Linemen key in Trinity League game

No. 13 Bellflower St. John Bosco (6-0, 1-0) vs. No. 18 Orange Lutheran (5-1, 1-0)

Tonight at Orange Coast College, 7:30

Since surrendering 47 points to La Puente Bishop Amat last month amid a flurry of turnovers, Lutheran’s defense has stiffened considerably; the Lancers have given up only 5.8 points a game in their last four victories. Though both teams feature plenty of speed at the skill positions, St. John Bosco Coach Kiki Mendoza said this Trinity League game would be won by considerably slower-moving linemen. “Our guys up front and their guys up front are going to make the difference,” he said. “We challenged our guys this week and I think they’re ready.”

The pick: St. John Bosco.

No. 12 Upland (6-0, 1-0) at No. 10 Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (5-1, 1-0)

Tonight, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

It’s the final head-to-head hurrah for Upland quarterback Josh Nunes and Los Osos counterpart Richard Brehaut. The UCLA-bound Brehaut has lost one Baseline League game in three seasons as the Grizzlies’ starter, and it wasn’t to Upland. Highlanders Coach Tim Salter said his team will need more than a big effort from the Stanford-bound Nunes to beat Los Osos for the first time since 2004. “My gut feeling is it’s going to come down to a lot more than the two quarterbacks,” Salter said. “You’re going to have to get good games out of a lot of other people.”

The pick: Upland.

No. 22 Temecula Chaparral (5-1, 1-0) at No. 7 Vista Murrieta (6-0, 1-0)

Tonight, 7

The broken hand that is expected to keep Vista Murrieta quarterback Derek Brown out of this Southwestern League showdown actually makes the Broncos more dangerous, said Chaparral Coach Tom Leach. “They’re going to give it to Bradley Randle a little more, and he’s their best player,” Leach said. With Brown sidelined last week, Randle rushed for a career-high 319 yards in a 41-26 victory over Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon. Still, Leach has no qualms about who should emerge triumphant tonight. “We’re the better team,” he said.

The pick: Chaparral.

No. 15 Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro (6-0, 1-0) at San Clemente (6-0, 1-0)

Tonight, 7

A week after Tesoro trumpeted its arrival as an Orange County power with a 31-14 victory over Mission Viejo, San Clemente gets a chance to steal the South Coast League spotlight. “We’re really looking at it as not having anything to lose,” San Clemente Coach Eric Patton said. Like the Titans, the Tritons are also undefeated, but they’re still seeking a marquee victory. Patton said his team features no stars, just talent. “It’s truer with this team than any team I’ve coached,” he said.

The pick: Tesoro.