Shawn Jansen: Le Grand -- Will state bowl invitation be on the way?
LODI -- Christopher Miranda already has plans if the Le Grand football team gets its shot at a state championship in Carson.
"I've never been surfing," the Bulldogs defensive lineman said. "I want to try to surf if we go to Carson."
Miranda may want to pack his wetsuit for Southern California now.
Le Grand (12-0) deserves to play for the state title.
The Bulldogs made a compelling case at the Grape Bowl on Saturday as they crushed Highlands (10-3) 58-20 to win their second straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 championship.
Le Grand brought back another blue banner to hang up in the gym.
However, a lot of the talk on the field after the game was about a possible state berth.
As Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Pete Saco handed Le Grand coach Rick Martinez the banner, he told the players he can't promise anything, but he'll do his best to get Le Grand the state berth.
"As I said before, if Central Catholic would have beat Escalon and got through that gauntlet then they deserved to go," Martinez said. "That didn't happen. These guys are next up. These kids deserve to go. It's their turn."
The one roadblock for a trip to Carson could be Ferndale (10-1), which is still playing in the North Coast Section.
If Ferndale went on to win its NCS Division 4 title the section commissioners may pick it over Le Grand because Ferndale is playing against larger schools.
Martinez said the Bulldogs will spend their next two weeks practicing and preparing for another possible game.
The Le Grand offense garnered most of the attention this year as quarterback Alex Bucio, running back Daniel Guizar and receiver Zach Moreno all compiled sensational stats.
However, it was Miranda and the defense coming up big against Highlands.
How can you not talk about a defense that comes away with eight turnovers?
Defensive backs Mario Zavala and Aaron Salcido both returned interceptions for touchdowns.
Linebacker Julian Nava recovered three fumbles on his own, including one play when he just ripped the ball away from Highland running back Jon Abalos. The ball never hit the ground.
Once the Scots put the ball on the ground once or twice, the Le Grand defenders were like sharks smelling blood in the water.
"When they were running they kept leaving the ball out," Salcido said. "If you're not going to protect it, we're going to try to strip it."
The Bulldogs defensive line battered Higlands quarterback Kurtis Stamm all night. Le Grand got two sacks apiece from Miranda and Antonio Garcia.
If it wasn't for the four first-half turnovers, it might have been Highlands leading at the half.
The Le Grand defense held the Scots under control until the Bulldogs offense got going.
"We have some pretty smart kids," Martinez said. "They pick up little things. They notice stuff like white knuckles and pink knuckles. They're going to try to take advantage of any opportunity.
"If they're not taking care of the ball, our guys are going to get it out."
After the game one fan told Martinez his father would sponsor a rooter bus for a trip to state.
"We want it bad," Zavala said. "We've been talking about it ever since we started lifting weights. That was before we could pick up a football to practice."
Le Grand and Planada would likely turn into ghost towns Dec. 16 if the Bulldogs get the call.
Miranda might not be the only one packing a wetsuit.
Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.
This story was originally published November 28, 2011 at 12:29 AM with the headline "Shawn Jansen: Le Grand -- Will state bowl invitation be on the way?."