Quarterback might be the most difficult position to master in team sports.
The Southwest Division semifinalists have masters at the position.
Three of the four quarterbacks starting for Southwest semifinals teams are in the top 10 in Orange County for passing yards. A fourth is 19th in that category.
In one of the division’s Friday semifinals, it’s Trabuco Hills at Buena Park. The Coyotes’ Zach Taylor has passed for 3,155 yards, fourth in the county, with 33 touchdown passes. Trabuco quarterback Jimmy Jacobs has thrown for 1,987 yards, 19th most in the county, and 21 touchdowns.
In Capistrano Valley at San Clemente, USC-bound Sam Darnold of the Tritons has 2,645 passing yards, seventh most in O.C., with 38 touchdowns. Capistrano Valley’s Gavin Pruett is No. 6 in passing yards with 2,840 and has thrown 26 touchdown passes.
Those guys have trustworthy receivers and throw behind stalwart offensive lines. All four can run the ball when needed, too. And all four have performed well in big games, with the biggest game of their season coming in just a few days.
MISSION POSSIBLE
When Mission Viejo started the season 0-2, the Diablos dipped to No. 9 in the county media poll, which means that some of the voters did not have Mission on their ballots on Sept. 8. The coaches who create the CIF-Southern Section rankings were down on the Diablos, too, who were No. 6 that day in the coaches’ West Valley Division poll.
Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson maintained his belief that the Diablos would get it together. And they did. They have won 10 in a row, including playoff wins over Temecula Valley and Rancho Cucamonga.
If Mission Viejo beats another inland team, Great Oak of Temecula, in the semifinals Friday it will be the only Orange County team playing at Angel Stadium in the two CIF-SS championships there Dec. 6. Only a few people believed two months ago that could happen. The wise veteran coach was among the few.
FRYER’S TOP 25
Here is how I rank county teams 1-25: 1. JSerra (10-2); 2. Mater Dei (9-3); 3. Santa Margarita (6-5); 4. Servite (4-7); 5. Mission Viejo (10-2); 6. Orange Lutheran (4-6); 7. Tesoro (9-3); 8. San Clemente (11-1); 9. Trabuco Hills (8-4); 10. Corona del Mar (10-2); 11. El Toro (8-4); 12. Los Alamitos (9-3); 13. Buena Park (11-1); 14. Edison (7-4); 15. Capistrano Valley (9-3); 16. Villa Park (9-30; 17. La Habra (7-4); 18. Valencia (10-2); 19. Newport Harbor (5-6); 20. Cypress (8-3); 21. Troy (7-4); 22. Huntington Beach (3-7); 23. Fountain Valley (5-50; 24. Garden Grove (11-1); 25. Rancho Alamitos (10-2).
FRYER’S EXPLANATION
The last time two Garden Grove League teams were in the top 25 was … never.
Orange Lutheran stays in the top 10 because of how well the Lancers played against Centennial of Corona and their victory over Vista Murrieta, which beat Tesoro last week. Corona del Mar stays in the top 10 because it beat El Toro, which beat Los Alamitos.
The oddity, though, is Buena Park is above La Habra although La Habra beat Buena Park. Buena Park has beaten two county top-25 teams, Cypress and Villa Park, in the playoffs so the Coyotes are playing great right now and deserve the No. 13 slot.
THE SEMIFINALS
Mission Viejo has won a one-sided playoff game and a down-to-the wire playoff game. Both types of wins build confidence, so Mission should beat Great Oak on Friday.
Trabuco Hills’ terrific offensive line could be the difference in a Mustangs’ victory over speedy Buena Park in the Southwest Division. San Clemente beat Capistrano Valley by 27 in a Sea View League and should prevail in the rematch.
One has to love El Modena’s pluck, but Garden Grove has the superior athletes and should win. If El Mo wins, we will spend next week explaining what “The Quack is Back” means.
Rancho Alamitos’ offensive barrage should beat Canyon. And speaking of offensive barrages, look for St. Margaret’s to beat Saddleback Valley Christian in a high-scoring East Valley semifinal.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
