The postseason begins this week and the Open Division is so stacked that season-long  No. 1 Lincoln is out and placed in Division I.

Mission Hills, Open Division-seeded No. 1 and the leader in John Maffei’s last regular-season poll,  meets visiting No. 4 Cathedral and  No. 2 La Costa Canyon is host to No. 3 Carlsbad.  Lincoln, defending state Division 1-AA champion, has a bye.

“Maffei Madness” will resume with a final poll after the San Diego Section playoffs.

HAPPY TRAILS, COACH

Chris Hauser was placed on administrative leave after four games and eventually retired as head coach at Mission Hills, leaving a career record of 210-89-2, and a winning percentage of .699.  DJ Zapata serves as interim coach and has a 5-1 record heading into  the playoff against Cathedral.

Hauser has the 11th most wins of any coach in San Diego County history.  His teams at Vista and Mission Hills won or tied for 12 league championships and reached the San Diego Section championship game seven times, winning two.

MAFFEI MADNESS

John Maffei’s The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 11 poll:
Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. *First-place votes. Previous rankings in (italics).
NR–Not ranked. MaxPreps, Cal Preps, and Cal-Hi Sports are state rankings.

RANK	TEAM/RECORD	POINTS	MAX PREPS	CAL PREPS	CAL-HI SPORTS
1.	Mission Hills (9-1) 18*	277 (1)	8 (14)	58.7 (58.4)	12 (14
2.	Cathedral (8-2) 9*	263 (2)	13 (14)	47.5 (47)	15 (19)
3.	La Costa Canyon (9-1) 3*	246(3)	10 (10)	57.1 (51.5)	13 (12)
4.	Lincoln (8-2)	213 (4)	20 (11)	50.8 (50)	20 (17)
5.	Carlsbad (9-1)	177 (5)	12 (12)	53.7 (53.6)	19 (24)
6.	Granite Hills (7-3)	146 (6)	24 (29)	44.9 (44.8)	39 (40)
7.	Point Loma (10-0)	127 (7)	38 (51)	48.5 (48)	46 (43)
8.	San Marcos (6-4)	81(8)	27 (31)	42.6 (42.2)	On Bubble (On Bubble)
9.	Oceanside (6-4)	44 (10))	40 (42)	35.2 (34.1)	NR (NR)
10.	Mount Miguel (7-3)	43 (9)	37 (50)	36.4 (36)	NR (NR)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Santa Fe Christian (10-0, 13 points), Holtville (9-1, 4), Mission Bay (10-0, 4), Rancho Bernardo (8-2, 4)

VOTING PANEL

Twenty-nine sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators from the San Diego Section, plus Max Preps:

• John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Donald Ray Norcross, Kevin Farmer, Rick Hoff, Steve Brand (Union-Tribune correspondents)
• Joe Heinz, Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez (San Diego Section)
• Brandon Stone, Allison Edwards, John Carroll, Chase Izidoro (KUSI-TV)
• Rick Smith (partletonsports.com)
• Braden Suprenant (93.7 FM “The Fan”)
• Mike Dolan (Coaching Legends)
• Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference)
• Joe Evangelist, Rex Johnson, Bruce Ward (CIF Advisory Committee)
• Raymond Brown (sdsports.net)
• Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association)
• Bodie DeSilva, John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Thomas Gutierrez, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

 

Baseball and track and field continued to feel the effects of the World War II with shorter seasons and limited participation.

Teachers and students were answering the call from Uncle Sam and leaving for the military.  Allied forces continued to fight fierce battles in Europe and the Pacific.

No official count of the number of baseball games were played, but practice games and nonleague encounters sometimes went unreported or weren’t published by the shrinking staffs of The San Diego Union, Evening Tribune, and The Daily Journal.

San Diego, Hoover, and Sweetwater tied for first in Victory League baseball, each with a 3-1 league record.  Track and field managed to complete a full season with a combined championship day for the Southern Section and Los Angeles City Section.

The sections competed separately before a crowd of about 15,000 in the L.A. Coliseum.

The war took a historic turn in Europe, with D-Day and the Normandy invasion, thirteen days after the final track meet.

(Bold type for Track, Light for Baseball)

 4/2/44

San Diego defeated Hoover, 57 2/3-46 1/3, in a dual meet that did not count in Victory League competition. 

Ralph Phillips of the Hillers won the 100-yard dash in :10.1 and 220 in :23.1.  Sophomore Norman Stocks won the 440 in :52.2 and anchored a 1:35 victory in the 880-yard relay.

Vocational dropped a 5-1 decision at Golden Hill Playground to the San Diego junior varsity, whose Luis Urquidi had five hits in five times at bat.

4/4/44

Jack Harshman collected four of San Diego’s 10 hits but the Hillers were beaten by the Coast Guard base team, 11-4, at Golden Hill.

4/5/44

The Point Loma varsity combined two hits, two errors and a walk for three runs, and defeated the San Diego High JV, 4-2.

4/11/44

Hoover dropped a 7-1 decision to the visiting Camp Kearny Marines.

—Byron Ward homered and his triple scored Don Sparling in the 10^th inning as Sweetwater outlasted Camp Miramar, 6-5, on the Red Devils’ diamond.

4/13/44

Lee Singleton’s single scored Tom Maheras and George Caswell in the first inning and that was enough as host Hoover beat Point Loma, 4-0, in a Victory League opening game.

The Cardinals rolled behind the four-hit pitching of Dick Barnes, who struck out 11 and didn’t allow a base runner after the fourth inning.

4/14/44

San Diego scored 6 runs each in the first and second innings and pounded out 14 hits in an 18-0 execution of Vocational on the Balboa Stadium diamond.

—The Fort Rosecrans team bunched two-base hits in the sixth inning at Hoover and defeated the Cardinals, 1-0.

Grossmont’s James Wood won the 70-yard high hurdles, next to last event of the meet, in :10 and the Foothillers dominated the field events to edge San Diego, which won all races on the track, 54-50.

—Hoover was a 52 ½-50 ½ winner over La Jolla and led the Victory League with a 5-0 record, followed by Grossmont and San Diego, each 4-1.  Top mark was the 21-foot, 6 ½-inch broad jump by the Cardinals’ Jack Norberg.

4/18/44

Victor Salazar scored from second base on a fly-ball out by Carl Goodwalt and San Diego defeated Fort Rosecrans, 5-4, in Balboa Stadium.

Bud Andrews and Bob Marr each won two events and La Jolla topped Sweetwater, 66 ½-37 ½.  Grossmont beat Point Loma, 62-42.

4/21/44

Hoover (6-0) swept the broad jump and shot put and took four other first places plus a tie for first to clinch a tie for the Victory League dual meet championship, 55 ½-48 ½, over San Diego (4-2) on the Cardinals’ oval.

Thirty-two combined base hits and 10 combined errors later San Diego stood 2-0 in the Victory League after a 16-11 victory at Point Loma.

The Hilltoppers struck 21 base hits and put the game away with a five-run seventh inning.

4/25/44

Three Sweetwater pitchers, Castro, Johnson, and Don Sparling held Point Loma to three hits and Sweetwater made the most of eight hits to score an 8-0 victory on the Pointers’ diamond.

4/26/44

Charlie Harris gave up four runs but survived a seventh-inning uprising as Point Loma defeated the San Diego Electric Railway team, 9-4.

(The Electric Railway operated in San Diego from 1892 until 1949, when trolley cars gave way to buses and the continually expanding use of automobiles).

—Hoover capitalized on singles by Tom Maheras and Don Brorson, a walk to Lee Singleton, and a wild pitch in the sixth inning propelling the Cardinals to a 2-0 victory over a team identified as Kearny Ship’s Company and not affiliated with Kearny High.

4/28/44

Outhit, 10-7, San Diego took advantage of 11 Sweetwater errors to score a 13-7 victory on the Red Devils’ diamond.

—John Brody struck out 15 and St. Augustine scored six runs in the fifth inning en route to a 10-7 win at Point Loma.

