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Fryer on football: Week 4's games
GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 3 MATER DEI (3-0) VS. NO. 5 EDISON (3-0)
Where, when: Orange Coast College, Friday, 7 p.m.
The last time: 2011 – Mater Dei 22, Edison 20
The series: Tied, 12-12-1
The coaches: Mater Dei, Bruce Rollinson (221-70-2); Edison, Dave White (192-103-3)
Outlook: See that statistic above, the one that shows how close this series has been since Mater Dei and Edison first played each other in 1976? That's how close this game might be. Both are in the state top 25, with Mater Dei at No. 14 and Edison at No. 23 in CalHiSports' California rankings. In CIF-Southern Section rankings, Edison is No. 1 in the Southwest Division and Mater Dei is No. 5 in the Pac-5.Two of Orange County football's better defenses will be on the field in this one. Mater Dei has allowed eight points a game, and last week it shut out Santa Monica, 51-0. The Monarchs, off to their first 3-0 start since 2007, pumped out 429 yards of total offense and held Santa Monica to 28 yards. Santa Monica was ranked No. 5 in the CIF-Southern Section's Western Conference at the time, but Edison is the best team Mater Dei will have played so far in 2012. Mater Dei's other victories are over St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs and Carson. The Chargers shut out Servite, 6-0, last week, the first time Servite was shut out since a loss to Mater Dei on the final week of the 2004 regular season. Edison has allowed two points a game. The Chargers shut out Garfield of L.A., 24-0, three weeks ago then beat Villa Park, 27-7. But Edison's offense has not kept pace with its defense. Mater Dei is not going to get shut out. Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said there still is a competition going for the starting quarterback position. Last week, incumbent starter Ryan McMahon completed 8 of 12 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown. Chase Forrest replaced McMahon and was 9 for 10 for 104 yards and a touchdown. Edison's running game has been fine. Two Chargers running backs, Elijah Herrera and Donald Rice, surpassed 100 yards rushing against Servite. Marquis Ross, who did not play against Servite because of a hamstring strain, rushed for 98 against Villa Park. But Edison's passing game is lagging. The Chargers are going to have to throw the ball for some first downs against Mater Dei to keep pace. And right now it looks like Mater Dei's offensive diversity and production is going to make that difficult for the Chargers to accomplish.
Winner: Mater Dei
Thursday
Empire League
WESTERN (3-1 overall, 0-0 league) vs. CYPRESS (2-1 overall, 0-0 league)
Click here to read Steve Fryer's game preview.
Also Thursday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Century League
El Modena (2-2, 0-0) vs. No. 13 Villa Park (3-1, 0-0) at El Modena High
Nonleague
Loara (1-2) vs. Anaheim (1-2) at Glover Stadium
Lynwood (1-2) vs. No. 12 Los Alamitos (2-1) at Veterans Stadium/Long Beach
California City (2-1) vs. La Quinta (1-2) at Bolsa Grande High
Estancia (2-1) vs. University (1-2-1) at Irvine Stadium
Santiago (2-1) vs. Santa Ana Valley (2-2) at Santa Ana Stadium
Sonora (1-2) vs. Rancho Alamitos (3-0) at Garden Grove High
8-man
Crossroads Christian of Corona (2-1)0 at St. Michael's Prep (3-0), 3:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Empire League
NO. 10 TUSTIN (4-0, 0-0) VS. NO. 20 YORBA LINDA (4-0, 0-0)
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Nonleague
CHAPARRAL OF TEMECULA (3-0) VS. NO. 4 TESORO (4-0)
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ST. BONAVENTURE OF VENTURA (4-0) VS. NO. 1 SANTA MARGARITA (4-0)
Click here to read Steve Fryer's game preview.
BISHOP GORMAN OF LAS VEGAS (2-1) VS. NO. 7 SERVITE (1-2)
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WOODBRIDGE (2-1) VS. SEGERSTROM (4-0)
Where, when: Segerstrom High, 7 p.m.
Click here to read Steve Fryer's game preview
NO. 17 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (3-1) at NO. 14 TRABUCO HILLS (3-1)
Click here to read Steve Fryer's game preview
Also Friday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Century League
No. 21 Esperanza (3-1, 0-0) vs. No. 11 Foothill (3-1, 0-0) at Tustin High
Canyon (2-2, 0-0) vs. El Dorado (1-3, 0-0) at Valencia High
Nonleague
No. 6 El Toro (4-0) at Valhalla of El Cajon (2-1)
No. 8 Orange Lutheran (4-0) at Redondo Union (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
No. 8 San Clemente (4-0) at No. 16 Newport Harbor (1-2)
No. 18 JSerra (3-0) at Dana Hills (0-4)
Corona del Mar (1-2) at No. 22 Capistrano Valley (3-1)
Irvine (3-0) at No. 23 Laguna Hills (2-1)
No. 24 Aliso Niguel (4-0) at No. 2 Mission Viejo (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Katella (2-1) at Garden Grove (2-1)
Salesian of Los Angeles (3-1) vs. Whittier Christian (2-2) at Whittier College
Sherman Oaks CES of Reseda (0-4) vs. Marina (2-2) at Westminster High
Bolsa Grande (1-2) at Ocean View (1-2)
Saddleback Valley Christian (0-3) at Riverside Christian (0-3)
Crean Lutheran (2-2) at Arrowhead Christian of Redlands (1-3)
Brethren Christian (3-0) vs. St. Anthony of Long Beach (3-1) at Clark Field/Long Beach
Santa Ana (0-3) vs. Los Amigos (1-2) at Bolsa Grande High
Hillcrest Christian of Thousand Oaks (1-2) vs. Liberty Christian (0-3) at Murdy Park
Claremont (1-3) vs. Northwood (0-3) at Irvine Stadium
St. Margaret's (4-0) at Laguna Beach (2-0-1)
Gahr of Cerritos (3-1) at La Habra (1-3)
Godinez (0-3) vs. Sunny Hills (1-2) at Buena Park High
Century (2-1) vs. Saddleback (0-3) at Santa Ana Stadium
Calvary Chapel (2-1) vs. Orange (2-1) at El Modena High
Troy (2-1) vs. Savanna (0-3) at Glover Stadium
Beckman (0-3) vs. Magnolia (0-3) at Western High
Westminster (1-2) at Huntington Beach (1-3)
San Juan Hills (4-0) at Fullerton (1-3)
Sherman Indian of Riverside (0-1) vs. Capistrano Valley Christian (4-0) at San Clemente High, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Empire League
Valencia (2-2) vs. Kennedy (1-3) at Western High
Nonleague
Western Christian of Upland (3-0) vs. Fairmont Prep (1-2) at Yorba Linda High, 5 p.m.
Costa Mesa (2-2) vs. Pacifica (1-2) at Bolsa Grande High
Sage Hill (0-4) vs. The Bishop's of La Jolla (1-2) at La Jolla High
Fryer on Football last week: 4-4. Season to date: 17-15.
Rankings note: The Orange County media poll provides the 1-10 rankings. Teams ranked 11-25 are from Steve Fryer's personal rankings.
