If it's Cypress vs. Pacifica, it must be big

It seems only fitting that Cypress and Pacifica will meet Friday in their final game of the regular season.

The teams met twice last year in two of the more exciting games of the season. Pacifica defeated Cypress, 35-34, Oct. 11 in the regular season after a failed two-point conversion attempt by the Centurions.

They met again in the CIF Southern Division final Dec. 7. This time the Centurions were victorious, 36-30, after rallying from a 20-7 halftime deficit.

Both teams had a slow start this season but are now playing their best. Cypress has won six of its past seven games. Pacifica started 1-3 but has four of its past five games.

"I'm sure a lot of people will be excited about it," Pacifica coach Guy Gardner said after Thursday's victory over Loara.

Cypress has a chance to win the Empire League title outright. Pacifica has the opportunity to grab at least a share of the title with a victory.

Valencia can also get a piece of the league title if it defeats Loara and if the Mariners defeat the Centurions.

• Tickets for Thursday's Mater Dei-Orange Lutheran game will go on sale today at the Mater Dei box office at 8:30 a.m. The box office will be selling tickets through game day from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The start time of the game has been moved back to 7:30 p.m.

The game will be televised by on Prime Ticket.

• Through the nonleague schedule, the Mater Dei defense offered little resistance.

The Monarchs allowed 43, 47 and 32 points in three of their first five games.

Things have certainly turned around since. Since the start of Trinity League, the Monarchs have allowed an average of 13.7 points a game.

The reason for the turnaround: togetherness.

"We're starting to understand that they depend on the guy next to them," Coach Bruce Rollinson said Friday.

• It was a record-setting night for Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford on Friday.

Bridgford, who has committed to Cal, passed Mark Sanchez to go into first place in the school record book for single-season passing touchdowns.

Bridgford had two touchdowns against Dana Hills to give him 30 this season. Sanchez passed for 29 in 2003.

• No county team qualified for the CIF-SS 8-man playoffs.

The playoffs begin Friday in two divisions. The pairings were released Monday.

• Here is how I voted in this week's top 10 poll: 1. Mater Dei; 2. Tesoro; 3. Servite; 4. Los Alamitos; 5. Edison; 6. Orange Lutheran; 7. Mission Viejo; 8. Fountain Valley; 9. San Clemente; 10. La Habra.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com