—Idle Hoover backed into its second straight Victory League dual meet championship when coach Dave Rebd’s Cardinals rested and La Jolla went to the foothills and defeated Grossmont (5-2), 60 ½-43 ½.

The Cardinals (6-0) had one meet remaining, versus Coronado the following week.

—San Diego won 10 of 11 events, routing Kearny, 92-11.  Ted Simpson won the 880 in 2:09, Norman Stocks the 440 in :52.6, and Pasqual Buono the pole vault, clearing 11 feet, 4 inches.

—Bob Seiben won the 440, broad jump and 220 low hurdles but didn’t get much help as Point Loma topped Sweetwater, 67-37.

4/30/44

The city’s Civil War was five days away and coaches Bob Breitbard (Hoover) and John Brose (San Diego) were setting their lineups for the three-game series that would not count in Victory League standings.

San Diego, Hoover, and Sweetwater were tied for first in the abbreviated campaign.

5/2/44

Hoover closed a 7-0 dual meet season with a 92-11 victory over Coronado that was its 14th in a row since 1943.  Jack Norberg was a triple winner, :09.8 70-yard high hurdles, :13.5 120 lows, and 21-4 ½ broad ump.

Runners-up in the standings were San Diego, Grossmont, and La Jolla, each 5-2, while Grossmont (7-0) swept Classes B and C.

—Hoover’s Dick Barnes and Marty Gaughan combined to pitch the first perfect game in Victory League history, 7-0 over Vocational on Golden Hill Playground.

Barnes pitched the first three innings and Gaughan the last six, striking out 8 and walking one.  Lee Singleton and Frank Smith each had two hits and drove in three runs.

5/4/44

Al Smith allowed six hits but Point Loma committed eight errors and dropped a 6-4 decision to the Camp Kearny Liberators on the Pointers’ diamond.

5/5/44

Carl Hurlbach kept Hoover in check on five hits and benefitted from a San Diego attack that scored nine runs in the final three innings for a 13-5 victory in the first of the best-of-three City series at Hoover.

A five-run ninth against Cardinals pitchers Bill Ruzich and Marty Gaughan highlighted by Louie Dukes’ two-run double clinched the win.

5/6/44

VICTORY LEAGUE FINALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

San Diego won the team championship with 36 points, followed by La Jolla, which had 28, and Hoover 18½.  Grossmont had 18 1/6, Sweetwater, 13 1/3, Coronado 11, Point Loma, 3, and Kearny, 1.

Jack Norberg of Hoover was the individual star with 13 points, winning the 120-yard low hurdles in :13.3 and broad jump at 20 feet, 10 inches, and placing second to the :09.3 by Don Nelson of Grossmont in the 70-yard high hurdles.

San Diego’s two first places were the :53.1 440 by Norman Stocks and the 5-11 3/8 high jump that tied Ivan Robinson with La Jolla’s Don Ide.

Ray Turnipseed of Coronado was a double sprint winner, running the 100 in :10.2 and 220 in :22.7.

La Jolla’s Bob Marr, Phil Prather, Bob Faniel, and Bud Andrews raced to a season-best 1:32 in the 880-yard relay.

5/19/44

Lefthander Bill Ruzich stopped San Diego on three hits and Hoover, scoring three runs each in the eighth and ninth innings, evened the City series at one win apiece, 6-1, in Balboa Stadium.

—Don Sparling singled, doubled and tripled and Bob Rinkleib drove in four runs, and Sweetwater hammered visiting Point Loma, 15-2.

Jack Norberg of Hoover ran :15.8 in the 120-yard high hurdles and :25.2 in the 220 lows at Sweetwater to qualify for those events in the May 27 CIF Southern Section championships in Los Angeles.

Norberg and other Victory League athletes did not run the highs or the longer-distance race during the  season, instead competing in the 70-yard highs and 120 lows.

Don Nelson of Grossmont and Bob Marr of La Jolla also qualified for the CIF meet.

5/24/44

The venue for a rare, wartime night game was Lane Field and San Diego clinched the City series with its second win in three games over Hoover, 18-11.

Jack Harshman had four hits, including a home-run with the bases loaded in an eight-run sixth inning, to lead the Hilltoppers, who trailed, 8-1, after the Cardinals scored six in the fourth inning.

Harshman also had a double and two singles and the Hillers were ahead, 18-7, after seven innings.

Dick Barnes hit a bases-empty home run in the ninth for Hoover.

5/26/44

—Don Nelson was a surprise winner and the only local gold medalist in Class A when the Grossmont hurdler won at 220 yards in :24.9 in front of a crowd of approximately 15,000 persons in the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Southern and L.A. City Sections combined their championships for a total of 66 events in Classes A, B, and C.

CLASS A MEDALISTS

—Ray Turnipseed of Coronado, third in the 100-yard dash to the winning :09.7 and tied for second to the winning :21.4 in the 220.

—Jack Norberg, Hoover, third to the winning :15.8 in the 120-yard high hurdles.

—Ivan Robinson, San Diego, third at 5-11 in the high jump to the winning 6-1 ¾. Don Ide, La Jolla, tied for fifth at 5-8.

—Don Nelson, Grossmont, first in the 220-yard low hurdles in :24.9.

—Gilbert Martin, Grossmont, fourth in the shot put at 47 feet, 7 3/8 inches to the winning 52-6 1/2.

—La Jolla, fifth in the 880-yard relay to the winning 1:31.2.

Inglewood outscored Beverly Hills, 23-22, for the team championship. La Jolla was fourth with 9 ½.

 

Looking Back: The narrative originally was posted on June 9, 2014.

As far back as early season 1989, Morse coach John Shacklett was able to smile through a 2-2 start and a forfeit win, supported by a belief that the best was yet to come.

This was after the Tigers had defeated Orange Glen, 31-28, for the 1988 3-A championship and not about the potential of the team that would reach the 3-A finals again in 1989 before losing, 21-7, to Rancho Buena Vista.

Shacklett was thinking further ahead, to 1990, and to Teddy Lawrence’s senior season.

Built around the explosive running and passing of Lawrence and junior running back Gary Taylor, Morse returned 29 lettermen and 18 players who started at least one game in 1989.

Rancho Buena Vista, El Camino, Helix, Mira Mesa, Chula Vista, Orange Glen, Oceanside, and Kearny also would be formidable. Morse met five of those teams, but only George Ohnessorgen’s Chula Vista Spartans came within a touchdown, in the 3-A semifinal.

Did this group of gifted players gathered on the 28-year-old campus at 69^th Street and Skyline Drive represent the all-time, No. 1 San Diego County team?

—Better than the 1916 San Diego High mythical national championship squad?

—Better than the 1955 Cavers national champions?

—Better than the 1985 state No. 1 Vista juggernaut?

—Or some of the Oceanside, Vista, Rancho Buena Vista, and El Camino teams that reflected the population explosion and increased talent pools in the 1970s and ‘80s in the North County?

—Not to mention Birt Slater’s 1963 Kearny Komets; any of a number of Duane Maley’s other San Diego High clubs; the Helix teams coached by Jim Arnaiz and Gordon Wood, or the Sweetwaters of David Lay and Gene Alim?

The Tigers built a case for themselves, game by game, beginning in Hawaii Aug. 26.

MORSE 55, @ HONOLULU PUNAHOU 15.

Barack Obama’s alma mater, a storied program on the islands, was no match. Teddy Lawrence rushed for 206 yards in six carries and scored on runs of 85, 42, and 67 yards and passed for touchdowns of 65, 11, and 36 yards.

A couple weeks later Punahou defeated St. Louis, Hawaii’s No. 1 team.

MORSE 28, RANCHO BUENA VISTA 14, @Mesa College

A headline read, “Taylor Runs Morse to 28-14 Upset”. It was the last time Morse would be associated with the word upset.

The Tigers were  clearly superior.

Gary Taylor burst for 234 yards in the first half, scoring on runs of 75, 85, and eight yards as Morse avenged the 1989 championship loss.

