ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: San Clemente’s 28-9 win over previously-undefeated Los Alamitos caused several changes in this week’s county rankings. … San Clemente returns to the Top 10, Crean Lutheran scoots up, as does JSerra, Corona del Mar and Tustin. … Los Alamitos drops from No. 6 to No. 11 … Servite leapfrogs Orange Lutheran in the Nos. 4-5 positions.
1. Mission Viejo 8-1 (75 points)
Diablos senior quarterback Luke Fahey had another great game, completing 23 of 33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-20 win over Edison in the Alpha League. Mission Viejo’s loss was in Tennessee to McCallie 25-14. The Diablos are the only team to beat Central Valley power Folsom and also defeated Santa Margarita. They conclude the regular season Thursday against Los Alamitos at Artesia High before a likely berth in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Previous ranking: 1
2. Santa Margarita 6-3 (72)
The Eagles improved to 3-1 in the Trinity League with a 28-7 win over Orange Lutheran. Siua Holani had a team-high 11 tackles and blocked a punt for Santa Margarita, Logan Hirou had nine tackles and Dash Fifita returned a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown. Trent Mosley had 10 receptions for 100 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The Eagles play at JSerra on Friday.
Previous ranking: 2
3. Mater Dei 6-2 (69)
The Monarchs rushed for 205 yards and Justin Lewis had three rushing touchdowns in a 40-7 win over JSerra. Gavin Honore had his best receiving game for Mater Dei with eight receptions for 92 yards. Mater Dei plays at St. John Bosco on Friday, the final regular-game season game for both teams.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Servite 5-4 (65)
The Friars could not get into the end zone against St. John Bosco in a 42-0 loss. A good development for Servite was the return of running back Gavin Gutierrez, who rushed for 67 yards on 18 carries. Saxon Churchwell had eight solo tackles. Servite plays Orange Lutheran on Friday at Orange Coast College.
Previous ranking: 5
5. Orange Lutheran 2-7 (64)
It was a rough week for the Lancers. On Tuesday the school announced it had to forfeit two early-season wins when it discovered it used an ineligible player in those games. Then Orange Lutheran lost to Santa Margarita 28-7. Orange Lutheran is 1-3 in the Trinity League, as is Servite. They play each other Friday at Orange Coast College.
Previous ranking: 4
6T. Crean Lutheran 9-0 (57)
The Saints put together a great second half to beat Huntington Beach 31-28. They trailed 21-0 in the first half. Caleb Bey rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He also had four receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown. The Saints finish the regular season Thursday with an Epsilon League game at Laguna Hills
Previous ranking: 7
6T. JSerra 3-6 (57)
The Lions fell to 0-4 in the Trinity League with a 40-7 loss to Mater Dei. Their defense had difficulty containing the Monarchs offense. JSerra concludes the regular season with a home game against Santa Margarita on Friday. The Lions have a chance to get into the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs as an at-large team.
Previous ranking: 8
8T. Tustin 7-2 (54)
The Tillers looked great in a 42-21 win over Western. Eli Robinson rushed for 187 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Khalil Terry had six solo tackles and rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Taven Epps had caught two touchdown passes from Ayden Edwards and Jeremiah Williams rushed for two touchdowns. Tustin (4-0 in the Delta League) plays Capistrano Valley (4-0 in legaue) on Thursday at Saddleback College.
Previous ranking: 10
8T. Corona del Mar 9-0 (54)
Brady Annett threw for 318 yards with seven touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Tesoro in a Bravo League. Garrett James had five receptions for 177 yards and four touchdowns and Dorsett Stecker had 85 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Corona del Mar, 4-0 in league, plays at Yorba Linda (3-1 in league) on Thursday.
Previous ranking: 9
10. San Clemente 5-4 (48)
The Tritons produced one of the bigger upsets of the season with a 28-9 win over then-undefeated Los Alamitos. Jaxon Rex had eight receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns from sophomore quarterback Preston Beck, who got his first start. Cade Hogan had 10 solo tackles. The Tritons (1-1 in the Alpha League) plays Edison (0-2 in league) at Huntington Beach High on Friday.
Previous ranking: 12
11. Los Alamitos 8-1 (45)
Previous ranking: 6
12. San Juan Hills 7-2 (42)
Previous ranking: 11
13. Yorba Linda 7-2 (39)
Previous ranking: 13
14. Edison 5-4 (36)
Previous ranking: 14
15. Huntington Beach 7-2 (32)
Previous ranking: 16
16. Capistrano Valley 8-1 (31)
Previous ranking: 15
17T. Laguna Beach 9-0 (25)
Previous ranking: 19
17T. La Habra 6-3 (25)
Previous ranking: 17
19. Dana Hills 8-1 (22)
Previous ranking: 17
20. Villa Park 4-5 (15)
Previous ranking: 20
21. Troy 8-1 (14)
Previous ranking: 22
22. El Modena 4-5 (13)
Previous ranking: 20
23T. Aliso NIguel 6-3 (9)
Previous ranking: 23
23T. Western 5-4 (9)
Previous ranking: 24
25. Tesoro 3-6 (3)
Previous ranking: 25
