Tesoro looking for a repeat

No. 3 Mission Viejo (5-0) at No. 22 Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro (5-0)

Tonight at 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Brian Barnes said he envisioned turning Tesoro into an Orange County power when he was hired to coach the Titans two years ago, but he never could have imagined the ascent would be this swift. Tesoro ended Mission Viejo’s 39-game South Coast League unbeaten streak last year and is brimming with confidence heading into the rematch in front of what could be a school-record home crowd. The Titans’ starting defense, which has yielded only two touchdowns in five games, will be severely tested by Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford, who has passed for 1,380 yards and 21 touchdowns with only two interceptions.

The pick: Mission Viejo.

No. 10 Anaheim Servite (3-2) vs. No. 16 Santa Ana Mater Dei (3-2)

Tonight at Cal State Fullerton, 7:30

Servite Coach Troy Thomas described his players as “the most relaxed since I’ve been here” even though they’re coming off a loss and preparing for an opponent the Friars haven’t defeated since 1988. Well, that’s not entirely true. Thomas pointed out that his sophomore and junior players beat their Mater Dei counterparts on lower-level teams, giving them confidence that they can duplicate that result on the varsity level. “These kids are an interesting group,” Thomas said. Monarchs quarterback Matt Barkley hopes to bounce back from a disappointing start in which he has had 11 passes intercepted.

The pick: Servite.

No. 6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (5-0) at Mission Hills Alemany (5-0)

Tonight, 7:30

Notre Dame is averaging 39 points with quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, who set a school record last week with 418 yards passing. “They’re executing about as well as any offense I’ve seen and we’ve got to try to figure out a way to slow them down,” Alemany Coach Dean Herrington said. The Warriors will start with a defensive line that includes tackle Ian Rodriguez and ends Chuck and K.C. Obi, fraternal twins who are Division I college prospects despite taking up football only last year.

The pick: Notre Dame.

Carson (2-3) at San Pedro (5-0)

Tonight, 7

San Pedro is nothing if not predictable. “They do what they’re going to do and they make you beat them,” Carson Coach Michael Christensen said. “They run the ball and play good defense.” Five running backs, led by Cristian Farrow, regularly carry the ball for the Pirates. The home team has prevailed in each of the last three meetings between the Marine League rivals, with San Pedro winning twice in 2006, including the playoffs.

The pick: Carson.

--

BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX

Is this the year?

Anaheim Servite Coach Troy Thomas hears it all the time from his school’s faculty and alumni: “Hey, are you going to beat Mater Dei?” It has been almost 20 years since Servite running back Derek Brown scored five touchdowns to lead a 42-24 victory over the Monarchs on Nov. 10, 1988 -- the Friars’ last triumph in the series. There have been a few close calls since then. The teams played to a scoreless tie in 1992, and Mater Dei needed overtime to pull out a 28-22 victory in 2006. Thomas, who is 0-3 against the Monarchs, said he received calls this week from former Friars players who wouldn’t mind giving up the designation of being the last Servite team to beat Mater Dei. “I know it’s going to happen,” Thomas said. “It may not happen this year, but I know it’s going to happen.”

*--* 1989 Mater Dei, 35-24 1990 Mater Dei, 28-24 1991 Mater Dei, 44-0 1992 Tie, 0-0 1993 Mater Dei, 21-0 1994 Mater Dei, 55-14 1995 Mater Dei, 10-7 1996 Mater Dei, 41-7 1997 Mater Dei, 47-0 1998 Mater Dei, 27-17 1999 Mater Dei, 39-25 2000 Mater Dei, 31-21 2001 Mater Dei, 19-0 2002 Mater Dei, 24-7 2003 Mater Dei, 35-7 2004 Mater Dei, 30-0 2005 Mater Dei, 35-17 2006 Mater Dei, 28-22 (OT) 2007 Mater Dei, 38-13 *--*

-- Ben Bolch