Pac-5 teams take back seat to no one

With apologies to the football fanatics in Texas and Florida, I’ll gladly match the Pac-5 Division against any playoff grouping in America this season.

Whichever school successfully navigates the many obstacles ahead while trying to win four consecutive pressure-packed games in a division filled with great coaches and divergent playing styles will have earned the right to jump to the top of any national rankings.

From Long Beach Poly’s fearsome defense to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s unstoppable spread offense, there’s lots to look forward to in this four-week sprint that culminates in the championship game on Dec. 13 at Angel Stadium.

The playoffs started Friday night with some dramatic and surprising moments, such as Lakewood’s upsetting fourth-seeded Anaheim Servite, 35-34, in overtime and top-seeded Poly having to rally to defeat La Puente Bishop Amat, 21-17.

There’s a reason USC Coach Pete Carroll, UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel and their staffs were out en force this weekend.

Playoff time is when elite players separate themselves, and any college coach who needs to make a final judgment on a prospect wants to see how he’ll respond in an environment matching best against best.

On Thursday night, I saw one of those prospects rise up, USC-bound De’Von Flournoy of Lake Balboa Birmingham. On the first play of his team’s playoff game against Garfield, Flournoy took a shovel pass and ran 64 yards for a touchdown. On the next possession, he had an interception.

That’s what top players do this time of year.

On Friday night, quarterback Allan Bridgford showed why he has erased most of Mark Sanchez’s passing records at Mission Viejo. Bridgford, headed to California, completed 18 of 25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-7 victory over Los Angeles Loyola.

Bridgford was sharp from the outset, teaming with Jake Marshall for an 82-yard touchdown on a screen pass on the Diablos’ second offensive play.

Bridgford served as the decoy, letting six Loyola defenders charge him while waiting until the last moment to flip the ball to Marshall.

Marshall, a junior running back, had a big night for Mission Viejo, rushing for 124 yards in 22 carries and scoring three touchdowns.

Mission Viejo Coach Bob Johnson had warned his players and anyone willing to listen that in the Pac-5, no one should be taken lightly.

“Everybody in this division can play,” Johnson said. “You cannot take anything for granted.”

Loyola (6-5) received 135 yards rushing from Anthony Barr and 119 yards rushing from Justyn Williams. The Cubs trailed by only 20-7 midway through the fourth quarter until Mission Viejo finally put the game away with Marshall’s one-yard touchdown plunge, a safety and a six-yard touchdown reception by Marshall.

Now Mission Viejo gets to travel to Lakewood to take on a red-hot Lancers team in Friday’s quarterfinals.

These Mission Viejo players understand what’s required.

“I want to go out on top,” Bridgford said. “Coach always says our best four weeks of the year are right now.”

And to the team that emerges as Pac-5 champion, all I’ve got to say is bring on Concord De La Salle or any other team in the nation.

This year, the Pac-5 champion will be second to none.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com