“I was surprised how easily we were able to get outside on them,” said Shacklett, who, not pleased, added, “We self-destructed with penalties.”

MORSE 56, @SWEETWATER 28

Pundits suggested the Tigers would be flat after their big victory and Sweetwater, featuring Willie Branch, who ran for 226 yards in a 25-0 victory over Crawford, was waiting.

Branch returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and the Red Devils’ home crowd of 5,500 exploded.

Branch’s brother, Danny, rushed 71 yards for a touchdown on Sweetwater’s first offensive play and Willie Branch ran 96 yards with another kickoff.

But Morse found  its stride and ran away from the hosts.  Gary Clark had 262 yards in 19 carries and matched Willie Branch’s three touchdowns.

“I thought we were in for it (after Branch’s opening kickoff return),” said Shacklett, “but our offensive line wore ‘em down.”

MORSE 57, @VISTA 14

“I’m real pleased with our first four ball games,” Shacklett said.

Really?

Morse had just hit Dick Haines with the most lopsided defeat in Haines’ 21 seasons and 226 games as the Panthers’ head coach. The only more decisive loss for Vista was a 46-0 blowout by Tustin in 1946, a span of 433 games.

Gary Taylor rushed for 5 touchdowns and 177 yards and Conan Smith for 104 yards and 1 touchdown.

MORSE 44, LINCOLN 6, @MESA COLLEGE

After a 26-10 loss to Lincoln in 1989, Shacklett ordered the Tiger paws logo removed from the team’s helmets.

The paws reappeared briefly in the 1989 playoffs but permanence was going to be determined by what happened in the neighborhood fling with the Hornets.

Usually overshadowed by the offense, the Tigers’ defense decided the game with three first-half pass interceptions that led to touchdowns.

“The defense gets it all going,” said safety Tommy Bennett.

MORSE 57, @KEARNY, 6

At 5-0 and ranked seventh in the The San Diego Union poll, Kearny expected to be in the game.

Wide receiver Darnay Scott, who would go on to a solid NFL career, operated on the same offensive level as Morse’s big hitters.

Scott was regarded by some as the section’s top college prospect but went scoreless and caught  two passes for 15 yards.

“During (pregame) exercises they would point at us,” said Teddy Lawrence.  “We wanted to score on every possession after that.”

“I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t tell you I’m surprised at how easily we’re scoring,” Shacklett told writer Steve Brand.  “You look up and boom….”

MORSE 60, SERRA 8

Gary Taylor raced 67 yards for a touchdown on Morse’s first play.  He added three others and rushed for 274 yards in 17 carries.

MORSE 40, @POINT LOMA 13

A matchup of the state’s No. 3 and No. 10 teams doesn’t occur often during the regular season, but here was Point Loma adding temporary seating to augment the concrete bleachers at Ross Field.

The game was such that Wayne Lockwood, The San Diego Union columnist, covered his first high school game in years.

Morse was 7-0, averaging 50.3 points, while Point Loma was 6-0, holding a win over powerful El Camino and having surrendered only 27 points.

“I think we have as good a chance as they do to win,” Point Loma coach Bennie Edens told Steve Brand.  ”We’ll move the ball, they’ll move the ball.  There will be no 0-0 tie.”

Morse moved to a 26-0 lead at halftime.  Point Loma fought back, closing to 26-13 and battling on defense.

“They were hitting hard,” said Lawrence.  “Those Glover brothers (La’Roi and Darcell) are good.”

But just as soon as the Pointers caught the Tigers’ scent it was over.  Lawrence passed to Tommy Bennett for a touchdown and ran 29 yards for another.

“They shot down the option,” Shacklett said of the Point Loma defense, “so we tried to get Teddy into the open field.”

Lawrence scored on a 59-yard dash on a trap play and got off a couple punts on bad snaps that could have changed the game’s complexion.

MORSE 57, PATRICK HENRY 13

Another Taylor, Gary’s twin brother, Cary, caught a 35-yard touchdown pass.   Gary scored three touchdowns and running mate Conan Smith scored two.

MORSE 35, @MIRA MESA 14                                                        

Jose Villalana added his fifth point after Morse’s final touchdown, which made for a nice evening’s work for the kicker, but the point had greater significance.

The Tigers passed the 1954 Vallejo team that featured future NFL star Dick Bass as the state’s highest scoring team in the regular season, according to Cal-Hi Sports.

Morse now had 489 points, one more than Vallejo, although the Tigers needed 10 games and the Apaches did it in nine.

MORSE 49, GRANITE HILLS 6, @SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE

It was 42-0 at halftime in this first-round playoff, at which point Shacklett reined in the offense.  Morse’s sometimes skittish defense intercepted four passes as the Tigers went to 11-0 and the Eagles to 4-7.

MORSE 48, VISTA 14, @SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE

Vista manned up, successfully executing an on-side kickoff to start the game, then hitting on a 41-yard pass and scoring on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.

Revamping their attack after their early-season loss, the Panthers went to the air 24 times. They recovered another on-side kick to start the third quarter and closed to 28-13, but Tommy Bennett intercepted a pass and Gary Taylor ran 66 yards for a touchdown.

Vista’s decision to promote its passing game was reflected in its rushing game:  22 attempts, 0 yards.

MORSE 35, CHULA VISTA 28, @SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE

“I thought we had ‘em,”  Spartans coach George Ohnessorgen dejectedly remarked to Buster Olney of The San Diego Union.

The battle-tested Tigers had to fight back after trailing, 28-13, at halftime amid a slew of turnovers and three Spartans touchdowns in three minutes.

“I was scared at halftime, but I knew we could pull it out,” said Lawrence, who fumbled two times and had three interceptions in the first 24 minutes as fog and a roaring Chula Vista crowd engulfed the stadium at Southwestern College.

But it was Lawrence’s 44-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that finally beat the charged Spartans, who still were coming in the final minute.

A Morse defensive back fell down covering Neviett Richardson, who took a pass over the middle from Brandon Gregg and raced to  the Tigers’ five-yard line. But a Spartan was flagged for clipping  a Morse defender on the play, nullifying the gain.

Morse had survived a barnburner.

MORSE 28, ORANGE GLEN 7, @JACK MURPHY

Teddy Lawrence‘s 99-yard kickoff return turned a 7-7 tie into an eventual walkaway and another championship, Shacklett’s third.

Lawrence’s 71 yards in 12 carries allowed him to meet a 100-attempts  minimum  for section record consideration. His 101 carries for the season averaged 13.79 yards, breaking Markeith Ross’ 11-man record of 10.83 in 1989.

Gary Taylor’s 2,625 yards rushing broke the 1988 record of 2,568 by Rancho Buena Vista’s Scott Garcia.

Morse’s 649 points and 46.3 scoring average set a state record, topping the 639 of the Southern Section’s Diamond Bar in 1984.

POLLS

La Jolla Country Day, led by Rashaan Salaam’s 51 touchdowns and 314 points, was Cal-Hi Sports’ 8-man team of the year.

Morse finished second to Merced, which was  13-0 and the Sac-Joaquin Section champion.

The Merced Bears were located only 70 miles from headquarters of Cal-Hi Sports, which was located in Stockton in the middle of the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Morse was No.1 in Southern California and No. 4 in the country as selected by USA Today.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER?

Several Tigers received Division I scholarships, but only one played in the NFL and he was undrafted. Safety Tommy Bennett signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals out of UCLA and played six seasons.

Other Tigers who went D-1: Teddy Lawrence, UCLA; Cary and Gary Taylor, Arizona; Kevin Nolan (Purdue), John Moe (Navy), Donnie Rich (Fresno State), and Danny Williams (Fresno State).

Lawrence was a three-year starter at defensive back for the Bruins but was released in training camp by the NFL Baltimore Ravens.

FALCON TAKES FLIGHT

Torrey Pines, coached by Bob Davis and quarterbacked by his son, Chad, wanted to put the ball in the air.

