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1. What score was the most surprising?
Mission Viejo 27, Yorba Linda 26. I was stunned as I watched this Alpha League game unfold at Yorba Linda High.
When the Mustangs lined up for a go-ahead, 2-point conversion attempt with 1:31 left in the fourth quarter, I thought Isaiah Trujillo would run into the end zone to give the Mustangs their first lead and perhaps the eventual winning points.
Yes, Mission Viejo still might have won even with the conversion. The Diablos had all three of their timeouts and kicker Caleb Sylvia, who had already booted two field goals.
But just that the score was even this close felt surprising.
Yorba Linda (0-7, 0-2) rose from the emotional low of forfeiting four victories and suffering a rare shutout loss to push No. 4 Mission Viejo (6-1, 2-0) to the limit.
Did the Diablos look past Yorba Linda because of their showdown at San Clemente this Friday? Maybe. But they were playing the team that San Clemente just beat 28-0.
Mission Viejo struggled to be consistent in the pass attack and allowed 224 yards rushing on 41 carries (5.5 yards per attempt). The Diablos, however, made the stop when they needed to.
Mission Viejo w/ the defensive stand to seal a 27-26 win at Yorba Linda pic.twitter.com/kw31rFLkBW
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 9, 2026
But make no mistake, Yorba Linda showed its heart and determination to deliver one of the most surprising scores of the fall.
The Mustangs invested so much, one has to wonder what they have left for San Juan Hills (6-1. 2-0) on Thursday.
2. Which first-place team is the most unexpected?
How about Fountain Valley? The Barons have opened 2-0 in the Lambda League to snap a 35-game league losing streak that traced back to 2019.
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The 35-game league losing streak was the longest in Orange County history, historian and author Dennis Bateman states.
On Oct. 2, Fountain Valley defeated previously undefeated and host Sonora 20-14. Quarterback Isaac Combs rushed for 176 yards to help lead the Barons.
Last week, Fountain Valley defeated reigning CIF-SS Division 13 champion Woodbridge 45-21. Combs completed 24 of 27 passes for 336 yards to out-duel Woodbridge’s Waylon Stone.
Fountain Valley faces another challenge Friday when it plays at Westminster (5-2, 1-1).
3. What player delivered the most eye-popping performance in Week 7?
Brady Edmunds. When I spotted the Huntington Beach quarterback coming off the field after the Oilers’ fourth-down stop with about 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter, I did a double take.
Was Edmunds playing defense? No. 9?
Yes, he played on the defensive line on third and fourth down from the Oilers’ 15 to help seal a 21-16 victory.
Edmunds showed his leadership and competitive drive throughout the game, but especially on defense as he stepped outside of his regular role.
When was the last time a touted county quarterback played defense as a senior?
In 2016, I remember San Clemente senior and USC commit Jack Sears intercepting a pass on the final play in the Tritons’ 22-17 win against Del Oro in a CIF State championship game.
Postgame w/ Triple Threat QB @bradyedmunds9 who passed, ran and played DE late to lead @HBHSFootball past Dana Hills 21-16 in a thrilling game! Ohio State getting a versatile player! @HB_OilerSports pic.twitter.com/eEYeEgg31F
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— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 10, 2026