Clone of Bob Keisser

     The 2009 Long Beach football season ends Friday when La Mirada plays for the CIF Southern Division title against unbeaten Garden Grove, and its a opportunity for the proud Matadores to extend their legacy as one of the more consistent teams in the area.

     La Mirada has made the postseason every year since 1980, according to the school, and this will be its eighth time playing for a title---the last coming in 2001, and their only win coming in 1992.

     La Mirada reached the 1963 AAA Division final against St. Francis, losing 7-0; Central Division title in 1984, losing to Fullerton 17-7; and Division 8 final in 1992, where head coach John Mele and quarterback Mike Moschetti, now the Mats head coach, took the title with a 28-7 win over San Marino.

    The Matadores dropped finals in 1994 (Division 8) to Temesca Canyon, 34-21; 1997 (Division 8) to Laguna Hills, 56-14; 1998 (Division 9) to Mayfair, 28-14; and 2001 (Division 6) to Mayfair against, 22-9.

     Congrats go to Lakewood for reaching the Pac-5 semfinals for the second consecutive year and third time since 2004, and there's no shame in losing to the top-ranked team all season, Edison., When you realize that Lakewood lost 13 consecutive first round games between 1985 and 2003, it's no small achievement.

     It would have been fun to relfect on the 1970 CIF title game between the Lancers and Bishop Amat. The unsung Lancers met a team featuring Pat Haden and J.K. McKay and were tied at 17 at the end of regulation, Bishop Amat winning the tiebreaker, which back then was a series of alternating possessions.

    Likewise, it would have been extra cool to see La Mirada face Suburban League colleague Norwalk in the Southern finals, Norwalk has now reached the semifinals two straight years after a long drought, and their Wing-T offense is a lot of fun to watch.

    Good luck to La Mirada Friday.

    Next season, look for Lakewood, Poly and Wilson to be the top of the Moore League and another Suburban free-for-all with La Mirada, Norwalk, Dominguez and Mayfair.

     Last week, Wilson pushed back against Lakewood for a half before the Lancers gathered themselves for the win. Friday, they did the same against Mission Viejo before a 41-14 Diablos win in the first round of the playoffs.

    Mario Morales used a new-look offensive set on their first drive and the defense has MV's offense on its heels. But Wilson's lack-of-depth---too many two-way players---and two fumbles by Ezell Ruffin proved to be the difference.

    What Wilson did learn was that they have a bonafide quarterback the next two years in Brett Harper. The soph had several big plays and will only get better. Kicker Alex Boy will also be back.

     Downey played a tough non-league schedule and opened up 2-0 in San Gabriel League play, and a year after a playoff berth, they seemed primed to repeat.

     But the Vikings have dropped two straight, to Dominguez and Friday in a very poor performance against Lynwood, and now would have to beat Warren and pray for the right combination of SGVL colleagues to lose for any shot. Quarterback Stephen Cervantes was erratic and the defense failed to wrap up Lynwood's running game. Most embarrassing was a series of personal fouls in the third quarter that was the result of frustration at the score.

     Lynwood was coming off losses to Gahr and Warren and have a roster of less than 30 players, but they used their team speed for the 35-10 win and likely secured a playoff berth. They're 5-4, a year after going 8-3-1 but having to rebuild parts of both units. Kudos to Mark Williams.

     Millikan's sizzling 35-34 overtime win over Poly a week ago left behind a somewhat predictable result: Extreme happiness for the Rams and then a letdown.

     Against a Lakewood team that plays within itself and has ample weapons, the Rams were unable to get untracked Friday night. Alden Darby is starting to show the wear and tear of doing everything for the Rams outside of lining the field before the game. He had a hard time finding lanes versus the Lancers and open targets downfield. Millikan had minus one yard net in the first half and 37 yards after three, and most of the yardage in the fourth quarter came on the ground, by Brian Malone, while Lakewood played prevent.

     Lakewood, meanwhile, showed why they're a contender for the Pac-5 title. Thadd McNeal's team has 23 played that gained eight or more yards, 15 of them for 11 yards or more. That doesn't include ample return yardage, either.

    Lakewood (5-0 in league) could clinch the Moore League title outright while relaxing next Friday. They have a bye, and a Wilson (3-1) is at Jordan, which beat Compton Friday with the return of Princeton Fuimaono to the Panthers lineup.

     It truly was one of the most entertaining games you'd ever want to see. Poly jumped out 14-0, Millikan scored 28 straight to lead 28-14, then Poly scored twice in the last half of the second half to draw even and send it into overtime.

     Tip of the cap to Millikan. Their game plan was sound and the Rams defense was absolutely determined to not let Poly do what Poly does best, overwhelm a team. It's especially so since Kirk Diego has a lot of two-way players, so these guys were gassed at game's end.

   And a tip of the chapeau to Raul Lara and the Jackrabbits coaching staff, for going for the win in the second OT rather than advance to a third. It really was to the benefit of all the players (and reporters with deadlines). The game last 3 hours, 35 minutes and I was worried about the health of the players. Kaelin Clay twisted an ankle, Cory Westbrook was running on pure adrenalin late, and Alden Darby was completely spent but found a way to throw the game-winning TD pass in OT.

Other notes:

---Millikan did not play Darby on defense much of the second half because they needed him so much on offense.

