THIS WEEK'S TOP GAMES

THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

By Ben Bolch

Oct. 11, 2001 12 AM PT

No. 17 Mater Dei (2-3) at No. 11 La Puente Bishop Amat (4-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

This game could determine whether Mater Dei’s poor start was an aberration or an indicator of things to come. It could also verify the strength of Bishop Amat, which has already doubled its victory total from last season. The Monarchs, who finally got untracked last week in a 36-0 victory over Anaheim Loara, will be the Lancers’ toughest opponent to date. But Bishop Amat shouldn’t be intimidated, considering the steady play of tailback Donnie McClesky and quarterback Michael Lange.

No. 25 Servite (4-1) vs. No. 4 Loyola (4-0) at Glendale HS, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Which Servite team will show up? The one that bolted to a 21-0 lead over Huntington Beach Edison or the one that allowed the Chargers to score 28 consecutive points for a comeback victory? Loyola will depend on the heady play of quarterback Adam Gonzalez, who has completed 67% of his passes for 460 yards and five touchdowns. Gonzalez has thrown only two interceptions.

High School Sports

Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

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