Manning's hard work pays off with victories, TDs

When El Toro quarterback Conner Manning isn't attacking opposing defenses, he can probably be found watching tape in preparation for the next game.

Coach Robert Frith said Manning probably watches two hours of film a day.

The extra work is paying off.

Manning, a junior, has passed for 2,712 yards with 26 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the Chargers (9-1) to the Sea View League title and the third seed in the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs.

El Toro will open the playoffs Friday against Esperanza at Trabuco Hills High.

"He's had a phenomenal year," Frith said of Manning. "This has been the best quarterback year for us at the school, and there have been some pretty good quarterbacks, the Johnsons (Rob and Bret) and (Steve) Stenstrom and some of the other guys that came through here.

"The thing about Conner is that he's only a junior. This is his first year as full-time starter, for the whole year."

Manning took over the starting job after a couple of games last season.

"He's a student of the game," Frith said. "It is like have an extra coach on the field."

Manning is second in the county in passing yards and first in touchdowns.

"This offseason, he just dedicated himself to the quarterback position," Frith said. "Watching film, studying our offensive system, looking at the film of teams we're going to play from last year ... he puts in a ton of time."

El Toro opened the season with a 23-21 loss to Huntington Beach, the second-place team in the Pac-5's Sunset League.

The Chargers then ran off nine consecutive victories to end the season, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 394-49.

"We're going to try and go 1-0 every week and see how far we can take it," Frith said.

• Tustin's road to a possible return trip to the Southwest Division final begins on the road against Aliso Niguel.

The Tillers finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Empire League, but after the coin flips, the Tillers will enter the playoffs as the Empire Leage No. 3, setting them up on the road against the Wolverines.

"I haven't seen them play, but if you don't treat the first round like it is the most important game in the world, then you don't get to play the second round," Tustin coach Myron Miller said.

• The Cox3 Game of the Week is the Bishop Amat-Santa Margarita Pac-5 first round game Friday night.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at Saddleback College. It will be aired first Friday evening at 11:30 p.m.

• Here are a couple of site updates: Huntington Beach will play Loyola of Los Angeles at L.A. Valley College (5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, 91401).

Edison will be host to Tesoro at Orange Coast College at 7 p.m.

As of Monday, Saddleback Valley Christian didn't have a home site locked in for its game against Kern Valley of Lake Isabella.

The CIF-SS brackets will be updated at ocvarsity.com as the information becomes available.

• Here is my top 10 ballot for this week: 1. Servite; 2. Santa Margarita; 3. Mission Viejo; 4. San Clemente; 5. Edison; 6. Huntington Beach; 7. La Habra; 8. Villa Park; 9. Orange Lutheran; 10. Mater Dei.