CANYON, OAKS CHRISTIAN WIN TITLES HEADS OF STATE 79 YEARS IN THE MAKING, FOOTBALL'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES DELIVER.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

CARSON - It was at the heart of the field, faded by the rain and the cleats and the hours of the state's finest reaching for firm turf. Its declaration, however, was left still visible with just a bit of effort.

They had painted on the center of the Home Depot field a football, the CIF logo, and then around a slim golden circle that surrounded it all, the inscription, ``79 YEARS OF WAITING ''

Generations have come and gone since California last crowned a state high school football champion, but on a cool and often wet Saturday, a long-awaited friend returned.

For the first time in almost 80 years, California declared a state football champion. Declared three of them, actually, in divisions based upon enrollment.

And they saved the best for the last, saved the biggest upset, the most unexpected result in the Division I title game when Canyon Country upset legendary Concord De La Salle, the No. 1 team in the nation, 27-13, for the biggest victory in school history.

``This is a great day for Canyon High School,'' said football coach Harry Welch.

It capped a great day for the state's return to championship football.

Ken Gunn, the CIF state event director, looked out upon the beaten field and did not even pretend to conceal his happiness.

``You breathe a big sigh of relief and say, `It finally happened. After all these years, it finally happened,''' Gunn said.

``Then you take a deep breath and say, `What can we do to make it better?' ''

Changes are coming

Changes will likely be coming. Maybe slight, perhaps major. They're calling it a two-year experiment. No one is pretending perfection was reached in this first attempt at determining a state champion, though Canyon might beg to differ.

Yet the long day received almost nothing but positive reviews, from winners and losers, from the CIF advisory football committee, from typically cynical media, from nearly all involved.

Everyone wanted a state high school football champion. And, if in the end it failed to clearly determine the state's best football team, if there is restyling and polish to come, Saturday's event was still deemed a terrific first step.

``I think the CIF did a great job in taking a risk to get this done,'' said Orange Lutheran coach Jim Kunau, after his Lancers captured the Division II title with a 42-28 victory over Palo Alto.

``It's easy to sit back and do nothing. They took a risk and made it happen. They deserve to be commended. They did a great job organizing this.

It helped the CIF that its opening game for the Division III title surprisingly provided the most thrilling action of the day, and then it offered Canyon as its grand finale.

Eleven in a row

The Cowboys started the year 1-2, but then won their last 11 consecutive games, none bigger than the one Saturday that cost De La Salle a national championship and completed a Southern Section sweep.

Canyon, (12-2) was inspired by 5-foot-9 running back J.J. DiLuigi, whose legs never seem to stop moving, and whose heart clearly never stops pounding.

And while the offense shined in taking a stunning 20-7 lead at the half, it was the defense that continually answered the call in the second half to thwart any chance of a De La Salle comeback.

``This feels amazing,'' DiLuigi said. ``We knew we could do it.''

The day opened with Oaks Christian, the super team from Westlake Village, the team with a mind-boggling 11 seniors earning Division I college scholarships, that had won 45 consecutive games, that was named the area's best team ever in Saturday's Daily News, absolutely escaping with a 27-20 overtime victory over Santa Rosa's Cardinal Newman.

Oaks Christian's Jimmy Clausen, the Notre Dame-bound quarterback some believe will take over for Brady Quinn next season as an Irish freshmen, was not even the best quarterback in the game.

Clausen suffered through a particularly miserable first half, throwing three ill-conceived interceptions as the Lions limped in at the break with 13-10 lead. Previously Clausen had thrown only three interceptions all season.

Cardinal Newman, realizing bullets did not bounce off the chests of the Lions, began to believe they could pull off the upset. They actually dominated most of the game. They held the ball a staggering 34:41, compared to just 13:19 for the Lions.

And then lost an absolute thriller.

``That first game was great,'' Gunn said. ``High school football doesn't get any better than that. I think that did a lot for the event.''

Knowing Oaks Christian was playing without injured USC-bound tailback Marc Tyler, Cardinal Newman put only three men on its defensive line and dared the Lions to run.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals played hard, controlled the clock and took a 17-13 lead with its opening drive of the second half. With 9:10 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Lions had the ball only once in the second half.

Oaks Christian, used to blitzing past opponents with its passing game, finally put together a 90-yard drive ---- all but 11 yards coming on the ground. Marshall Jones scored on a 3-yard run to put the Lions up 20-17.

A disciplined Cardinal Newman (12-2) came back with another lengthy, time-consuming drive. Faced with a fourth-and-one at the Oaks Christian 8-yard line, the Cardinals lined up to go for it but were called for illegal motion. They settled for a game-tying 29-yard field goal.

Shaky conclusion

In overtime, with both teams lining up from the 10-yard line, Jones scored from the 7, the Lions finally held, and an unbeaten season found its shaky conclusion.

``They're a very well-coached football team,'' said Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell. ``I think they were outmanned, but they easily could have won.''

Oaks Christian was ranked second in the state, and as high as No. 6 in the nation. It plays against lower-level teams, however, leaving some suspect over its greatness.

When a team has spoiled its followers with easy victories, it can become a victim of its own expectations. An overtime win felt only vaguely satisfying, despite its significance.

``It's too bad one team had to lose,'' Redell said. ``I actually feel bad for them, but I would have felt worse if we'd lost.

``I do feel good about winning. I feel good about going 15-0 and winning 46 straight. But let's be honest, we were lucky to win.''

Redell, 65, did give the Lions additional good news following the game when he announced he planned to remain at Oaks Christian for another five years.

Even Cardinal Newman coach Paul Cronin, disheartened by the overtime loss, was left with an appreciation of the state title games.

``They need state playoffs,'' Cronin said. ``I think it's a great thing. I can't wait to watch the next two games.''

The next game saw Orange Lutheran (14-1) roll to an easy win. The Lancers led 42-14 on five touchdowns by quarterback Aaron Corp (two rushing) before two late scores by Palo Alto (12-2).

Shocking the best

Then came Canyon shocking De La Salle, the most famous high school football program in the country.

``We believe the bowl championships do nothing but enhance California football,'' Welch said.

Despite the rain, the live television, the crowds were decent. The action exceedingly competitive, the teams thrilled with their experience.

State championship football was off to one rousing return.

``It will probably be like the BCS, and every few years they tweak it a little to try and make it better,'' Kunau said. ``I think they'll find other ways to enhance it. They've done a great service to high school football.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Canyon's Nick Jurado celebrates after the Cowboys upset the Spartans for the CIF Div. I title on Saturday. De La Salle was ranked No. 1 in the country.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News

(2 -- color) Oaks Christian's quarterback Jimmy Clausen celebrates after defeating Cardinal Newman High School in overtime during the CIF Championship Div. III game on Saturday.

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Contra Costa Times

(3) Oaks Christian's Marshall Jones breaks away from Cardinal Newman's Chris Derner in the state title game at Home Depot Center on Saturday. Oaks Christian won 27-20 in overtime.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer