SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL FINALS : Fontana Aims for Another Perfect Ending

It will be an all-Citrus Belt League final when Fontana, the top-rated team in the state, plays San Gorgonio of San Bernardino, in tonight’s Southern Section Division I high school football championship game at 7:30 at Anaheim Stadium.

A month ago, Fontana seemed invincible with its undefeated record and dominating defense. The Steelers had recorded five shutouts in winning 10 consecutive games going into their last Citrus Belt League game against San Gorgonio.

Since then, the Steelers have shown some vulnerability, starting with their hard-fought, 30-22 victory over San Gorgonio. The Steelers had to come from behind to defeat Huntington Beach Edison, 48-35, in last week’s semifinals.

Against Edison, the Steelers gave up more passing yards to quarterback Donnie Smith--288--and more rushing yards to tailback Shane Sherman--146--than they had yielded to any team this season.

The Steelers must cope with San Gorgonio’s Ron Rivers, who rushed for 115 yards in 18 carries in their first meeting. In the playoffs, Rivers has been almost unstoppable, rushing for 219 yards in the Spartans’ 14-6 victory over Long Beach Poly and for 128 yards and three touchdowns in their 21-12 semifinal win over Los Angeles Loyola.

A key player for Fontana will be Samita Vaoifi, a senior two-way starter at linebacker and running back. Vaoifi has emerged as one of the most talented players in Southern California. Against Edison, he scored four touchdowns while rushing for 245 yards in only 12 carries, including a tiebreaking 14-yard run with 50 seconds left in the game.

For the second time in the last three years, Fontana will be taking a 13-0 record into a Southern Section final. In 1987, Fontana defeated Fountain Valley, 21-0, to earn its first sectional title. Tonight’s appearance will be Fontana’s third in the final since 1984, when the Steelers lost to another Citrus Belt League rival, Riverside Poly, 27-7.

San Gorgonio is 10-3.

Other Southern Section Divisional finals:

DIVISION II

PASADENA MUIR vs. SANTA BARBARA, At Santa Barbara City College, Saturday Night at 7:30

Under first-year Coach John Tyree, Muir (11-1-1) will be making its first championship game appearance since the Mustangs won consecutive titles in 1985 and ’86. Muir defeated Thousand Oaks, 9-3, in overtime in the semifinals. Muir features an option attack, with quarterback Sedrick Thomas and running back Sam Williford, and a tough defense. However, the Mustangs will be without seven players, including two starters, who were declared academically ineligible Monday.

Santa Barbara (12-1) also went into overtime to reach the final with its controversial 28-27 semifinal victory over Canyon Country Canyon. The Dons needed a touchdown pass from Pancho Renteria to Derek Elbert on the disputed last play of regulation and a missed extra-point kick by Canyon in overtime.

DIVISION III

EL TORO vs. PARAMOUNT, At Cerritos College, Saturday Night at 7:30

El Toro (12-1) will try to win its third Southern Section title in the last four years under Coach Bob Johnson. The Chargers finished second in the tough South Coast League to Capistrano Valley and defeated league rival Mission Viejo, 28-27, in overtime in last week’s semifinals.

Paramount (12-1) is the defending divisional champion, having defeated Los Alamitos, 30-20, in last year’s final. The Pirates are led by quarterback Jack Manu, last season’s divisional player of the year, and tailback Leon Neal, who has rushed for 1,539 yards with 17 touchdowns. Paramount defeated Capistrano Valley, 36-35, in overtime on a two-point conversion pass from Manu to Neal.

DIVISION IV

RIVERSIDE RAMONA vs. GLENDORA, At Citrus College, Saturday Night at 7:30

Even though Ramona (9-3-1) was unseeded at the start, the Rams have breezed through the playoffs, including a 54-12 victory over top-seeded Hacienda Heights Wilson. Glendora (12-1) will make its first appearance in a Southern Section final, with quarterback J.J. O’Laughlin leading the way. The Tartans defeated La Puente Nogales, 27-12, in the semifinals.

DIVISION V

MORENO VALLEY CANYON SPRINGS, at CORONA, Tonight at 7:30

Canyon Springs (12-1), the defending champion, is led by running back Eric Zomalt. The Cougars face a Corona team they defeated, 34-12, in their regular-season Mountain View League game. However, Corona (9-4) is on a playoff roll, having beaten previously undefeated and top-seeded Norco, 28-14, in the semifinals.

DIVISION VI

CORONA DEL MAR vs. LA QUINTA, At Orange Coast College, Tonight at 7:30

Defending champion Corona Del Mar (10-3), which finished fourth in the Sea View League and was a wild-card team going into the playoffs, has again flourished in postseason play by outscoring its three opponents, 47-0. La Quinta (9-4) is led by quarterback Richard Weaver, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 243 yards in the Aztecs’ 20-7 semifinal win over La Mirada.

DIVISION VII

LOMPOC vs. GARDENA SERRA, At El Camino College, Saturday Night at 7:30

This is the most awaited game of the season between teams that have dominated their opponents in going undefeated. Lompoc (13-0) has averaged 39.1 points a game behind the running of Napolean Kaufman, who has rushed for 2,035 yards. He has scored 35 touchdowns and accounted for 212 points overall. Serra (13-0) has outscored opponents by an average of 29.1 points a game.

DIVISION VIII

ORANGE vs. MISSION VIEJO TRABUCO HILLS, At Santa Ana Stadium, Tonight at 7:30

First-year Coach Tom Meiss has directed Orange (10-2-1) into its first Southern Section final since 1929. The Panthers are led by junior running back Brian Remmel, who rushed for 280 yards and scored three touchdowns in Orange’s 35-24 semifinal win over Agoura. Trabuco Hills (12-1), seeking its second consecutive division championship, is led by quarterback Tim Manning and running back Ben Rooker.

DIVISION IX

TEHACHAPI vs. CARPINTERIA, At San Marcos High School, Tonight at 8

For the third consecutive year, Tehachapi (12-1) will meet Carpinteria (12-1) for the divisional title, after last season’s 14-14 tie and Carpinteria’s 27-0 win in 1987. Both teams feature outstanding quarterbacks in Tehachapi’s Ryan Grimes and Coley Candaele of Carpinteria.