Fryer on football: Week 0's picks

GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 13 HUNTINGTON BEACH (9-3 in 2011) NO. 7 VS. EL TORO (12-2)

Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, Thursday, 7 p.m.

The last time: 2011 – Huntington Beach 23, El Toro 21

The series: El Toro leads, 3-2

The coaches: Huntington Beach, Eric Lo (32-23); El Toro, Robert Frith (26-12)

Outlook: These teams excelled in 2011, the best season for both in quite a few years. Huntington Beach finished second in the Sunset League and beat Loyola of Los Angeles in a Pac-5 Division playoff game. El Toro won the Sea View League championship and advanced to the Southwest Division championship game, in which it lost to Tustin. After losing to Huntington Beach in last year's season opener, El Toro won 12 in a row before the loss to Tustin. El Toro has a fine group of returnees, including senior quarterback Conner Manning. He was last year's Orange County offensive player of the year and has committed to Utah. Sea View League offensive co-MVP Jacob Furnari returns at running back. All-County senior receiver Cody White had a county-leading 85 receptions for 1,284 yards and 17 touchdowns in '11. Huntington Beach lost 18 starters from last year's team to graduation. But the lower-level teams were good last year. A spotlight will be on the Oilers' Kai Ross, a receiver last year who switches to quarterback this year. Huntington Beach could be good enough to capture another playoff berth, but El Toro might have too much offensive firepower for the Oilers and many other teams this season.

Winner: El Toro

Thursday's other top game

FULLERTON (3-7 IN 2011) vs. CANYON (0-10)

Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

Also Thursday (all games 7 p.m.)

Buena Park (8-3) vs. Cerritos (0-11) at Artesia High

Centennial of Compton (8-4) vs. No. 25 Cypress (9-3) at Western High

Friday's top games

NO. 21 FOOTHILL (8-5) VS. NO. 14 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (6-4)

Where, when: Huntington Beach High, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

NO. 4 SERVITE (10-2) VS. BISHOP AMAT OF LA PUENTE (6-5)

Where, when: Bishop Amat High, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

DANA HILLS (3-7) VS. NO. 20 TRABUCO HILLS (6-4)

Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

NO. 23 VALENCIA (1-9) VS. BREA OLINDA (9-3)

Where, when: Brea Olinda High, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

WESTERN (4-6) VS. COSTA MESA (8-3)

Where, when: Estancia High

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

Also Friday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)

Nonleague

Silver Valley of Yermo (0-9) at Crean Lutheran (5-4), 4 p.m.

Yorba Linda (10-2) at El Modena (4-6)

Segerstrom (9-3) vs. Savanna (5-5) at Glover Stadium

West Adams Prep of Los Angeles (6-6) at San Clemente (12-2)

Calvary Chapel (3-7) at Sage Hill (3-7)

El Dorado (3-7) at No. 12 La Habra (9-4)

No. 22 Esperanza (7-4) vs. Kennedy (4-7) at Western High

No. 9 Orange Lutheran (6-4) at Long Beach Wilson (5-6)

Santa Ana Valley (7-4) vs. Glenn of Norwalk (4-6) at Excelsior Adult School of Norwalk

St. Margaret's (9-3) vs. View Park of Los Angeles (8-4) at Rancho Cienega Park of Los Angeles

Bellflower (7-4) at No.17 Aliso Niguel (7-4)

University (3-7) at No. 18 Capistrano Valley (3-8)

No. 16 Villa Park (11-1) at Righetti of Santa Maria (7-4)

Whittier Christian (7-5) at Mammoth (5-5)

Compton (3-7) at No. 5 Tesoro (8-5)

Dominguez of Compton (7-4) at St. John Bosco (8-4)

El Rancho of Pico Rivera (5-5) vs. Marina (1-8-1) at Westminster High

Roosevelt of Eastvale (3-7) at No. 11 Tustin (11-3)

No. 2 Mission Viejo (10-3) at Centennial of Bakersfield (6-5), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's top game

NO. 1 SANTA MARGARITA (13-2) VS. BROPHY COLLEGE PREP OF PHOENIX (11-1)

Where, when: Phoenix College, 7 p.m.

Click here for Steve Fryer's outlook

Also Saturday (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)

San Joaquin League

Santa Clarita Christian (4-6) vs. Capistrano Valley Christian (5-3) at San Clemente High, 7:30 p.m.

Nonleague

Saddleback Valley Christian (9-2) vs. Big Bear (7-4) at Big Bear Middle School, 1:30 p.m.

Godinez (5-6) vs. Santa Fe of Santa Fe Springs (6-5) at Pioneer High

Animo Leadership of Inglewood (2-8) vs. Brethren Christian (6-5) at Ocean View High

Fryer on Football in 2011: 62-26