winner claims the Pacific Coast League title and a high seeding in the Division VIII playoffs.