Malcolm Jones was a freshman football player, gifted but unheralded, the day he became a star on a stage unprecedented in state history.

Starting at linebacker for the Oaks Christian School football team in the first state championship bowl game, Jones made a crucial fourth-down tackle, intercepted a pass and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown as the Lions defeated Cardinal Newman, 27-20, in overtime last December at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

For Jones, it was a personal watershed moment.

"It's something I will always remember," he says with a gleam in his eye. "It was the first bowl game, a special occasion for our program. We won a state bowl game — the first state bowl game — and I helped us win the game."

The California high school football bowl games, launched by the California Interscholastic Federation a year ago with Division I, II and III contests, completes its initial two-year commitment today with three more bowl games.

For the second year in a row, the area will be represented. St. Bonaventure High, which won the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division championship last weekend, will take on Modesto-Central Catholic in the Division III bowl game today at 11:30 a.m. at the Home Depot Center.

The Division II bowl game has Novato playing Oceanside at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Division I bowl game between De La Salle of Concord and Centennial of Corona at 7:30 p.m.

Off the field, the crucial action is scheduled for next month when the CIF State Federated Council, with representatives from all 10 CIF sections, convenes Jan. 25-27.

'Keep it going'

Among the items on the agenda: To continue, or pull the plug, on the football bowls.

If Jones had a vote, he knows what he would choose.

"Keep it going," he said. "For a player and a team, it's a great experience. It's a big-time atmosphere against a great opponent."

St. Bonaventure High's football team, set to experience its first state championship game, is enamored of today's system, which pits top Southern California teams against the best of the North.

"We've made it a big deal," said Seraphs' coach Todd Therrien. "We look at it as a state championship. Whether it truly is that or not, that's what it's being called, and that's the incentive for us.

"Last week, we beat a great team in Hart to win a CIF-Southern Section championship, but we all felt that it wasn't the final step. Our players are motivated to win a state championship."

In actuality, CIF State and bowl officials anticipate approving the continuation of the state bowl system next month

"I would think so," said Ken Gunn, the games director. "We're not hearing any negative reactions from teams who have played in the bowls or want to play in the bowls. We've tried to create an exciting environment for the players and coaches and fans."

Emma Zack, a spokeswoman for the CIF, the state's governing body for high school athletics, echoed that sentiment.

"We're hopeful," she said. "We expect that will be the case because the reaction from our membership has been very positive."

Last year's three bowl games attracted more than 13,000 spectators, were televised by FSN West and brought in about $120,000 to the CIF. Today's Division II and I games will again be televised by FSN West.

'Couldn't be more pleased'

Gunn said that the event never figures to be a prime moneymaker, which isn't the point.

"To be honest, I think we ended up losing a little bit of money last year when everything was said and done," he said. "We don't care about that. The point is that the kids, coaches and fans have a great time, and that is apparently what happened. We couldn't be more pleased with the results so far."

Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell is a big fan of the state championships. The Lions won their fourth consecutive CIF-Southern Section championship to qualify for last year's event. The bowl game proved to be more rewarding than expected, Redell said.

"I didn't think it would be that big a deal," he said, "but it's an outstanding event, well run and well organized. It's great fun and a great experience.

"We're disappointed not to be going back this year, but it's an honor that St. Bonaventure deserves."

St. Bonaventure defeated Oaks Christian 43 earlier this season to virtually knock the Lions from the state bowl lineup despite their 52-7 victory over Nordhoff in winning the CIF Northwest title. St. Bonaventure defeated Hart 42-28 to win the CIF-Southern Section Northern title and put itself in position to be picked to represent Southern California in the Division III state bowl game.

If, as expected, the state bowl procedure becomes permanent in January, a few changes may be in the offing.

A shot at participating

The state council will consider whether to expand the field by two additional bowl games, totaling five in all. The immediate upshot would be to allow smaller-enrollment schools to have a shot at participating.

The bowl system is enrollment based. Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure compete in Division III because their enrollment is less than 1,000 students.

Schools such as Long Beach Poly and Concord-De La Salle, with enrollments more than 2,000, compete in Division I.

Critics have said the system's shortcoming may be its reliance on school enrollment to determine matchups. Last season, for example, De La Salle and Oaks Christian were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in California, but couldn't be matched up in a bowl game.

Teams and matchups are determined by a consensus of officials from the 10 state CIF divisions.

Gunn said much of the criticism has waned since last year, ironically, in part because of Oaks Christian's tight game against Cardinal Newman.

"A lot of people wanted Oaks Christian and De La Salle to match up," he said. "It didn't happen, and we still had wonderful games. I haven't heard a lot of criticism this year. Most people are satisfied with the system in place."

Gunn said the bowl games, much like college football's Bowl Championship Series voting system, will never please everyone.

"There's never going to be across-the-board agreement," he said.

Redell said that may be a good thing.

"You know what? When people are complaining and griping, they're talking about our sport, and that's good for high school football. It's awfully hard to come up with a system that pleases everyone. What's wrong in generating interest in our sport?"

Gunn said there is strong support for the North vs. South format, which matches representatives from both regions of the state.

St. Bonaventure's Therrien also supports the current system.

"We're representing all of Southern California, and that's a big deal to us," he said. "There's always been talk that the North plays better football than Southern California. This is a great way to settle the issue."