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OCVarsity’s Steve Fryer has previews and predictions for some of the top games this week. 

GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 6 EDISON (7-4 in 2014) VS. NO. 10 TESORO (9-3)

Where, when: Tesoro High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Last time they met: 2011, Tesoro won, 16-14, in CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs first round

Series: Tesoro leads, 1-0

Coaches: Edison, Dave White (218-113-3); Tesoro, Matt Poston (18-6)

Analysis: First, credit these two coaches for setting up such a fine season opener. This is the only game in which two teams in the Orange County preseason top 10 are playing each other. Both teams have uncertainties and both will know how serious or how nonexistent those uncertainties are in this game. Edison knows it has a steady quarterback, Grant Lowary, and a fine stable of receivers featuring Jacob Price and Garrett White. On defense, we can’t be so sure about the Chargers. They have only two returning starters. The Chargers will have to grow up in a hurry, because Tesoro looks terrific on offense, too. Titans senior quarterback Devon Modster, who committed to Arizona, can throw and run with equal skill. Modster is a head-shaking challenge for any defensive coordinator. Tesoro has a standout running back, Anthony Battista, and a big-time receiver, Carter Jaenichen. Running back Connor McCloud, who left Dana Hills and enrolled at Tesoro on Monday, is not expected to play in this game. The Titans have only one returning starter on defense. It could be a basketball-like final score. Maybe this one is decided by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer (a field goal, that is).

Winner: Edison

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THURSDAY’S GAMES

SAGE HILL (3-7) VS. CALVARY CHAPEL (5-6)

Where, when: Estancia High, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Sage Hill has a new coach, Abram Booty, who is part of that excellent Booty sports family and who was an outstanding receiver at LSU. The Lightning have a good junior quarterback, Caden Sheetz, but question marks elsewhere. Calvary has a solid quarterback, too, in Patrick Glasgow, and a fine bunch of receivers, including Josh Debernarde who, like Glasgow, was All-Orange Coast League first team last season. Debernade probably is better on defense; he had 177 tackles at free safety in 2014. Calvary Chapel might be the best team in the Orange Coast League this year.

Winner: Calvary Chapel

Nonleague

Glenn of Norwalk (2-8) vs. Magnolia (5-6) at Glover Stadium, 7 p.m.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES

(All games 7 p.m. unless noted)

BISHOP AMAT OF LA PUENTE (9-4) VS. NO. 1 MATER DEI (9-3)

Where, when: Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

Analysis: Bishop Amat is No. 4 and Mater Dei is No. 8 in the CalHiSports.com state preseason rankings. Both schools still are not completely settled on starting quarterbacks. That’s nothing new at Amat, where returnees Damian Garcia and Ryder Ruiz shared time at the position in 2014. Mater Dei has a great competition going between junior Matt McDonald and freshman JT Daniels. McDonald will start against Amat, but Daniels could see plenty of action. How much, of course, depends upon what happens at the cozy stadium that some of us still call “The Santa Ana Bowl.” Watch out for Lancers receivers Trevon Sidney and Tyler Vaughns. An area of some concern for Mater Dei is at defensive line, where the Monarchs have a group of new players. If that group can help put pressure on the Lancers quarterbacks, then Mater Dei will win this game. Because if Amat can use its speed, look out.

Winner: Mater Dei

NO. 7 LA HABRA (7-4) VS. EL TORO (8-4)

Where, when: El Toro High, 7 p.m.

Radio: CASportsZone.com

Analysis: La Habra looks like a top contender for the Southwest Division championship. On paper, that is. On turf, though, we are about to find out, because the Highlanders open against a high-quality opponent. El Toro has a new coach, Mike Mayoral, and probably a new offensive approach. The days of passing on nearly every down with quick passes here, bubble screens there seem to be in the past. The Chargers can be expected to be more balanced on offense. La Habra will be balanced, too. The Highlanders can throw and run equally well because ace quarterback Eric Barriere can throw and run equally well. La Habra has a tradition of excellent linebackers. Jake Colacion is continuing that tradition for The Clan. La Habra’s defense might supply the advantage in this one.

Winner: La Habra

DANA HILLS (1-9) VS. TUSTIN (6-5)

Where, when: Tustin High, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Dana Hills got some bad news this week when McCloud, a returning all-league running back, transferred to Tesoro. (Linebacker Corey Selenski, who also was all-league last year at Dana Hills, departed for JSerra months ago.) First-year coach Phil Skinner is trying to build a foundation at Dana Hills, but this will not help. Tustin might be the best team in the Empire League. The Tillers have 16 returning starters.

Winner: Tustin

WOODBRIDGE (7-4) VS. CYPRESS (8-3)

Where, when: Western High, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Woodbridge might be the top challenger to Corona del Mar in the Pacific Coast League. The Warriors have a splendid running game, led by Connor McBride and speedy Alex Young. Cypress brings back only four starters from last year’s team. They will miss Quinten Pounds, the best overall player in county football in 2014. Plus, projected starting quarterback Andrew Khiev, might not yet be available because of a leg injury.

