TONIGHT’S PREP FOOTBALL : Esperanza Takes On Santa Ana

Esperanza High School will test its Delaware Wing-T offense in its season opener against perennial power Santa Ana in the featured game in Orange County at 7:30 tonight in Placentia’s Bradford Stadium.

Esperanza, ranked third in The Times’ preseason poll, has six returning starters on offense, including third-year quarterback Keith McDonald. Other top returnees include tight end Reid Pullen, fullback Gerrick Emry and tailback-linebacker Mark Parlin.

Santa Ana, which has won or shared the past four Century League titles, has moved into the Sunset League this season. Coach Dick Hill has seven returning starters from a team that finished 9-3 last season.

But Santa Ana will play without tailback Alfonso Rivas, who is academically ineligible for the opening six weeks. Rivas gained 104 yards in 17 carries against Canyon in his only start in 1989.

Villa Park, which shared the Century League title with Santa Ana last year, opens its season at Bolsa Grande. Villa Park features linemen Brian Pearsall and Damon Becknel.

In other games tonight, all starting at 7:30 unless otherwise noted: Twentynine Palms vs. Costa Mesa at Newport Harbor High School; Silver Valley vs. Southern California Christian at Brea-Olinda High; Brethren at Capistrano Valley Christian, 1 p.m., and Houston Lutheran at Orange Lutheran, 2 p.m.