Our previews, predictions and full schedule for the Week 9 football games.
GAME OF THE WEEK
SEGERSTROM (8-0 overall, 3-0 league) VS. SANTA ANA (8-0, 3-0)
Where, when: Santa Ana Stadium 7 p.m.
Coaches: Segerstrom, Joseph Tagaloa (8-0 at Segerstrom); Santa Ana, Charlie TeGantvoort (22-8 at Santa Ana)
Last time they met: 2015, Segerstrom won, 35-0
Series: Segerstrom leads, 7-3
Analysis: Only five teams in Orange County football are undefeated. Two of them are in this Golden West League game. Segerstrom coach Joseph Tagaloa was promoted from assistant coach after Mike Maceranka, who had been Segerstrom’s only head coach, departed to coach at Laguna Hills. Tagaloa has kept the good thing going that Maceranka built. The Jaguars’ most important wins were league triumphs over Westminster, 28-22, and Orange, 20-17. It always strengthens a team’s confidence when it wins close games that are important games. Segerstrom does not have that one individual star that sometimes can carry a lower-division team. In a 35-14 league win last week over Loara, Kishon Allen, Angel Lopez and Julian Vaglienty combined for 233 rushing yards. Six different Jaguars and scored rushing touchdowns. Santa Ana coach Charlie TeGantvoort has done a remarkable rebuilding job at Santa Ana, which just three years ago finished 0-10 including a 69-7 loss to Segerstrom. Santa Ana opened league on Oct. 6 with a 31-29 loss to Orange that became a forfeit win for the Saints after Orange reported that it had used an ineligible player in that game. Santa Ana followed with a 35-0 win over Loara and a 14-7 win last week over Ocean View. After the win over Ocean View, TeGantvoort said, “even when we don’t play well, we’re finding ways to win.” The Saints’ Damian Macias is a versatile quarterback. He has passed for 753 yards and seven touchdowns and has rushed for 381 yards and six touchdowns. Santa Ana and Segerstrom are ranked No. 1 in their divisions, Santa Ana in Division 13 and Segerstrom in Division 12. Whichever team wins this one will stay at No. 1 in its division but both also have challenging final-week games coming next week: Segerstrom plays at Ocean View (4-4, 1-2) and Santa Ana plays at Westminster (4-4, 2-1). It looks like Segerstrom will be able to run the ball effectively and rack up the first downs. If the Jaguars limit Santa Ana’s big-play capability, they will win.
Winner: Segerstrom
All games 7 p.m. unless noted
THURSDAY
ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-2, 2-1) VS NO. 6 JSERRA (5-3, 1-2)
Where, when: Saddleback College, 7 p.m.
Analysis: JSerra has a knack for winning late-season games few would think the Lions would win. They did that last week in a 27-21 Trinity League win over Santa Margarita. That win guaranteed JSerra the .500-or-better overall record required for at-large berth consideration should the Lions not be among the top three finishers in the Trinity League. (The top three teams in the league receive guaranteed playoff berths.) St. John Bosco is coming off of a 26-21 loss last week to Mater Dei. To win this one, JSerra is going to have to play a perfect game and get touchdowns off St. John Bosco turnovers. The Lions might find that Bosco quarterback Re-Al Mitchell is too fast and too good to contain. This game was originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, but was changed to a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Winner: St. John Bosco
LOS AMIGOS (5-3, 2-1) VS. LA QUINTA (7-1, 3-0)
Where, when: Bolsa Grande High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: It has been a long time since Los Amigos-La Quinta was a big game. Yet here they are, with La Quinta in first place, tied with Garden Grove, and Los Amigos one game behind. Los Amigos is a heck of a running team. The Lobos have two seniors with more than 1,000 yards rushing, Steven Hernandez (1,374 yards) and Edgar Galindo (1,033 yards). Los Amigos has 28 complete passes over eight games. La Quinta is averaging 37 points a game thanks in large part to its passing attack led by sophomore quarterback Michael Nadeau (1,245 passing yards, 16 touchdowns) and junior running back Dylan Do (29 receptions, 567 yards, seven touchdowns) and senior Nathan Medellin (16 catches, 309 yards, three touchdowns). Because running teams sometimes have difficulty getting prepared in practice for an upcoming passing team, and because of the passing team’s superior ability to play comeback football, the Aztecs have the edge.
