ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo are tied at No. 1 in this week’s poll. … Santa Margarita beat Mater Dei 7-6 this season and tied Mater Dei and St. John Bosco for the Trinity League championship. … San Clemente climbs to No. 6 after a 38-21 win over Beaumont in the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. The Tritons were No. 12 three weeks ago. … San Juan Hills ascends three places after a 28-27 win over Downey.
1T. Mission Viejo 9-1 (73 points)
The Diablos, like the other teams in the Division 1 playoffs, had a bye last week. Mission Viejo plays Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday. In their last game, the Diablos scored 28 points in the fourth quarter for a 76-49 win over Los Alamitos. Ohio State-committed senior quarterback Luke Fahey has thrown for 3,108 yards and 25 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season.
Previous ranking: 1
1T. Santa Margarita 7-3 (73)
The Eagles were idle last week like the rest of the field in the eight-team, Division 1 bracket. They finished 4-1 in the Trinity League and shared the league championship with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. The Eagles play at undefeated Sierra Canyon on Friday. Senior linebacker Leki Holani leads Santa Margarita’s outstanding defense with a team-high 72 tackles.
Previous ranking: 2
3. Mater Dei 7-2 (70)
Mater Dei plays Mission Viejo in the Division 1 playoffs Friday at Santa Ana Stadium. The Monarchs won at St. John Bosco 36-31 on Oct. 31. The return of receiver Chris Henry Jr., who had five receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns against St. John Bosco, gives Mater Dei a much-needed offensive threat.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Servite 6-4 (66)
Servite plays at Corona Centennial in a Division 1 playoff game Friday. The Friars lost at Centennial 42-14 on Aug. 22. The Friars finished fourth in the six-team Trinity League. Servite senior safety Saxon Churchwell has a team-leading 43 solo tackles.
Previous ranking: 4
5. Orange Lutheran 2-8 (63)
The Lancers play at St. John Bosco on Friday in the Division 1 playoffs. They lost to Bosco 48-0 on Oct. 10. Orange Lutheran concluded the regular season with a 30-28 loss to Servite. The Lancers have started freshman Ezrah Brown at quarterback in recent weeks.
Previous ranking: 5
6. San Clemente 7-4 (58)
Tritons quarterback Preston Beck and receiver Thomas Alexander connected on four touchdown passes in a 38-21 win over Beaumont in a Division 2 first-round game. San Clemente, which finished second to Mission Viejo in the Alpha League, plays at Vista Murrieta (8-3) in the quarterfinals Friday.
Previous ranking: 8
7. JSerra 3-7 (56)
JSerra did not qualify for the playoffs. The Lions finished 0-5 in the Trinity League. They lost to Santa Margarita 41-14 in their season finale two weeks ago. JSerra is looking for new coach, having dismissed Victor Santa Cruz one day after the loss to Santa Margarita.
8. Los Alamitos 9-2 (54)
Lenny Ibarra has made big plays for the Griffins all season and did so again last week. He scored two touchdowns in the second half and made an interception in the end zone with nine seconds remaining in a 35-28 comeback win over Yorba Linda in the Division 2 playoffs. Los Alamitos plays San Juan Hills (2-9) in the quarterfinals Friday at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.
Previous ranking: 9
9. Tustin 8-3 (48)
The Tillers lost in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs, falling to Rancho Cucamonga 48-6. Tustin has lost in the first round of the playoffs four years in a row. The Tillers went 5-0 in the Delta League to win the league championship.
Previous ranking: 7
10. San Juan Hills 2-9 (47)
Kyle Donahue’s clutch 23-yard field goal in the final seconds lifted the Stallions to a 28-27 win over Downey in a Division 2 first-round game. San Juan Hills’ Dean Kolasinski moments earlier had blocked a Downey extra-point kick to keep the Stallions within two points. San Juan Hills, which had to forfeit seven regular-season wins, plays Los Alamitos (9-2) in the quarterfinals at Veterans Stadium.
Previous ranking: 13
11T. Corona del Mar 9-2 (44)
Previous ranking: 11
11T. Crean Lutheran 10-1 (44)
Previous ranking: 6
11T. Yorba Linda 9-2 (44)
Previous ranking: 11
14. Edison 6-5 (37)
Previous ranking: 14
15. Capistrano Valley 8-3 (33)
Previous ranking: 15
16. Huntington Beach 8-3 (30)
Previous ranking: 16
17. La Habra 8-3 (27)
Previous ranking: 17
18. Laguna Beach 9-2 (24)
Previous ranking: 18
19. Dana Hills 10-1 (21)
Previous ranking: 19
20. Villa Park 7-4 (17)
Previous ranking: 20
21. Troy 10-1 (16)
Previous ranking: 20
22. El Modena 5-6 (11)
Previous ranking: 22
23. Aliso Niguel 8-3 (9)
Previous ranking: 24
24. Western 6-5 (7)
Previous ranking: 23
25. Orange 6-5 (3)
Previous ranking: 25
About the poll: Three members of the media vote each week in the poll.
