PREP FRIDAY: SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Division IX : Flames Traveled Long, Winding Road to Playoffs

Southern California Christian High School took a roundabout route to the Southern Section Division IX football playoffs.

The Flames travel to Carpinteria for their first-round game tonight at 7:30. But what a long, strange trip it’s been.

Until this summer, the Flames were a member of the Olympic League. Then Miraleste High School, which was scheduled to close, was forced to stay open when parents went to court and got an injunction.

Miraleste’s athletic program was spread over 5 leagues, with the football team landing in the Olympic League, a week before the season opened. However, that left the league with 1 too many teams. Someone had to go.

Welcome to the Arrowhead League, Southern California Christian.

“A year ago we asked the Southern Section if we could be moved from the Olympic League,” Southern California Christian Coach Rick Hayes said. “So when they had to have a spot (in the league), they thought of us first.”

One problem. The Arrowhead League didn’t want Southern California Christian.

“I think they realized it might cost one of their teams a playoff spot,” Hayes said. “So they voted that we would play their teams, but it wouldn’t count in the league standings.”

That left the Flames with freelance status. The only way they could make the playoffs would be to receive an at-large bid.

“I was worried about that, but the Southern Section told us if we won 70% of our games they would put us in the playoffs,” Hayes said.

So, the Flames went out and won 7 of 9 games. And their reward--Carpinteria.

Some reward. The Warriors (8-2), Tri-Valley League champions, have been a dominant team in the division for years.

This season, Carpinteria is seeded second.

The Warriors’ option offense is led by running back Jose Hernandez, who has rushed for 654 yards this season. Quarterback Coley Candale has thrown for more than 1,200 yards.

The defense has given up just 9.3 points per game.

“I guess we have to go for the upset right off the bat,” Hayes said. “They are definitely one of the favorites to win the division.”

Southern California Christian hasn’t played a game in 3 weeks, which concerns Hayes. The Flames will be without their best player, tight end Jason Parks, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Parks was quarterback Wade Bowe’s favorite receiver. Of Bowe’s 46 completions, 31 went to Parks for 683 yards.

The running game has become more prominent since Parks was injured against Capistrano Valley Christian 5 weeks ago. Tim Hertzler has 532 yards rushing, Bobby Wrangle 472 and Josh Carlson 250.

In another first-round game:

Marshall Fundamental (7-3) vs. Whittier Christian (8-2) at Whittier College, 7:30 p.m.--The third-seeded Heralds might have drawn the toughest game of the four seeded teams. Marshall Fundamental, the second-place team from the Alpha League, is strong offensively, averaging 29.2 points per game. The Eagles are led by running back Lester Gamble, who has 1,331 yards rushing and is averaging 13.1 yards per carry. He also has 18 touchdowns.

Whittier Christian is led by fullback Ron Papazian, who has 1,051 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. Tony Anneler has rushed for 754 yards and Scott Jordan has 516.