FRIDAY’S WEST VALLEY DIVISION PLAYOFF GAMES
El Toro (8-3) vs. Great Oak of Temecula (9-2)
Where, when: Great Oak High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The Chargers might have surprised some with a first-round win over Los Alamitos, but Great Oak shocked seemingly everyone with a 55-37 upset at Chino Hills, which figured to be a contender to win the division. Now the Chargers, led by quarterback Trey Tinsley and a defense that forced Los Al into five turnovers, will get off the bus in Temecula to face a confident opponent. The biggest challenge for the El Toro defense should be Great Oak junior running back Demetric Felton, who ran for a season-high 275 yards and three touchdowns on just 25 carries against Chino Hills.
Tesoro (9-2) vs. Vista Murrieta (9-2)
Where, when: Vista Murrieta High, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: In what appears to be a tight second round, this game might be the tightest. Tesoro dismantled Newport Harbor behind three touchdown runs and a touchdown reception from junior running back Anthony Battista. Vista Murrieta performed similarly, jumping out to a 42-6 lead over Canyon of Canyon Country at the half before letting the Cowboys gain some ground in the second half. The Vista Murrieta rushing duo of running back Tito Feliciano and quarterback Kyle Williams, which combined for 267 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries last week, will present the biggest problem for the Tesoro defense. Vista Murrieta also had five interceptions in the first round, so Tesoro quarterback Devon Modster will need to be on point.
Mission Viejo (9-2) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (7-4)
Where, when: Los Osos High of Rancho Cucamonga, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The second-seeded Diablos will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games against the Cougars, who surprised Foothill League champion Valencia of Valencia, 52-20, in the first round. Mission Viejo didn’t encounter much resistance in a 42-6, first-round victory over Temecula Valley as running back Rome Innocenzi ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The Diablos will get a much stiffer test on the road against Rancho Cucamonga, which got six touchdown passes from quarterback Angel Matute last week. The Diablos defense, which has allowed slightly more than 14 points per game, has experience dealing with quality opposing quarterbacks.
Contact the writer: jbalan@ocregister.com
