GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 3 LOS ALAMITOS (3-0) VS. NO. 10 SERVITE (2-1)
Where, when: Cerritos College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The Griffins scored 145 points over their three wins, including a 57-35 victory over visiting Timpview of Utah last week. Running back Anthony League rushed for 287 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 63-25 win over Western but did not play against Timpview because of an ankle injury, so sophomore Jerod Terry got the handoffs. Los Alamitos is one of those super-secret sports organizations that won’t publicize stats, so while Terry’s numbers are unknown video replay shows that he jitterbugs through holes quickly and is a good tackle-dodger once he escapes the line. Whether it’s League or Terry with the carries against Servite, the Friars defense will be challenged. Servite is young at many key positions. The Friars beat two teams they should beat, 57-0 over Silverado and 60-14 over La Mirada, and lost a close one, 34-31 to state-ranked Rancho Cucamonga. Servite will deliver its traditional 48 minutes of spirit and effort. Los Alamitos, though, has too much talent and size for the Friars.
Winner: Los Alamitos
NO. 8 CORONA DEL MAR (2-1) VS. NO. 7 SAN CLEMENTE (3-0)
Where, when: San Clemente High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: It’s San Clemente’s first game against an Orange County opponent and its first of back-to-back games against Sunset League teams that are in the Orange County Top 25. San Clemente beat Corona del Mar last year 23-6. The Tritons have wins over Chaparral of Temecula, Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon. The wins over Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon were shutouts, 34-0 and 28-0, respectively. San Clemente linebacker Puka Fuimaono is averaging 10 tackles a game. Senior quarterback Dylan Mills has been steady, completing 43 of 70 passes for 529 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Aidan Rubin rushed for 126 yards against Torrey Pines and for 129 yards against La Costa Canyon. Corona del Mar defeated Downey and Cypress before last week’s 14-11 loss to Palos Verdes. Seniors Christian Brooks at inside linebacker and Dillon Lane at safety have led the Sea Kings defense. Senior receiver Russell Weir has 25 receptions for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Weir might be one of those receivers who is going to get catches and yards no matter what the opposition does. Look for San Clemente’s defense to stop everything else Corona del Mar tries offensively.
Winner: San Clemente
NO. 13 NEWPORT HARBOR (2-1) VS. NO. 15 SAN JUAN HILLS (3-0)
Where, when: San Juan Hills High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Newport Harbor games are fun because they are close. The Sailors lost their opener to St. Paul 24-22 before beating Tesoro 17-14 and La Habra 33-28. Sophomore quarterback Jaden O’Neal was good last week, throwing for three touchdowns and scoring another on a sneak. Receiver Josiah Lamarque is having the senior year that was expected of him, with 19 receptions for 320 yards and four touchdowns. San Juan Hills scored 112 points over wins against Oceanside, California of San Ramon and Santiago of Corona. Sophomore quarterback Timmy Herr has completed 75 percent of his passes for 642 yards and five touchdowns. Junior linebacker Weston Port has many college offers, including ones from Georgia, Ohio State and UCLA. Senior linebacker Jake Javorsky has 12 tackles for loss. The San Juan Hills defense is going to have another great game in this one.
Winner: San Juan Hills
NO. 20 TRABUCO HILLS (2-0) VS. IRVINE (3-0)
Where, when: Irvine High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Trabuco Hills has wins over two teams that have been in the Orange County Top 25. The Mustangs beat Huntington Beach 31-28 and Crean Lutheran 31-21. Senior running back Tayor Bowie rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in the two wins. Junior receiver Ryan Luce has 13 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Irvine looks like the best team in the four-team Pacific Hills League. The Vaqueros’ tradition of excellence at running back continues with junior Brandon Figueroa, who has rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns. Irvine is off to a fine start, but Trabuco Hills is the better team and will be San Juan Hills’ best competition in the Sea View League.
Winner: Trabuco Hills
NO. 19 LA HABRA (1-2) VS. ORANGE (1-2)
Where, when: El Modena High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: These are two teams that badly need a win this week. La Habra opened with a 33-0 loss to Upland, beat El Dorado 40-16 then made a multitude of mistakes last week in a 33-28 loss to Newport Harbor. The Highlanders have good players – senior safety Matthew Gil had eight solo tackles and an interception against Newport Harbor – but they could not survive the errors. Orange beat Pacifica 45-15 to start the season before losing to a couple of O.C. Top 25 teams, Villa Park 42-8 and Foothill 35-22. The Panthers have one of the county’s better backs, senior Ardwon Morris, who mixes speed and power. He has 579 yards and seven TDs rushing. La Habra won’t repeat last week’s mistakes and gets its record up to .500 in this one.
Winner: La Habra
Fryer on Football last week: 3-2
Season to date: 9-6
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