Winner: Woodbridge

TROY (7-4) VS. CANYON (6-7)

Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.

Analysis: It’s a big challenge to figure out how good Troy will be. The Warriors have seven returning starters from an offense that averaged 31 points a game in 2014. They should be fine on defense, too. But just where they fit in, in what looks like a darned good Freeway League, is the mystery. Canyon advanced to the Southern Division semifinals last year, so the Comanches have momentum. Led by quarterback Jason Harman and running back Charlie Treanor, Canyon will have a cranking offense. The Comanches have 10 returning starters on defense. This game might be as difficult as any to predict. Defenses usually are ahead of offenses at this time of the season.

Winner: Canyon

SEGERSTROM (3-7) VS. SANTA ANA VALLEY (5-5)

Where, when: Santa Ana Valley, 7 p.m.

Analysis: These could be two of the more improved teams in the county. Segerstrom has 17 returning starters and the makings of what could be a dominating running attack. The Jaguars might win the Golden West League championship. Valley is a championship contender, too, in the Orange League. The Falcons have a huge offensive line and the skill position players to take advantage of that. This game is the first at a new stadium adjacent to the Valley campus.

Winner: Segerstrom

NO. 9 SAN CLEMENTE (12-2) VS. SAN JUAN HILLS (4-7)

Where, when: San Juan Hills High, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Don’t think the departure of quarterback Sam Darnold, last year’s county offensive player of the year who now is at USC, means San Clemente is down. The Tritons have plenty of excellent players back, including perhaps the best running backs duo in O.C. in Vlad Dzhabiyev and Brandon Reaves. Tight end Cole Fotheringham is a first down-making machine. And that’s a fine offensive line at San Clemente. San Juan Hills has the intriguing Patrick O’Brien at quarterback. He was All-South Coast League last year, and had a fabulous spring and summer that brought in the college recruiters (he committed to Nebraska). This is a good opening-game challenge for O’Brien and Co. This is an interesting thought: Is San Clemente better than it was in 2014?

Winner: San Clemente

No. 4 Orange Lutheran (4-6) at Dominguez of Compton (7-4)

No. 3 Santa Margarita (6-5) at Cathedral Catholic of San Diego (10-2), 7:30 p.m.

Long Beach Cabrillo (4-7) vs. No. 8 JSerra (10-2) at Saddleback College

Kennedy (5-5) at Fullerton (5-6)

Orange (0-10) at Buena Park (11-2)

Marina (0-10) at Aliso Niguel (4-6)

Whittier Christian (1-9) at Bishop (6-5)

Whittier (4-6) vs. Sonora (6-4) at La Habra High

Western (1-9) vs. Alhambra (3-7) at Moor Field

Long Beach Jordan (4-6) at Capistrano Valley (9-4)

Costa Mesa (2-8) vs. Northwood (7-4) at Irvine High

Valley Christian of Cerritos (7-4) at Laguna Beach (2-8)

Sunny Hills (5-5) vs. Santiago (8-4) at Garden Grove High

Fountain Valley (5-5) vs. Servite (4-7) at Cerritos College

Fairmont Prep (2-7) at Maya Angelou of Los Angeles (0-10)

West Adams Prep of Los Angeles (6-5) at Huntington Beach (3-7)

Palos Verdes (11-3) vs. Corona del Mar (10-2) at Estancia High

Trabuco Hills (10-4) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (7-5) at Los Osos High

Riverside Prep of Oro Grande (0-10) Brethren Christian (8-3-1) at Ocean View High

Crean Lutheran (6-5) vs. Lutheran of Chula Vista at Hilltop High/Chula Vista

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SATURDAY’S GAMES

NO. 2 MISSION VIEJO (1-0) VS. LIBERTY OF BAKERSFIELD (0-0)

Where, when: Liberty High, 7:30 p.m.

Analysis: Mission Viejo said Aloha to the 2015 season last week with a 63-7 win in Hawaii over Baldwin of Wailuku. Senior All-CIF quarterback Brock Johnson threw four touchdown passes, three of them to sophomore Austin Osborne, and Isaiah Miller ran for two touchdowns and averaged 14 yards a carry. It won’t be so easy this time. Liberty is No. 14 in the California preseason top 50 compiled by CalHiSports.com. Mission Viejo is No. 13. Liberty returns 13 starters from last year’s team that finished 10-3 and advanced to the CIF-Central Section Division 1 championship game. Liberty has one of that section’s better quarterbacks, Jordan Love. Mission Viejo lost to Liberty last year, 18-7, and then lost to Oceanside before winning 12 in a row, including the CIF-SS West Valley Division championship game. This is Liberty’s first game. Mission Viejo has a game’s worth of experience. That should help.

Winner: Mission Viejo

Nonleague

Tri-City Christian of Vista (4-6) vs. Capistrano Valley Christian (7-4) at Capistrano Valley High

Century (1-9) vs. Firebaugh of Lynwood (1-9) at Lynwood High

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com