Lions prepared to pounce on sixth CIF section title

Friday night at Oaks Christian, the Lions' football team will look to make history.

OCHS can become the first Southern Section team to win six consecutive CIF-SS titles when it hosts Serra in the Northwest Division title game.

Paraclete of Lancaster won five straight CIF-SS titles from 1997-2001.

"It would be a nice thing to do," Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell said. "Just winning the game would be great, but the fact that it would be six in a row would make it even sweeter.

"It would be a nice plus for the program, just like our 48-game winning streak was."

Senior Brian Owusu said although Redell hasn't mentioned the record in practice this week, the team knows what's at stake.

"Oh, we know about it," Owusu said. "That's one of the biggest reasons we've worked so hard in practice all year. A sixth title would mean a lot for everybody."

Although the Lions are looking forward to rewriting the record books, the team realizes Friday's game will be anything but a cakewalk.

Serra, the Del Rey League champion, is 13-0. The two squads played each other last season in the playoffs, with OCHS coming away with a 44-7 victory at home.

"In my eight years of coaching at Oaks Christian, they are probably the most talented team we've played against besides the two times we played St. Bonaventure," Redell said.

"I've seen them play twice this year, because I figured if everything played out how I thought it would we'd be seeing them in the championship. They have outstanding speed to match ours, and they're very well-coached."

OCHS offensive lineman Erik Kohler is excited about the opportunity at hand.

"It's a 13-0 team against another 13-0 team," Kohler said. "The best vs. the best. This is what championship games should be like. It's going to come down to focus and which team wants it more."

Oaks Christian has a stellar offense that includes junior quarterback Nick Montana (2,077 yards, 30 TDs), junior running back Malcolm Jones (1,216 rushing yards, 20 TDs) and senior tight end Chris Coyle (442 receiving yards).

For Oaks Christian to win, however, its defense will have to play like it always does—great.

While the OCHS defense has given up only 5.8 points per contest, the Serra offense has been explosive. Nine times this season the Cavaliers have scored more than 45 points in a game.

Serra's offense is led by senior quarterback Ted Landers (2,537 passing yards, 35 TDs), senior running back Carl Winston (1,562 yards rushing) and junior wide receiver Robert Woods (1,282 yards receiving, 17 TDs).

For the Lions to stop Serra's big three, defensive stars such as junior lineman Cassius Marsh, senior linebacker Tanner Maddux and senior defensive backs Nick Nugwynne, Scott Arellano and Owusu must play well, Redell said.

"I don't think their offense has seen a defense as good as ours, and I don't think our defense has seen an offense as good as theirs." the coach said.

"I expect this game to be decided by seven points or less. It will probably come down to which defense makes fewer mistakes."

Friday's kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Thorson Stadium.