GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 4 ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-3, 0-1) VS. NO. 5 SANTA MARGARITA (4-2, 0-1)
Where, when: Saddleback College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Every game in the Trinity League is a big game, and not just because all five of the league’s Orange County teams are among the top six teams in the Orange County Top 25 and all six are in the CalHiSports.com California top 20. The top three teams in the final standings of a six-team league like the Trinity League are guaranteed a berth in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The other three have to hope for an at-large berth (known as a wild-card berth in the NFL). Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita lost their league openers last week. Orange Lutheran lost to JSerra 24-14. Santa Margarita lost to St. John Bosco 42-7. There is a subplot in this one: Santa Margarita starting quarterback John Gazzaniga was a backup at Orange Lutheran before transferring to Santa Margarita and becoming eligible Sept. 7. Gazzaniga had a difficult time against St. John Bosco’s outstanding defense, completing 11 of 30 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown with one interception. The Eagles rushed for only 47 yards on 25 carries. Santa Margarita might be the healthier of these two teams, and Gazzaniga might be fairly motivated to have a big game.
Winner: Santa Margarita
NO. 14 NEWPORT HARBOR (3-3, 1-0) VS. NO. 7 LOS ALAMITOS (4-2, 1-0)
Where, when: Westminster High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Newport Harbor sophomore quarterback Jaden O’Neal, who was at Los Alamitos last season, completed 22 of 30 passes for 202 yards with five touchdowns in the Sailors’ 59-21 win over Huntington Beach in a Sunset League opener last week. Jagger Blauwkamp rushed for 101 yards on only eight carries. Senior receivers Jordan Anderson and Josiah Lamarque did their thing with nine receptions each and five touchdown catches between them. Los Alamitos won its league opener, too, 49-10 over Fountain Valley. Los Alamitos averages 227 yards rushing a game, whether it’s Anthony League or Lenny Ibarra or Jerod Terry getting the handoffs. The Los Alamitos defense sometimes has trouble against a good passing attack, but the Griffins offense will outscore Newport Harbor.
Winner: Los Alamitos
NO. 22 TRABUCO HILLS (4-2) VS. NO. 15 TESORO (3-3)
Where, when: Tesoro High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This is the final nonleague game for both teams. Trabuco Hills lost two in a row to good teams, Tustin and Corona del Mar, then revived last week with a 49-0 win over Diamond Bar. Trabuco’s Taylor Bowie rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and Maxwell Hales rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries. Tesoro is the second-best 3-3 team in county football, after Orange Lutheran. The Titans lost a close one last week to undefeated San Juan Hills 27-24. San Juan Hills scored a touchdown on the final snap of the game. Tesoro junior quarterback Cash O’Byrne was excellent, completing 24 of 32 passes for 378 yards and a touchdown. The Titans rushed for only 33 yards on 13 attempts, something they need to do better against Trabuco Hills … and they will.
Winner: Tesoro
NO. 3 JSERRA (4-2, 1-0) VS. NO. 1 MATER DEI (6-0, 1-0)
Where, when: Santa Ana Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Mater Dei last week, in its 49-0 win over Servite, looked as great and as unstoppable as any Monarchs football team has in the past 34 or so years. Team speed is everywhere, especially on defense where it’s most important. JSerra scored a huge win last week, a defense-led 24-14 victory over Orange Lutheran that placed the Lions in good position for a playoff berth. JSerra senior safety Jared Referente had a team-high eight solo tackles. Junior quarterback Michael Tollefson rushed for 121 yards on 21 of the team’s 31 rushing attempts. Exposing a quarterback to that many carries against Mater Dei’s hard-hitting tacklers could be a risky strategy. If Mater Dei plays near its potential, and if the players are not looking ahead to the Oct. 13 game at St. John Bosco, they should get another dominating win.
Winner: Mater Dei
TROY (3-3, 1-0) VS. NO. 23 LA HABRA (3-3, 1-0)
Where, when: La Habra High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: La Habra has won 15 Freeway League championships over the past 16 seasons. The last time the Highlanders lost a league game was Oct. 21, 2016, when they were defeated by Buena Park 27-13. They have since won 33 league games in a row and had won 47 consecutive league games before the ‘16 loss to Buena Park. In last week’s 63-26 league-opening win over Buena Park, the Highlanders made sure to get the ball to leading receiver Bryce Whitley’s hands in different ways. He rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries. Troy might be La Habra’s top competition in league this year. The Warriors beat Fullerton 35-34 last week in a league opener. Jacob Warner blocked a Fullerton extra-point kick attempt late in the fourth quarter. Troy’s Ethan Mundt rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and had 52 yards receiving. La Habra wants to take the final Freeway League championship, and as usual, has the goods and swagger to do it.
Winner: La Habra
Fryer on Football last week: 4-1
Season to date: 25-10
