OCVarsity’s Steve Fryer has previews and predictions for the top matchups in Week 6, as well as the complete schedule of games.
GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 1 MATER DEI (5-0) VS. NO. 4 ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-2)
Where, when: Orange Coast College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Coaches: Mater Dei, Bruce Rollinson (254-79-2); Orange Lutheran, Chuck Petersen (20-16)
Last time they met: 2014, Mater Dei 49, Orange Lutheran 13
Series: Orange Lutheran leads, 7-6
Analysis: This Trinity League opener brings together two teams ranked in the state top 25. Well, so does another Trinity League game today. And another Trinity opener has a state-ranked team in it. That’s how good this league is. Mater Dei is flying high despite one of the younger lineups it has had in Rollinson’s long tenure there. One of those youngsters is quarterback JT Daniels, a freshman who has been getting better by the week. Daniels’ arm and confidence are equally strong. For Lutheran’s defense, it’s all about getting into Daniels’ face to shake his confidence and limit his time in the pocket. Mater Dei running back Brandon LaMarche leads a productive running game that reduces the pressure on Daniels. Orange Lutheran runs a triple-option offense that is tricky in itself but is made trickier by the fact opponents don’t see it often in games. It’s not easy for a scout team to duplicate it in practice. Lutheran’s offense can get defenders out of position. What looks like a running play suddenly becomes a pass. Mater Dei’s young defenders have to simultaneously create a disruptive attack while not overplaying and thus get suckered and give up a big play. It comes down to this: which team’s defense will be more successful?
Winner: Mater Dei
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THURSDAY
All games 7 p.m. unless noted
Sunset League
LOS ALAMITOS (2-3) VS. EDISON (2-3)
Where, when: Huntington Beach High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This league opener is the best matchup of teams with 2-3 records that you could find. Los Alamitos has lost to two teams in the state top 25, No. 12 Narbonne and No. 23 San Juan Hills. The Griffins’ other loss was to Orange County No. 8 La Habra on the game’s final play, a wild prayer of a pass that was answered for the Highlanders. Edison’s losses are to state No. 4 Mater Dei, and Orange County No. 6 Tesoro and No. 9 Servite. Los Alamitos has plenty of offensive potential. The Griffins’ passing combination of quarterback Jack Telenko and Jacob Gasser (29 catches, 520 yards) at times has been unstoppable. The Chargers’ duo of quarterback Grant Lowary (230 passing yards a game, 12 TDs) and receiver Garrett White (31 receptions) is a terrific one, too. This is a pick ’em game that could be decided by which team has the ball last – or which team is more physical in the fourth quarter.
Winner: Edison
Nonleague
VILLA PARK (5-0) VS. CANYON (3-2)
Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This is another of those Century Conference cross-conference games. The Century Conference is made up of eight schools divided into Crestview and North Hills leagues within the conference. The Crestview is considered the upper-tier league. In football this year, so far, the leagues are not as far apart competitively as they were last year. The North Hills League’s Brea Olinda last week beat Crestview member Esperanza. Canyon of the North Hills League beat the Crestview’s Foothill and Esperanza. North Hills team El Modena lost by one point each to the Crestview’s Villa Park and Yorba Linda. Canyon is one of the more-improved teams in county football over the past two seasons. Villa Park still looks like the superior team.
Winner: Villa Park
Academy League
Sage Hill (1-5) vs. Crean Lutheran (4-2) at Irvine High
Empire League
Cypress (2-3) vs. Pacifica (4-1) at Bolsa Grande High
Garden Grove League
La Quinta (2-3) vs. Rancho Alamitos (4-1) at Garden Grove High
Golden West League
Orange (3-2) at Segerstrom (2-2-1)
Orange League
Century (2-3) vs. Anaheim (2-3) at Glover Stadium
Sunset League
Fountain Valley (3-2) at Newport Harbor (2-3)
Nonleague
Foothill (3-2) vs. El Dorado (0-5)
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FRIDAY
Freeway League
NO. 8 LA HABRA (4-1) VS. SONORA (5-0)
Where, when: La Habra High, 7 p.m.
Radio: CASportsZone.com
Analysis: Sonora is off to a great start, and is coming off of a great win over Aliso Niguel. Raiders running back Jacob Fimbres was county offensive player of the week earlier this season. Sonora quarterback Cole McDonald got the honor this week for his 299 yards passing, four touchdowns and 140 rushing yards in the 47-46 win over Aliso. La Habra is coming off of its bye week. The Highlanders’ only loss was to Mission Viejo, 24-14. La Habra coaches and players thought they should have won that game. They know they have a fine team, one good enough to go 5-0 in a tough Freeway League. Although the stadium is at La Habra High, as a Fullerton Union High School District stadium it also is the home field for FUHSD member Sonora. This is a Sonora home game. The visiting team doesn’t win much at La Habra High, but it will in this one.
Winner: La Habra
Pacific Coast League
UNIVERSITY (5-0, 0-0) VS. BECKMAN (2-3, 0-0)
Where, when: Tustin High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The playoffs are five weeks away. But it’s not too early to start thinking about the playoffs. That’s because a league opener like this one will have much to say about who gets one of the Pacific Coast League’s three guaranteed playoff berths. University has embarked upon a great start. It’s not like the Trojans have beaten county top 25 teams, but they have beaten teams similar in quality to themselves. That’s always an accomplishment. Beckman’s wins are over Santa Ana Valley and Glenn of Norwalk, teams that are a combined 0-10-1. The Patriots’ losses are to teams that are a combined 13-3. So it’s difficult to know just where Beckman is, quality-wise. One likes the momentum University has going into league.