---Poly committed 20 penalties that cost them 190 yards. They committed just two on defense. Three were on special teams, all on returns that negated 92 yards. The offense committed 15---five holding penalties and four personal fouls (two of them excessive celebration, then last one leading to their blocked PAT for the win). An illegal shift on offense negated a 34-yard Westbrook run.

---Westbrook gained 190 yards on 33 rushes with three touchdowns, and also had three receptions for 23 yards. Clay had nine receptions for 178 yards. Chris Leachman was 13-of-24 for 221 yards but with four interceptions. Chaisye Hales was 2-of-4 for 30 yards and a pick.

---Poly netted 445 yards, Lakewood 205.

---Darby had 28 yards rushing on 21 carries. He had no net yards in the second half and Poly was catching him from behind on runs in the second half. He was 9-for-20 passing for 127 yards with one pick (a tip). He also had a kickoff return for 42 yards and an interception return for 45. He never flinched, however, and one has to believe his leadership---he's not going to be a quarterback in college---played a big role in Millikan's win and their season. If he isn't the Moore League MVP, then they shouldn't name one.

---Silver Vaifanua, a 5-8, 150 pound senior, gained 37 yards on five rushes with one TD, the TD run a 33-yard inside reverse; had four catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns, both catches on skinny post routes in the middle of Poly's zone; and two interceptions.

---Millikan's first TD came on a 4th-and-5. Their second was on 3rd-and-12. Their third was a one play, one yard drive after a blocked punt, and the fourth was a 48-yard drive with Vaifanua's 33-yard run the big chunk. And their game-winning OT touchdown was on 2nd-and-15.

---Millikan's picks were by Sam Taylor, Silver (two), Darby and Derek Mirales. Pedro Alvarez recovered a fumble, Lonnie Adams blocked a punt, and several hands were up on the blocked PAT.

     News: Los Angeles Dodgers are in a late-season tailspin we haven't seen the likes of since 1996.

     Muse: That was not a vintage year, and right now the '09 season is looking a lot like it did an unlucky 13 years ago.

     Then, the Dodgers held a lead in the N.L. West for most of the season, not as big as it was this September but similar in that they knew they were looking at the postseason. With four games left, they had virtually clinched a playoff spot and had a 2 1/2 game lead on the San Diego Padres for the division title.

     They played with little interest in those four games. They lost game 159 to the Giants, 6-1, then were swept by the Padres, 5-2, 5-4 and 2-0 in 11 innings, and wound up with the wild card. And then promptly were swept by Cincinnati in the National League Division series.

     They lost home field advantage in the process. In the season's final game, manager Bill Russell started ace Ramon Martinez but lifted him after an inning because he wanted him to start Game 1 of the NLDS. Chris Gwynn, the former Poly star, had a two run double in the 11th to win the game, and older brother and fellow Polyite Tony said beating the Dodgers to win the division, at Dodger Stadium, and on a hit by his brother, was one of the highlights of his Hall of Fame career.

     The Reds scored four runs off Martinez in Game 1 of the NLDS and won 7-2, broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth in a 5-4 Game 2 win, and then sent the Dodgers home with a 10-1 win in Game 3.

    The Dodgers haven't seemed interested in baseball for awhile. Manny Ramirez is still Manny being Manny---but only if his last name was Mota, and not vintage Manny Mota, but 61-year-old Manny Mota.

    Hate to see the season end in Dodger Blew.

     News: USC heads to Ohio State to face the Buckeyes with their lad at quarterback amid the show.

     Muse: I've been to a lot of big-time college stadiums, and Ohip State's concrete mass is far less intimidating than places like Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia or Tennessee, to name a few. Heck, I once found BYU's fan base unnerving, but chalked it up to Utah's reticence to sell liquor.

    So as long as Matt Barkley doesn't suddenly realize he's 18, and as long as USC brings its running game and speed on defense with them, I think they'll beat the Buckeyes. Plus, how do you take a program seriously whose mascot is a tree?

    News: UCLA faces Clockwork Orange.

    Muse: Now Neyland Stadium, that's a place where the locals can have an impact on an opponent. When I factor in UCLA still being a work in progress alongside last year's upset of the Vols and Lane Kiffin's ambition to make a statement, I see bad things for the Bruins. Even with the Vols at low ebb under Phil Fullmer, you know they have talent on their roster.

     News: South African runner Caster Semenya reportedly flunked her sex test.

     Muse: Flunk, as in proving that she's not all female. Wire reports say the test she took to please the track and field gods shows that she does not have ovaries and has internal male organs.  Tough situation for the runner and no one can say she's cheating.

     All I know is that Bud Selig would ignore the issue for five years and then blame the union.

    Oh, and Shawne Merriman would like an introduction.

    I'm here all week. Please tip your waitresses.

News: Richard Seymour, the fine Patriots defensive lineman who was traded last week, hasn't reported to his new team.

Muse: And can you blame him? He went from a team that's won Super Bowls and set records for wins to the Black Hole of the NFL, Oakland Raiders. He's still young enough to be productive for several more years, so why should he want to play for the worst franchise in football.

Plus, you never know in Oakland when the owner will try to fire you without pay or the head coach will take a swing at you.

Taking my vacation in August to put some space between me and the bidness before the prep season starts. I'll blog more often when I return and may even drop in from the underground if warranted. Thanks all

Bob K