THE BIG GAME/ USDHS-LA JOLLA : Dons Now Must Back Up Tough Talk

SAN DIEGO —  The USDHS Dons, forecasters of league championships and undefeated football seasons, will find out tonight how much their words are worth. Or how much they may have cost.

The No. 4 Dons, after smashing University City, 41-13, last week, boldly stated that they would be “shocked” if they did not win the City Western League championship and finish the regular season 10-0.

USDHS, however, clung to a 13-6 lead after a sloppy first half. And if the Dons’ 28-point second half was an indication that they had snapped out of a trance, their statements after proved that they were still a little delirious.

They still have to face defending co-champions Kearny and La Jolla. Both are 7-0. Fifth-ranked La Jolla is tonight’s opponent.

It is mystifying how USDHS might have overlooked this game.

The host Vikings have rented portable bleachers for what Coach Dick Huddleston is calling the biggest game of their lives. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

“I think it’s going to be one of the biggest crowds in La Jolla football history,” said Huddleston, who has been on staff 11 years and is 17-2-1 as the head coach. “I can’t ever remember a game with this kind of build-up in all my years here.”

USDHS and La Jolla not only rank among the county’s best teams, they rank among the top six in both offense and defense. The Vikings are third in offensive scoring (33.1 points per game) and sixth in defense (8.5). The Dons are fifth in offense (31.3), but third in defense (6.1).

Their styles on both sides of the ball are nearly identical; each team features one of the county’s premier running backs. La Jolla’s E.J. Watson (1,176 yards, 14 TDs) ranks third in the county in yards and has the highest rushing average at 10.1 yards per carry. USDHS’s Chris Lewis, running behind a big, experienced offensive line, ranks fourth in rushing with 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The game could decided by a turnover or one big play. With this kind of matchup, neither team should need extra incentive. But the Dons provided one anyway.

After their championship predictions hit the papers, USDHS Coach Ron Hamamoto has brought his players back to reality this week. The Vikings are so high for the game Huddleston said they’re “kind of floating.”

“It kind of fueled our fire,” said John Zuanich, La Jolla’s 6-foot-3, 200-pound flanker/free safety.

“Those guys got yelled at the first day in practice,” Dons right tackle Keith Miles said of the two teammates who made the bold statements. “That was coming off a little too cocky. This game’s going to be a fight.”

“You know, kids are kids,” Hamamoto said. “But when it comes out in the newspaper . . . I told them they have ballgame to go out and win.”

Zuanich and his teammates would like to comment, but . . .

“We have a little motto,” Huddleston said. “We keep our mouths shut and let our pads do the talking. We’ve had some good ballgames with Uni. They’re a disciplined team, and Ron Hamamoto does a good job. We’re ready to use our pads.”

Both coaches said the difference might not be the running backs, but the defenses, where the Dons’ Mike Maruccia and Zuanich stand out. Linebacker Maruccia had four sacks against University City. Zuanich is a bone-crushing hitter who also has eight touchdowns.

If this game goes to the wire, give the edge to La Jolla. Since Huddleston took over as coach in 1990, the Vikings have pulled out every tight contest, some in miracle fashion. They did it last week, overcoming a 19-12 deficit to beat Mira Mesa, 20-19, with a fourth-quarter safety and an Andy Anello-to-Trenell Bento touchdown pass with less than 30 seconds left.

By now, of course, the Dons must have been reminded of last year’s 24-23 loss to La Jolla, a game won on a 46-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining.

Barring a tie, the loser of this game will be 7-1 but possibly out of the picture for a Western League title. And with Kearny waiting in the wings, the magnitude of this game could be forgotten in a matter of days. Postgame interviews will be no occasion for bold predictions.

“Uni’s a great team,” said Zuanich. “For me, personally, this is going to be the toughest game I’ve played in.”