Winner: La Quinta
Crestview League
Canyon (3-5, 0-1) vs. No. 20 Foothill (5-3, 0-1)
Garden Grove League
Santiago (1-7, 0-3) vs. Rancho Alamitos (4-4, 1-2) at Garden Grove High
North Hills League
No. 17 El Modena (7-1, 1-0) vs. Esperanza (1-7, 0-1) at Yorba Linda High
Orange League
Santa Ana Valley (4-4, 2-1) vs. Anaheim (3-5, 2-1) at Glover Stadium
Orange Coast League
Laguna Beach (4-4, 2-1) at Estancia (2-6, 1-2)
FRIDAY
NO. 15 TESORO (4-4, 0-2) VS. NO. 13 SAN JUAN HILLS (6-3, 1-2)
Where, when: San Juan Hills, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This is one of many games this week that are important to the playoff chances of both teams. Tesoro, a CIF-SS Division 1 team, and San Juan Hills, a Division 3 team, are both likely to need at-large berths to get into the playoffs. At-large teams with a .500-or-better overall record will have first priority when it comes to the at-large spots. Tesoro needs a win to make sure it has a .500-or-better overall record. San Juan Hills is going to better than .500, but a win in this game would improve their profile. Matt Rodriguez has taken over the San Juan Hills starting quarterback duties and has performed well, throwing for 1,136 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Stallions lost to Mission Viejo and San Clemente in league games, as did Tesoro. San Juan Hills played better than Tesoro did against those two opponents.
Winner: San Juan Hills
LAGUNA HILLS (5-3, 1-1) VS. NO. 23 EL TORO (3-6, 2-1)
Where, when: El Toro High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: These two are competing for the Sea View League’s second and final guaranteed playoff berth, unless Capistrano Valley is upset by Dana Hills next week and then the winner of this game still have a shot at sharing the league title with Capistrano Valley. Laguna Hills beat Templeton, 41-28, in a nonleague game. The Hawks’ Logan Montgomery had two touchdown receptions and an interception, and Zac Crowe rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns. El Toro, the best sub-.500 team in county football, shelled Dana Hills, 56-3, last week. The Chargers have lost to some excellent teams – Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo and Corona del Mar. El Toro junior quarterback Cooper Jones has passed for 2,489 yards and 22 touchdowns. Another strong night for Jones will mean an El Toro win.
Winner: El Toro
NO. 24 CYPRESS (5-3, 1-2) VS. KENNEDY (5-3, 2-1)
Where, when: Western High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Cypress’ loss to Pacifica last week damaged the Centurions’ chances to finish among the top three in the Empire League, a six-team league in which the top three finishers received guaranteed playoff berths. Kennedy last week lost to league-leading Tustin. These teams seem evenly matched, talent-wise. So that’s when we go to comparative scores. Cypress lost to Tustin by three points when Tustin scored a touchdown in the final seconds. Kennedy lost to Tustin by 43 points.
Winner: Cypress
NO. 10 VILLA PARK (7-1, 1-0) VS. NO. 18 YORBA LINDA (7-1, 1-0)
Where, when: Yorba Linda High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Yorba Linda opened Crestview League play last week with a 27-9 win over Foothill. Villa Park’s league-opening win was over Canyon by a score that was closer than expected, 25-14. Yorba Linda’s loss was to El Modena. Villa Park’s loss was to Servite. Two fine quarterbacks are in this one. Yorba Linda junior Luke Wilson has completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,510 yards and 15 touchdowns. Villa Park senior Nick Sipe, who committed to Purdue, has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,889 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Spartan who is the game-changer is running back/linebacker John Stamos who rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Canyon. He has scored at least one touchdown in every game. He will push his way into the end zone a couple of more times in this one and be his usual un-block-able self on defense.
Winner: Villa Park
NO. 1 MATER DEI (8-0, 3-0) VS. NO. 4 SERVITE (4-4, 1-2)
Where, when: Angel Stadium 7 p.m.
Analysis: That old “trap game” talk is making the rounds about this Trinity League game. Mater Dei is coming off of its great 26-21 win last week over St. John Bosco. Servite lost a tough one last week to Orange Lutheran, 49-42. Servite also has that 70-6 loss to St. John Bosco, and the Mater Dei guys are aware of that. Mater Dei is unlikely to fall into the trap. The Monarchs are too determined, too business-like to lose focus even at the big stadium where it will be Servite’s home game. Mater Dei sophomore quarterback JT Daniels against St. John Bosco had his least-productive game. He threw for 135 yards, his first night below 300 yards passing, and had one touchdown pass after having no fewer than five in a game previously. Whatever it was, illness or just the high quality of Bosco’s defense, Daniels is set for a big night against the Friars.
Winner: Mater Dei
NO. 3 ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-3, 2-1) VS. NO. 7 SANTA MARGARITA (4-4, 0-3)
Where, when: Saddleback College, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Santa Margarita is the only Trinity League team without a league win. The Eagles come into this one either lethargic or hungry. The feeling here is that Santa Margarita has a great deal of pride and will be ready to rock. This also is an important game for Orange Lutheran. The Lancers can clinch a playoff berth by beating Santa Margarita. They survived several mistakes, including late turnovers, to beat Servite, 49-42, last week. Any Trinity League win is a huge win, and the Lancers also had a great night running the ball as O.C. offensive player of the week Dominik Austin rushed for 233 yards on 32 carries. Lutheran also had the county defensive player of the week, Brandon McKinney who returned two interceptions for touchdowns. It looks like Orange Lutheran is playing its best football.
