Division VII at a Glance

Defending champion: Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

Top teams: Culver City (9-1), Mira Costa (9-1), Lompoc (9-1), Arroyo Grande (8-1).

Dark horse: Rancho Alamitos (7-2-1). The Vaqueros, who haven’t lost since the third week of the season, are playing as well as anyone in the division. Notoriously slow starters, Rancho Alamitos lost two of its first three games last year, then went all the way to the title game.

Top players: Kevin Allen, Rancho Alamitos, RB; John Dear, Garden Grove, L; Antwan Duncan, South Hills, RB; Greg Fausto, Los Amigos, RB; Mike Fikes, Mira Costa, RB; John Frank, Rancho Alamitos, QB; Greg Garand, Sunny Hills, QB; Eric Hernandez, Sunny Hills, WR; Tim Jones, Sunny Hills, FB; Aaron Kogan, Beverly Hills, RB; Shaun Malcom, Covina, RB; Manuel Millan, Garden Grove, RB; Robert Oliver, Sunny Hills, RB; Brett Pierce, South Hills, QB; Jeff Renaud, Sunny Hills, R; Mark Reza, South Hills, WR/S; Jasiri Rodell, Culver City, R; Niu Satele, Los Amigos, TE/DL; Peter Souza, Lompoc, RB; Ape Tuato, Los Amigos, QB/S; Nick Terrones, Lompoc, QB; Jeff Turbarg, Rancho Alamitos, R/DB; Michael Ulrich, Covina, QB; Chris Velotta, Sunny Hills, RB; Chris Wallace, Beverly Hills, QB; John Wilkie, Fullerton, RB; Damon Williams, Culver City, QB; Aki Wilson, Culver City, RB; Ed Wynn, Lompoc, RB; Chris Young, Fullerton, RB; Chris Young, Rancho Alamitos, RB/LB.

Best draws: Mira Costa, and Sunny Hills. Mira Costa is the defending champion and has a wealth of talent, but it’s hard to believe two teams from the same league (Ocean) were seeded Nos. 1 and 2 in the division. Sunny Hills (4-6) had a losing season, yet received a better draw than Los Amigos (9-1) or Rancho Alamitos (7-2-1).

Worst draw: Rancho Alamitos (7-2-1). For winning the Garden Grove League, the Vaqueros get to play top-seeded Culver City in the second round. “I’m glad to be in the playoffs, but I don’t understand where I land playing Culver City in the second round,” Rancho Alamitos Coach Doug Case said. “I think we probably should have been seeded fourth, but then I don’t think we got much respect for beating Los Amigos.”

Notes: A fourth of the teams in the draw have losing records, Garden Grove (4-5), Sunny Hills (4-6), Buena Park (4-6) and Santa Maria (1-9). Yes, that’s not a misprint: Santa Maria made the playoffs with a 1-9 record. The Saints tied for third place in the Northern League and were picked to represent the league because they had a longer playoff drought than the other two teams.. . . . The top four seeded teams were from two leagues, the Northern and the Ocean. Meanwhile, the Freeway and the Garden Grove were left out of the seeding process. . . . Said Los Amigos Coach Roger Takahashi of the draw: “I look at it philosophically. We’re 9-1. If we play to our level, we’ll win the ball games. If you beat the team that is seeded, you’re taking their road. I feel more badly for Doug (Case). His team is better than that. They shouldn’t be playing the No. 1 seed in the second round.”. . . South Hills’ Pierce (1,336 yards, 14 touchdowns), re-injured his hamstring last week in a loss to Covina, but he is expected to start against Los Amigos. . . . Mira Costa’s Fikes has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season and has scored 19 touchdowns. Sophomore Kevin Cooper started the last three games at quarterback in place of senior Kevin Fujimoto.