Frankly Fryer: A look at the Week 10 games
The columnist analyzes this week's top football games.
Frankly Fryer
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Century League
CANYON (7-2, 2-2) VS. EL MODENA (6-3, 2-2)
Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: There is not enough room here to describe all the playoff scenarios in this league. We do know that El Dorado has locked up first place, but there are four teams, including these two and Tustin and Brea Olinda, tied with 2-2 league records. The Century League is a Southwest Division league, and there are no at-large berths in the Southwest. So it's a must-win situation for all four of the Century's 2-2 leagues. Canyon lost two in a row, to El Dorado and Tustin, and bounced back with a 42-19 victory over Brea Olinda last week. El Modena lost to Brea and El Dorado before beating Villa Park last week. This is going to be one of those high-scoring, who-has-the-ball-last games, friends. We like Canyon's chances here by the slimmest of margins.
Winner: Canyon
Orange League
ANAHEIM (8-1, 3-1) VS. WESTERN (7-1-1, 4-0)
Where, when: Western High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: You look at the records and this appears to be a evenly matched game. But you look at the results among common opponents, and here is what jumps out: Anaheim lost to Savanna, 35-21; Western beat Savanna, 65-7. Western is one of the top four teams in the Southern Division.
Winner: Western
South Coast League
TESORO (6-3, 4-0) VS. NO. 8 MISSION VIEJO (6-2-1, 3-0-1)
Where, when: Mission Viejo High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Tesoro coach Brian Barnes is having a coach-of-the-year type of season. Your more-appreciated-by-the-day Frankly Fryer pal reviewed the South Coast League's coaches predicted league standings, and Tesoro generally was picked to finish fourth, fifth or sixth, but here are the Titans at the top of the heap going into the final league game. Tesoro is running into a Diablos team that has not lost a league game in this century and is determined to keep that streak alive. And Mission Viejo might be playing its best right now.
Winner: Mission Viejo
Trinity League
NO. 1 SERVITE (7-1, 3-0) VS. NO. 3 MATER DEI (7-1, 2-1)
Where, when: Angel Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
Outlook: Servite is listed first, three lines above, because Servite is the visiting team. So calm down. OK, as for the game … Mater Dei is going to be out to redeem itself after losing soundly to Orange Lutheran last week. Servite still is fired up from reading that Lutheran and Mater Dei were a good margin better than every other county team. So motivation is plentiful for both. And there is that streak of no Mater Dei losses in the Servite-Mater Dei rivalry since 1988; this year's Friars want to slay the streak, this year's Monarchs don't want to be on the team that sees the streak end. Here is the strategical breakdown: Mater Dei is going to load up its defenders around the line to try to keep Servite running back D.J. Shoemate under control, and to force Servite to throw the ball. Servite has to establish a passing game to open up its running game, and it has to cover Mater Dei's receivers the way Lutheran did magnificently last week while putting a significant pass rush on Mater Dei quarterback Matt Barkley. Special teams are going to be important, too, because that is an area in which mistakes in big high school football games can change the course of a game permanently. The feeling here is that Mater Dei's array of offensive weaponry is going to produce enough points for a Monarchs victory.
Winner: Mater Dei
Also Friday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted):
Academy League -- Capistrano Valley Christian (4-5, 0-2) at Sage Hill (7-2, 1-1); St. Margaret's (9-0, 2-0) vs. Brethren Christian (4-5, 1-1) at Ocean View High. Alpha League – Whittier Christian (5-4, 3-1) at Maranatha of Pasadena (6-3. 3-1). Century League – Tustin (5-4, 2-2) at Brea Olinda (3-6, 2-2); Villa Park (1-8, 0-4) vs. No. 6 El Dorado (8-1, 4-0) at Valencia High. Empire League – Cypress (5-3, 1-2) vs. Katella (2-6, 0-3) at Glover Stadium. Garden Grove League – Garden Grove (5-4, 3-1) at Bolsa Grande (3-6, 1-3); Los Amigos (3-6, 2-2) vs. La Quinta (0-9, 0-4) at Garden Grove High. Orange League – Anaheim (8-1, 3-1) at Western (7-1-1, 4-0); Savanna (7-2, 3-1) vs. Santa Ana Valley (6-3, 2-2) at Santa Ana Stadium. Orange Coast League – Laguna Beach (1-8, 0-2) vs. Estancia (5-4, 2-0) at Newport Harbor High. Pacific Coast League -- Irvine (7-1, 1-1) at Laguna Hills (5-2, 2-0). San Joaquin League – Saddleback Valley Christian (9-0, 6-0) vs. Fairmont Prep (7-2, 6-0) at Valley Christian High of Cerritos. Sea View League – Huntington Beach 5-4, 2-2) vs. Foothill (7-2, 3-1) at Tustin High; Woodbridge (0-9, 0-4) vs. Northwood (0-9, 0-4) at Irvine High. South Coast League -- Capistrano Valley (4-4-1, 0-3-1) at Aliso Niguel (1-8, 0-4); San Clemente (6-2-1, 2-1-1) at Dana Hills (1-7-1, 1-2-1). Sunset League – No. 4 Esperanza (8-1, 3-1) vs. Fountain Valley (5-4, 1-3) at Huntington Beach High; No. 7 Los Alamitos (6-3, 2-2) vs. Marina (3-6, 0-4) at Westminster High. Trinity League – JSerra (2-6, 0-3) vs. No. 2 Orange Lutheran (7-1, 2-1) at Orange Coast College, 7:30 p.m.
Frankly Fryer record last week: 6-2
Season to date: 53-22-1
Click here for Thursday's games
Click here for Saturday's game
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
