Featured Games : Saddleback vs. La Habra

The records--Saddleback (11-1), La Habra (10-2)

The site--La Habra

The conference--Central

Saddleback update--Fresh from a convincing 28-9 victory over Valencia last week, the Roadrunners enter this game on an upbeat note, having scored an average of 37 points against their last seven opponents. Ordinarily, having beaten a team earlier in the season, as Saddleback did over La Habra in September, 34-0, might lead to overconfidence, but that doesn’t appear to be true in this case. Unbelievable as it might seem, the Roadrunners are playing even better football now than they were then. The passing attack behind Myron Butler has come around, making the Roadrunner offense much better.

La Habra update--The Highlanders’ stubborn defense was largely responsible for their 13-10 win over Artesia last week, and it must be up to the task again to stop Saddleback. The Highlanders know what Saddleback rushers Myron Butler and Glenn Campbell can do first hand, but they must stop them this time if they are to advance to the conference final. One way would be for the La Habra offense to maintain ball control and keep it out of the Roadrunners’ hands, in much the same way that El Modena kept the ball out of Capistrano Valley’s Scott Stark’s hands in a Southern Conference playoff game last week. Playing the game at La Habra probably won’t bother Saddleback much, but a supportive home crowd should help the Highlanders.

Key to the game--The Saddleback rushing attack. If the Roadrunners move the ball up and down the field as they did the first time around, it could be a long night for the Highlanders. If La Habra can bottle up that attack, an upset could quickly develop.

Consensus--Not even the one team that beat Saddleback this season, Newport Harbor, was able to stymie the Roadrunner ground game. Although a much closer game is expected this time, Saddleback should still win by a touchdown.

Mission Viejo vs. El Toro

The records--Mission Viejo (10-1-1), El Toro (8-3)

The site--LeBard Stadium, Saturday night

The conference--Southern

Mission Viejo update--The Diablos’ only loss of the year was a 24-17 setback to El Toro for the South Coast League championship. Mission Viejo has averaged 28.5 points per game with a ground-oriented attack led by fullback Todd Yert and linemen Rick Costello and John Charlton. Yert gained 978 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in 213 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Quarterback Brendan Murphy is a double threat as a passer or runner and has thrown for 1,140 yards and 8 touchdowns. Wide receiver Bob Doran has caught 48 passes for 850 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Diablos’ secondary, led by cornerback Dennis Erk, intercepted four passes in a 14-8 win over Foothill last week.

El Toro update--Sophomore quarterback Bret Johnson has been brilliant in two playoff victories, completing 26 of 37 pass attempts for 446 yards and 3 touchdowns and running for another score. Johnson has completed 123 of 225 for 1,876 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Chargers’ defense has allowed an average of only 10.9 points per game. Jim Hargy and Shane Brisbin lead a secondary that intercepted 31 passes. Hargy and Brisbin each have six interceptions. Adam Brass has been the most versatile player on the team, rushing for 751 yards and intercepting four passes as a two-way starter. Westminster was the only team to score more than two touchdowns on the Chargers in a 26-7 victory.

Key to the game--Mission Viejo committed two costly penalties that kept El Toro scoring drives alive in the last meeting. The Diablos can’t afford costly mistakes in an evenly matched game like this. El Toro must do a better job of containing Mission Viejo’s running attack that produced 237 yards against the Chargers.

Consensus--The combination of Yert’s powerful running and the revenge motive gives Mission Viejo a slight edge, but don’t be surprised if El Toro scores an upset.

El Modena vs. Santa Ana

The records--El Modena (11-1), Santa Ana (8-4)

The site--Santa Ana Stadium

The conference--Southern

El Modena update--The Vanguards were unstoppable in their 33-10 victory over Capistrano Valley last week, in which they rolled up 453 yards in total offense. Running back Ross Bauer did most of the damage, rushing for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns and passing for another score, but quarterback Chris Gallego had another excellent game, passing for 165 yards and a touchdown. Bauer, who has rushed for 1,835 yards and 24 touchdowns, and El Modena’s experienced offensive line, led by Don Gibson and Allen Ennis, have received much of the credit for the Vanguards’ offensive success this year, while Gallego has quietly completed 61% of his passes for 1,645 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gallego, who has shown a penchant for completing crucial, third-down passes, gives El Modena a very balanced offense.

Santa Ana update--Behind the running of sophomore tailback Robert Lee, the Saints have won four straight games, including last week’s 7-0 victory over Pacifica. Since losing to El Modena, 24-7, in the eighth week of the season, Lee, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, has rushed for 534 yards and 5 touchdowns. Quarterback Eric Turner, in that same span, has thrown for just 218 yards. Santa Ana moved the ball well on the ground last week, with Lee gaining 110 yards, but its only points came when kicker Raul Ochoa chased down an errant snap on a field-goal attempt and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Lanier Bridges. The Saints must score more than seven points to defeat El Modena.

Key to the game--Santa Ana has had success running the ball in recent weeks, but they’ll need more than a running game against the Vanguards. In the first game, Turner was sacked four times and pressured into a 5-for-18 performance. “The offensive line has to protect the quarterback,” Saints Coach Dick Hill said.

Consensus--Santa Ana is an improved team, but the Saints still aren’t good enough to defeat the Vanguards. El Modena is a heavy favorite to advance to the finals, where it will have a chance to win its third straight Southern Conference championship.