OC Game of the Week

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Los Alamitos (3-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (4-0), Cal State Fullerton, 7:30 p.m., FSN
Why is this the game of the week instead of Edison-Mater Dei? Both teams are undefeated, both are ranked in The Times’ top 25, and both could emerge as their respective league champions, just like that other big game between Sunset and Trinity powers. Did we mention both were undefeated?

But most intriguing is that this is the first real test for No. 18 Los Alamitos, which has looked like a world beater, and it will be the only real test for the Griffins before they open league play against Edison. Junior Clark Evans has emerged as a running and passing threat, not unlike last year’s player of the year, Aaron Corp, of Orange Lutheran. Clark has averaged 232 yards passing and 101 rushing, and has five TD passes and eight TD runs.

But Evans and his teammates haven’t seen anything like No. 6 Orange Lutheran, which has a stout defense and an improving offense behind Corp’s successor, senior Blake Hyepock. He has averaged 209 yards, and has seven touchdowns passes against only one interception.

The key could be Lutheran’s secondary because its front seven can handle the run.

- Martin Henderson