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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

CIF STATE FOOTBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

South Region final

DIVISION 4-A

Yorba Linda (12-2) vs. St. Anthony of Long Beach (12-2)

Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Live coverage: myspectrumsports.com

Fan info: General admission, $12; students (with valid school ID), children and seniors, $8.

Outlook: Yorba Linda won its first CIF-SS title last Friday night with a win in the Division 8 championship game, while St. Anthony captured its first CIF-SS crown since1948 in the Division 10 final. Now in Week 15 of the season, both teams reached the state regionals largely because of productive, yet contrasting, rushing attacks. Yorba Linda junior Jaydyn Webb set career highs for carries and yards against Burbank last week, rumbling for 205 yards and four touchdowns on 35 attempts. Coach Jeff Bailey and the Yorba Linda coaching staff have shown an incredible amount of trust in Webb over the last month, handing the ball to the tailback at least 25 times in four of their last five outings. With junior quarterback Luke Wilson completing 64 percent of his passes, the Mustangs’ aerial attack has done just enough to prevent opposing defenses from consistently stacking the box with eight or nine defenders. As much as Yorba Linda would prefer to grind it out and play in a slugfest Saturday, St. Anthony’s will attempt to turn the game into a track meet. With no shortage of playmakers at the skill positions, the Saints’ balance has been its greatest strength. Five players have at least nine touchdowns this season. Operating out of the spread, dual-threat quarterback John Buksa has tossed 28 touchdowns and run for 19 scores. He and halfback Talaun Patton – a 6-foot-2, 220-pound bruiser – have each eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and they lead a ground game that’s averaging 281 yards a game. The Saints have jumped out to 14-0 leads in each of their last three games. Yorba Linda is not a team built to come from behind. If the Mustangs can slow the tempo down and play at their pace, they will give themselves a shot at playing for the state championship next weekend.

KENNY CONNOLLY

Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com