Chad set San Diego Section records with 55 attempts and 35 completions for 365 yards, the sixth highest total since records began being kept in 1960. All of that offensive airpower was to no avail.  The Falcons dropped a 21-9 decision at Sacramento-area Elk Grove.

BEWARE, WOLVES

West Hills, which sustained a 65-8 loss to Grossmont in the Wolf Pack’s 1989 inaugural season, improved from 3-7 to 9-3, won the Grossmont AA title, and defeated the Foothillers, 16-14.

The Wolf Pack’s Nathan Vail toed three field goals, including a 30-yarder with 30 seconds remaining to bring West Hills from behind to victory.

MARINERS SUNK

Mar Vista, down to 12 active players, forfeited its last two games to bottom out at 1-9.  Fifteen players had been declared academically ineligible and three others were removed because of disciplinary reasons.

Athletic director Pat O’Neil blamed the season’s academic disintegration on the fact that not one of the varsity coaches worked or taught at the school.

“I think it’s very difficult to keep on the kids to find out how they’re doing if you aren’t on campus,” O’Neill told writer Buster Olney.

O’Neill pointed out that “it’s hard to communicate with the other teachers.  The teachers are gone by 3 (p.m.) and the coaches get here at 3:30.”

The problem was not new and would not go away.

STARS APLENTY

Morse’s collective power was matched by individual standouts throughout the section.

–Kearny receiver Darnay Scott became a No. 2 draft choice of Cincinnati and caught 408 passes in an eight-season career with the Bengals and Dallas.

–Hoover quarterback Tony Banks played nine seasons with St. Louis, Baltimore, and Houston after being the Rams’ second-round draft choice in 1996.

–La Jolla tackle John  Michels played four seasons in the NFL and was a No. 1 pick of the Green Bay Packers out of USC. Michels made the NFL all-rookie team but his career was cut short by knee injuries.

–Rashaan Salaam went on to the Colorado University and won the Heisman Trophy.  He was a first-round selection of the Chicago Bears.

–Junior defensive tackle La’Roi Glover, who had 17.5 quarterback sacks, was a fifth-round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders out of San Diego State,  played 13 seasons, and made 6 Pro Bowls.

–Point Loma wideout J.J. Stokes was the 10th player selected in the first round out of UCLA to the San Francisco 49ers.

–Chula Vista ‘s Donnie Edwards was a standout at UCLA, drafted in the fourth round by Kansas City, and played 13 seasons with the Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

–Markeith Ross of Rancho Buena Vista set a career rushing record of 4,486 yards  and, like Rashaan Salaam, scored seven touchdowns in one game.

–Running back-linebacker Wayne Pittman of Mira Mesa  probably was the best two-way player in the Section, his mind each day on his dad, who was deployed in the Gulf war.

NORTH COUNTY POWER

Want to be a high school coach and qualify for the postseason?  Become a coach in the Avocado or Palomar leagues.

Twelve teams, six from each circuit, earned AAA or AA playoff berths. Vista, Torrey Pines, Fallbrook, Vista, Mt. Carmel, and Orange Glen were in the AAA bracket and San Marcos, Carlsbad, Ramona, Oceanside, El Camino, and Escondido were in the AA alignment.

Castle Park (5-5) did not attend the seeding meeting, which eased the way for 5-5 Fallbrook.

PLAYING AND FILMING

He would become the head coach at Grossmont years later, but for now Tom Karlo was the Foothillers’ quarterback and an occasional  sideline photo assistant at NFL games.

Karlo’s dad, Tom, Sr., was a sideline cameraman at NFL games for NFL Films..

THE PROPHET MEYER

After El Camino was shut out, 19-0, by Point Loma in the season opener, ending the Wildcats’ 12 game winning streak, Herb Meyer spoke:

“We’ve done this before and survived.  It wasn’t as much as what they did as what we didn’t do.   This isn’t the best Point Loma team I’ve seen, but they kicked our butts.  We’ll put it behind us and move on.”

The Wildcats lost three of their next four, then ran the table with 9 straight wins to a 10-4 record and the Section AA title, 26-7 over Kearny.

Point Loma was beaten by Rancho Buena Vista, 27-12, in the playoff quarterfinals and finished with a 9-2 record.

RUSHING RASHAAN

In a season in which he played six eight-man and five 11-man games, La Jolla Country Day’s Rashaan set an 11-man record when he ran for seven touchdowns as the Torreys crushed Marian, 68-0.

Salaam didn’t play favorites.  He scored seven more in a 65-37 repeat win over The Bishop’s in the eight-man championship.

For the season, Salaam had 51 touchdowns and eight, two-point conversions in 11 games for  322 points.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

A population of 2.2 million persons was predicted in San Diego County, up about 500,000 from 1980.  The figure, released by the U.S. Census Bureau, represented a 22 per cent increase over the previous 10 years.

SAFE HARBOR

St. Augustine, Coronado, Clairemont, Christian, and Marian joined forces as football-playing members of the  AA Harbor League, which was created in 1989 with this season as the target date for football.

The schools essentially were too large for 1A classification and too small for AAA.

The move was Coronado’s sixth  in 17 years.  The Islanders were longtime members of the Metropolitan League before joining the short-lived Coast League in 1973.  They bounced back to  the Metropolitan ’77,  moved to  the South Bay in ’81,  and, for the previous two seasons, was an independent.

TRUE GRID

Southwest’s Riley Washington scored 23 touchdowns in 11 games but was more known for his record-setting, :10.3 100 meters in spring track and the state championship…Serra celebrated the first night game at the Tierrasanta school campus, then took a 28-6 loss from St. Augustine…University’s quarterback was Michael Henning, son of Chargers coach Dan Henning…Rancho Bernardo picked a difficult opponent for its inaugural game…the first-year Broncos lost to Orange County’s Rancho Santa Margarita, 27-0…Randy Walker stepped in at quarterback for Lincoln and led the Hornets to 4 wins in their final 5 regular-season games and into the playoffs after an 0-5 start, the Hornets’ poorest in school history…Lincoln was eliminated by La Jolla, 14-13…Vista coach Dick Haines stuck with Eric Jencks through an 0-5 start and Jencks guided the Panthers to 6 wins in a row including a playoff victory before a 48-14 loss to Morse….

 

Looking Back:  The narrative originally was posted on Nov. 25, 2018. 

Walton’s and Helix’ historic season, game by game, with quotes and attributions by and to Bill Center of The San Diego Union:

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1969.

HELIX 74, MADISON 60.

Mike Dupree scored 28 and Walton 24, off-setting a 30-point performance by Dave Smith, whose Warhawks were down, 57-36, in the third quarter.

Thursday, Dec 4, 1969

HELIX 78, MORSE 49

Leading only 32-25 at halftime, the Highlanders unleashed a withering, 27-6 third quarter.  Walton scored 30, Dupree 22.

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1969.

HELIX 78, LINCOLN 56

The well-regarded, Eastern League Hornets were in the game, trailing at halftime, 33-27, but fell behind, 54-37, and never got closer.

One blowout and near blowout, and a cruise against three of the city’s best s

Friday, Dec. 12, 1969

HELIX 90, HILLTOP 53.

Walton still was growing, now listed in local newspapers as 6 feet, 10 ½ inches.  He was 10×12 from the field, retrieved 20 missed shots, and scored 24 points.  Dupree was 11×15 from the field and scored 25.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 1969

HELIX 92, CASTLE PARK 60.

“That was the first time we haven’t seen a zone (defense),” Helix coach Gordon Nash said after Walton had torched Castle Park with 46 points (18×21 from the field) and pulled down 28 rebounds.  “They used a man-to-man defense and we worked the ball into Bill.  He got a lot of points off the offensive boards but was doing well from anywhere.”

Nash added that he didn’t think the Highlanders would “see many more man-to-mans.”

Walton broke the school scoring record of 44 points, set by Jim (Bones) Bowers in the 1959-60 season.

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1969

HELIX 78, CHULA VISTA 43

Another good team taken apart.   The Scots led, 72-28, when Walton, Dupree and the other starters departed early in the fourth quarter.

