Football: Friday could be final game for St. Paul’s Marijon Ancich

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Win or lose, the final football game in the coaching career of Marijon Ancich of Santa Fe Springs St. Paul could be happening Friday against host Studio City Harvard-Westlake.

St. Paul is 6-3 overall but only 1-3 in the Mission League, and a fourth-place finish will likely mean the end of Ancich’s coaching career -- he is retiring when the season is over.

Ancich is the second-winningest football coach in Southern Section history and the second-winningest in state history with a record of 359-141-10. He has coached for 37 years at St. Paul, from 1961 to 1981, 1993 to 2005 and 2009 to now. He also coached at Tustin from 1984 to 1991.

There are four at-large spots in the Western Division, but third-place teams with a .500-or-better records get first consideration over fourth-place teams, making it difficult for St. Paul.

Whatever happens, Ancich has been a much-respected coach and mentor for players and assistants.

-- Eric Sondheimer