Rain Forces Rescheduling of Two Prep Playoff Games

Heavy rain Friday forced the postponement of two CIF Southern Section playoff football games, which will be made up tonight at 7:30. In the Big Five Conference, top-seeded Bishop Amat will play Marina at Westminster Field, and fourth-seeded El Modena will play Capistrano Valley at the Cougars’ field.

Dick Enright, Capistrano Valley Coach, said Friday that his field was unplayable because it was under water and the drainage system was plugged. But that didn’t seem to deter El Modena Coach Bob Lester, who would have preferred to have played the game Friday night, regardless of the rain.

“I told them I wanted to play, but if I had a quarterback like theirs, I might look for a day off, too,” Lester said. “Their vaunted passing attack isn’t gonna be too swift in the water, so I knew it was coming.”

Lester was referring to Cougar quarterback Scott Stark, who has passed for 2,986 yards and 29 touchdowns to set the Orange County single-season passing record while leading Capistrano Valley to a 9-1-1 record.

Stark also has two of Orange County’s best receivers in Nathan Call, who has caught 70 passes for 904 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Todd Beightol, who has 64 receptions for 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Enright maintained that his passing game had nothing to do with the decision.

“That didn’t enter in my mind,” he said. “We would have played it if we could, but the field was in real bad condition.”

The Vanguards (10-1) will be led by running back Ross Bauer, who has rushed for 1,627 yards and 22 touchdowns this year, and quarterback Chris Gallego, who has passed for 1,480 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The field at Westminster Stadium, site of the Bishop Amat-Marina game, was probably playable, but Dave Thompson, Viking coach, said that the sidelines were under water. Westminster also was having trouble with its drainage system.

“It wasn’t a tough decision to make,” Thompson said.

Don Markham, Bishop Amat coach, wasn’t disappointed. “I always figure whatever happens, happens for the best,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me one way or another.”

The Lancers (11-0) opened the playoffs last week with a 27-10 victory over Lakewood. Marina, the Sunset League co-champion with a 7-3-1 record, beat San Gorgonio, 27-23, in the first round.

In a game originally scheduled for tonight, Artesia (8-3) will play La Habra (9-2) in a Central Conference quarterfinal at La Habra Stadium. The Pioneers knocked off favored La Mirada two weeks ago to win a share of the Suburban League title and opened the playoffs last week with a 30-18 victory over Los Amigos.

The third-seeded Highlanders, Freeway League champions, opened the tournament with a 33-0 win over Brea-Olinda. La Habra has had an outstanding running attack all season with 5-foot 8-inch, 200-pound Chuck Weatherspoon, who has gained 1,608 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 167 carries this year.

But against Brea, the Highlanders also mixed in a formidable passing attack with 5-9 sophomore quarterback Matt Shackelford. Shackelford completed 11 of 20 attempts for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns and also ran for a fourth score.