Nick Giannandrea reports:

Unlike a year ago when Tulare traveled to Visalia to take on El Diamante in the final, there were no pregame shenanigans tonight.

Last year, Tulare players came onto the field and sprinkled handfuls of grass from their home field -- Bob Mathias Stadium -- all over Visalia Community Stadium, an act that didn't sit well with El Diamante personnel.

Presumably, it was a symbolic retort for not being given the No. 1 seed despite a perfect record, compared to a one-loss Miners team.

Pregame walk throughs tonight in Tulare were uneventful -- not that anyone could see them.

El Diamante is the defending Division II champion and is making its third straight finals appearance. The Miners beat Tulare 63-14 last season.

Tulare last won titles -- then called Yosemite Division Small Schools crowns -- in 1999 and 2000. The Redskins, again looking to cap a perfect season, have lost in two of the past three D-II finals.