Fryer: Trinity teams get ready to fight for playoffs

MISSION VIEJO - JSerra has not had an All-Orange County first-team football player.

Casey Eugenio just might become the first Lion to make the elite group.

Eugenio had two interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown, and ran for two touchdowns as JSerra beat Trabuco Hills, 31-21, Friday at Saddleback College. It was the final nonleague game for both.

A few weeks ago, in JSerra’s 37-21 victory over Long Beach Wilson, Eugenio, a 5-foot-8, 172-pound junior, had two interceptions, rushed for 78 yards, returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown and blocked an extra-point kick.

That’s All-County stuff.

Does JSerra have the right stuff to compete in the Trinity League this year? JSerra plays Mater Dei in a Trinity League opener next Friday at Santa Ana Stadium. So we shall see … well, we’ll be able to see if they fix the lighting at “The Bowl,” that is.

JSerra has a quick defense. Quarterback Nick Robinson improved a good amount from two weeks ago against Buena Park, and receiver Dante Pettis is a dangerous guy who can turn a short pass reception into a long gain.

The Lions might not get the three league victories that often are the minimum needed to get one of the Trinity League’s three guaranteed CIF playoff berths, but they could be a factor in the league race and will give all of their opponents a challenge unlike they are used to getting from JSerra.

As for Mater Dei, the Monarchs on Friday did what Coach Bruce Rollinson wanted them to do. He requested a bend-but-don’t-break defense and a first downs-producing running game. Mater Dei delivered both, but Narbonne of Harbor City made enough big plays on offense and defense to take an 18-17 victory.

Narbonne is ranked No. 4 in California and is favored to win a CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship. It’s not even October yet, but people who write about such things are suggesting that Narbonne is a leader to win a berth in one of the CIF State Championship Bowl Games.

Servite did something Friday it had not done since Sept. 1.

The Friars scored. And they won for the first time since the first day of the month, too, with a 38-6 victory at “The Pit” --- St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs, a renewal of an Angelus League rivalry of long ago.

This was a pretty big deal on Friday night --- El Dorado 24, Esperanza 21. That will have a great deal of impact on who gets that third and final guaranteed playoff berth in the Century League. It looks like Foothill and Villa Park are the top two teams in the Century.

El Dorado is 2-0 in the league, tied for first place with Foothill, which beat El Modena on Thursday. Villa Park, 1-0 in league, had a bye this week. Foothill and Villa Park play each other next Friday at El Modena High.

Which brings us to next week’s other big league games.

And in the Trinity League, besides JSerra-Mater Dei, there is Servite against Santa Margarita on Friday at Saddleback College, and Orange Lutheran plays host to St. John Bosco of Bellflower at Orange Coast College.

Mission Viejo is gaining momentum. The Diablos rolled again, 52-21, over Redlands East Valley.

El Toro plays its South Coast League opener against San Clemente next Thursday.

The Century and Empire leagues are going strong.

Let the other league games begin!