By Pete Borello

Dan Navarro can’t remember when — or even if — it’s ever happened before. Yet all signs point to the SCVAL El Camino Division sending three football teams to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

That third team should be Navarro’s Mountain View High squad, unless the Spartans get upset by last-place Monta Vista in Thursday’s regular-season finale (7:30 p.m. at Cupertino).

Mountain View’s bid for a CCS berth improved dramatically with last Friday’s 27-6 win at Gunn. It not only pushed the Spartans’ record to 7-2, but also gave them some vital “power points” since Gunn is in the upper SCVAL De Anza Division.

The power-point system, based on wins and quality of opponents, is what the CCS uses to grant at-large playoff berths.

“If we beat Monta Vista, we’ll have 23 1/2 points,” coach Navarro said. “Last year, 20 1/2 got you in.”

Gunn, meanwhile, is in danger of missing the playoffs after a 6-0 start. The Titans have dropped three straight games and need to beat visiting Palo Alto on Friday (2:45 p.m.) to guarantee themselves a CCS invitation.

“This is not the situation we wanted to be in,” Gunn coach Sam Picture said. “Not only are we playing our rivals, but it’s for CCS; there’s immense pressure.”

Gunn broke a two-game scoreless streak on Friday when Doug Campbell reached the end zone on a 61-yard quarterback keeper in the third quarter. It proved to be one of the Titans’ few highlights of the afternoon.

“It was very tough,” Picture said. “Moving the ball wasn’t a problem; holding on to it was.”

Gunn fumbled five times in the rainy conditions and couldn’t go to the air late in the game because Picture said Campbell had trouble gripping the wet ball.

The Spartans had no such problems. They turned the ball over just once and proved adept both passing and running.

Sean Manson completed eight of his 12 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown (a 20-yard strike to Cody Himes) and also ran for two scores.

Tariq Bright, making a smooth transition from halfback to fullback, rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries. His 26-yard scoring scamper early in the fourth, coupled with Himes’ extra point, put the Spartans up 20-6.

“Our MVP has to be Mikey the ball boy,” a semi-serious Navarro said. “He made sure the ball was dry when we were on offense.”

Gunn’s offense, meanwhile, had more to worry about than a slick ball and the slushy field.

The Titans also had to contend with Mountain View linebacker Shonte Jiz de Ortega. The senior seemed to be wherever the ball was, constantly cutting down ball carriers in their tracks. He finished with 11 tackles, two for losses, and recovered two fumbles.

“He’s probably the defensive player of the year in our league,” Navarro said. “He’s been the glue of our defense. When we need a big play, he makes it.”

In other local football action:

• St. Francis kept its playoff hopes alive Friday with an 18-7 West Catholic Athletic League win at Serra. Justin Sieber and Will Taufoou scored on runs of 10 and 2 yards, respectively, for the Lancers (3-2, 5-4). St. Francis faces Bellarmine at 7 p.m., Friday, at San Jose City College.
• Homestead clinched the El Camino title with a 26-12 win at Cupertino on Friday. Will Faules scored on runs of 60 and 55 yards for the Mustangs (6-0, 8-1). Homestead hosts Milpitas in a non-divisional game at 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Fremont High.