CARSON – Helix High School in La Mesa is home to some impressive alumni, familiar names on the big screen or sporting scene through the decades.

The late actor Dennis Hopper went to school near San Diego's beaches in the 1950s. Bill Walton set regional scoring and rebounding records while leading the Highlanders to a 49-game winning streak from 1969 to 1970.

Ten years ago, well before landing with the 49ers, Alex Smith fired passes for Helix when he wasn't handing off to future Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

The one prize Helix hasn't stored in its trophy case is a CIF State Bowl Championship in football. But the Highlanders (12-1) get their opportunity today at 4 p.m. against Del Oro (13-1) in the Division II bowl at the Home Depot Center.

It's a matchup of two successful football programs.

Del Oro, which opened in Loomis in 1959, is home to 1,656 students on its Placer County campus and plays its home football games on a field hemmed with tall trees and tradition. The Golden Eagles are eight-time Sac-Joaquin Section champions since 1989.

Helix, with the salt air drifting across campus, is a charter school built in 1952 with an enrollment of 2,400. It is basking in the program's first San Diego Section championship since Smith and Bush were teammates in 2001.

So how do two schools of such difference in enrollment size face off in the same division? Simple. The state's 10 sections each have different enrollments. A Helix-size school of 2,400 in the Sacramento region would be a clear D-I program.

There are dozens of Southern California teams that have D-I enrollments of more than 2,800 students.

No matter, says Del Oro. Helix could have 5,500 students, like Long Beach Poly, and the Eagles would still be up for the task, players and coaches say.

Poly was ranked No. 2 in the country in 2008 when it faced Grant (enrollment 1,650) in the Open Bowl. Grant won to usher in a new era of Sacramento-area football. Rocklin in 2009 and Folsom last season were also bowl teams with area ties.

"Helix has a great team," Del Oro coach Casey Taylor said. "They've got it all. We'll have to play smart football, not make any mistakes. Our guys are excited. We're ready for this."

Del Oro arrived in Southern California via charter bus Thursday night. The Golden Eagles practiced Friday at Oaks Christian High, a powerhouse Southern California program it will play next season. Later Friday, Del Oro players and coaches watched some of the high school bowl action at the Home Depot Center to better familiarize themselves with the venue.

Del Oro's lone loss was to MaxPreps state-ranked No. 1 Westlake 30-27 in overtime on Labor Day weekend. Westlake plays Cal-Hi Sports state No. 1 De La Salle of Concord tonight in the Open Bowl.

Helix lost its opener to Eastlake of Chula Vista 21-14 but dominated its other foes down the stretch, allowing seven or fewer points 10 times this season with three shutouts and one three-point game.

Helix recently routed seven-time San Diego Section champion and two-time bowl winner Oceanside 44-6 for the section title.

After his team was beaten by Helix 44-7 in a playoff game, Torrey Pines coach Scott Ashby told the local media: "(Helix is) the best high school team I've seen in 20 years."

Helix coach Troy Starr led Taft of Woodland Hills to six Los Angeles City Section title games.

In 2007, he became director of football operations for the Florida Gators under coach Urban Meyer, but after one year, he took "the dream job" at Helix.

"The kids are ready," Starr said earlier this week, adding Del Oro, "has an excellent team. It should be a great game."

THREE KEYS...

To ponder for today's Del Oro-Helix CIF State Division II Championship:

1. Control the clock

In breaking down film of Helix, Del Oro coaches learned how big and fast the Highlanders are on defense. Helix smothers teams with athletes on the corners and size on the line. So Del Oro will stick to the formula that earned a bowl bid: Run the ball often behind a solid line. Brandon Monroe and Nick O'Sullivan combined for 2,947 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns as a 1-2 punch this season.

2. Steady as they go

Both sides like their chances if it comes down to quarterback play. Del Oro's Bobby Heatherington is 40-1 lifetime at all levels, including 20-1 as a varsity starter. His late-game poise and third-down conversion passes proved paramount in wins over Granite Bay, Nevada Union and Oakdale. Brandon Lewis of Helix has passed for 2,750 yards and 34 touchdowns and is 25-3 as the varsity starter. He was voted the San Diego Section Offensive MVP. Both are calm leaders, but expect the defenses to challenge their cool a great deal with blitzes and coverage schemes.

3. Beware the backs

Helix has its own backfield 1-2 punch with Darrion Hancock and Michael Adkins combining for 2,114 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns.

– Joe Davidson

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