No shortage of intrigue when it comes to the Pac-5

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The first round of the Southern Section’s Pac-5 Division playoffs is highlighted by fourth-seeded Orange Lutheran against Mission Viejo.

Though the other seven games may not fit the bill at the top of the marquee, there’s no shortage of intrigue in what could be a wild first round of games in the state’s toughest division

It really could be anybody’s ball game:

The defining moment in Tesoro’s (7-3) seven-year football existence came Friday with its 28-24 victory over Mission Viejo to win the South Coast League title. It marked the Titans’ arrival in the big time. Things get ratcheted up a notch when it plays Mater Dei (8-1), which spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the Southland and state, and is coming off an impressive 38-13 victory over Servite to create a three-way tie for first place in the Trinity League. Can the little team that could -- with nothing to lose -- beat the venerable powerhouse that has its sights set on bigger fish?

Compton (8-2) has turned around its program over the last two seasons and upset Esperanza in the playoffs a year ago. The team got a lot of rankings mileage out of that victory this season despite not playing a particularly noteworthy schedule. Its 42-14 loss to Long Beach Poly for the Moore League title wasn’t completely unexpected, but it followed that by losing to Lakewood, 33-25. Now, it has a two-game losing streak, and last year’s playoff victory is in danger of being chalked up to a fluke. Edison (7-3) just polished off Newport Harbor, 47-0; Poly beat Newport, 34-7, in Week 3.

Newport Harbor (7-3) against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (8-2) doesn’t seem like much. But if Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist doesn’t return from a concussion suffered Friday against Crespi, then who’s to say Newport Harbor doesn’t have a chance? After the 47-0 debacle against Edison on Thursday, Newport Harbor should be one of the more fired up teams in the Southland.

San Clemente (7-2-1) seems to be peaking at the right time and faces third-seeded Servite (7-2), which is coming off an emotion-packed 38-13 loss to Mater Dei. Since losing to Tesoro, 16-13, on the final play of the game, San Clemente has been nothing less than terrific, even in the 31-31 tie in which it outplayed Mission Viejo four weeks ago.

What’s the likelihood of Santa Margarita (5-4) upsetting Poly (9-1) two years in a row? Last season, the Eagles beat Poly in the season opener, 9-7. Now, the at-large Eagles are getting top-seeded Poly in the first round with nothing to lose. They’re still a longshot, but they were last year, too.

What is intriguing about Lakewood (7-3) facing Esperanza (9-1)? Because Lakewood might be better than everyone thinks. Sure, it lost to Tesoro, 24-21, in its second game, but it also hung tough with Poly, 13-6, three weeks later. Lakewood finished second in the Moore League, and Esperanza shared the Sunset League title with Edison. Among the five leagues that make up the Pac-5 Division, the Coaches Advisory Committee ranked the Sunset League second (behind Trinity) and the Moore League fifth (behind Serra and South Coast).

The one no-brainer this week has Millikan (7-3) playing second-seeded Crespi (9-1). It’s a done deal, Crespi advances. Unless you consider this: Millikan played Poly tough before losing, 28-14. Crespi, fresh off its emotional victory over rival Notre Dame, could suffer a letdown. Couple that with the tendency to look ahead to a possible second-round match-up with Mater Dei and ... well, let’s just say it could create an intriguing possibility.

PAC-5 (I)

Santa Margarita (At-large/Trinity 4, 5-4) at Long Beach Poly (Moore 1, 9-1)
Newport Harbor (Sunset T3, 7-3) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Serra 2, 8-2)

Compton (Moore 3, 8-2) at Edison (Sunset T1, 7-3)
Mission Viejo (South Coast T2, 6-3-1) at Orange Lutheran (Trinity T1, 8-1)

San Clemente (South Coast T2, 7-2-1) at Servite (Trinity T1, 7-2)
Lakewood (Moore 2, 7-3) at Esperanza (Sunset T1, 9-1)

Mater Dei (Trinity T1, 8-1) at Tesoro (South Coast 1, 7-3)
Millikan (Moore 4, 7-3) at Crespi (Serra 1, 8-2)

-- Martin Henderson