PREP FOOTBALL / Saturday Pullout : Scorecard: County Highlights From Week 1

LOOKING AHEAD

Trabuco Hills and Laguna Hills, two former Pacific Coast League rivals, play next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Mission Viejo High School. The two programs battled for the league title and one Southern Section Division VII title during the past decade. Trabuco Hills is now in the South Coast League.

Mater Dei lost only twice last season. But when the Monarchs did drop a game, it was by a large margin. They lost to Esperanza, 33-7, and Rialto Eisenhower, 56-3.

Mater Dei has a chance to avenge the first debacle Friday, as it plays Esperanza at Valencia High School at 7 p.m.

Woodbridge and Foothill, two teams on the rise, also play Friday at 7 p.m. at Tustin High.

IN MEMORY . . .

Mission Viejo players remembered their ex-coach Mike Rush, who died last year of a heart attack, before and during their 41-13 victory over Santa Ana Valley.

Before the team took the field Friday, they tapped a red helmet that was placed below the scoreboard as a tribute to Rush. And every time the crowd looks at the scoreboard at Mission Viejo’s stadium, they will see a large red and white sign that reads “In Memory of Mike Rush.”

THE MONSTER MASH

Trabuco Hills defensive lineman Zane Champion on playing against Santa Margarita’s Josh Beckett (6-5, 305) and Kris Farris (6-8, 275) Thursday night.

“They’re some pretty big boys and they were leaning on me all night,” he said. “But I showed them that us little guys can play too.”

Champion, who is 6-3, 240, had two sacks and several tackles in the Mustangs’ 17-12 victory.

TAKING A BREAK

Maina Coach Dave Thompson was in the stands at Westminster High Thursday, scouting the Lions as his Vikings enjoyed a night off.

Actually, they had more of a break than that. Marina opened the season with a 34-0 victory over Damien High Sept. 1 in Honolulu, and started practicing a week earlier than the official Southern section starting date to prepare for the game. The downside: A combination of section and Sunset League rules kept the Vikings from practicing this week.

“We have just done a bit of running this week. We will put the pads back on (Friday), then start serious hitting on Monday,” Thompson said. “It takes a couple of days to get back into the swing of things after a week off, but obviously the rule is intended to keep anyone from getting an unfair advantage.”

RUNNING WILD

Brendan McGraw scored six rushing touchdowns to tie an Orange County record as Laguna Hills defeated Sonora, 48-26. He carried 27 times for 277 yards, the top performance Friday night.

TRADING UNIFORMS

He is recognized as the hardest hitting volleyball player in the county, but on Friday, Artist senior Dan Styles suited up for his first varsity football game.

Two years ago he played on the sophomore team but a back injury incurred during preseason practice last year kept him from any action. On Friday Styles played wide receiver in the second half and caught his first pass, a 22-yarder from Nate Pivaroff.

“I’ve been playing tackle football ever since I was 3,” Styles said. “But I sure wish we would’ve won tonight.”

WORTH A CHEER

Edison held off Corona del Mar, 35-24, despite allowing 370 yards rushing. In fact many Edison fans believed the only Charger defender worth cheering was defensive coordinator Bruce Belcher.

In the closing 42 seconds of the first half, Corona del Mar drove 67 yards in four plays. During one timeout, Belcher ran onto the field and delivered an impassioned plea to his defense to make a stand. The Edison fans cheered Belcher as he returned to the sideline.

ON THE RECORD

“No, he’s a lot shorter and has no hair.”

--Dan Dunkcanson, running back coach at Sunny Hills when asked if he was head Coach Tim Devaney.

Friday’s Best

RUSHING

1. Brendan McGraw, Laguna Hills vs. Sonora, 277 yards in 27 carries 2. Brian Hogan, Corona del Mar vs. Edison, 272 yards in 20 carries 3. DeWayne Crenshaw, Costa Mesa vs. Ocean View, 248 yards in 13 carries 4. Tramel Robinson, Foothill vs. Tustin, 159 yards in 11 carries 5. Todd Fielding, Mission Viejo vs. S.A. Valley, 147 yards in 14 carries

PASSING

1. Kevin Feterik, Los Alamitos vs. Kennedy, 18 for 20, 276 yards 2. Jeff Carlin, San Clemente vs. El Toro, 20 for 39, 274 yards 3. Greg Garand, Sunny Hills vs. La Mirada, 13 for 28, 256 yards 4. John Flynn, Mater Dei vs. Servite, 15 for 19, 250 yards 5. Patrick Markovsky, Edison vs. Corona del Mar, 15 for 23, 210 yards