Winner: University
Sea View League
NO. 10 SAN CLEMENTE (4-2) VS. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (4-2)
Where, when: Capistrano Valley High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: San Clemente looks good enough to go undefeated and win the league championship. Tritons quarterback Jack Sears showed his toughness last week in his team’s loss to Tesoro, one of the harder-hitting teams in county football. Tyler Waggoner has been a productive running for Capistrano Valley. He is averaging 109 yards a game and 7 yards a carry. The Cougars will need to control the ball and the clock to beat San Clemente. The problem is, San Clemente does not need a lot of time to score touchdowns.
Winner: San Clemente
South Coast League
EL TORO (4-2) VS. NO. 6 TESORO (5-1)
Where, when: Tesoro High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: When El Toro started 0-2, the natural reaction was “new coach, transition year difficulties.” The Chargers then beat Corona del Mar, which was a surprise, followed with expected wins over Norwalk and Trabuco Hills and then romped, which was a surprise, over Capistrano Valley, 44-0. An El Toro win over the Titans would be another surprise. Tesoro quarterback Devon Modster, an early leader for county offensive player of the year, banged up his right shoulder in last week’s win over San Clemente. Carter Jaenichen, one of the county’s better receivers, slid over to quarterback and played well. Modster is confident he can play against El Toro. If he does play, Tesoro surely wins. If not, the Titans chances remain strong.
Winner: Tesoro
Trinity League
ST. JOHN BOSCO (5-0) VS. NO. 3 SANTA MARGARITA (4-1)
Where, when: Saddleback College, 7 p.m.
Analysis: St. John Bosco has gone 5-0 in the Trinity League three seasons in a row. That is impressive. The Braves, No. 3 in CalHiSports.com’s state top 25, are good enough to go 5-0 again even with last year’s star quarterback, Josh Rosen, now starting at UCLA. Rosen’s replacement, Quentin Davis, has thrown for 1,296 yards (an average of 259 a game) with 14 touchdowns. Speedy running back Sean McGrew is averaging 117 rushing yards a game and 10 yards a carry. Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello (1,330 passing yards, 12 touchdown passes) is in that midseason offensive MVP discussion. Eagles receiver Dylan Crawford has 25 catches and Grant Calcaterra has 24. Eagles running back Trey Green has rushed for 450 yards. The Santa Margarita offense is outstanding, but it can’t match Bosco’s. But then, whose can?
Winner: St. John Bosco
NO. 5 JSERRA (5-0) VS. NO. 9 SERVITE (2-3)
Where, when: Cerritos College, 7 p.m.
Radio: CASportsZone.com
Analysis: Nothing wrong with going 5-0. We know JSerra is good, but JSerra’s 5-0 record has not given a reliable indication of exactly how good. We are about to find out. Servite is not the best team in the Trinity League. The Friars are more likely than any Trinity team to go 0-5 in league. But Servite could snatch a couple of wins and make the playoffs, too. Servite’s three losses are to teams that are a combined 15-2, including state No. 1 De La Salle of Concord and nationally ranked Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. This game might be more evenly matched than the records indicate.
Winner: JSerra
Empire League
Tustin (4-1) at Western (1-4)
Kennedy (2-3) at Valencia (5-0)
Freeway League
Troy (3-2) vs. Sunny Hills (4-1) at Buena Park High
Buena Park (4-1) at Fullerton (4-1)
Garden Grove League
Los Amigos (0-5, 0-0) at Bolsa Grande (0-5, 0-0)
Santiago (0-5, 0-0) at Garden Grove (3-2, 0-0)
Golden West League
Loara (0-5) vs. Santa Ana (5-0) at Santa Ana Stadium
Ocean View (3-2) at Westminster (4-1)
Olympic League
Whittier Christian (3-3) at Maranatha of Pasadena (3-3)
Orange League
Magnolia (2-3) vs. Katella (5-0) at Glover Stadium
Savanna (2-3) at Santa Ana Valley (0-4-1)
Orange Coast League
Costa Mesa (4-1) at Laguna Beach (2-3)
Calvary Chapel (2-3) at Estancia (1-4)
Saddleback (3-2) vs. Godinez (2-3) at Segerstrom High
Pacific Coast League
Corona del Mar (3-2) vs. Woodbridge (2-3) at University High
Northwood (1-4) at Irvine (3-2)
Sea View League
Aliso Niguel (2-4) at Laguna Hills (4-1)
South Coast League
Dana Hills (0-6) at No. 2 Mission Viejo (6-0)
Sunset League
Marina (1-4) at Huntington Beach (2-3)
Nonleague
Esperanza (0-5) at El Modena (3-2)
Yorba Linda (2-3) at Brea Olinda (2-3)
Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia (2-2) vs. Brethren Christian (5-0) at Ocean View High
Riverside Prep of Oro Grande (1-5) vs. Fairmont Prep (1-4) at Yorba Linda High
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SATURDAY
San Joaquin League
SADDLEBACK VALLEY CHRISTIAN (5-0) VS. CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN (1-4)
Where, when: Capistrano Valley High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Saddleback Valley Christian is averaging 48 points a game. The Warriors’ average margin of victory is 34 points. Last week, they played the best team on their nonleague schedule, Calvary Chapel, and still dominated in a 55-27 win. Powered by the passing and running skills of junior quarterback Cade Henjum, Saddleback Valley Christian should start league play with another win if the Warriors don’t take Capistrano Valley Christian too lightly. Two of CVC’s losses are to undefeated Brethren Christian and St. Margaret’s, and a win over Tri-City Christian of Vista was turned into a forfeit loss.
Winner: Saddleback Valley Christian
Also Saturday
Nonleague
St. Margaret’s (5-0) at Justin-Siena of Napa (3-2), 5 p.m.
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Fryer on Football last week: 5-5
Season to date: 41-18-1
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
