Key Test for Morse and Vista

Morse against Vista in the quarterfinals of tonight’s San Diego Section 3-A football playoffs was a natural.

You could have predicted it three months ago, an unbeaten power facing a third-place team from a tough league. But here’s the twist: Vista is unbeaten, Morse is the third entry from the City Eastern League.

Vista Coach Dick Haines said before the season that his team could win seven games during the regular season. That was 11 victories ago.

Morse (7-4) has struggled to overcome a key injury to quarterback Cary Taylor.

“When we beat Carson (in the third game, 38-18), I didn’t think anyone was going to beat us,” Morse Coach John Shacklett said.

Then Taylor cut his wrist in an accident trying to get inside his house and Vista beat Morse, 21-7, taking advantage of five fumbles and a blocked punt.

Tailback Gary Taylor, who set a single-season rushing record last year with 2,625 yards, will try to become the all-time leading career rusher. With 4,416 yards, he needs 70 yards to surpass in two years what Rancho Buena Vista’s O.J. Hall accomplished in three.

Vista’s last loss was in the quarterfinals of last year’s playoffs, 48-14, to Morse.

Vista has won 17 of its past 18 games and the question is whether it can duplicate Morse’s success.

“Vista is a good football team,” said Shacklett, whose team has won two section finals while making four consecutive trips to the finals. “I don’t know if they’re a great football team. I don’t see any darting speed from their backs other than Chato Jackson. . . . What I see are a well-conceived offense and defense.

“Anytime you go 11-0, the ball bounces in your direction. Last year we got the bounces; quite honestly, I don’t think we’ve gotten the bounces this year.”

Haines agreed--to an extent.

“To be be a great football team, we still have to win three more games,” Haines said. “I think everyone at this point is a good football team.

“I think you make your breaks. They were there to get the ball, they attacked. I don’t think the Lord is up there to say this year is Dick Haines’ turn to get the breaks. I’m sure (Shacklett’s) right; ‘ve gotten some breaks, but we’ve had a hustling, crazy bunch.”

Besides stopping Jackson (1,320 yards), Morse must contain 6 foot 2 split end Aaron Rounsifer. That responsibility falls on 5-7 defensive back Archie Amerson.

Amerson’s success might be largely predicated on the success of linebackers Glenn Steele, David Mallory and James Williams.

Morse lost two of its four games while Taylor was out of the lineup and another when he tried to return too soon, Shacklett said.