“We were so concerned with what Walton could do that we forgot what we could do,” said Spartans coach Bob Korzep.

“I can’t say whether or not they will be undefeated this year, but I do know that as long as the big kid’s in the middle I’m not betting against them,” said Korzep.

Chula Vista would get closer later but still fall short.

KIWANIS TOURNAMENT

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1969

HELIX 76, PATRICK HENRY 43

The score was 43-18 at the half and 59-26 after three quarters.  Walton scored 36 points and eight others made the box score.

Friday, Dec. 19, 1969

HELIX 89, EL CAJON VALLEY 56

Ten players scored, led by Walton’s 30 and Dupree’s 17. John Singer, who came off the bench for six points, would become a legendary Helix basketball coach.

Saturday, Dec. 20, 1969

HELIX 87, MADISON 65

Walton’s 35 gave him 101 in three games, threatening the Kiwanis record of 120 in four games by Granite Hills’ Bob Lundgren in 1962 and equaled by El Capitan’s Blaine Bundy in 1966.

The Scots led, 39-34, at the half and 61-42 after three quarters, and essentially traded hoops with the Warhawks in a 26-23 last quarter.

The win was Helix’ 25^th in a row over two seasons, leaving them 10 behind Mount Miguel’s County record.

Monday, Dec. 22, 1969

HELIX 89, SAN DIEGO 45

“We will try a couple new things,” said San Diego High coach Pete Colonelli, who replaced Bill Standly and whose Cavemen carried a 9-2 record into the Unlimited Division final in Peterson Gym.  Tipoff was late, 9:15 p.m. after late-running consolation bracket games.

Helix savaged the Cavers with a 19-0 run after a 16-16 first quarter.  Walton took a seat with 3:08 remaining in the game after scoring 31 points and hauling in 31 rebounds.

Bill Center’s game story pointed out that “when Helix was running wild (in the second quarter), Walton had 6 points and 11 rebounds in four minutes.”  Dupree was the usual target for Walton’s outlet passes and scored 25.

Walton finished the tournament with 132 points, which would have been the record but Madison’s Dave Smith had 149.

COVINA TOURNAMENT

Friday, Dec. 26, 1969

HELIX 90, RANCHO CUCAMONGA ALTA LOMA 35

Back in the eras of Bob Divine and Bob Speidel, Helix coaches often filled the post-Christmas week by taking the team to the Fillmore Tournament in Ventura County.  Gordon Nash this year opted for Covina, one of the nation’s leading events and requiring the champion to win 5 games.

A 22-0 run in the third quarter was just part of the wreckage of Alta Loma. Helix led the Braves, 26-5, 50-11, and 77-14, at various junctures. Walton scored 24, Dupree 16, and Mike Honz and Race (Butch) Paddock, 10 each.

Saturday, Dec. 27, 1969

HELIX 72, MONTEBELLO 48

Walton had 31 points and Dupree 15 for 12 wins in a row this season and 28 consecutive over the last two seasons.

Monday, Dec. 29, 1969

HELIX 92, EL MONTE ARROYO 57

Shock!  Helix trailed, 35-31, at the half.

Awe! The Scots’ full-court press drummed the Knights into submission. They outscored  their opponents, 61-22, in the second half.  Walton contributed 26 points and 22 rebounds. Dupree added 20 points and Mike Honz 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1969

HELIX 71, LONG BEACH MILLIKAN 49

This victory may have been the most significant of the Walton era.

The Millikan Rams compiled a 28-3 record and won the Southern Section major championship over Monrovia, 68-37, after knocking out 26-0 Santa Barbara, which featured Walton’s future UCLA teammate and NBA star Keith Wilkes, in the semifinals, 64-49.

Millikan’s other losses were to Inglewood Morningside, 69-63, and Long Beach Wilson, 70-61.

Wrote Ken Pivernetz of the Long Beach Press-Telegram:  “Millikan committed 20 turnovers, scored only twice off the fast break, and was without the full service of (6-5 ½) all-City player Dave Frost, who twisted a muscle in his back and played only half the game.”

Pivernetz gave Walton mild praise.

“The talented Walton, the best prep player in the Border City, intimidated the Rams at times, by blocking eight shots, grabbing 23 rebounds, and scoring a game high 22 points.

After an 11-11 first quarter, Helix led, 32-27, at the half and blew it open with a 20-6 third quarter.

Dupree had 19 points and Randy Madsen 10.

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1969

HELIX 110, PASADENA 68

Bill Center recounted from colleague Steve Bisheff an exchange between UCLA assistant coach Denny Crum and Crum’s boss, Bruins head coach John Wooden, after Crum returned from Helix’ tournament championship.

Crum:  “I just saw the greatest high school player I’ve ever seen.”

Wooden, looking over his spectacles:  “Better than Lewis (Alcindor)?”

Crum:  “Yeah.”

Wooden: “Keep your voice down and close the door.”

Comparisons to Alcindor, almost unthinkable, were spoken in private, in hushed tones.

Alcindor, who had changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, arguably was the greatest collegiate player of all-time and the leader of the Bruins’ three consecutive, recent national championship teams.

Walton, whose older brother Bruce was on campus and playing for the Bruins’ football team, had been on Wooden’s radar, but the coach wanted to hear more from Crum, who would carve his own, legendary coaching career at the University of Louisville.

Walton dismantled the 12-2 Pasadena Bulldogs with 50 points, 34 rebounds, and nine blocked shots. He made 18 of 24 shots from the floor and converted 14 of 16 free throw attempts. Dupree added 24 points.

It was 29-10 after one quarter, 51-28 at the half, 78-45 after three, followed by a 32-23 final eight minutes of garbage time.

The Highlanders did not press as they opened their 19-point lead in the first quarter. Coach Gordon Nash left Walton and the rest of the starting five in the game until the final 1:25.

Walton would “go national”, earning an item in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.”

I also “owed” the Helix senior $50, which was what Eleanor Milosovic, the magazine’s director of correspondents, paid me for nominating Walton as a candidate for the publication’s weekly feature.

Walton had scored 451 points and was averaging 30.1.  Helix had an 83.7 team average and was holding its opponents to 52.2.

Helix stood 15-0 and had won 31 in a row as the calendar turned to January.

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1970

GROSSMONT LEAGUE

HELIX 67, MONTE VISTA 61

The visiting Monarchs, who, at 2-10, had stunned the Scots, 58-52, the previous season, came into the game with an 11-2 record and brought the game to Helix, double- and triple-teaming Walton as Helix struggled to put the game away.  The Highlanders finally broke it open in the fourth quarter, stretching a 51-44 lead to 67-55.

“They forced us into a lot of mistakes and we didn’t play very well,” said Nash, who was not enamored of the officiating around the basket.

“They (officials) watch what takes place in the air, but not what happens with the body,” said Nash. “Billy was manhandled out there pretty good.”

Despite the Monarchs’ physical approach, Walton scored 31 points and took down 22 rebounds.  Mike Dupree added 14 points and Mike Honz 11.

Friday, Jan. 10, 1970

HELIX 68, EL CAPITAN 44

Guards Steve and Wade Vickery kept the ball outside the key much of the game, inviting a Helix press which effectively nullified the Vaqueros, who trailed only 12-7 at the end of the first quarter.  Walton had 21 points, Dupree 17, and Randy Madsen 10.

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1970

HELIX 86. EL CAJON VALLEY 49

“We won’t hold the ball or slow the game down, but we’ve got a couple things up our sleeve that we’ll try to work,” said El Cajon Valley coach Jack Lasley.

The Braves worked hard to muscle Walton away from the basket and twice knocked him to the floor (Walton slightly turned his ankle the second time, bringing gasps from Helix partisans).

Walton had 20 points in 23 minutes and 30 seconds.  He also had 22 rebounds and nine blocked shots.  Dupree followed with 19 points, Madsen 17, and Honz 14, plus 18 rebounds, as Helix enjoyed a 61-24 advantage on the boards.

