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Steve Fryer’s previews and predictions for this week’s top high school football games.
GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 9 EDISON (1-1) VS. NO. 6 ORANGE LUTHERAN (2-0)
Where, when: Orange Coast College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Edison, No. 40 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings, is playing a Trinity League team for the second time this season. The Chargers are the only Sunset League team with a Trinity League team on its schedule. They lost to state No. 3 and Orange County No. 3 Servite 54-14, a game put together at the last minute. Edison last week beat Clovis North as Troy Fletcher rushed for five touchdowns. Edison has a great wide receiver, Nico Brown, who could start for any team in Orange County. Yes, even Mater Dei. Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 21 in the state, is better than anticipated. The Lancers started the season with a 31-20 road win over Serra and followed with a 21-7 win over Upland, a team that shut out La Habra 13-0. Orange Lutheran quarterback Logan Gonzalez was an efficient 14 of 21 passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Upland. It’s the defense, though, that is Orange Lutheran’s strength and that will show again against Edison.
Winner: Orange Lutheran
OTHER TOP GAMES
NO. 4 MISSION VIEJO (1-1) VS. LONG BEACH POLY (0-1)
Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Long Beach, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Live coverage: Bally Sports SoCal
Analysis: Mission Viejo, ranked No. 18 in California, was overwhelmed by Servite’s athleticism in a 44-7 loss to the Friars. The Diablos are young on defense and it showed. Long Beach Poly last week lost a close one to Serra 28-27. The Jackrabbits used two quarterbacks, sophomore Darius Curry and senior Shea Kuykendall, nearly equally. Look for Mission Viejo quarterback Kadin Semonza and receiver Mikey Matthews to connect on big plays and the Diablos defense, having received quite an education last week, to play better against Poly.
Winner: Mission Viejo
NO. 17 ORANGE (0-1) VS. NO. 13 YORBA LINDA (2-0)
Where, when: Yorba Linda High,Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Orange might have the most difficult nonleague schedule of any public school team in the county. All five of the Panthers’ nonleague foes are in the Orange County top 25. They lost to No. 10 Villa Park 29-22 last week. Quarterback Zachary Siskowic looked good in his Orange debut, throwing for 236 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions against a good Spartans defense. The Mustangs opened with a 26-14 win over Newport Harbor and last week crushed Valencia 56-7. Yorba Linda quarterback Reyn Beal, who was All-Crestview League last season, completed 8 of his 9 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. With that offensive efficiency and its defense, Yorba Linda wins a close one over Orange.
Winner: Yorba Linda
NO. 18 EL MODENA (1-0) VS. NO. 24 SUNNY HILLS (1-1)
Where, when: Buena Park High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: El Modena escaped with a 19-14 win over Santa Ana last week. “Escaped” is a cliché but applies here because the Vanguards lost two fumbles in the fourth quarter and needed Alex Luna and Owen Smith to combine on a tackle on a Saints fourth-and-goal play to secure the victory. Otherwise, El Modena was efficient enough offensively, scoring two touchdowns and two field goals on its four possessions inside the Santa Ana 20-yard line. Sunny Hills lost to Capistrano Valley 38-30 last week after starting the season with a 41-12 win over Canyon. Lancers junior David Mahood has rushed for 378 yards and is averaging 7 yards a carry. El Modena will take better care of the football and display its usual defensive grit to win this one.
Winner: El Modena
TRABUCO HILLS (1-0) VS. DANA HILLS (1-0)
Where, when: Dana Hills High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Dana Hills’ new coach, Tony Henney, won in his debut with the Dolphins last week, a 35-7 victory over Laguna Beach 35-7. Trabuco Hills defeated Katella 28-0 last week as quarterback Will Burns completed 15 of 21 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Padilla had eight receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Dana Hills quarterback Bo Kelly had a fine season debut, too, passing for 284 yards and four touchdowns. This shapes up to be a close game. Dana Hills’ win over Laguna Beach was more impressive than the Trabuco Hills’ win over Katella.
Winner: Dana Hills
FOUNTAIN VALLEY (1-1) VS. EL TORO (2-0)
Where, when: El Toro High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Fountain Valley was 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the Sunset League this past spring season, with an average margin of defeat of 37 points. The Barons ended an 11-game losing streak by opening this season with a 14-6 win over Valencia and lost to El Dorado 21-6 last week. El Toro might be too good for Fountain Valley. The Chargers, 3-2 this past spring, have shown promise with wins of 24-21 over La Mirada and 27-7 over California Whittier. El Toro trailed California 7-0 before quarterback Blake Miller and receiver Collin Payne got going. Miller threw for 201 yards and a touchdown. Payne had eight receptions for 106 yards. Of these two improving programs, El Toro has advanced further.
Winner: El Toro
Fryer on Football last week: 5-1
Season to date: 9-3