The postseason can be a second season for some teams, and that’s the case for Brea Olinda and Canyon (Anaheim), who will square-0ff Friday night for the CIF-Southern Section Southern Division (XII) championship. The two North Hills League teams enter the game with identical 8-5 records and both are in the title game because of strong postseason runs.
Brea Olinda advanced to the championship game by beating top-seeded Garden Grove 17-7 in last week’s semifinals. Canyon’s took down the division’s second seed and previously undefeated Katella 61-21 in the quarterfinals.
These two aren’t strangers since they play in the North Hills League, which this year saw Brea Olinda and El Modena share the championship with 2-1 league records.
Last week in the semis, Canyon avenged its 21-20 regular season loss to El Modeno with a 35-20 victory. The Comanches are hoping to do the same in Friday night’s final. Brea Olinda won the regular season match-up 26-0 on the last weekend of the regular season.
Brea Olinda senior quarterback Nick Drury enters the game having thrown for over 1,200 yards this year with 13 touchdowns and only three picks. Junior running back Michael Martinson has topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark with seven touchdowns.
One odd stat for a championship team is the Wildcats have been outscored by their opponents this year 275 to 314.
On defense, Brea Olina is led by Zach Arnold, who has 119 tackles.
Canyon, which entered the postseason as an at-large team, is led by quarterback Jason Harman, who has completed 56% of his passes for 2,429 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Charlie Treanor is the team’s leading rusher with 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also the team’s leading tackler and has one interception.
Brea Olinda is back in its first final since 2001 when it won the Division IX title. Canyon is back in a final for the first time since 1979 and is looking for its first CIF-SS title.
