Featured Games : Mission Viejo vs.El Toro

The records--Mission Viejo (3-0-1, 7-0-1), El Toro (3-1, 5-3).

The site--Mission Viejo Stadium.

The standings--First-place Mission Viejo leads El Toro by a half-game in the South Coast League.

Mission Viejo update--The Diablos meet their second quality opponent in two weeks after tying Capistrano Valley last Friday. Mission Viejo appeared to have the Cougars beaten when it scored with 34 seconds remaining, but Capistrano Valley rallied to score with six seconds left. Mission Viejo’s Dennis Erk preserved the tie when he blocked the extra point attempt. The Diablos’ running attack, averaging 230 yards rushing per game, was contained in the tie as Todd Yert and Darrin Sweazy combined for 50 yards. Yert has gained 665 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Brendan Murphy averages only 12 passes per game but has thrown only two interceptions. Bob Doran is a triple-threat as a receiver, rusher or punt returner, and has scored eight touchdowns.

El Toro update--The defending league champions have had two weeks to prepare for this game since last week’s nonleague opponent, Warren, runs basically the same offense and defense as the Diablos. The Chargers, with 21 interceptions, have one of the county’s best secondaries, including five by Mike Gonzales and four by Jim Hargy. Sophomore quarterback Bret Johnson has completed 77 of 152 passes for 1,107 yards and 9 touchdowns. Mike Milner, Fountain Valley coach, has played both teams and predicted that the play of the quarterbacks will be the game’s determining factor.

Key to the game--El Toro’s defensive front, led by junior tackle Scott Spaulding, will be tested by Mission Viejo’s running game. If the Diablos’ rushing attack is contained, Murphy will have to go to the air against the Chargers’ strength--their secondary. Johnson, a poised 15-year-old, will have to play his best game of the season if the Chargers hope to win.

Consensus--El Toro is a decided underdog, but the Chargers were in the same position against Capistrano Valley and won, 17-14. The Chargers tend to rise for the big games, but Mission Viejo is a solid team that should dethrone El Toro as league champion.

Woodbridge vs.Newport Harbor

The records--Woodbridge (4-1 in league, 6-2 overall). Newport Harbor (5-0 and 7-1).

The site--Davidson Field.

The standings--Newport Harbor leads the Sea View League. Woodbridge is tied for second with Saddleback.

Woodbridge update--The Warriors are coming off of a 31-14 win over Costa Mesa. Reserve quarterback Mike Juarez stepped in for the injured John Yurkovich to perform admirably, completing 5 of 8 passes for 126 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to John Evers on the Warriors’ first play. The running game also picked up against the Mustangs with Dave Townsend carrying 10 times for 139 yards and Dwayne Armstrong scoring on a 62-yard run. Other than a loss to Saddleback, the Warriors have played consistently well.

Newport Harbor update--The Sailors trailed University, 18-12, at halftime last week, then rallied for a 33-24 win. Shane Foley completed 18 of 21 passes, including 2 touchdowns. More important, however, the Sailors’ running game has come to life in the latter part of the season, taking some pressure off of Foley. Bryan Wildman rushed for three touchdowns against the Trojans, giving opponents yet another factor to worry about when they defend against the Sailors.

Key to the game--The Woodbridge offense. The Warriors have to find a way to slow down Foley if they hope to win. One way might be to keep the ball out of his hands, but they would need a mistake-free, ball-control offense to do that.

Consensus--The Sailors are actually one of the league’s most improved teams. The defense, which allows three touchdowns a game, has to tighten up for the playoffs, but having a running game to complement Foley makes the Sailor offense virtually unstoppable. Newport Harbor by a touchdown.

Santiago vs. La Quinta

The records--Santiago (2-1, 7-1), La Quinta (3-0, 6-2).

The site--Bolsa Grande Stadium.

The standings--La Quinta is in first place in the Garden Grove League. Santiago is tied for second with Bolsa Grande.

Santiago update--The Cavaliers have been one of Orange County’s surprise teams, but have put together weak performances the past two weeks. Santiago won its first six games, outscoring opponents 112-31. However, the Cavaliers lost to Bolsa Grande two weeks ago, 10-0, and had a close call against Garden Grove, 24-22. Rick Burns is the county’s fifth-rated quarterback, completing 58% of his passes for 1,020 yards. However, the Cavaliers are by no means a passing team. Burns is averaging a little more than 13 pass attempts a game. Santiago derives its strength from its defense. In their first six games, the Cavaliers allowed opponents to score in double figures only once--10 points by Sonora.

La Quinta update--It’s difficult to gauge the Aztecs’ season. How do you figure a team that defeated Foothill by 19 points, Gahr by 44 and Rancho Alamitos by 47, but had to struggle to beat Bolsa Grande, 13-12, and Los Amigos, 7-0. A big factor in La Quinta’s roller coaster season has been the number of injuries it has incurred at skill positions. In one week, La Quinta lost a starting quarterback, Eric Zeno, and a running back, Darrel Crain. Coach Joe Zeno said Crain will play tonight. Another casualty was running back/defensive back Bart Recktenwald, who has rushed for more than 400 yards. Recktenwald was suspended for a game for disciplinary reasons.

Key to the game--The Cavalier defense will have to contain a La Quinta offense that can be explosive. Though the injury to Zeno changed the Aztecs’ plans for a pass-oriented offense, the running game, led by Recktenwald, has performed well. Offensively, Santiago must get a high percentage of completions from Burns to balance its attack, but the La Quinta secondary, led by Recktenwald, has been tough.

Consensus--Santiago Coach Fred DiPalma attributed his team’s first loss to overconfidence. Considering what La Quinta did to Rancho Alamitos last week, the Cavaliers should have no trouble being humble. A win would assure La Quinta of being the league’s No. 1 representative in the CIF Southern Section Central Conference playoffs. With that incentive, and Recktenwald and Crain back, the Aztecs should win.