Either Way, the Salters Win and Lose

Dick Salter is having a tough week.

Salter, 72, usually breaks down tape and helps devise game strategies for use against opponents of Upland High’s football team, coached by his son, Tim. He does the same for Culver City’s football team, coached by his other son, Tom.

But Salter, who coached football for 12 years at Cathedral and 20 at Arcadia before retiring from full-time coaching in 1989, has not had much to do since Sunday when the Southern Section playoff pairings were announced.

Upland, seeded third in Division II, opens the playoffs Friday night against Culver City, marking the first time the Salter brothers will coach against each other.

“We’re going to sit on one side for one half and the other side for the second half,” Dick Salter said, referring to his wife, Nancy. “We’ll be there as fans. I don’t know who’s going to win, but it is a very uncomfortable situation for me and their mother.”

Tim Salter, 40, is in his sixth season at Upland, which won the Division VI title in 1995, the same year Tom, 37, guided La Puente Bishop Amat to the Division I title.

Tom became coach at Culver City this season and turned around a program that finished 1-9 in 1998. The Centaurs are 6-4.

“We’ve always been competitive, whether it’s tennis, golf, fighting--anything we’ve ever done,” Tom said. “The game will be hard on my mom and dad, but my sisters are having a good time with it.”

Said Tim: “I don’t think there are going to be too many surprises. Let’s face it--we know each other pretty well.”

Most first-round games in the section’s 13 divisions are Friday. Championship games will be played Dec. 10 and 11. The Division I final is Dec. 11 at Edison Field.

Here is a look at each of the divisions:

DIVISION I

Defending champion Santa Ana Mater Dei (8-2) will try to close out the 1990s with its fifth title of the decade and its fourth in six years. To do that, the second-seeded Monarchs will have to get through a division that features top-seeded Long Beach Poly (10-0), third-seeded Rialto Eisenhower (9-1) and fourth-seeded Los Alamitos (9-1).

Long Beach Poly’s first-round matchup against Fountain Valley (6-4) was regarded as tough for both teams when it was announced. It will be even more difficult in the aftermath of the death of Fountain Valley lineman Scotty Lang, who died Monday of unknown causes after collapsing during practice.

Keep an eye on Loyola (7-3), which started slowly but came on to win the Del Rey League. However, you won’t see Bishop Amat. The Lancers lost their last five games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1979.

DIVISION II

Defending champion Diamond Bar (10-0) has looked unbeatable with running back Jason Wright leading the way.

Second-seeded Peninsula (10-0), which features running back Brandon Miyoshi, proved its mettle by defeating rejuvenated Lawndale Leuzinger in Bay League play and is seeking its second Division II title in three years.

DIVISION III

Kyle Matter, the latest in a long line of outstanding quarterbacks for Newhall Hart (10-0), is the catalyst for the defending division champion.

Second-seeded Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (9-1) features Travis Johnson, one of the top defensive linemen in the nation. Third-seeded Saugus (8-2) could earn a championship date with Foothill League rival Hart unless fourth-seeded La Canada St. Francis (9-1), led by quarterback John Sciarra, knocks off the Indians.

DIVISION IV

It could be an all-Northern League final if top-seeded San Luis Obispo (9-1), led by running back Khaled Elmasri, and third-seeded Arroyo Grande (8-1) can navigate a division that includes second-seeded Westlake (9-1) and Penn State-bound quarterback Zac Wasserman.

San Luis Obispo defeated Arroyo Grande, 20-3, last week.

DIVISION V

Top-seeded Corona (9-1) features running back Tony Davis. Second-seeded Norco (8-2) has running back Marcus Guzman.

The teams played a wild game in their Mountain View League finale last week with Corona winning, 49-40. They’re looking forward to doing it again in the final.

DIVISION VI

Lakewood Mayfair (10-0) won Division IV last season by defeating Suburban League rival La Mirada, and running back/defensive back Michael Williams is playing as if he’s intent on ending his career with two titles. La Mirada (8-2) is the third-seeded team and will probably have to get by second-seeded Newport Harbor (9-0-1) in the semifinals to get its rematch with Mayfair. Tustin is No. 4.

DIVISION VII

Defending champion Covina Charter Oak (10-0), led by running back Jason David, breezed through the Miramonte League. Second-seeded Sante Fe Springs Santa Fe (10-0) won the Del Rio League, Hacienda Heights Los Altos (9-1) is itching for another shot at league champion Charter Oak in the final, and Almont League champion Bell Gardens (5-4-1) suffered some preleague setbacks but regrouped down the stretch.

DIVISION VIII

Top-seeded Cathedral City (10-0), champion of the Desert Valley League, could find some familiar faces in the final if the bracket plays out according to plan. Desert Valley League runner-up La Quinta (8-2) is the second-seeded team.

Hemet (7-3), led by quarterback Brian Abihider, is seeded third ahead of defending champion Bloomington (7-3), which features running back Ronnie Adams.

DIVISION IX

Top-seeded La Verne Bonita (10-0) has been a juggernaut this season and the Valle Vista League champion is favored in a division that also includes second-seeded Brea Olinda (9-0-1) and No. 3 Costa Mesa (8-2).

DIVISION X

Monrovia (9-1) and Paso Robles (8-2) met in last year’s final and they are seeded first and second, respectively, this season. South Torrance (8-1-1) is seeded third, Morro Bay (9-1) fourth.

DIVISION XI

Cathedral quarterback Robert De La Cruz has 51 touchdown passes this season and could break the national record of 66 if the top-seeded Phantoms (10-0) reach the final. Receiver Earvin Johnson has 49 career touchdown receptions, one more than previous record-holder J.K. McKay of Bishop Amat.

St. Bonaventure (10-0) is seeded second, Orange Lutheran (10-0) third and Ojai Nordhoff (8-2) fourth.

DIVISION XII

Rosamond (10-0) is the top-seeded team and could meet Riverside Notre Dame (9-1) or Mojave (9-1) in the final if it can get past defending champion Lancaster Paraclete (7-3).

DIVISION XIII

Top-seeded Mammoth (9-1) and second-seeded Brentwood (7-1) could meet in the final if they can get past Hamilton (9-1) and Capistrano Valley Christian (8-1), respectively.