Pac-5
Pac-5
Pac-5
PAC-5 DIVISION
SERVITE (9-2) VS. CRESPI OF ENCINO (10-2)
Site, time: Home Depot Center, Friday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Celts beat Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in the regular-season finale to win the Serra League title and grab the No. 2 seed in the Pac-5. Crespi, which has a seven-game winning streak, has continued its strong run in the postseason, knocking off Long Beach Millikan of the Moore League, 26-14, before upsetting Mater Dei, 48-26, a team many observers pegged to win the Pac-5 title. Senior running back Austin Shanks has been Crespi's big playmaker this season, rushing for 1,168 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 168 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Monarchs. Servite, which shared the Trinity League title with Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran, advanced to the semifinals with a 54-43 thriller over San Clemente of the South Coast League and a 10-7 slugfest over Esperanza of the Sunset League. USC-bound D.J. Shoemate has been the man for the Friars all season. He has 287 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games.
ORANGE LUTHERAN (10-1) VS. LONG BEACH POLY (11-1)
Site, time: Home Depot Center, Friday, 8 p.m.
Outlook:The fourth-seeded Lancers, the tri-champions of the Trinity League, are looking to get back to the Pac-5 finals for the second consecutive season, but first they must get past the top-seeded Jackrabbits, the Moore League champions. Long Beach Poly defeated Santa Margarita of the Trinity League, 39-7, and Newport Harbor of the Sunset League, 35-14, to reach the semifinals. The Jackrabbits have a 10-game winning streak. They have been getting it done with defense and a high-powered rushing attack. Running backs Melvin Richardson and Daveon Barner combined for 313 rushing yards against Newport Harbor. Orange Lutheran knocked off Mission Viejo of the South Coast League, 28-7, and Edison of the Sunset League, 28-16, in its two playoff games. Blake Hyepock has been very efficient at directing the Lancers' balanced offense, completing 34 of 48 passes for 360 yards and one TD with no interceptions in the postseason. Orange Lutheran's defense, which held Edison to 56 rushing yards and Mission Viejo to 57 rushing yards, will get a huge test from Long Beach Poly's speedy offense.
>> Next in game capsules: Southeast Division >>
Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com
