The top playoff games on this week’s schedule:

El Toro (7-3) vs. Villa Park (7-3)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Saddleback College

Outlook: Talk about a tough a first round opener. This is it.

The Chargers were 2-8 last season, but under first-year coach Robert Frith they improved by five games this season.

The Spartans also had a big turnaround, improving by three games as Coach Dusan Ancich took official control of the team.

The Chargers finished second in the Sea View League, while the Spartans finished third in the Century League.

Villa Park is led by a strong group of running backs, including leading rusher Kapena Olsen (534 yards). Olsen, David Tafuna, Nico Romero and Connor Pogue have combined to rush for 1,614 yards.

Will the El Toro defense be up to the task?

On the other side of the ball, the Spartans will have to slow El Toro running back Nico Jackson and find a way to stop Jesse Bueno.

Quarterback Braden Olson has passed for 1,154 yards, but he has five touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The El Toro defense has intercepted 14 passes.

Who will advance?

Click on the links below to check out the rest of The Calhoun Six:

Dana Hills vs. Orange Lutheran

Long Beach Poly vs. Los Alamitos

Mater Dei vs. Bishop Amat

Servite vs. San Clemente

Fullerton vs. Pacifica

Slide show: Calhoun’s Players to Watch in the first-round playoff games.

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