The OC Game of the Week

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Laguna Hills at Trabuco Hills, Friday (tonight!), 7 p.m.

Both teams, from the same school district, reached the Southern Section semifinals a year ago, Laguna Hills in the Southern Division and Trabuco Hills in the Southwest Division. L

aguna Hills is the odds-on favorite to win the Pacific Coast League, while Trabuco Hills comes in as a playoff candidate from the tougher Sea View League.

Trabuco Hills is fresh off an upset of South Hills, which was ranked No. 25 by The Times. That 13-7 victory sure looks better on paper than Laguna Hills’ 29-15 domination of Segerstrom.

It will be incumbent upon the Mustangs to keep Laguna Hills quarterback Ryan Werternberger from getting the start he did a week ago, when he passed for touchdowns on his team’s first two possessions, and prevent the big plays, such as Sean Tucker’s 80-yard kickoff return. With an advantage on the offensive and defensive lines, pressuring Werternberger will be a good start, and if the Mustangs’ linemen can wear down Laguna Hills, It could allow running back Matt Wagner to do some damage late.

This one may well go to the wire.

One thing it won’t be: one-sided like last year’s 24-7 victory by Laguna Hills.

- Martin Henderson