That's why Jason Bott, who will direct all four CIF San Diego Section football championships Friday from Qualcomm Stadium for Cox Communications, can't wait for the games to kick off.

"These high school games are special, and we know it," Bott said. "They were special when we were doing a Game of the Week. Now that we're not, the championships are even more special."

Bott says there is nothing special, broadcast-wise, about the high school games because Cox puts the same effort into high school football as it does for all 150 Padres telecasts.

Jim Stone and Craig Elsten will call the Division V and III games at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Steve Quis and John Kentera work the Division II and I games at 4:30 and 8 p.m.

John Weisbarth will roam the sidelines.

"One thing you learn when you work at Cox is that every event we do gets an A-plus production," Bott said. "The same people that do the Padres will work the cameras, do the graphics and do the production for the high school games."

Channel 4 will use six cameras for the four prep games ---- two at the 25-yard lines, one hand held, one high in the end zone, one locked at the top of the stadium and one, called a slash, which is positioned in the end zone.

That camera, Bott said, is the one that gets plays coming right at the viewer and gets the tight shots on the quarterback and on the sidelines.

"The people we use know their jobs," Bott said. "Everyone is a pro."

Bott estimated it takes a crew of more than 30 to produce a game.

And since there are four games Friday, more than 45 people will be working because some jobs are too difficult for someone to work all four.

The biggest challenge Bott faces is gathering information.

All the info ---- rosters, two deeps, stats and notes ---- that NFL and college teams provide the TV networks, Bott has to track down himself for the high school games.

"I'm the sports information, the media relations director, the parking coordinator all in one," Bott said. "I try to think of everything, take care of everyone, but I'm sure I'll forget someone. I'm sure someone will have to pay to park because I forgot to get a name on the list."

High school fans will notice some differences Friday.

There will be an extra timeout each quarter to accommodate TV. Some timeouts will be 90 seconds instead of 60.

And those who are observant will notice a "Red Hat" on the press box side of the field.

The Red Hat is the liaison between the TV production truck and the game officials.

Nothing happens on the field until the Red Hat says the truck is ready.

That's standard for every TV game ---- high school, college or pros ---- but you may not have noticed him in the confusion on most sidelines.

Bott had his production trucks roll into Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday.

All the graphics packages were built and everything was tested.

"So when we arrive Friday, all we have to do is turn on the cameras," Bott said. "Honestly, we take a lot of pride in these games. We give them our best effort."