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Three under-the-radar storylines to watch in football Friday:
1. How does Mater Dei’s offense perform against JSerra after struggling the past three games?
It feels like Mater Dei (4-2, 0-1) faces a crossroads moment at JSerra (4-2, 0-1) in the second round of the Trinity League.
The Monarchs have averaged 8.3 points in their past three games. Yes, they’ve been against Centennial, Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas and Santa Margarita but the offensive output is trending downward.
JSerra, meanwhile, allowed 34 points in the first half in a 40-14 loss at St. John Bosco last week.
After Mater Dei fell to Santa Margarita 14-7 in last Friday, Monarchs coach Raul Lara took the blame for the offensive struggles.
“For whatever reason, we can’t get the ball in the end zone,” he said. “I might be doing something wrong or something but I got to figure that out.”
Will Mater Dei make changes tonight?
JSerra doesn’t feel like an easy spot to get too tricky. The Lions outscored St. John Bosco 14-6 in the second half to gain momentum for Mater Dei.
JSerra also seems to have a new energy under first-year coach Hardy Nickerson.
2. Can Orange Lutheran stun St. John Bosco again?
Don’t overlook the Lancers (4-2, 1-0) as they return to St. John Bosco (5-1, 1-0) for the first time since upsetting the Braves in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs last season.
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The Lancers have again played a challenging schedule to prepare for the Braves. And they’re coming off an impressive 56-21 victory against Servite last week.
Orange Lutheran’s offense looks dangerous but how will its defense handle St. John Bosco running back Maliq Allen? The senior has rushed for 718 yards and 10 TDs.
The Lancers’ performance will reveal a lot about their chances against the rest of the Trinity League. They’re lurking as a potential spoiler.
Next week on Friday, Oct. 16, Orange Lutheran plays host to JSerra at Orange Coast College.
3. Who bounces back in the Villa Park-La Habra game in the Bravo League?
La Habra (5-1, 0-1) plays host to Villa Park (5-1, 0-1) in a clash of teams looking to rebound from their first loss.
The Highlanders fell to Capistrano Valley 42-20 last week. The Spartans lost to Corona del Mar 24-10.
The Bravo League might be Orange County’s best public school league, so avoiding an 0-2 start would be a major boost for La Habra or Villa Park.
La Habra will certainly look to tighten its defense. Look for Villa Park to try to shift its offense back into high gear.
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