PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : SCORECARD / County Highlights From Week 5 : LOOKING AHEAD

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 8, 1994 12 AM PT

Realignment has brought the six-team league into vogue in Orange County, and that meant a five-week nonleague schedule for all but the seven-team Garden Grove League. Well, that’s over now, and the drive for the playoffs begins next week.

Two of the most notable matchups take place in the Sunset League, where newcomer Los Alamitos (ranked No. 1 in the county) plays host to No. 10 Marina on Thursday at Long Beach Veterans Stadium and third-ranked Esperanza, the league’s other new team, plays No. 4 Edison on Friday at Orange Coast College.

Another big matchup involving a newcomer is Trabuco Hills playing host to Mater Dei Friday. The Mustangs were in the Pacific Coast League last season but went 5-1 against South Coast League opponents; now they’re in the South Coast and find themselves staring at the second-ranked Monarchs. That’s a tough introduction.

The Garden Grove title could be decided when No. 5 Los Amigos plays Friday against Rancho Alamitos, ranked ninth in the Southern Section Division VII poll.

The Sea View League also gets a premium contest Friday when undefeated Newport Harbor visits Irvine.

For historical purposes, Orange’s Dick Hill goes for Orange County coaching victory No. 200 Thursday night against El Modena.

ON THE RECORD

“I don’t understand it at all. He’s a big hitter and a great athlete.”

--Roger Takahashi, Los Amigos coach, who is baffled by the lack of attention his quarterback/safety Ape Tuato is receiving from college recruiters. Takahashi said Colorado is the only Division I team that has shown any interest in the 6-foot, 205-pound senior.

IT’S A NEW NO. 2

Everyone knows Los Alamitos’ unbeaten streak is the county’s longest at 40 games. The second-longest streak belonged to Savanna--10 games--but the Rebels were defeated by Newport Harbor, 22-15, Thursday night.

The second-longest streak now belongs to Woodbridge. The Warriors have won six straight--five this year and their final Sea View League game last season; they failed to make the playoffs in 1994.

LONG DISTANCE

Mission Viejo quarterback Austin Moherman threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Michael Smith in the first quarter of the Diablos’ 21-17 loss to Villa Park. The play set a school record for longest pass play and tied a Southern Section record held by many.

MARKING TIME

Villa Park baseball Coach Scott Wilson moonlights as the trainer for the Spartan football team, but he never had a patient like the one he had Friday.

After Mission Viejo wide receiver Michael Smith dove for a first down in the third quarter, he broke one of the first-down markers. Wilson made makeshift repairs by taping up the broken yard marker with athletic tape.

Said Wilson: “Yeah, that’s what everyone is saying. It was such a tough game even the yard markers got beat up.”

MISSING A MEAL

By allowing La Serna to score on a halfback option with 13 seconds remaining in the first half of La Habra’s 31-7 victory Friday night, the Highlanders’ defense cost themselves a meal. The defense was guaranteed a steak dinner by the coaching staff if it could shut out the Lancers.

Despite losing the shutout, Mike Sweet, Keven Ness, Raoul Apadaca and Copeland Holt each earned Slurpees with their interceptions.

HOW SWEET IT IS

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson remembers Todd Borowski.

Walnut’s new head coach was at the controls last year for Anaheim when the Colonists handed Kennedy its first and only loss of the regular season.

“They gave us our only loss until the (playoff) semifinals and it got them into the playoffs,” Olson said.

But he said revenge wasn’t a factor Friday.

“It’s a different season with different kids,” Olson said. “It’s kids against kids, not coaches against coaches.”

The Fighting Irish handed Borowski and his Mustangs their first loss of the season, 21-14.

How Top 10 Fared

Results of games involving teams in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll:

1. Los Alamitos (5-0)

beat Long Beach Millikan (1-4), 56-0.