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By David Dickens
December 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Christian High School in El Cajon won the CIF Division3 championship against the San Marcos High Knights on December 8. But another battle loomed in the courtroom over the prior week.
On December 9, Superior Court Judge William Sato denied Christian High’s request for injunctive relief to gain consideration as a Division 4 school in the state football series hosted by the San Diego CIF. Athletic Director David Beezer sought to create a fair advantage that Christian High should be entitled to based to its enrollment size. According to the SDCIF handbook, Christian High should be a Division 4 school as far as athletics are concerned contended Beezer, who believes Christian High is being discriminated against and that this is in conflict with the CIF’s own written policy.
In the handbook, it is clear that Division 4 schools have an enrollment of 1-500. Christian has an enrollment of 384. The handbook also reads if a Division 3 section champion is within the Division 4 enrollment parameters of 1-500, they will be moved to that division for bowl game consideration. Where is it mentioned that a school would be placed in Division 3 if it won its section title? Nowhere. In fact , the statement about a Division 3 section champion is exactly what Christian became Saturday night, Winning the Division 3 championship are within Division 4 parameters as far as enrollment size is concerned.
Note the key stat: the San Marcos High Knights carry an enrollment of more than 2,500 students. So how does this seem fair? The team faced a David vs. Goliath challenge.
San Diego CIF commissioner Jerry Shneipp stated, “ This was a typical football matchup and enrollment should have not come into play.” The Christian High Patriots definitely came to play, and had something to prove on the field. Basically the San Marcos Knights were outplayed and outcoached. An interesting stat coming into this spectacular matchup, Christian had chalked up a record high 554 points prior to this game, also heralded as the highest point total in the country.
Similar to the Division 4 contest played hours earlier, turnovers would be the key to the Patriots coming out on top. Sebastian Swift, Senior captain, and 6’2” 205 lb linebacker for Christian paved the way forcing six San Marcos turnovers. The Patriots were huge on defense , picking off four passes, and recovering two fumbles, en route to a 19-7 victory over the Knights, and their ninth SDCIF title in school history.
Athletic Director David Beezer’s issues with the SDCIF continued, due to linebacker Sebastian Swift being left out of the All-CIF ballots, with an astounding 12 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks in the game.
Though denied the opportunity to vie in Division 4, with the season over the Christian High Patriots emerged champions in the Division 3 SDCIF after a phenomenal journey.
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