A sophomore and a tough schedule have Pioneers on top

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Western has guaranteed itself a share of its fifth consecutive league title and its seventh in the last eight seasons. The one year it didn’t win the Orange League title, 20001, it finished second to Brea Olinda.

Western can win the title outright with a victory over Anaheim on Friday. Should the Pioneers lose, there could be a three-way tie for first place for the second year in a row between Western (7-1-1, 4-0), Anaheim (8-1, 3-1) and Savanna (7-2, 3-1).

The secret to Western’s success? This year, much of it goes to Ruben Ortega, a sophomore running back and linebacker “who’s out of this world,” said Coach Toby Howell. “He’s going to be really good. We think the sky is the limit for this guy.”

Ortega, Morris Griffin and Derek Orman are all averaging more than 9.0 yards a carry, and Mookie Cooksie is averaging 7.5.

The other secret to Western’s success has been its scheduling. At least, that’s what Howell thinks.

“The thing that sets us apart is we play such a good preseason schedule, and it prepares us for the league games,” Howell said. “The other teams aren’t playing teams of the same caliber.”

Anaheim’s nonleague opponents are a combined 15-27, Savanna’s are 12-31 and Western’s are 30-19-1.

Anaheim has played only one nonleague opponent with a winning record, Garden Grove Santiago (7-2), which is its only opponent with more than two victories. Savanna has played two teams with five victories apiece. Western has played only one team with a losing record, and two of its opponents are currently in first place in their leagues.

-- Martin Henderson