ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: There were many Orange County teams that didn’t play last week and chose to have a week off before league play begins this week. … Two Top 10 teams did play: San Clemente, which beat Murrieta Valley, 42-13, and Servite, which defeated Damien, 28-9. … El Modena moves up in this week’s poll after it defeated Trabuco Hills 20-17. … El Dorado makes its Top 25 debut after beating Troy 26-12.
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1. Santa Margarita 5-0 (75 points)
The Eagles did not play last week. They concluded the nonleague portion of their schedule two weeks ago with a 34-0 win over Norco. That was Santa Margarita’s third shutout this season. The Eagles’ nonleague wins include a 21-20 triumph over Corona Centennial. Sophomore running back Adrian Petero has been the Eagles’ best offensive weapon. Petero has rushed for 443 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Fletch Palmer, son of Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer, has been steady at quarterback. The top two teams in the Orange County rankings play each other Friday when the Eagles take on Mater Dei in a Trinity League opener at Saddleback College.
Previous ranking: 1
2. Mater Dei 4-1 (72)
The Monarchs did not play last week. Many teams in six-team leagues needed the week off before league play begins. Mater Dei is one of those teams. The Monarchs struggled in every way two weeks ago in a 25-8 loss to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. Bishop Gorman is an excellent team, so maybe the outcome of that game had more to do with Bishop Gorman’s high quality. Mater Dei will have to play much better Friday against Santa Margarita.
Previous ranking: 2
3. Orange Lutheran 3-2 (69)
The Lancers did not play last week. Two weeks ago they lost to Sierra Canyon, 28-10. Sierra Canyon is No. 2 in the HSratings.com California rankings, so that was not a shocking loss. Orange Lutheran has used senior Reagan Toki and sophomore Ezrah Brown at quarterback with fairly equal production from both. The Lancers’ offensive leader has been sophomore running back Ryan Christianson, who has rushed for 560 yards and five touchdowns. Orange Lutheran plays its Trinity League opener Friday at Orange Coast College against Servite.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Mission Viejo 4-1 (66)
The Diablos did not play last week. They had a 42-35 victory over Pittsburg, the No. 19 team in HSratings’ state rankings, two weeks ago. Mission Viejo’s loss was to state No. 8 Folsom. Sophomore Brett Burnor has continued Mission Viejo’s run of strong play at quarterback. He has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. Mission Viejo plays its Alpha League opener Friday at home game against Edison.
Previous ranking: 4
5. JSerra 4-1 (63)
The Lions did not play last week. They probably are better than most thought when the season began. JSerra’s season-opening loss to Sierra Canyon, 42-21, does not look so bad now that Sierra Canyon is a solid No. 2 in the state rankings and has a 28-10 win over Orange Lutheran. JSerra senior Hayes Cloutier, who is a dual-threat quarterback, is playing better with each passing week. The Lions will need Cloutier and everyone else on the field to be at their best Friday when JSerra plays its Trinity League opener at St. John Bosco (4-1).
Previous ranking: 5
6. San Clemente 5-0 (59)
The Tritons earned a 42-13 road victory over Murrieta Valley last week. Junior quarterback Preston Beck passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore running back Charlie Bunker rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown. San Clemente also has nonleague wins over Chaparral and Tustin. The Tritons play their Alpha League opener Friday at home against Yorba Linda.
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Previous ranking: 6
7. Servite 3-2 (58)
The Friars looked good Friday in their 28-9 road win over Damien. Junior running back Jorden Wells ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Servite also has wins over St. Paul and Murrieta Valley. Their losses were to Centennial of Arizona and to Corona Centennial. Servite plays Orange Lutheran on Friday at Orange Coast College.
Previous ranking: 7
8. Corona del Mar 5-0 (53)
The Sea Kings did not play last week. They defeated La Serna 30-24 on Sept. 18. They also have wins over Newport Harbor and Edison. JD Annett, a junior, has been steady at quarterback. His top two targets, seniors JJ Haley and Nolan Scott, have 20 receptions each. Corona del Mar will need to have its offense revved up and its defense ready for a challenge Friday when the Sea Kings play Villa Park in a Bravo League opener at El Modena High. Villa Park’s average margin of victory is 51 points.
Previous ranking: 8
9. Crean Lutheran 3-2 (52)
The Saints did not play last week. They beat Oakdale, 28-21, two weeks ago. Senior quarterback Caden Jones, who committed to Arizona, was the No. 1 player on the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of Orange County football players. He has lived up to it. Jones has completed 69 percent of his pass attempts for 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior receiver Braylen Ross has 48 receptions for 646 yards and five touchdowns. Crean Lutheran plays its Bravo League opener Friday against Tustin at Tustin High.
Previous ranking: 9
10. Huntington Beach 5-0 (47)
The Oilers did not play last week. They went undefeated in their five nonleague games, including a victory over Yorba Linda. Ohio State-committed senior quarterback Brady Edmunds has been stellar, as he has completed 71 percent of his throws for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior receivers Dylin Bruce and Skylar Robinson have been outstanding, too. Huntington Beach plays its Delta League opener Friday at home against El Modena.
Previous ranking: 10
11. Tustin 4-1 (45)
Previous ranking: 11
12. Yorba Linda 4-1 (42)
Previous ranking: 12
13. Villa Park 5-0 (36)
Previous ranking: 13
14. Capistrano Valley 5-0 (35)
Previous ranking: 14
15. La Habra 5-0 (34)
Previous ranking: 15
16T. Dana Hills 5-0 (30)
Previous ranking: 16
16T. San Juan Hills 4-1 (30)
Previous ranking: 16
18. Edison 2-3 (24)
Previous ranking: 18
19. Orange 5-0 (22)
Previous ranking: 19
20. Los Alamitos 0-5 (17)
Previous ranking: 20
21. Laguna Beach 2-3 (16)
Previous ranking: 20
22. El Modena 5-0 (11)
Previous ranking: 23
23. Newport Harbor 3-2 (9)
Previous ranking: 23
24. Trabuco Hills 3-2 (7)
Previous ranking: 22
25. El Dorado 3-2 (3)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
About the poll: There are three media members who vote each week in the Top 25 poll.
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