Servite goes for first win against Mater Dei since 1988

No. 5 Anaheim Servite (5-1, 1-0) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (3-3, 0-1) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30 p.m. -- Servite is having a better season than its Trinity League nemesis, but that doesn’t seem to matter when these teams play. Mater Dei has not lost to the Friars since 1988, though the teams played to a scoreless tie in 1992. Servite Coach Troy Thomas, who is 0-4 against the Monarchs, said, “Servite expects to win every game that it plays in.” Each team features a solid quarterback -- Servite has Cody Fajardo, Mater Dei has Max Wittek -- and Thomas said the team that runs the ball better will have an edge. Although Mater Dei has suffered consecutive defeats against Huntington Beach Edison and Orange Lutheran, Thomas said he doesn’t expect the Monarchs to play like a demoralized team. “We’re going to get Mater Dei’s best, and that’s what we want,” he said. The pick: Mater Dei.

No. 21 Vista Murrieta (6-0, 1-0) at No. 20 Temecula Chaparral (4-2, 1-0), 7 p.m. -- Chaparral administrators suspended Coach Tommy Leach for this Southwestern League showdown after Leach instructed his players to point at the scoreboard in the final moments of last week’s 47-23 victory against Murrieta Valley. Leach has apologized for the act, which he said was in response to questionable hits on his players. Vista Murrieta Coach Coley Candaele said he doesn’t think Leach’s absence will make a difference. “Any good coach, their job is done Monday through Thursday” in practice, Candaele said. Vista Murrieta has won three of the four meetings between the teams, with the games being decided by a combined seven points. The pick: Vista Murrieta.

Mission Hills Alemany (4-2) at No. 11 La Puente Bishop Amat (6-0), 7:30 p.m. -- Forget about Alemany’s loss to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake. Bishop Amat Coach Steve Hagerty said Alemany is “probably the best team we will have played to date” -- and that includes Ventura St. Bonaventure. “They held Crespi to 17 points,” Hagerty said of the Warriors. “That’s a good defense.” Bishop Amat’s defense also has been superb, limiting opponents to an average of 16.3 points. The Lancers will be tested by Alemany running back Malcolm Marable and quarterback Vernon Adams. The pick: Alemany.

No. 3 Huntington Beach Edison (6-0, 1-0) at Newport Harbor (4-2, 1-0), 7 p.m. -- Edison is the only Sunset League team Newport Harbor has not defeated in the four years it has been in the league. The Chargers and Sailors were left out of the playoffs last year after finishing in a five-team logjam atop the league standings. Led by running back Sedric Whitaker and quarterback Austin Rios, Newport Harbor is coming off a 23-20 upset of Los Alamitos. “Knowing they can compete with teams like that,” said Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley of his players, “hopefully we can parlay it into something good.” The pick: Edison.

-- Ben Bolch

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Live blogging

Look for live blogging of the prep game of the week, including Servite-Mater Dei tonight beginning at 7, on the latimes.com home page.