Bloomington’s Run to Glory : Coach Brings Record Success to School With Double Wing

The final scores are staggering: 86-8, 84-0, 70-0, 66-8, 62-9.

No, these are not the results of a college all-star basketball team playing against grammar school students. They are a sample of victories posted by the Bloomington High football team this season.

The Bruins, who conclude their record-setting season tonight at 7:30 at La Mirada High in the Southern Section Division VIII championship game, have created a stir in their small community near Fontana.

Bloomington (13-0) broke the national single-season scoring record Saturday with a 34-21 semifinal victory over Laguna Hills. The Bruins’ 832 points surpassed the 827 established by Big Sandy, Tex., in 14 games in 1975.

What makes the accomplishment particularly astounding is that it was achieved with many of the players who finished with a 1-9 record last season.

How did they do it?

First-year Coach Don Markham, 55, offers an easy answer.

“We run a simple offense that creates a lot of problems for our opponents,” said Markham, referring to his team’s double-wing formation. “It’s not popular because it’s not what’s in vogue--it’s not what’s on TV. But it’s easier to run than other offenses, and a lot harder to defend.”

Markham’s offense consists of five linemen, two tight ends, two running backs, a fullback and the quarterback. The two running backs are split behind each tight end, and the fullback is closely positioned behind the quarterback.

On a typical play, one running back goes in motion toward the quarterback before the snap, the other converges on them after the snap, and the quarterback usually hands off to one of them or the fullback. But it is difficult for a defense to figure out which one since they are so close together at the point of the handoff. Sometimes the quarterback pitches to one running back who, in turn, pitches to the other heading in the opposite direction.

“It gives us a lot of power,” Markham said. “The defense can’t overload one side or another because there’s lots of reverses, lots of misdirection.

“There’s too many gaps to cover along the line to keep (the running backs) all covered. It limits what the defense can do. They have to play us pretty straight.”

Seniors Greg Oliver and Cheyane Caldwell have flourished in Markham’s scheme. Oliver, who leads the state in scoring with 326 points, has rushed for 1,785 yards and scored 41 touchdowns. He also has converted 40 two-point attempts. Caldwell has rushed for 1,426 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Bloomington, ranked No. 8 in the Southland by The Times despite playing in a low division, has gained 5,992 yards. It averages 64 points a game and has a margin of victory of 48.

The football team’s success has improved school spirit.

The marching band has increased its membership nearly 50% since the start of the season. Students, faculty and parents can be seen around campus and at games wearing T-shirts bearing the scores of the Bruins’ 10 regular-season victories.

“The morale of the kids is just tremendous,” said Vic Molner, Bloomington vice principal. “They feel good about themselves and it’s spilled over into other sports. More kids want to participate in other athletics. Any time there’s success, there’s school pride.”

Those who know Markham, however, are not surprised by the turnaround or the lopsided scores.

In 1990, he took over a slumping football team in Bandon, Ore. After a year of rebuilding, Bandon made the playoffs the next three seasons.

Markham’s double-wing offense was so effective there, state officials adopted a rule unofficially called “The Bandon Rule” that ends a game when a team has a 45-point lead at halftime or later.

Before that, Markham led Riverside Ramona to four consecutive playoff appearances from 1986-1989, while his teams averaged 40 points. He had similar results at Colton High, where he coached from 1973-84 and reached the playoffs nine times.

Not everyone is thrilled with Markham’s style. He traditionally carries a small number of players, leaving some to question whether he takes only the best players in order to shorten the bench and cultivate higher scoring.

Don LeGro, coach at Sierra Vista in Baldwin Park, watched his team lose its playoff opener to Bloomington, 70-0, last month. Although LeGro did not accuse Markham of running up the score, he did question why a school with an enrollment of 1,300 students could not get more players out for football.

“Basically, we play defense and they play offense, and it’s our job to keep them out of the end zone,” LeGro said. “To his credit, when the score got into the 50s, his play calling became simpler.

“It’s tough to say he’s running up the score because he’s got a limited number of players and plays. With 1,300 students, you’d think he’d have more than (20 players) on his roster. He probably doesn’t take borderline players. He might be depriving other kids less talented a chance to play.”

Markham disagrees.

“Football was down here after last year,” he said. “Kids didn’t think this school could win. Only 25 kids showed up for spring tryouts. The ones that didn’t make the varsity were put on the junior varsity team and are now suiting up for the playoffs.”

He also said the success of his offense is not dependent on the talent level of the players.

“I’ve been running this sort of offense for a long time, so I don’t make many mistakes,” said Markham, who has 10 players who play both offense and defense. “There’s only eight running plays and two passing plays, along with some gadgets. The players run these plays over and over again in practice until they perfect them.

“We could run the same (offense) and do it well with average talent. The system itself will work as long as you have players that are willing to work and willing to block.”

As to the question of running up the score, T-shirts worn by Bloomington supporters display the school’s attitude on the subject. They read: “If you don’t like it, play defense.”

* CALIFORNIA ALBUM

In Bloomington, football team’s triumph has given a much-needed boost to community pride. A3

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One-Sided

A look at the scores from a season in which Bloomington High (13-0) has established a national scoring record:

REGULAR SEASON

BH Opp 86 Big Bear 8 84 Notre Dame 0 62 West Valley 10 48 Valley View 14 72 Chaminade 14 40 Temescal Canyon 0 60 Rim of the World 28 60 Yucaipa 12 68 La Sierra 27 66 Norte Vista 8

PLAYOFFS

BH Opp 70 Sierra Vista 0 82 Artesia 62 34 Laguna Hills 21

Totals: Bloomington 832, Opponents 204