Winner: Orange Lutheran
BRETHREN CHRISTIAN (7-1) VS. NO. 25 ST. MARGARET’S (7-1)
Where, when: St. Margaret’s High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: It’s not a league game, because the Academy League disintegrated. Sage Hill left what was a four-team league to play 8-man football. Only three teams, Brethren Christian, Crean Lutheran and St. Margaret’s remained, and CIF-SS rules require a minimum of four teams to make a league. While it’s a shame no league championship is at stake here, this remains a big game. Both are ranked high in their CIF-SS playoff divisions. Brethren is No. 4 in Division 10. St. Margaret’s is No. 1 in Division 7. Brethren Christian is undefeated on the field. A win over Ocean View became a forfeit after it was discovered that Brethren used an ineligible player in that game. St. Margaret’s loss was to Bishop’s of La Jolla, which is 8-0 and ranked No. 10 in San Diego County. Brethren’s Jordan Leonard is second in O.C. rushing with 1,382 yards. St. Margaret’s Nick and George Krantz have been terrific. Nick Krantz has rushed for 524 yards. George Krantz has passed for 2,003 yards, seventh-most in O.C. St. Margaret’s might have what it takes to keep Leonard from running unabated, and George Krantz will connect with his targets.
Winner: St. Margaret’s
Empire League
Western (2-5-1, 0-3) vs. Pacifica (4-4, 1-2) at Bolsa Grande High
No. 19 Tustin (7-1, 3-0) at Valencia (2-6, 2-1)
Freeway League
Fullerton (3-5, 0-3) at La Habra (4-4, 2-1)
No. 12 Buena Park (7-1, 3-0) vs. Sunny Hills (6-2, 2-1) at Buena Park High
Sonora (0-8, 0-3) vs. No. 21Troy (6-2, 2-1) at Fullerton High
Garden Grove League
Bolsa Grande (1-7, 0-3) at Garden Grove (6-2, 3-0)
Golden West League
Ocean View (4-4, 1-2) vs. Orange (5-3, 0-3) at El Modena High
Loara (1-7, 0-3) at Westminster (4-4, 2-1)
North Hills League
El Dorado (2-6, 0-1) at Brea Olinda (4-4, 1-0)
Olympic League
Village Christian of Sun Valley (6-2, 1-1) vs. Whittier Christian (5-4, 1-2) at Whittier College
Orange League
Katella (8-0, 3-0) at Century (1-7, 0-3)
Savanna (4-4, 1-2) vs. Magnolia (1-7, 1-2) at Glover Stadium
Orange Coast League
Calvary Chapel (2-6, 2-1) vs. Saddleback (3-5, 1-2) at Segerstrom High
Costa Mesa (0-8, 0-3) vs. Godinez (4-4, 3-0) at Santa Ana Valley High
Pacific Coast League
No. 9 Corona del Mar (7-1, 3-0) vs. Northwood (1-7, 1-2) at Portola High
Woodbridge (3-5, 1-2) vs. Beckman (4-4, 1-2) at Tustin High
Irvine (2-5-1, 1-2) at University (6-2, 1-2)
San Joaquin League
Capistrano Valley Christian (2-6, 0-3) vs. Saddleback Valley Christian (5-3, 3-0) at Laguna Hills High
Sea View League
Dana Hills (1-7, 0-2) at Aliso Niguel (2-6, 0-2)
South Coast League
No. 8 San Clemente (6-2, 2-0) at Trabuco Hills (2-6, 0-2)
Sunset League
No. 5 Edison (7-1, 3-0) vs. Fountain Valley (1-7, 0-3) at Orange Coast College
No. 11 Los Alamitos (5-3, 2-1) at Huntington Beach (4-4, 2-1)
Marina (3-5, 0-3) vs. No. 22 Newport Harbor (4-4, 2-1) at Estancia High
Nonleague
Crean Lutheran (6-2) at Maranatha of Pasadena (3-4-1)
SATURDAY
San Joaquin League
Webb of Claremont (2-6, 0-3) vs. Fairmont Prep (3-4, 1-2) at Yorba Linda High
8-man
Sage Hill (4-3) vs. Animo Leadership of Inglewood (0-7) at Locke High of Los Angeles
Fryer’s predictions last week: 6-4
Season to date: 67-23
Contact the writer: sfryer@scng.com
