Clausen, Tyler bearing down on CIF record book

The records are within sight.

Oaks Christian senior quarterback Jimmy Clausen has thrown 130 career touchdown passes. He's three scores away from breaking the state's alltime record set by L.A. Cathedral's Robert De La Cruz from 1997-99.

A model of efficiency, Clausen's tossed 15 career interceptions, including one in 166 pass attempts this year.

Lion senior running back Marc Tyler has scored 121 career touchdowns. The CIF record is 137, set by St. Bonaventure's Lorenzo Booker from 19992001. Tyler ranks third all-time behind former Grace Brethren standout Chad Kackert, who had 131 career scores.

With a big effort in the postseason, Tyler could graduate high school as the state's all-time leader in touchdowns.

Tyler is third in career points with 736. Booker (874) and Kackert (786) are in front of him.

Clausen and Tyler will lead top-seeded Oaks Christian (10-0) into the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division playoffs this weekend. The Lions have won three straight CIF titles and 41 games in a row.

OCHS head coach Bill Redell said his senior class, some of whom have started on the football team since their freshman seasons, have a special opportunity at hand.

"That's always been one of their goals, to win four CIF championships," Redell said. "Now we're in a position where we can do it."

Oaks Christian hosts St. Bernard (3-7) Friday night at 7:30. If the opening-round games shake down as expected, the Lions could play Harvard/Westlake (8-2) in the semifinals.

On the opposite end of the Northwest Division bracket are the Oak Park Eagles (91), secondplace finishers in the TriValley League.

OPHS hosts Templeton (7-3) at 7 p.m. Friday. Templeton-also nicknamed the Eagles-has rushed for 2,549 yards as a team.

Oak Park was very consistent throughout the regular season. OPHS scored an average of 30 points per game while allowing only 18 points.

Junior running back Kyle Shorten rushed for 861 yards and 15 touchdowns, both teamhighs. Junior linebacker Sean Westgate led Oak Park with 86 tackles and was second in rushing yards with 501.

Valley Vista League champion Covina (9-1) could be Oak Park's biggest obstacle in advancing to the division's championship game. If the two teams meet, it'll be in the semifinals.

"We think we can go deep," head coach Dick Billingsley said.

"The one reason we played such a tremendous preseason schedule is because we wanted to get ready for the playoffs," he said. "With that in mind, we scheduled Marmonte League schools and Camarillo. It's gotten us ready for the playoffs. We're ready to go."