FRIDAY’S CIF-SS SOUTHERN DIVISION SEMIFINALS
El Modena (5-7) vs. Garden Grove (11-1)
Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Rarely do records indicate the strength of teams as poorly as they do in the Southern Division, but don’t get it twisted, top-seeded Garden Grove is the favorite in this one – just not by as much as you might think. The two teams share an unusually high number of common opponents, considering they play in different leagues. Both beat Santiago by three touchdowns, but you can pick which you think is more telling for the other two common opponents. Woodbridge handed Garden Grove its only loss of the season on Sept. 12, but El Modena defeated the same team a week earlier. Conversely, El Modena lost to Brea Olinda by 18 points in league play, while Garden Grove took down the Wildcats, 21-18, in the second round last week. Regardless of prior results, the game will likely be decided by who can stop the other team’s running game. Figure out a way to stop El Modena’s Kenneth Lamb (281 yards in two playoff games) or Garden Grove’s Jordan Antunez (336 yards in the playoffs) and you’ll probably figure out a path to victory.
Contact the writer: jbalan@ocregister.com
