De La Salle-Canyon tops tripleheader

For the first time since 1927, the California Interscholastic Federation will crown state champions with the inaugural CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games today at the Home Depot Center.

Northern California powerhouse Concord De La Salle (13-0), which is 319-19-3 in 28 years under Coach Bob Ladouceur, takes on Canyon Country Canyon (11-2) for the Division I title in the nightcap of a tripleheader. Ladouceur is seeking his 18th undefeated, untied season with the Spartans, who set the national record with a 151-game winning streak that lasted from 1992 to 2003.

The Cowboys, three-time Southern Section champions in consecutive years in the 1980s under Coach Harry Welch, have turned back into a Southland force during his second tenure as coach.

Canyon won the Northern Division championship this season after winning the Division II title last year.

The two teams that ended the regular season atop The Times’ Southland rankings are prohibitive favorites in the other games -- Northwest Division champion Westlake Village Oaks Christian (14-0) in Division III and Pac-5 Division champion Orange Lutheran (13-1) in Division II.

The bowl games, based on enrollment, are in the first of a two-year trial. All three games will be shown live on FSN Prime Ticket.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $8 for students or seniors (60).

DIVISION I

Canyon Country Canyon (11-2) vs. Concord De La Salle (13-0), 7:30 p.m.: Don’t expect a shutout in the Division I bowl game, what with these offensive powerhouses. Canyon averages 45.5 points a game and has won games by scores of 90-0, 63-3 and 76-14. De La Salle is close behind with a 43.9 average and has winning scores of 62-0, 63-17 and 55-7. But De La Salle is primarily a force on the ground, where the Spartans average 292.8 yards, led by Tim Maupin and Tillman Pugh. The Cowboys can run too, averaging 213 yards a game, of which 155.5 comes from J.J. Diluigi. But quarterback Ben Longshore also averages 205.3 yards passing, which suggests Canyon might have an option that De La Salle does not. Spartans quarterback Mike MacGillivray averages only 85.8 yards through the air. Canyon will depend on its big offensive line to hold back the active, swarming De La Salle defense, and the Cowboys’ equally big defensive line to dominate and disrupt the Spartans’ offensive attack. De La Salle is used to playing -- and beating -- bigger teams with its quickness, patience and ball control. It’s worth noting that another Southern California team, Mission Viejo, gave De La Salle its closest game of the season -- at least on the scoreboard -- losing 35-28 on Oct. 7.

-- Mike Terry

DIVISION II

Orange Lutheran (13-1) vs. Palo Alto (12-1), 3:30 p.m.: In winning the Open title, the Central Coast Section’s toughest division, Palo Alto won its first championship since 1995, though it also played for titles in 2003 and 2005. The Vikings’ balanced offense includes Will Frazier, who has rushed for 1,057 yards and 18 touchdowns; fullback Sione Mataele, who has rushed for 693 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Nick Goodspeed, who has passed for 1,810 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions. In front of them in their West Coast-style offense is a line that has three three-year starters. Palo Alto, which has won three consecutive playoff games by three points or less, can’t afford turnovers against the Lancers. Orange Lutheran will try to control the clock behind quarterback Aaron Corp, who has passed for 2,537 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and rushed for 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns in the option offense. Orange Lutheran has a terrific run defense, but to put it all together it needs a solid effort from its secondary and a good pass rush on Goodspeed, and with defensive end Michael Reardon, the Lancers will probably get it.

-- Martin Henderson

DIVISION III

Westlake Village Oaks Christian (14-0) vs. Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman (13-1), 11 a.m.: In its season opener, Cardinal Newman ended Modesto Central Catholic’s 61-game winning streak with a 22-14 victory. At the time, it was the state’s longest active streak and second longest in state history behind De La Salle’s 151. Quarterback Ryan Lingle has thrown nine of his 23 touchdown passes in the last four games and has three receivers with at least 38 receptions and 593 yards on the season: Scott Magnuson, Ethan Crandall and Michael Derutte. Cardinal Newman’s running game is powered by senior Brian Hutton, who has been held under 100 yards once in the last eight games. Oaks Christian currently holds the state’s longest winning streak at 45 games. Jimmy Clausen, who is headed to Notre Dame, has thrown for 3,334 yards and 48 touchdowns with only three interceptions and is well protected by a stout offensive line. The Lions received a blow when USC-bound running back-linebacker Marc Tyler broke his ankle in their playoff opener, but Marshall Jones, who has also committed to USC as a defensive back, has filled in nicely.

-- Dan Arritt