OCEANSIDE - This is the fifth time since 1981 Poway High has been on the verge of winning its first four football games.

The last four times the Titans started a season 3-0 the fourth game didn't go well. Poway (3-0) has a chance to remain undefeated this late in the season for the first time in 27 years tonight when the Titans visit El Camino (2-1) for a nonleague contest.

"I doubt there's anyone on campus who remembers the last time Poway started 4-0," Poway coach Damian Gonzalez said.

That's because it's been nearly three decades since the last time. Not since 1980 has Poway been 4-0.

That year, the Titans lost their fifth game.

In Poway's four previous attempts to start 4-0 they lost to Fallbrook (17-10) in 1981, Mt. Carmel (17-3) in '86, Orange Glen (24-10) in '97 and Ramona (17-12) in 2001.

The Titans opened this season with nonleague wins over Eastlake (27-14), Mission Hills (7-6) and Scripps Ranch (35-13).

But staying perfect won't be easy. El Camino blasted Sweetwater (68-14) and Monte Vista (31-14) the last two weeks.

"This has huge playoff implications," El Camino coach Trace Deneke said. "The result of this game will come up later in the year when playoff seedings are being decided.

"It's not the Super Bowl, but we have to be ready for league play. It's a map game for us. It either puts us on the map or it takes us off."

Gonzalez, who took the Titans to last year's CIF San Diego Section Division I championship game, agreed that this game is valuable to both teams' playoff aspirations.

"It's a chance to find out how both teams match up against quality teams," Gonzalez said. "In our case, how do we match up against quality teams from the Avocado League.

"I like our chances because we've been in battles the last three weeks. We're used to being in games like this that come down to the last second."

Junior quarterback Tynan Murray has completed 61 percent of his passes in his first season as the starter for the Titans. Poway has frequently encountered defenses intent on stopping tight end Ryan Deehan, and that strategy has opened the way for Jared Relyea to lead the team with 13 catches for 141 yards.

Nick Ricciardulli is the main rushing threat with 61 carries for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

El Camino has one of the county's best receivers in Nelson Rosario. The 6-foot-6 speedster has 11 catches for a 23.3-yard average.

Travis Venzant is the running threat with 34 carries for 243 yards for the Wildcats, who alternate quarterbacks Tim Willis and Colton Morrison.

Willis is 13-for-26 for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Morrison is 18-for-28 for 244 yards and two touchdowns. The pair has just one interception.

"We want to be physical up front, where the game will be decided, and not give up big plays," Gonzalez said. "We have to keep Rosario in front of us, and the best way to do that is to keep the ball out of the hands of their offense.

"None of them can hurt us from the sidelines."

- Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.