ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: PREP EXTRA : Monarchs Benefit From a Coin Toss

Mater Dei, which failed to win the South Coast League football title outright this season for the first time since joining the league in 1992, came out a winner Friday when it received the league’s No. 1 playoff berth by virtue of a coin toss.

The Monarchs (9-1, 4-1) are guaranteed a first-round home game when the Southern Section playoffs begin Friday. Playoff pairings in all 11 divisions will be announced Sunday at the section office in Cerritos.

The Monarchs, defending Division I champions after finishing undefeated in 1994, will share the South Coast League championship this season with Capistrano Valley (8-2, 4-1) and San Clemente (8-2, 4-1).

Capistrano Valley, which lost to Mater Dei, 24-10, last week, will be the league’s No. 2 representative to the playoffs. San Clemente, which beat Mater Dei, 17-10, two weeks ago, will be No. 3 and open the playoffs on the road.

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Century--The league’s playoff picture was about as mixed-up as it could get entering the last week of play. The only thing for certain before Friday’s games? Santa Ana Valley would be at least the league’s co-champion, win or lose, and its No. 1 representative to the Division V playoffs. Canyon defeated the Falcons, 28-19, dropping Santa Ana Valley’s record to 7-3 overall, 3-2 in league.

Villa Park (7-3, 3-2) clinched a tie for the league title (and the No. 2 playoff berth) by defeating Foothill, 35-28, Friday. The loss left the Knights (5-4-1, 2-2-1) tied for third with Orange (5-4-1, 2-2-1) and Canyon (6-3-1, 2-2-1).

Canyon would receive the automatic playoff berth, however, as it defeated Foothill and tied Orange.

The league’s lower-division teams--Foothill, Orange and El Modena--are eligible for at-large berths as each has an overall record better than .500.

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Empire--This was a done deal as late as Friday, with Kennedy (9-1, 5-0) being the league’s No. 1 representative to the Division V playoffs, El Dorado (7-3, 4-1) its No. 2 and Cypress (3-7, 3-2) its No. 3.

However, in a vote of the league principals Friday night, Cypress was stripped of its victories against Katella and Loara for using an ineligible player.

Thus, the Centurions fall to 1-4 in league (1-9 overall), while Loara improves to 4-6, 3-2 and clinches the third-place berth.

Freeway--(Div. VII) 1. Fullerton, 2. Sunny Hills, 3. Troy, with Sonora (5-5) looking for an at-large berth.

Garden Grove--(Div. VII) 1. Pacifica, 2. Los Amigos, 3. Rancho Alamitos, with Santiago (5-5) looking for an at-large berth.

Golden West--(Div. V) 1. Servite. 2. Tustin. 3. Westminster.

Olympic--With its 36-31 victory over Orange Lutheran Friday, Cerritos Valley Christian (9-1, 5-0) will represent the league as its No. 1 entry to the Division X playoffs. Orange Lutheran (7-3, 4-1) finishes second.

A Calvary Chapel (5-4, 2-2) victory over Brethren Christian (4-5, 1-3) tonight clinches the third-place playoff berth for Calvary Chapel. However, a Brethren Christian victory would give it a guaranteed berth if, and only if, Ontario Christian beats Whittier Christian tonight.

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Orange--Western, the county’s only undefeated team this season, will be the league’s No. 1 representative in the Division V playoffs. Brea Olinda and Savanna finished with 3-2 league records, but Brea Olinda (6-4 overall) will receive the league’s No. 2 berth as a result of its 40-34 victory over Savanna. Savanna (7-3) will be No. 3.

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Pacific Coast--University, which rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit Thursday night to force a 10-10 tie with Aliso Niguel, also finished tied with the Wolverines for second place in league. The Trojans (8-1-1, 3-1-1), however, won a coin toss late Thursday night and will represent the league as its second-place team in the Division VIII playoffs. Laguna Hills (9-1, 5-0) won the league title for the second consecutive season.

Estancia, which finished with a 47-0 victory over Laguna Beach Friday, will be looking for an at-large berth with an overall record of 6-4.

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Sea View--Corona del Mar helped clear up the league race with its 29-22 victory over Irvine Thursday night. The Vaqueros’ loss allowed El Toro (8-2, 4-1) to win the league championship and secure its No. 1 berth to the Division V playoffs with a 35-7 victory over Woodbridge Friday.

Corona del Mar (7-3, 3-2), Irvine (6-4, 3-2) and Santa Margarita (7-3, 3-2) finish tied for second in the standings. However, with Corona del Mar’s 18-7 victory over Santa Margarita and its 17-14 victory over Irvine, the Sea Kings receive the league’s No. 2 berth. Santa Margarita gets the league’s third berth by virtue of its 17-14 victory over Irvine.

Irvine would be eligible for an at-large berth, but Newport Harbor, the division’s defending champion, finishes 4-6, 2-3 and out of playoff consideration.

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Sunset--(Div. I) 1. Esperanza, 2. Los Alamitos, 3. Fountain Valley, with Edison (6-4) looking for an at-large berth.