Southern Division holds hidden interests

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Pssst. I have a confession. I’m really interested in some games this week and (gulp) they’re not in the Pac-5 Division.

I’m not sure if I should really let this out, but I am really interested in the quarterfinal games of the Southern Division. I know, I know, it’s Division IX football. Shhhh, don’t say it too loud.

But here’s the thing. I like Garden Grove Pacifica. I saw them against Troy. They’re fighters. I mean it, Raymond Huizar, the little quarterback, wanted to beat up everybody on the field. They’re a talented, scrappy little group. And now they’re going up against top-seeded Western. I like Western, too. Wouldn’t surprise me if the winner of this game wins the championship. Which, I guess, is another way of me saying that I think Pacifica has a chance to win this game.

There’s also Irvine University against La Palma Kennedy. University is undefeated. I don’t think that matters to Kennedy, which took on a much tougher schedule. To be honest, I’d be more surprised if fourth-seeded University wins. The Trojans are supposed to have a nice little team this year, but man, can they keep on winning? I’m feeling it for the Fighting Irish. I’m not trying to feel that way, I just am.

Irvine plays third-seeded Placentia Valencia. Terry Henigan and Mike Marrujo are two of the most well-respected coaches in Orange County. Valencia is better, but Henigan returned my phone calls this season. I’d like to think his kindness gets rewarded. Maybe he could use that to fire up his team: ‘I return my phone calls, now go out there and win, darn it!!!’

Anaheim plays Cypress. This is the same Cypress team that I thought might beat second-seeded Laguna Hills, and then did. This is the same Cypress team that comes from a tough Empire League -- along with Pacifica, Kennedy and Valencia. And it’s going to play Anaheim, which gave Western a good go before losing in the Orange League finale. I don’t know, I just have this feeling that it’s a Cypress kind of night.

I’ll be checking out the Pac-5. But this week, I have a serious interest in the Southern Division. Just try to keep it under your hat.

Friday’s Southern Division quarterfinal schedule:

Western (9-1-1) vs. Garden Grove Pacifica (8-2) at Bolsa Grande, 7 p.m.
Irvine University (10-0) vs. La Palma Kennedy (7-3) at Western, 7 p.m.

Placentia Valencia (7-2-1) at Irvine (8-2), 7 p.m.
Anaheim (9-2) vs. Cypress (7-3) at Western, Saturday, 7 p.m.

-- Martin Henderson