“No one I know is going to beat them,” said the El Cajon Valley coach, who added that “defensively he intimidated us to the extent we wouldn’t run anything.”

Friday, Jan. 16, 1970

HELIX 97, GROSSMONT 74.

The Highlanders tied Mount Miguel’s County record of 35 wins in a row with their 19^th straight this season behind Walton’s 37 points and 24 rebounds.  Mike Dupree, 12×22 from the floor, added 27 points as the Highlanders shot 58 per cent.

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1970

HELIX 89, GRANITE HILLS 32

Dupree scored 28 points while Walton had a season low 15 as Helix began with a 20-6, first-quarter, led, 71-23, after three, and set a County record with win No. 36 in a row.

Friday, Jan. 23, 1970

HELIX 93, MOUNT MIGUEL 61

The winning numbers now read 21 for the season and 37 overall. Walton scored 41 points and three others were in double figures.

John Slater, son of Kearny High football coach Birt Slater, led the Matadors with 21.  Mount Miguel was a shadow of its great team of 1967-68, 1-5 in league play and 2-14 overall.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1970

HELIX 81, SANTANA 47

Walton still was feeling the effects of an apparent week-long stretch of flu but hammered the 14-6 Sultans with 32 points on 13×15 shooting, 21 rebounds and eight blocked shots.   Mike Honz had 15 rebounds and Helix blocked 17 Sultans field-goal attempts.

“I thought if we could hit forty per cent today we’d beat ‘em,” said Santana coach Tom Curran.  The Sultans were 22×82 for 27 per cent.

Friday, Jan. 30, 1970

HELIX 94, MONTE VISTA 51

Perhaps aroused by its fairly close call in the league opener, the Scots knocked down 15 of their first 20 shots, creating a 33-11 first-quarter lead. Twenty-two points came on point-blank layups.  Four field goals were ignited by Walton’s outlet passes to either Mike Dupree, who matched Walton’s 26 points, or to Dan Coleman, who had a season high 14. Mike Honz added 14.

The Monarchs, another good Grossmont League squad, fell to 15-6.

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1970

HELIX 93, EL CAPITAN 49.

Now listed at 6-feet-11 in most newspaper articles, Walton scored 30 and Helix eased to its 40^th win in a row.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 1970

HELIX 102, EL CAJON VALLEY 72

Imagine, scoring in the seventies, more than any other Highlanders opponent, and still losing by 30 points.  That was the fate of Jack Lasley’s Braves.  Walton led the way with 29, followed by Dupree’s 22, Honz’ 21, and Coleman’s 15.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1970

HELIX 104, GROSSMONT 48

Walton scored 31 points for a season total of 764, moving past Crawford’s Larry Blum (737 in 1962-63) into second place all-time, 10 points below the mark set by Kearny’s Wilburn Strong in 1968-69. Honz (19), Coleman (15), Dupree (13), and Madsen (12) also got into the action.

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1970

HELIX 107, GRANITE HILLS 44

Helix had 52 points at the half, enough to win.  Walton’s 34 points gave him 798, a County record.  Helix won its 43^rd in a row and 27^th this season.  Honz added 19 and Dupree 15.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1970

HELIX 127, MOUNT MIGUEL 31

Nash’s starters stayed in long enough to score 119 points, led by Dupree’s career high 43. Walton had 24 and Coleman sniped for a career high 22.  Madsen contributed 16 and Honz 14.

The single-game scoring record for large schools had been Mount Miguel’s 121 against Santana in 1967-68.  Marian held the overall record with 124 against San Marcos in 1966-67.

Perhaps most illuminating was Mount Miguel’s sudden fall from the top.  It was the Matadors who doled out this kind of punishment two seasons before.

Transfers of convenience to favored teams were not common.  Coaches took the hand they were dealt.

Mount Miguel’s cupboard was bare.

Friday, Feb. 20, 1970

HELIX 94, SANTANA 58

Domination indeed…a 36-point win over a team that was 11-2 in league play and 19-8 overall. The scoring order:  Walton, 30, Dupree, 18, Honz, 16.

The Scots finished the regular season with a 29-0 record and with a winning streak of 45.   The 29 victories was a County record.  San Diego had set the standard when it posted a 28-6 record in 1946-47.

CIF PLAYOFFS

“This is a very good team and our record proves it,” Walton said.  “One player couldn’t account for the season we’ve had. If we’d made a lot of mistakes we’d lose, but I don’t think we will.  When one player is going bad someone else jumps in and we’re pretty deep.”

Walton described Dupree and Madsen as “two of the best guards around” and with Mike Honz and Butch Paddock “no one is stronger at forward.”

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1970

HELIX 109, EL CAJON VALLEY 47.

Thirteen players scored and the Highlanders broke the single-game playoff record that Grossmont had set in a 93-36 win over Julian the previous season.  A 48-29 halftime lead was followed by a scalding, 30-5 third quarter.  Mike Dupree led with 23, followed by Walton (21), Dan Coleman (16), and Mike Honz (15).

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1970

HELIX 92, HILLTOP 60

The quarterfinals victory on the Metropolitan League team’s floor was Helix’ 31^st of the season and 47^th in a row.  Walton “settled” for 21 points, “missed several layups and once was called for goal tending.”  Honz, Dupree, and Madsen had 20, 15, and 12 respectively.

Friday, Feb. 27, 1970

HELIX 75, CASTLE PARK 54

The Midway district Sports Arena was host for the semifinals and finals and the Highlanders seemingly breezed, leading, 55-35, after three quarters, but the Trojans, led by husky Elias Delgadillo, who had 21 points, played the Helix starters almost evenly in a 20-19 fourth quarter.

Walton scored on seven consecutive possessions and blocked five shots in the last eight minutes.  He finished with 33 points and 23 rebounds as a crowd of 5,789 looked on.

Saturday, Feb. 28, 1970

HELIX 70, CHULA VISTA 56

Walton’s 31 points, despite converting only three of 11 free throws, and his 31 rebounds reaffirmed for the turnout of 6,451 persons that they were witnessing a player and team that might never be matched in the San Diego area.

“It’s been a long season, especially for the players,” said Coach Gordon Nash.  “Thirty-three games is an awful lot.  But there will never be another year like this one.  I don’t think there will be another player like Billy for some time.”

“For the time being I’m going to relax,” said Walton.  “I’m a little tired and I want to take it easy.”

Monday, March 2, 1970

“He proved a big man can make a team great if he sacrificed personal gains,” said Nash in Bill Center’s post mortem.  “Billy could have scored a lot more. Everyone knows that.  But he sacrificed and he did it without any second thought that I know of.”

“I’m going to miss playing for Helix,” said Walton.  “At the end of the year I started to realize totally how great it was.”

UCLA would welcome this player who set records of 29 points a game (957) and 22.4 rebounds (739) and the Bruins would continue ruling college basketball as had Helix this unforgettable season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Back:  The narrative originally was posted on Nov. 5, 2012.

Hoover’s Eddie Crain (31) set up Hoover touchdown before being brought down from behind by San Diego’s Everett Posey (36). No. 21 in all-white helmet is Cardinals’ Bennie Edens.

The most important letter in the alphabet was V.

World War II was nearing the halfway point.  The dark days of early 1942 were receding and Victory, while not in sight, would come.

V had become a symbol, visible everywhere throughout the country. There were hundreds of references, from military training programs (V-12), to graphics on sporting event tickets, to the ultimate goal of V-E (Victory in Europe) and V-J (Victory in Japan).

School honchos in San Diego had created the Victory League and put the Metropolitan League on hiatus just weeks before the start of the 1942-43 basketball season.

The move was part of the wide-ranging war effort that would extend until Victory was achieved.

Football followed this season.

LONG TRIP

The Metropolitan League stretched more than 40 miles, from National City (Sweetwater) to Oceanside and Escondido.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governed sports in Southern California, invoked a limit of 6 scheduled games and a  travel distance of 15 miles.

The travel mileage restriction seemed to have some leeway, but there was no travel outside teams’ league reaches.

