El Toro's Manning making the most of his options

If you thought El Toro quarterback Conner Manning's numbers were impressive last season, you should stick around to see what he comes up with this season.

Through the first four games last season, Manning completed 85 of 144 passes (59 percent) for 982 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

He's topped those numbers this season. Heading into Friday's nonleague game against Valhalla of El Cajon, Manning has completed 137 of 202 passes (67.8 percent) for 1,642 yards with 17 touchdowns and one interception in four games.

Since he is averaging 410 passing yards a game, there is good chance he will eclipse 2,000 passing yards Friday and will likely be halfway to 40 touchdowns.

Last season, Manning finished with 4,219 yards, completing 327 of 527 passes (62 percent) with 41 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

"What stands out most is that he has more options," El Toro coach Robert Frith said. "He's taking more of a decision-making role. He's going to the line with two plays and he's putting us in the best situation to win."

The work Manning put in during the offseason has helped his development.

"He's more physical," Frith said. "He's staying in the pocket and he's making the lateral throws, the throws on the run ... it is very impressive."

Frith said the Chargers would like to be more balanced on offense.

"We're still working on developing our running game," he said. "Right now, we have to do what we can do to be successful, and the best chance of that is with him (Manning) having the ball."

• Talk about some amazing stats, here are just a few regarding Santa Margarita:

In this past Friday's 72-0 victory over Carson, the Eagles set school records for points in a quarter (44), in a half (65) and in a game (72). Over the past two weeks, Santa Margarita has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 127-0. The Eagles' last 20 offensive drives have produced 17 touchdowns.

• Drake Martinez continues to rewrite the Laguna Beach record book. Martinez's 95-yard run in the second quarter against John Glenn of Norwalk this past Friday was the longest in the 78 seasons of the Laguna Beach program.

Laguna Beach defeated Glenn, 74-19, setting school records for points (74) and touchdowns (11).

• Mission Viejo's Max Redfield will be officially selected to the Under Armour All-American High School football game Tuesday night in a ceremony at Mission Viejo High.

Redfield, a USC commit, will be presented with his honorary Under Armour jersey.

The game is scheduled for Jan. 4 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. It will be televised on ESPN.

• Here is how I voted this week for the O.C. Top 10: 1. Santa Margarita; 2. Mission Viejo; 3. Tesoro; 4. Mater Dei; 5. Edison; 6. El Toro; 7. Servite; 8. San Clemente; 9. Tustin; 10. Orange Lutheran.