It was jubilant on the St. Bonaventure High sideline.

Seraphs football players were laughing. When the music moved them, individuals broke out their dance steps.

And that was an hour before the kickoff to the CIF Northern Division championship game, won by St. Bonaventure over Hart, 42-28, last Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

"We make a big deal out of having fun," said St. Bonaventure first-year coach Todd Therrien. "When you're having fun, you are playing your best."

That will be the same approach St. Bonaventure (13-1) brings on its return trip to the Home Depot Center for today's 11:30 a.m. CIF Division III state championship game against Modesto Central Catholic (11-1-1) as the lead act in a football tripleheader.

Don't mistake St. Bonaventure's light outlook to its serious approach to the game and its opponent, which has won six consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section championships.

"Our guys know that no matter who you play, you have to come out with a passion," said Therrien.

Central Catholic has its own incentive.

This will be the final game for head coach Mike Glines, whose career winning percentage of .863 (205-31-4) is the second best among high school football coaches in the state with 100 or more wins.

Glines' last appearance on the sideline is one of the game's many story lines.

Two stalwart defenses will be tested by outstanding running games.

St. Bonaventure tailback Darrell Scott rates as one of the best running backs in the nation. Scott has rushed for 2,283 yards and 30 TDs despite averaging fewer than 20 carries per game. He will finish his career ranked among the top four players in career rushing yardage in state history.

Scott won't be the only Seraph that Central Catholic must stop.

Quarterback K.C. Serna had a career-best 140 yards rushing against Hart. Load eight in the box as Central Catholic likes to do and Serna can beat teams deep to targets like Blayne Lewis and Patrick Hall. Serna has averaged 28.4 yards over his last 17 completions.

"We like to play an even front," said Glines. "Last week we played three-fourths of the game in an odd front. We'll do whatever it takes. If we could play with 12 against these guys (St. Bonaventure), we would."

The running game is the bread-and-butter of a Central Catholic offense that has been prolific throughout the past decade.

Louis Bland (1,567 yards) and Max Nelson (1,078) combined for more than 2,600 yards rushing and 44 TDs. Bland ranks among the all-time state scoring leaders with 101 TDs.

Central Catholic averages 336.6 yards rushing per game and 10.5 yards per rushing attempt.

The strength of the St. Bonaventure defense lies in its overall team speed. The Seraphs are quick to close on ball carriers. Leading the St. Bonaventure defense is Loren Powers, Dylan Davis and Ryan Medina.

Scott will not be the only potential high school All-American to take the field today.

Both teams have outstanding offensive linemen.

At 6-foot-4, 364 pounds, Vaughan Dotsey has been a big reason why St. Bonaventure's offense has been so effective in championship games.

Central Catholic's Dominic Galas, 6-1, 266, is rated as the No. 2 center in the state.

"We saw Galas last summer in a camp," said Therrien. "He did not lose a one-on-one competition against some of the best defensive linemen in the state. You could see the heart and passion when you look in his eyes as he competed."

The state championship game has given a couple players a second chance to compete.

St. Bonaventure linebacker Ryan Panapa, rated as a defensive force before the season, had seen only a handful of series this year before the Northern Division title game. Even then it was limited action on a defensive goal-line stand and as a blocking back on offense. Therrien hoped than the extra week of practice would allow Panapa more playing time against Central Catholic.

Projected to be a two-way starter as well as the team's punter before the season, Ryan Tiscareno has not played a down of football for Central Catholic because of an injury.

Last week, Tiscareno approached Glines about returning for one last game.

"I never dreamed that he would come back," said Glines.

"He said that since this was my last game, he wanted to be part of it. I told him that it wasn't smart. Baseball is his sport. He got his doctor's release and he was with us last week. I expect he will see a lot of action at wideout."

Therrien believes special teams will be the biggest factor in the game. Hart started only one possession outside its own 30-yard line against St. Bonaventure last week.

The outcome could rest with Central Catholic's durability.

St. Bonaventure prides itself on its depth at every position on both sides of the ball. Central Catholic could have as many as seven two-way starters for today's championship game.