If there is a dynasty at the small school level, Redlands Arrowhead Christian Academy would be the ruling party. Yet it is difficult to cast such a label for a program that hasn't won a California Interscholastic Federation title in four years.

For a team that perennially sets a CIF championship as its season goal, the fourth-seeded Eagles can end a three-year drought with a victory over unseeded Mammoth in tonight's Division 13 championship at Yucaipa High.

"We definitely need to win because it's not quite what I'd call a dynasty," Eagles coach Dan Finfrock said. "We've definitely dominated this division. We've been to the championship game five times (including tonight), but we haven't won them all."

The Eagles won their first two finals appearances, in 1996 and 1997 (both were Division 12 titles, as Division 13 was yet to be formed). But they lost the 1998 championship to Boron, the 1999 championship to Pasadena Poly and fell in last year's semifinals to San Bernardino Aquinas.

"I just remember all those people I looked up to breaking down and crying," said four-year offensive lineman Buddy Heavrin. "I've had that feeling three years in a row. Those years, I thought everybody thought it (the championship) was in the bag already."

The Eagles (12-1) ride a six-game winning streak. Mammoth (11-1), making its first CIF finals appearance, has outscored its playoff opponents 148-54.

Arrowhead leads the all-time series 2-1. The Eagles beat Mammoth, 18-0, in their first 11-man playoff game in 1994, and won 51-0 last year. Mammoth won at home in 1999, 20-6, taking advantage of seven Arrowhead Christian turnovers.

Mammoth's run-oriented offense is executed in pro and slot-I sets and is led by 1,000-yard back R.J. Flamson, a junior who rushed for 15 touchdowns during the regular season. Flamson will be the key assignment for Arrowhead Christian's defense, supported by middle linebacker Casey Overholt -- the Eagles' leading tackler -- and defensive linemen Jeremy Guida and David Lopez.

Mammoth has beaten both of the double wing teams it faced this year -- Downey Calvary Chapel, 41-16, and Kern Valley, 13-12. Senior defensive tackle Jason Hartless is the anchor of the defense, and senior defensive end Eric Mann and junior linebacker Garret Stoltzfus tied for the regular season team lead in tackles with 129. Yet, Arrowhead Christian runs the double wing better than anyone Mammoth has seen.

"It seems to be the offense of the decade," Mammoth coach Tom Gault said. "We know what to do to stop it. I'm not sure if the kids can do it. We've managed to score a lot of points off turnovers. I think the game will be decided by less than a touchdown."