PREP NOTEBOOK : Taylor’s Big Night Lacks Only a Victory

It was one of those nights when Jeff Taylor had the touch. And when the junior quarterback from Ocean View was finished last Thursday, he had passed for the second-highest number of yards in a single game in Orange County history.

Taylor’s 422-yard effort in the 49-34 Golden West League loss to Saddleback fell 55 yards short of the all-time mark held by Mike Willes of Fullerton in 1981 against San Bernardino.

“They talk about being in a zone, well I felt good, like I couldn’t do anything wrong,” Taylor said. “Everything I did came up right and the receivers were making great catches.”

Said third-year Coach John Donnelly: “It was the greatest passing experience I have ever seen. He was throwing the deep ball, short stuff, mixing it up. He was just on.”

Unfortunately for Ocean View, the loss knocked the Seahawks out of the playoffs.

“Everything went great in the game, except victory,” Taylor said. “That’s where it’s at, victory. I can’t wait for next year.”

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Brodie Riederich, Edison’s fullback/defensive end, has had to delay his knee surgery at least another week.

Riederich tore a ligament on the fifth play of the season but has missed only one game. He has played offense and defense. He was planning to have an operation at season’s end, but the season won’t end. Edison plays undefeated and second-seeded Long Beach Poly tonight in the Division I playoffs. The Chargers (6-4) finished fourth in the Sunset League, but were picked as an at-large team.

Riederich already has had two knee surgeries, one as a sophomore and the other as a junior. This season, he was injured on the first series against Las Vegas Valley.

According to Coach Dave White, a doctor told Riederich he would need surgery, but Riederich refused. The doctor then said he would need six weeks rehabilitation. Riederich missed only one game.

The knee injury hasn’t affected his performance. Against Los Alamitos, Riederich was constantly in the Griffin backfield and had one sack.

On offense, he has 330 yards rushing, but his main chore is leading the way for tailback Alex Forero.

Forero has 1,191 yards rushing.

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Servite kicker Matt Montgomery’s seven extra points in Servite’s 49-0 victory over Tustin last Friday set a school single-season record. He has 46 this season.

Times staff writers Paul McLeod and Chris Foster contributed to this story.