Can a high-powered offense overcome the stingiest of defenses, or does defense really win championships?

These questions will be answered tonight when top-seeded La Quinta squares off against second-seeded Fontana Kaiser in the California Interscholastic Federation Division 8 championship game at Fontana High.

La Quinta (12-0-1) has a 25-game unbeaten streak and is the division's defending champion. Kaiser (12-1), which has won nine straight, is seeking its first title in just its second year of varsity football.

La Quinta's multi-dimensional offense -- led by All-America running back Frederick Collins and quarterback Sammy Chavez -- is averaging 39.5 points, 235 rushing yards and 430 total yards per game.

Collins is a versatile runner who can beat you with both his legs and his hands. He has rushed for a Riverside County-best 2,128 yards and 29 touchdowns and has 50 catches for 878 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has thrown two touchdowns and returned an interception 99 yards for another score.

"I'm sure he'll be the best running back we see all year," Kaiser coach Dick Bruich said. " . . . He can do it all."

Chavez has thrown for 2,356 yards and 27 touchdowns, but it's his ability to scramble that has Bruich most concerned. Chavez has rushed for 653 yards and seven touchdowns.

"He's a running back playing quarterback," Bruich said.

Kaiser's defense -- led by linebackers Larry Hammett, Omar Alvarez and Marcus McCliman -- allows an an average of 9.2 points, 80 rushing yards and 208 total yards per game.

The Cats have recorded four shutouts and have allowed just seven rushing touchdowns all season. Kaiser has allowed only one 100-yard rusher -- San Bernardino San Gorgonio's Elliott Fowler -- and he had an 86-yard run and finished with 104.

"They are very fundamentally sound," La Quinta coach Dan Armstrong said of Kaiser's defense. "They fly to the ball, gang-tackle, and they don't give up many big plays either."

Armstrong is prepared if Kaiser's defense loads up to stop Collins and the Blackhawks' rushing attack.

"We plan to use Frederick in a variety of ways," he said. "We're going to try and make their whole defense work."

While the featured matchup is La Quinta's offense vs. Kaiser's defense, Bruich wouldn't be surprised to see the opposite determine the game.

"Probably, it will come down to our offense vs. their defense," Bruich said. "It always seems to work out that way.

Kaiser's top offensive players are running back Allen Wade (1,213 yards, 15 TDs) and quarterback Steve Sturdivant (698 yards, seven TDs).

La Quinta's defense is led by lineman Jarered Morgan and linebackers C. J. Achee and Joe Jiannoni.