Santa Margarita Head Football Coach Placed on Administrative Leave

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Santa Margarita Catholic High School football coach Harry Welch has been placed on administrative leave while officials look into an allegation that Welch pushed or shoved a player in December.  

Last season, Welch led Santa Margarita to the Division 1 state title with a 42-37 win over Bellarmine. Welch's became the only head coach to win three state titles with three different schools. 

LA-area Coaching Changes

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

After 12 years as the head football coach at Bonita High School, Eric Podley has resigned.

It didn't take the school long to name a replacement though, as special teams coordinator Adrian Medrano has been elevated to head coach.  Last season, the Bearcats finished 6-5.

Hacienda Heights Wilson head coach Bob Burt is stepping down after one season.  Assistant Nick Christos has been named as the school's new head coach.  The team finished 1-9 in 2011.

The third coaching coach is at Covina High School, where Darryl Thomas is stepping-down after 15 seasons.  Thomas led Covina to an overall record of 103-70 with his teams making the playoffs in eleven of those years.

CIF State Football Champs 2006-2011

Open Division

2011 - De La Salle
2010 - De La Salle
2009 - De La Salle
2008 - Grant

Division I

2011 - Santa Margarita
2010 - Palo Alto
2009 - Oceanside
2008 - Centennial Corona
2007 - De La Salle
2006 - Canyon Country

Division II

2011 - Helix
2010 - Folsom
2009 - Servite
2008 - Cathedral Catholic
2007 - Oceanside
2006 - Orange Lutheran

Division III

2011 - Washington Union
2010 - Escalon
2009 - Junipero Serra
2008 - St. Bonaventure
2007 - St. Bonaventure
2006 - Oaks Christian

Division IV/Small Schools

2011 - Serra Canyon
2010 - Bishops School
2009 - Modesto Christian
2008 - St. Margaret's

De La Salle Wins Third Straight State Football Championship

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

De La Salle's dominance of the California State Bowl Championships continued Saturday night with a 35-0 win over Westlake in the Open Division Championship game.

It was the Spartans third straight state title.  Head coach Bob Ladouceur has taken his school to six straight championship games, winning four, which is the most be any school in the current era of state championships.

The victory was the result of a well-rounded performance by the offense and the defense.

The defense pitched its fifth shutout of the season.  For the season, the Spartans only allowed 110 points with 30 of them coming in the team's only loss of the year (30-6) to St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida).

On offense, Wisconsin-bound quarterback Bart Houston rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one.  Houston finished his career with a record of 39-1 as a starter.

Westlake entered the game ranked #7 nationally by MaxPreps.com.

Before the game, I spoke with Westlake head coach Jim Benkert on the High School Football America radio show.  Click here to listen to that interview.