The Northern San Diego County schools were aligned in what the CIF called the Group 12 League, comprising Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, Army-Navy, San Dieguito, and Ramona.

St. Augustine and Brown Military were members of the Group 12  but played a limited schedule and their games did not count in the standings.

The season did not start until October and ended in late November.  There would be no Southern California playoffs.

A smaller, travel-safer, and more manageable high school football world was important, as was fuel and rubber conservation.

The players also contributed to the war effort.  Many left school during the season, before graduation, and answered a call from Uncle Sam.

ADDRESSES CHANGE, AGAIN

San Diego and Hoover were in a different league for the fourth consecutive year.

They left the Coast League, which the Cavers had help found and were members of from 1923-40, as the CIF experimented with a 17-school “Major Conference” in 1941.

With the war on and travel an issue, the Cavers and Cardinals split into two squads each and became part of a 11-team Metropolitan Conference in 1942.

The Cavers and Cardinals each dressed out one squad as part of 1943’s seven-member Victory, which also included Grossmont, Sweetwater, Point Loma, La Jolla, and Coronado.

There were 18 high schools in the County, but only 15 played football.  Julian would not field a team until 1967.  Fallbrook had suspended play in 1942 and there is no published record of Mountain Empire’s fielding a squad.

CARNIVAL PICKS UP TEAMS

The fifth annual carnival, which featured only city schools San Diego, Hoover, Point Loma, and La Jolla since 1939, took in all seven teams in the second-year Victory League, adding Sweetwater, Coronado, and Grossmont.

Another change in the format was elimination of the second half kickoff.  Play was to resume at  spot of the ball when the second quarter ended.

The East, consisting of Sweetwater, Coronado, Grossmont, and Hoover scored a 19-0 victory over the West.

Sweetwater and Hoover each scored touchdowns against  San Diego and Coronado reached the end zone on La Jolla.  Big plays included the Islanders’ George Massek intercepting a lateral and returning 50 yards for a touchdown and a Hoover touchdown passing strike from Bob Paramore to Bob Kynaston that went 65 yards.

CARDINALS  FLY

Raleigh Holt, who began his coaching career in the Imperial Valley and who turned out outstanding cross-country and track teams for three decades at Hoover, guided the Cardinals to a 5-0-1 record and the Victory League title.

Holt, assisted by former Cardinals lineman Bob Breitbard, relied on a meat-and-potatoes attack that featured  Eddie Crain, Gene Ricard, Julius Kahn, Freddie Espy, Frank Smith, and Bob Paramore.

Crain scored on runs of 14, 35, and 1 yard and completed the only pass (for a touchdown) Hoover attempted in a 40-13 victory over Coronado the week before the Cardinals met San Diego in the 11^th annual rivalry game for city bragging rights and the league championship.

Bill Bailey had moved from Point Loma to San Diego, replacing Joe Beerkle, who went into administration and became principal at Memorial Junior High.

Beerkle had advocated the  T formation introduced by coach Clark Shaugnessy at Stanford University and which was hailed as the difference in Stanford’s 1941 Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska.

Bailey, assistant to Charlie Wilson  several years at Point Loma, led the Pointers to a 6-1-2 record in 1942, and then brought his single-wing attack to San Diego.

Formations and modes of attack were taking a back seat.

CAVERS LOW IN NUMBERS

Bailey facetiously told Bob Lantz of The San Diego Union that he considered suiting up a tackling dummy, his team was so short-handed.

Of more import to the San Diego coach, pass-catching Everett Posey, who  missed a week of practice,  would be available for the Hoover game.  Posey had received his induction notice and reported to Fort McArthur in Long Beach.

Another Caver, junior halfback Sam Balesteri would be playing his final game.  He was awaiting a call from the military.

SMALLEST TURNOUT

A crowd of 9,000, representing the lowest attendance in the history of the game, saw the Cardinals strike with a third-quarter, 84-yard drive in six plays to score the game’s only touchdown in a 7-3 victory.

Crain and Espy collaborated on a 45-yard touchdown pass.  Guard Frank Smith toed the point after.

The Cavers had taken a 3-0 lead in the second quarter on Neal Black’s 23-yard field goal, the first such placement in the series.

Hoover was fighting off a threat at game’s end.

Sam Balesteri’s  passing had moved the Hillers 63 yards but they came up short. Harlan Davenport caught a pass from Balestreri and was tackled on Hoover’s four-yard line. The game ended before another play could be run.

HONORS

Single wing quarterback (actually, blocking back) Al Sawaya of San Diego earned a CIF Southern Section first-team honor. Second team choices were La Jolla quarterback Ed Teagle, San Diego tackle Ralph McCormick, and Coronado center John Ludwig. Hoover tackle Dick Chase made the third team.  Another third-team selection was Compton’s  Ed Snider, later known as Duke, the slugging Brooklyn Dodgers outfieder.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Mayor Harley Knox told the Carlsbad Rotary that, for the first time in generations, San Diego was ready to abandon dumping in the bay and that Harbor Drive, bordering the bay from Point Loma to Chula Vista was almost complete.

Knox also said that the city had asked the government for 13,000 more new housing units.  Previous construction of 13,000 units of government housing mostly was occupied by aircraft plant workers.

TRUE GRID

Coach Dick Rutherford’s Oceanside-Carlsbad Pirates, behind quarterback and future Fallbrook coach Al Waibel,  swept the CIF Group 12 League with a 6-0 record…the Pirates defeated  host Escondido 31-6 in a  showdown which drew a record crowd of 3,000 persons to the inland community…newspapers’ accounts variously identified Oceanside, Army-Navy, Escondido, Vista, Ramona, and San Dieguito as representing the CIF County League, CIF Northern County League, or the CIF Northern Victory League….about 8,000 servicemen, students, and a few fans watched the fifth annual carnival…San Diego got it coming and going in the Carnival, surrendering touchdowns to Sweetwater in the first quarter and to Hoover in the fourth…Coronado scored the East’s other touchdown against La Jolla…Point Loma-La Jolla matched two graduates of an Imperial Valley shuttle…La Jolla’s Larry Hanson was head coach at El Centro Central and Point Loma’s Bill Maxwell was Hanson’s assistant in 1938 and ’39 …Hanson went on to coach the nationally-recognized, often-100-point Los Angeles Jefferson basketball teams in the 1950s…tailback Larry Purdy of Point Loma was son of the Pointers coach of the same name in 1929-30…after 8 consecutive losses dating to 1915, Sweetwater’s Leroy Jackson returned an intercepted pass 65 yards with 40 seconds remaining in the game to give the Red Devils their first victory, 6-0, over San Diego…Grossmont saved all its points for a 26-0 victory over St. Augustine…the Foothillers did not score a point in six Victory League games….

There would be no state meet for the fourth consecutive year and the Southern California Divisional and Finals, highlights of the season, were financially inconvenient or unattractive to some schools with San Diego connections.

Wartime shortages, away from the battlefields.

Only El Centro Central from the Imperial Valley and Army-Navy and Escondido from the Southern League, representing a total of 22 athletes, continued competing after their league meets.

The lack of outside participation opened the door for fourth-place finishers from each event in the Victory League finals, mandated by CIF commissioner Seth Van Patten.  Three qualifiers from league meets throughout Southern California was the general rule.

HIGHER

Victory League coaches voted to continue the 70-yard high hurdles through the league finals and then go to the 120-yard high hurdles in the Southern Section Divisional meet at San Diego State.

San Diego State had a straightaway long enough to accommodate the longer hurdle test. The CIF finals at Ontario Chaffey would be of 120 yards and the 120-yard lows would be contested at 220 yards.

The high hurdles had been 42 inches from 1915-38, when the CIF went to 39 inches for the 120 yards. Victory League schools opted for 70 yards during the war years.  Beginning in 1946 the 220-yard lows, 30 inches high, would reduce to 180 yards at CIF meets.

4/3/45

Bob Marr was first in the 440 in :54 and 120-yard high hurdles in :15.7, and George Pinnell hurled the shot 45-2 in host La Jolla’s 79 ½-24 ½ win over Brown Military.

—San Dieguito outscored Escondido, 63-54, in a hexangular track meet on the Mustangs’ track.

Instead of a dual (2) or triangular (3), the six Southern League schools competed in a dual meet format.

Army-Navy had 33 3/5 points, trailed by Ramona, 9 ½, Vista, 8, and Fallbrook 7.

Football star and future coach Bob (Chick) Embrey scored 16 points for Escondido.  Bill Dawson had 14 for San Dieguito.

—Tom Powell’s :10.2 win in the 100-yard dash stood out in San Diego’s 90 ½-13 ½ rout of Sweetwater.  Grossmont punished Kearny, 97-7, and La Jolla walloped Coronado 87 ½-16 ½.

4/6/45

Earl Caldwell tied the school record of :09.2 in the 70-yard high hurdles and Lloyd Schuneman won the 880 in 2:07.1 as Hoover won its 15^th consecutive dual meet, 53 ½-50 ½, over visiting Point Loma.

The Cardinals had not lost since a 69 ½-34 ½ defeat to San Diego in 1942.

4/7/45

Bob Marr won the 120-yard high hurdles in :16, 220 low hurdles in :25.4, and anchored a 1:35.4 victory in the 880-yard relay as La Jolla swept small school honors in the 24^th Southern Counties’ Invitational at Huntington Beach High.

Don Ide of La Jolla won the high jump at 6 feet, 1 inch, Dave Hough the 220 in :22.8, and George Pinnell the shot put at 48 feet.

The Vikings scored 32 points, outdistancing Huntington Beach (19) and Bonita (14). El Monte won the large school championship with 29 points.  Grossmont scored 19 and San Diego 12. Hoover did not participate.

Norman Stocks of San Diego won a 440 race in :52.5. Grossmont’s Jim Madden claimed the mile in 4:42.2, and teammate Gilbert Martin the shot put at 48-6 1/8.

4/10/45

Earl Caldwell again equaled his school record of :09.2 in the 70-yard high hurdles and won the 120-yard low hurdles in :14.4 as Hoover defeated Coronado, 86-18.

4/13/45

Norman Stocks of San Diego ran the 440 in :50.1, fastest time in Southern California since 1943, leading the Hilltoppers past Coronado, 85-18.

Stocks, who also won the 100 (:10.4) and broad jump (20-2 ½), bettered a 1944 effort of :50.7 by Jeff Lawson of North Hollywood.

—Hoover set a league record with a 99-5 win over Kearny.  The Cardinals would have to wait until 1954 to equal the record in a 99-4 win over just-getting-started Lincoln.

—Sweetwater’s Wally Hartin took the County lead with a :13.7 clocking in the 120 low hurdles but Sweetwater fell to Point Loma, 62-42.

4/17/45

Grossmont defeated guest Hoover, 69 1/3-34 2/3, ending the Cardinals’ streak of 17 consecutive dual meet victories.

Foothillers shot putter Gilbert Martin set a school record of 51 feet, 1 inch, bettering his record of 50-7, set in 1944. Duane Close posted a Grossmont record of :53 in the 440.

—Harry West ran the 120-yard low hurdles in :13.2, setting a San Diego High record and tying the Southern Section record.

Norman Stocks was a triple winner in the Hilltoppers’ 78-26 win over Point Loma, :10 in the 100, :51.8 in the 440, and 20-4 ½ in the broad jump.

4/26/45

San Diego won its sixth straight dual meet and was first in 7 of 12 events in a 62-42 win over Grossmont in Balboa Stadium.  Top mark was the 4:44.5 mile by the visitors’ Larry Boerner.

The Hillers’ B and C squads also were victorious, ending the Foothillers’ streak of 25 wins in a row in B and 24 wins in a row in C.

Coach Jack Mashin’s lightweight teams had a combined record of 93-9 in dual meets since 1939.

5/3/45

San Diego finished with a 7-0 dual-meet record after an 80 ½-23 1/2, victory over Hoover that ended the Victory League dual-meet season.

Norman Stocks scored 16 ½ points for coach Bill Patten’s Hilltoppers, winning the 100 in :10, 440 in :51, broad jump (21-6 ¾), and anchoring a 1:32 victory in the 880-yard relay.

Hoover’s Earl Caldwell cleared the 70-yard high hurdles in a school-record :09.0, and bettered the meet record of :09.2 by San Diego’s Ed Pohl in 1942.

5/11/45

VICTORY LEAGUE TRIALS, @SAN DIEGO STATE

Norman Stocks bettered his meet record of :53.1 with a :53 effort in the 440.

Chuck Holloway of San Diego set a record of :22.3 in the 220 and Charles Whitmarsh of Hoover set a record at :22.4 220 in Class B.  Sweetwater’s Wally Hartin broad jumped to a B record of 20-6.

San Diego’s Bobby Smith, who would go on to compete on the international stage, pole vaulted 11-6 for a Class C record. Joe Page of Grossmont tied a record with a 5-9 high jump.

5/12/45

VICTORY LEAGUE FINALS, @SAN DIEGO STATE

Eighteen league records were set in the three classes as Grossmont won team championships in varsity and Class C, sandwiched around a San Diego team title in Class B.

San Diego’s Norman Stocks ran :50.3 in the 440, Lloyd Schuneman of Hoover 2:01.7 in the 880, and Jim Madden of Grossmont 4:40.3 in the mile.

Other Class A records:

—Gilbert Martin, Grossmont, 48-10 ½ shot put.

—Ray Oyos, Grossmont, 20-10 ½ broad jump.

—Don Ide, La Jolla, 6-0 high jump.

–San Diego, 880-yard relay, 1:31.5.

San Diego coach Bill Patten addressed CIF qualifiers (top, from left) Norman Stocks, Harry Taylor, Harold Landis, (bottom, from left) Howard Sutliff, John Holloway, Joe Acevedo, Ted Simpson.

5/19/45

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISIONAL, @SAN DIEGO STATE

Don Ide of La Jolla high jumped 6 feet, 2 inches, and Gilbert Martin of Grossmont put the shot 50-3 ½.

Earl Caldwell of Hoover ran :15.5 in the 120-yard high hurdles and Bob Marr clocked :25.4 in the 220 lows. Favored Jim Madden was forced to withdraw from the mile after sustaining cramps. Madden’ teammate Larry Boerner won the race in 4:44.8, nosing out Ted Simpson of San Diego.

San Diego led in scoring with 52 points.  Grossmont followed with 41.  La Jolla had 31, Hoover 14, Army-Navy 8, Point Loma 7, El Centro Central 6, Sweetwater 5, and apparently Brawley, a surprise entry, 4.

5/26/45

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS, @ONTARIO CHAFFEY

Norman Stocks won the 440 in :50.2, claiming the only Gold Medal among the 44 San Diego and Imperial Valley athletes entered in the three classes.

San Diego High finished with 12 points, tying for fourth place with Beverly Hills.  Glendale Hoover won the team title with 34 points.  El Monte had 17 and Inglewood 16.

Stocks was fifth in the 100, won by George Pasquali of Glendale Hoover in :10.1, a time indicative of the meet’s overall subpar performances.

Lloyd Schuneman of Hoover was second to a 2:01.9-winning 880, Gilbert Martin of Grossmont third and Joe Acevedo of San Diego fifth to a 49-2 1/8-winning shot put;

Earl Caldwell of Hoover was fifth to a :15.4-winning 120-yard high hurdles, Don Ide of La Jolla, second to a 6-1/2 winning high jump, and the San Diego relay team, second to Glendale Hoover’s 1:31.4.

Ted Simpson of San Diego, fourth in the Victory League final but elevated to the CIF meets, was fifth in the mile, won in 4:38.2.

Two Army-Navy runners, in the Class A 440 and C 660, also elevated in the fourth-place decree by CIF commissioner Seth Van Patten, did not place.