Nate Mendoza has guided the Dos Pueblos football team into Friday night’s Channel League championship game against Santa Barbara, but Mendoza is no stranger to playing against the Dons with a title on the line.
Mendoza’s Chargers battled Santa Barbara for the league baseball title during his four years as DP’s coach. They won the championship last spring.
Now his DP football team looks to win the outright title against the Dons.
Kickoff at Scott O’Leary Stadium is 7 p.m. DP is 7-2 and 3-0 in league; Santa Barbara is 7-2 and 2-1.
“Yeah, it seems very interesting how the teams I coach tend to play extremely important league games against SBHS,” Mendoza said. “They have great history in the football and baseball programs and it’s always exciting to play the Dons. My parents and extended family all went to school at SBHS, so personally there’s always a bit extra on the line against them.”
Three DP seniors will be looking to win their second league championship in three years. Linebacker Nico Bornand, running back Anthony Spiritosanto and lineman Jason Schwartz were sophomores when the Chargers beat Ventura for the title in 2010.
Those three are big reasons DP is back on top.
Mendoza said the team has improved each week and is ready for the big game, which is also for the City championship.
“Our goal is to always take steps forward each week and I feel like we’ve been able to do that,” he said. “We’ve done a nice job with limiting our turnovers on offense and taking advantage of the turnovers that the defense has been forcing.”
Dos Pueblos will take on Santa Barbara team that lost its starting quarterback Shawn Ramos on Wednesday. Ramos was suspended for the rest of the season for violating a school policy.
Despite the absence of Ramos, Mendoza said his team’s preparation didn’t change. He knows the Dons have several other dangerous players.
“Santa Barbara’s athletes have definitely caught our attention and we know that we must play fundamentally sound on defense so that their playmakers are not able to hurt us. Santa Barbara does a nice job with extending plays and we will work diligently Friday night to try and contain that.”
Santa Barbara coach Doug Caines said he expects his team to rally together and play hard. The Dons will go with James “Eli” Hale at quarterback. Hale, used primarily as a wide receiver, has taken a few snaps this season. He has weapons around him like running backs Jason Jimenez, Rudy Corrales and Polo Torres and receivers James Stevens, Jonah iwanaga, Daniel Gonzalez and Emilio Gonzalez.
Caines said coaching this group in the championship game has a special significance.
“I’m honored to finished off what I consider Jaime Melgoza’s tenure at Santa Barbara High,” he said. “These are his seniors. This is a group he brought up as sophomores to help an ailing varsity team. It’s ah honor I get to carry out that torch and finish the season off with a bang in honor of Jaime.”
If the Dons win, they would share the title with DP and receive the league’s No. 1 seeding for the playoffs. A loss and a Ventura win over San Marcos would throw them into a three-way tie for second place with Ventura and Buena. The No. 2 playoff spot would be broken by coin flips.
Santa Barbara (7-2, 2-1) at Dos Pueblos (7-2, 3-0), 7 p.m. –– The Channel League title and city championship are at stake in this regular season finale. The Dons will go with James “Eli” Hale at quarterback. He runs well but has thrown only two passes. Santa Barbara will have to execute and play a mistake-free game to pull out a win. The Chargers can’t let the Dons’ loss of Shawn Ramos affect them. The pick: Dos Pueblos
Bishop Diego (9-0) at Mission Prep (9-0), 7 p.m. — It’s a battle of No. 1-ranked teams in this non-league final in San Luis Obispo. Mission Prep, top-ranked in the CIF Northeast Division has talented quarterback in Tyler Baty — passed for six touchdowns in a 73-26 win over Farmersville — and speedy running back in Michael Caldwell. Bishop Diego, No. 1 in the Northwest Division, limps into the game. Quarterback Gabe Molina, center Jack Braniff and linebacker Adrian Solis were hurt in the Tri-Valley League championship win over Nordhoff. The Cardinals, however, still have plenty of talent. The pick: Bishop Diego
Carpinteria (5-4, 1-2) at Oak Park (4-5, 1-2), 7:30 p.m. –– There’s a lot at stake in the regular season final. The Warriors and Eagles are playing for third place in the Tri-Valley League and a CIF playoff berth. The pick: Carpinteria
San Marcos (1-8, 0-3) at Ventura (5-4, 1-2), 7 p.m. — The Royals can play spoiler in this game. A win over the defending league champion Cougars will end their shot at the CIF playoffs. The pick: Ventura
