Steve Fryer’s previews and predictions for this week’s top high school football games.
GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 1 MATER DEI (3-0) VS. ST. JOHN BOSCO (5-0)
Where, when: St. John Bosco High, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Live coverage: Bally Sports SoCal
Analysis: Welcome to the Super Bowl of California high school football. Mater Dei and St. John Bosco have played each other in the past four CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship games, with each winning twice. The last time they played, during the short spring season, Mater Dei won 34-17. Quarterback Elijah Brown threw for 203 yards and four touchdowns for the Monarchs. He is back. Notre Dame-committed receiver CJ Williams caught two touchdown passes for Mater Dei. He is back. Linebacker Leviticus Su’a had two sacks. He is back. Chase Meyer kicked two field goals, including one of 42 yards. He is back. St. John Bosco has several standout returnees, too, including running back Rayshon Luke, who is averaging 11 yards a carry, and some terrific linemen, including offensive line prospect Earnest Greene and Matayo Uiagalelei, who plays tight end and defensive end. St. John Bosco has played five nonleague games and is coming off of its bye week. Mater Dei last week got a 58-7 tune-up win over La Mirada to conclude its nonleague schedule that had too many weeks off for Coach Bruce Rollinson’s liking. So, will Bosco, with its five games played, be more prepared for this Trinity League opener, or does the shorter nonleague season have Mater Dei fresher and healthier? Look for Mater Dei to win the turnovers battle and prevail in a close one that comes down to the final possession.
Winner: Mater Dei
OTHER TOP GAMES
NO. 8 CORONA DEL MAR (5-0) VS. NO. 5 LOS ALAMITOS (4-1)
Where, when: Westminster High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: Bally Sports West Prep Zone (live streaming)
Analysis: This league opener is a big one in the Sunset League. Three teams stand out in the race for the league championship, these two and Edison. Corona del Mar’s most impressive win was its 7-3 victory over San Clemente. The Sea Kings usually score much more; outside of the San Clemente game they are averaging 45 points a game. Junior quarterback David Rasor has been outstanding, completing 65 percent of his passes for 180 yards a game with 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The Sea Kings average 149 yards rushing a game. Los Alamitos had a second-half collapse two weeks ago against Santa Margarita, getting outscored 42-7 in the second half of a 42-21 loss. Don’t expect that to happen again. Do expect Los Alamitos receiver Deandre Moore to have a great game.
Winner: Los Alamitos
NO. 5 ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-0) VS. NO. 2 SERVITE (5-0)
Where, when: Orange Coast College, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Analysis: Orange Lutheran is better than most of us expected. Logan Gonzalez gives the Lancers steady play at quarterback and Desmin Jackson is a factor running the ball (109 rushing yards a game) and catching it (21 receptions, 285 yards, five touchdowns). They beat Damien in overtime and Edison by two points, proving they’re a mentally tough group. Servite has one of its strongest teams in recent years. Yes, quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan get the media attention, and deservedly so, but guys like linebacker Jacob Manu and “the other receiver” Michael Welsh have been top contributors, too. As good as Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita have been, and don’t ignore the improvement of JSerra, there still is a big gap between the Trinity League’s top three teams and the other three. This league opener, a Servite home game, will be proof.
Winner: Servite
NO. 22 EL MODENA (4-1) VS. EL DORADO (5-0)
Where, when: Valencia High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: El Dorado is 5-0 but not in the Orange County top 25 because the Golden Hawks’ wins are over teams that are a cumulative 3-21. They have defeated teams that are pretty much at their quality level, thanks in large part to a running game that is averaging 249 yards a game led by seniors Mason Davis and Blake Thomas, and there is nothing wrong with that. El Modena is of a much-higher quality, in physicality and team speed. Look for the Vanguards offensive line to help running back Owen Smith go for 100-plus yards rushing in this nonleague game.
Winner: El Modena
NO. 18 TUSTIN (3-2) VS. NO. 21 PACIFICA (5-0)
Where, when: Bolsa Grande High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The Empire League looked like a three-team race for the league championship, with Cypress, Pacifica and Tustin very similar in quality. Cypress might not be a contender now, if ace quarterback Dylan Eldredge’s knee injury ends his season. Two good quarterbacks are in this one, Tustin’s Tobey Schmidt and Pacifica’s Darius Cowens. The challenge for Tustin in this league opener will be limiting the big plays Cowens will inevitably create with his throwing and running skills while keeping Mariners running back Jun Ramos, Orange County’s second-leading rusher at 807 yards, from running for 7 or 8 yards every carry. That’s a difficult assignment. When Dan Albano and I shot our video preview earlier this week, I picked Tustin. Upon further review … Pacifica’s offense will be too much for Tustin.
Winner: Pacifica
NO. 19 LA HABRA (0-5) VS. NO. 24 SUNNY HILLS (3-2)
Where, when: Buena Park High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: It is strange to see La Habra at 0-5 going into this Freeway League opener. The Highlanders’ schedule of Upland, Bishop Amat, Eastlake, Orange and Ayala would make plenty of good teams 0-5. Sunny Hills is in a good position to beat La Habra for the first time since 1998, which is the last time Sunny Hills was the league champion. The Lancers feature a solid running game that averages 226 yards a game. La Habra has won the Freeway League championship in 13 of the past 14 seasons including the past four in a row. The Highlanders defense will perform well enough to turn around the season and extend the league championship run to five seasons in a row.
Winner: La Habra
Fryer on Football last week: 3-3
Season to date: 22-14
