Football League Scuttled

Plans for a Division I Angelus League that would have brought together six of the strongest football programs in the Southland were scrapped Wednesday when the Catholic Athletic Assn. voted instead to create seven four-team leagues.

Schools in the 46-member CAA have until Oct. 28 to appeal to the Southern Section, but the alignments are expected to stand and begin in the fall of 1999. They will be effective for three years.

Last week, the CAA voted to create a “super league” in football made up of La Puente Bishop Amat, Loyola, Santa Ana Mater Dei, Anaheim Servite, Bellflower St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita.

However, the major Division I schools objected, claiming there would be fewer playoff spots awarded to Catholic schools under the “super league” proposal. Loyola appealed the decision and its proposal won on a 15-12 vote by principals. The Division I schools received support from small schools pleased with the four-team league format.

The Del Rey and Angelus leagues will compete in Division I. Loyola, Bishop Amat, Mission Hills Alemany and Santa Fe Springs St. Paul are in the Del Rey League. Mater Dei, Servite, St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita are in the Angelus League.

Other league alignments for football: Mission--Torrance Bishop Montgomery, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, Playa del Rey St. Bernard and Gardena Serra; San Fernando--West Hills Chaminade, Encino Crespi, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and La Canada St. Francis; Camino Real--Cathedral, Sierra Madre La Salle, Santa Monica St. Monica and Verbum Dei; Santa Cruz--Rosemead Bosco Tech, San Pedro Mary Star, Salesian and Long Beach St. Anthony; Santa Fe--Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson, Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Daniel Murphy and Panorama City St. Genevieve.