A preview and prediction for each of the top football games in Orange County this week. The teams are listed by their ranking in the Orange County Top 25.
GAME OF THE WEEK
BISHOP GORMAN (4-1) VS. NO. 3 SANTA MARGARITA (3-1)
Where, when: Tesoro High, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The MaxPreps.com national rankings have Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas at No. 7 and Santa Margarita at No. 9. The HSratings.com national rankings put Bishop Gorman at No. 5 and Santa Margarita at No. 9. Santa Margarita has won three in a row since a season-opening 7-3 loss to Mission Viejo. That victory streak includes a 33-27 overtime win over Corona Centennial which beat Mater Dei a couple of weeks later. Santa Margarita got that win, and subsequent wins over Highland 45-13 and Oaks Christian 44-14, without star receiver Trent Mosley, who has been out with a foot or ankle injury of some kind. The Eagles offense has been very productive without him, but he is the best offensive player on their roster. His brother, sophomore receiver Grant Mosley, has been terrific this season. He had seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown against Oaks Christian two weeks ago. Sophomore running back Jaion Smith rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in that victory. So that side of the offense is good, too. Bishop Gorman lost at home to Mater Dei 27-24 last week. The Gaels were eaten up by Mater Dei’s passing game. Mater Dei’s Ryan Hopkins completed 15 of 18 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer isn’t disclosing Trent Mosley’s status for this game (if I’m Coach Palmer I’m not volunteering that information). Bishop Gorman has a fine passing attack, led by senior quarterback Maika Eugenio, who threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns against Mater Dei. This one is going to be a high-scoring and entertaining shootout, with Bishop Gorman taking a late lead and hanging on in a close game.
Winner: Bishop Gorman
MURRIETA VALLEY (3-1) VS. NO. 13 SAN CLEMENTE (3-2)
Where, when: San Clemente High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: San Clemente’s two losses are to good teams, Tustin 30-17 and La Costa Canyon 28-14. The Tritons last week beat Chino Hills 26-13. San Clemente junior quarterback Eiler King has been good, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,.065 yards. Junior receiver Jaxson Rex has 32 receptions for 432 yards and five touchdowns. Murrieta Valley’s loss was to Servite 56-35, The Nighthawks then put up big numbers in victories in their following games, 56-6 over Murrieta Mesa and 49-7 over King. They run the ball exceptionally well, averaging 193 rushing yards a game. San Clemente gave up 139 rushing yards and an average of 6 yards a carry to Tustin, and 283 rushing yards and 9 yards a carry to La Costa Canyon.
Winner: Murrieta Valley
NO. 21 VILLA PARK (3-1) VS. MIRA COSTA (3-1)
Where, when: Mira Costa High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: Spectrum News 1
Analysis: Villa Park has won two in a row since a 27-20 loss to Western. The Spartans came back to beat Upland 24-17 and Ayala 43-7. Upland is 1-4, Ayala 0-5. Mira Costa is much better than Upland and Ayala. Mira Costa has a rating of 36.4 at HSratings.com, the second-highest number of the teams on the Villa Park schedule. (Bravo League rival San Juan Hills is at 48.8.) Villa Park, carrying a 14.7 rating, is a young team, especially on defense where the Spartans’ top eight tacklers are juniors or sophomores. Junior linebacker Maverick DeClark is the team leader in solo tackles with 24 and total tackles with 28. Mira Costa was 3-0, including a 35-33 win at Orange County No. 14 La Habra, before last week’s 38-28 home loss to O.C. No. 8 San Juan Hills. Mira Costa has the Meeker twins, quarterback Liam and receiver/linebacker Luke, both standout players who will be too much for Villa Park.
Winner: Mira Costa
NO. 15 CORONA DEL MAR (4-0) VS. NO. 23 TRABUCO HILLS (3-1)
Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This is Week 5’s best game that involves two Orange County teams. It is the final nonleague game for both. Corona del Mar had last week off after a 28-21 win on Sept. 12 over Charter Oak, which up to this game has been the best team on the Sea Kings’ nonleague schedule. Corona del Mar senior quarterback Brady Annett has been very good, passing for an average of 228 yards a game with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Seniors Gavin James and Dorsett Stecker have 20 receptions each for the Sea Kings. With senior quarterback Tristan Zale out recently because of injury, the Mustangs turned to freshman quarterback Jackson VerPlancke, who came through last week, throwing for 296 yards and six touchdowns in a 43-36 win over Brea Olinda. VerPlancke and Trabuco Hills face a much better defense this week.
Winner: Corona del Mar
NO. 2 MISSION VIEJO (4-1) VS. CHAPARRAL (2-2)
Where, when: Chaparral High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Mission Viejo lost to McCallie in Tennessee last week 25-14. That does not downgrade the assessment that Mission Viejo is a high-quality, CIF Southern Section Division 1-level football team. The Diablos already had wins over the best team in Central California, Folsom, the best team in San Diego County, Lincoln, and Orange County No. 3 Santa Margarita. McCallie is a defending two-time state champion, and long road trips often don’t bring out the best in high school athletes. As part of a four-team league, Mission Viejo must play seven nonleague games. It’s hard to keep high school kids enthusiastic for all of those nonleague games that don’t mean nearly as much as the Alpha League games that still are three weeks away. Chaparral lost to O.C. No. 8 San Juan Hills 38-33 and to county No. 13 San Clemente 35-34. Mission Viejo is better than both of those teams.
Winner: Mission Viejo
Fryer last week: 3-2
Fryer for the season: 15-10