PREP EXTRA: SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : SCORECARD / COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

The Griffins’ Streak

Los Alamitos’ streak of 47 games without a loss, breaking a tie for the Southern Section record with Temple City (1969-73) and Canyon Country Canyon (1983-86):

Last loss: 28-7 to Esperanza, Oct. 25, 1991.

1991

9 Katella 3

50 Cypress 0

14 Loara 13

*

Playoffs

31 Burbank 0

20 Hawthorne 14

37 Newhall Hart 23

8 Esperanza 0

1992

21 Marina 9

24 Fountain Valley 7

28 Villa Park 27

42 Torrance Bishop Montgomery 0

56 Lakewood 0

37 Loara 0

41 El Dorado 0

34 Esperanza 14

45 Katella 0

35 Cypress 0

*

Playoffs

41 Arcadia 14

48 Fountain Valley 16

28 La Crescenta Crescenta Valley 10

14 Esperanza 14

1993

37 Long Beach Jordan 0

49 Pasadena Blair 0

42 Marina 0

48 Palmdale 26

41 Long Beach Millikan 0

62 Cypress 2

41 Loara 6

35 El Dorado 0

49 Esperanza 0

35 Katella 0

*

Playoffs

31 Downey Warren 13

34 Edison 8

42 Fountain Valley 21

39 Huntington Beach 21

1994

24 Kennedy 14

38 Los Angeles Washington 7

23 Carson 16

39 Pasadena Muir 12

56 Long Beach Millikan 0

34 Marina 14

15 Edison 12

35 Esperanza 32

45 Fountain Valley 14

53 Huntington Beach 7

*

Playoffs

37 Bellflower St. John Bosco 22

7 Long Beach Poly 0

MAJOR SEMIFINALS

Trabuco Hills, last season’s Division VIII champion, protested its move to Division I this season. But somebody knew it was the right move.

The Mustangs will play host to Bishop Amat, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs next Friday.

And in the Division I semifinal, scheduled Saturday, is the much-anticipated matchup between Los Alamitos and Mater Dei, the county’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams.

CATCHING UP TO ANOTHER RECORD

Brad Melsby of Los Alamitos set the Orange County career reception record on a seven-yard pass from Kevin Feterik with 3 minutes 4 seconds remaining in the first half of Friday’s game against Long Beach Poly in the quarterfinals of the Division I playoffs at Orange Coast College.

It was Melsby’s second catch of the game, giving him 178 career receptions--one more than the previous record set by George Sagen, who played at Los Alamitos from 1990-91.

Going into Friday’s game, Melsby already held the county career yards receiving mark with 2,811, surpassing Rick Parma’s record of 2,767 set at Kennedy High from 1973-75.

THEY PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTH

Throughout its Division I quarterfinal against L.A. Loyola, when Mater Dei needed crucial yardage, the Monarchs went to Steve Bodnar, running behind tackle Matt Motherway and guard Kevin Donahue.

“You’ve got to go with the guys that brought you here,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “Bodnar played defense, too, and made some key tackles. He played about one of the finest games in school history tonight.”

SETTING GOALS

Preparation won’t be Newport Harbor’s downfall. Said Sailor Coach Jeff Brinkley: “We’ve talked about this since before last spring; our goal is to play 14 weeks.”

Brinkley said balance has been the key to Newport Harbor’s success.

“When one area of our team falters, another picks it up,” he said. “Last week, our offense and special teams picked up our defense.”

Friday, it was the defense’s turn to shine in a 24-8 victory over Brea-Olinda in a Division V quarterfinal. The Sailors, in setting a school record for victories (12) in a season, allowed only 12 yards rushing and 102 yards passing.

ON THE RECORD

“There are no egos. We’ve got a great, healthy team attitude.”

--Jon Looney, Brea-Olinda coach, on why the Wildcats (8-3-1) were able to get as far as they did this season without being star-driven.

IT’S ALL IN A NIGHT’S WORK

Adam Roman made his 52nd career start for Laguna Hills Friday against Temple City in a Division VIII quarterfinal. The diminutive (5-7) but deceptively strong all-purpose player accounted for 170 total yards (87 receiving, 46 rushing and 37 on punt returns) scored two touchdowns and made five tackles at defensive back.

“When Adam makes plays like that,” said teammate Brendan McGraw, the county’s second-leading rusher, “it takes a lot of pressure off (me).”

ON THE RECORD

“I’ll enjoy this one for about a half-hour then start preparing for who we get next. If it’s Los Al, that will be a great football game. It will be great for the Southern Section and for Orange County. We did our part, so we’ll see what happens.”

--Bruce Rollinson, Mater Dei coach, after the second-seeded Monarchs defeated Loyola, 31-7, to reach the Division I semifinals against Los Alamitos.

Friday’s Best

RUSHING

1. Joe Juliano Orange Lutheran vs. Serrano 140 yards in 16 carries

2. Steve Bodnar Mater Dei vs. Loyola 102 yards in 20 carries

3. Che Holloway Orange Lutheran vs. Serrano 100 yards in 13 carries

3. Bobby Johnson Trabuco Hills vs. Long Beach Jordan 100 yards in 8 carries

5. Brendan McGraw Laguna Hills vs. Temple City 87 yards in 18 carries

PASSING

1. Kevin Feterik Los Alamitos vs. Long Beach Poly 19 of 29, 285 yards

2. Chad Collins Trabuco Hills vs. Long Beach Jordan 13 of 15, 250 yards

3. John Flynn Mater Dei vs. Loyola 12 of 19, 228 yards

4. Joe Secoda Valencia vs. Foothill 7 of 20, 165 yards

5. John Giordani Newport Harbor vs. Brea-Olinda 14 of 22, 158 yards