A preview and prediction for each of the top football playoff games in Orange County this week. The teams are listed by their ranking in the Orange County Top 25.
GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 16 HUNTINGTON BEACH (8-2) VS. NO. 14 EDISON (5-5)
Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This Division 3 game is a matchup of old Sunset League rivals. The last time Huntington Beach defeated Edison was 2013 when the Oilers won the matchup 28-21 in a division semifinal. Huntington Beach is close to being 10-0 – its losses were by one point to Trabuco Hills and by three to Crean Lutheran. Junior quarterback Brady Edmunds is having a great season. Edmunds (6-5, 225), who has committed to Ohio State, has completed 70 percent of his passes and is averaging 254 passing yards a game with 31 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Oilers have a great set of receivers, led by Troy Foster who has a county-leading 1,393 receiving yards from 71 receptions. Edison won CIF-SS and state championships last season. That team was loaded with seniors. The Chargers still have some outstanding football players, especially on a defensive unit that is led by seniors Jude Gonterman at linebacker and defensive back Jordan Pelaez. Edison will put together a great defensive game plan and execute it to beat Huntington Beach.
Winner: Edison
NO. 11 YORBA LINDA (9-1) VS. NO. 9 LOS ALAMITOS (8-2)
Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Long Beach, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This Division 2 game has teams that finished the regular season very differently. Yorba Linda dominated the second half of its 35-28 win over Corona del Mar last week, which gave the Mustangs the Bravo League title. The Mustangs rushed for 319 yards, led by sophomore Isaiah Trujillo’s 133 yards and an outstanding offensive line. Yorba Linda’s league loss to San Juan Hills became a win when San Juan Hills later forfeited that game. Los Alamitos was 8-0 before losing to San Clemente 28-9 on Oct. 24 and to Mission Viejo last week, 76-49, in the wildest game of the season. Griffins quarterback Colin Creason threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns and running back Lenny Ibarra rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Yorba Linda does not have the passing attack that Mission Viejo possesses. It might be hard for Yorba Linda’s offense to keep up with the offense of Los Alamitos that has scored more than 40 points in seven games.
Winner: Los Alamitos
NO. 25 ORANGE (6-4) VS. NO. 20 TROY (9-1)
Where, when: Fullerton High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Orange kind of snuck up on us. The Panthers lost their season opener 35-18 to Huntington Beach, took a 3-2 record into Foxtrot League play and was 2-2 in league before last week’s stunning 24-9 league win over previously undefeated Laguna Beach. Orange sophomore quarterback Star Thomas completed 30 of 46 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Panthers sophomore defensive lineman Sebastian Castro had four sacks. Orange did have 110 yards in penalties, which the Panthers can’t repeat against Troy. The Warriors are led by senior running back Ethan Mundt, who is third in county rushing at 1,330 yards although he was briefly out because of injury. Mundt is fun to watch. He will take the handoff or pitchout before taking a couple of short skips forward while he waits for a hole to develop and then off he goes. It’s an instinct rare in high school backs. Another big game from Mundt is in the cards in this Division 5 game.
Winner: Troy
NO. 22 EL MODENA (5-5) VS. NO. 17 LA HABRA (7-3)
Where, when: La Habra High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This looked to be a down year for El Modena, which graduated so many top players from last season’s team. The Vanguards won enough games to finish third in the Delta League and automatically qualified for this Division 4 playoff. Their five losses are all to playoff teams that have a combined record of 44-6. El Modena was in a must-win situation against Cypress last week and got the league win 27-22. The Vanguards rushed for 242 yards including an 83-yard touchdown run by Arnol Correa and 83 total rushing yards by quarterback Ethan Sorenson. La Habra finished third in the Epsilon League with a 3-2 league record. The Highlanders won by large margins in their final two league games, 48-7 over Laguna Hills and 40-7 over Foothill, to build some momentum going into the playoffs. Junior quarterback DJ Mitchell threw for 290 yards and five touchdowns against Foothill. Blaze Rogers had three receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown and Bryce Vasquez had receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. La Habra’s passing game will lead it into the second round.
DOWNEY (9-1) VS. NO. 13 SAN JUAN HILLS (1-9)
Where, when: San Juan Hills High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: How weird is this? A 1-9 team is home against a 9-1 team in this Division 2 game. That’s the way it goes in these days of computer-generated ratings running the CIF-SS football playoffs for the most part. San Juan Hills had to forfeit seven wins for using an ineligible player. That player was an integral part of the Stallions defense. San Juan Hills quarterback Timmy Herr threw for 295 yards and six touchdowns in last week’s 41-7 win over Tesoro in the Bravo League. San Juan Hills scored all of its points in the first half. Downey won the championship of the Gateway League. The Vikings are led by senior quarterback Oscar Rios (6-3, 175) who committed to Arizona. The forfeits have made the Stallions scorned in the Bravo League and in much of south Orange County. San Juan Hills likely will be fired up for this game. The “us against the world” bit is high-octane fuel.
Winner: San Juan Hills
Fryer last week: 3-2
Fryer for the season: 39-16
CIF-SS football playoffs: Previews for CdM, Tustin, Dana Hills, Aliso Niguel and Beckman