Previews of prep football state championship games

Both games will be shown live from Home Depot Center on Prime Ticket:

SMALL-SCHOOLS DIVISION

San Diego Parker (11-2) vs. Modesto Christian (14-0), 4: Parker’s record is somewhat misleading because the Lancers forfeited a victory over San Diego Hoover in the wake of a paperwork error, and their other loss came against San Diego Mission Bay, the San Diego Section Division IV champion. Behind the play of dual-threat quarterback Deon Randall, Parker won the San Diego Section Division V title and handed San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s its first loss in four years. Modesto Christian, the Sac-Joaquin Division IV Section champion, also has a versatile quarterback in Isaiah Burse, who has accounted for 53 touchdowns passing, rushing and on special teams.

The pick: Modesto Christian.

DIVISION I

Oceanside (13-0) vs. San Jose Bellarmine Prep (11-1-1), 8: Oceanside brings a 38-game unbeaten streak and one of the top defenses in the state into its second bowl and first since defeating Novato in the 2007 Division II game. The Pirates have allowed only seven points per game behind a defense that has five players who have committed to Division I colleges. Senior defensive back Devin Taverna was a one-man force during a 26-10 victory over La Mesa Helix last week that gave the Pirates a record 12th San Diego Section title, including six in a row in Division II. Taverna intercepted two passes -- returning one for a touchdown -- and recovered a fumble in the end zone. Bellarmine Prep piled up more than 3,500 rushing yards on the way to a second consecutive Central Coast Section Open Division title, with senior running back Kyle Olugbode rushing for 1,743 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Bells’ bowl resume doesn’t seem nearly as impressive as the Pirates’ -- Bellarmine Prep lost to Stockton St. Mary’s and tied San Jose Mitty, teams that did not advance to section championship games.

The pick: Oceanside.

-- Ben Bolch