Fryer breaks down Week 5

The biggest game of the year, in terms of ticket demand, will be played between two 3-2 teams.

Servite's loss to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Friday dropped the Friars' record to 3-2. Next week, they play Mater Dei, which also is 3-2.

The game either sold out or was close to being sold out Thursday. There could be a few tickets available Monday at Mater Dei. How many Mater Dei was given to sell for the game, Servite's home game next Friday at Cal State Fullerton, became a hot topic on Friday.

Mater Dei and Servite both will be in the Orange County top 10 next week. Mater Dei has lost to two teams in the state top 25 - Edison and Centennial of Corona. So has Servite - Crespi of Encino and Notre Dame.

And it will again be a top 10 composed exclusively of Pac-5 Division teams, just as it has been since the media poll began after Week 0.

La Habra, of the Southwest Division, had two chances to break up the Pac-5 monopoly. The Highlanders played Los Alamitos and San Clemente, top 10 and Pac-5 teams, in back-to-back weeks.

They lost last week to Los Alamitos and on Friday to San Clemente, and both by 28-21 scores.

One result that could affect the county top 10: Newport Harbor 42, Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach 14.

Mira Costa beat Esperanza. Newport Harbor is No. 10 in the county, Esperanza is No. 8, so that could change.

No. 5 Orange Lutheran might be improving, and rapidly. The Lancers beat Banning of Wilmington, 35-0.

The word "improving" has to be applied to La Quinta. The Aztecs beat Santa Ana, 27-14. That’s the second victory in a row for La Quinta, which was 0-10 last year.

A couple of teams that remained undefeated: Laguna Hills, which knocked off Canyon, 26-7; and Los Alamitos, which beat the top-ranked team in the Los Angeles City Section, 41-28.

League play begins next week. Besides that Mater Dei-Servite game, a Trinity League opener, Newport Harbor plays Edison at Orange Coast College in the Sunset League, Corona del Mar plays at Laguna Hills in the Pacific Coast League, and Mission Viejo plays at Tesoro in the South Coast League.

Tesoro beat Mission Viejo last year, so Mission Viejo should be plenty motivated. Both teams had byes this week.

Mater Dei also had a bye. Servite might wish it had one Friday night, too.

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com