Here are Steve Fryer's teams 6-10:

6. Esperanza (8-4): I almost put the Aztecs at No. 4 after they played with Long Beach Poly until Poly scored late to beat Esperanza, 17-10, in a Pac-5 second-round game Saturday. But I would pick Mission Viejo or Servite to beat Esperanza, based on those two teams' offensive superiority. Esperanza had lost two of its final three Sunset League games and got to the playoffs thanks to the luck of a draw. But the Aztecs sure played well in the playoffs, beating San Clemente, 24-16, before losing to Poly.

7. Newport Harbor (7-3): This was the hard-luck team in that draw that determined Sunset League playoff representation. Harbor had won its final three league games, including victories over Esperanza and Los Alamitos. It would have been interesting to see what the Sailors could have done with that momentum in the Pac-5 playoffs.

8. San Clemente (8-3): That Pac-5 first-round loss to Esperanza looks a bit better after Esperanza's close, 17-10 loss to top-seeded Long Beach Poly. As so often happens when two good teams meet, mistakes make the difference and The Tritons made more of them in that game against Esperanza.

9. Edison (7-3): Another good team that was eliminated by that draw that broke up the five-way tie in the Sunset League. But a deep run in the Pac-5 playoffs would have been unlikely, given the growing list of injured key players. Edison beat Mater Dei, Newport Harbor and Fountain Valley.

10. Fountain Valley (7-4): The Barons had a fine season that was ended by Orange Luthean, 28-0, in a Pac-5 first-round playoff game. They should have another good season in 2009, too, with several top returnees including running back Kyle Middlebrooks. Coach John Shipp's name will be mentioned when the Register/OCVarsity staff meets to select the All-Orange County team and our offensive and defensive players of the year, and coach of the year.

RELATED:

• Fryer's teams 1-5
• Fryer's teams 11-15
• Fryer's teams 16-20
• Fryer's teams 21-25
• Poll: Who will win the Pac-5 Division semifinals?
• Poll: Who will win the Southwest Division semifinals?
• Poll: Who will win the Southern Division semifinals?
• Poll: Who will win the East Valley Division semifinals?

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