Southern Division O.C. team analysis

Here are the Orange County teams in the Southern Division:

Anaheim (5-5): The Colonists are in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. Anaheim beat Magnolia, 35-26, in the regular-season finale to clinch third place. Rinning back Josh Tafoya closed out the season with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including 292 yards and two TDs in the victory over Magnolia.

Beckman (3-7): The Patriots’s victories over Magnolia, Irvine and University were enough to land them the Southern Division’s lone at-large berth.  Beckman advanced to the Southern Division finals the past two seasons. Quarterback Quinn O’Dell has passed for 1,425 yards and 10 TDs.

Corona del Mar (8-2): The defending Southern Division champions closed out the regular season with six consecutive victories to win the Pacific Coast League title and clinch the No. 1 seed.  Quarterback Cayman carter is one of the most dynamic players in the division. He has passed for 1,536 yards and 14 TDs and he has rushed for 790 yards and 10 TDs.

Estancia (7-3): The Eagles, who finished second in the Orange Coast League, reached the Southern Division semifinals last season and they have the pieces in place to make another deep run. Estancia relies on running back Robert Murtha, who has rushed for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs, and its big offensive line to wear down teams.

Garden Grove (8-2): The Argos have victories over league champions Westminster and Katella, their losses came against Woodbridge and El Toro and they closed out the regular season with five consecutive victories to win the Garden Grove League title and earn the No. 3 seed. Garden Grove won the Southern Division championship in 2011.

Godinez (4-6): The Grizzlies clinched third place in the Orange Coast League with a 35-14 victory over Saddleback in the regular-season finale. Godinez is in its fifth varsity season and has reached the playoffs for the third consecutive time, but the Grizzlies have yet to record a postseason victory.

Katella (8-2): The Knights won their fist Orange League championship since 1967 and they are in the playoffs as the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2002. Junior T.J. Ashmeade has emerged as one of the top running backs in the division. He has been averaging 224.6 rushing yards per game in the past five games and he has scored 11 TDs during that span.

Laguna Beach (9-0-1): The Breakers reached the Southern Division semifinals last season and they won the Orange Coast league title to earn the No. 2 seed this season. Running back/safety Drake Martinez has been one of the most dynamic players in the county in his senior season. Martinez, who leads the county with 29 TDs, is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball and is extremely dangerous on punt and kick returns.

Loara (3-7): The Saxons had to beat Ocean View, 28-17, in the regular season finale to force a three-way tie for third place in the Golden West League and then win coin flips to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Los Amigos (7-3): The Lobos reached the Southern Division quarterfinals last season before losing to eventual champion CdM, 45-7. If Los Amigos upsets Estancia in the first round, it would likely meet up with CdM again.

Northwood (4-6): Quarterback Kevin Norman’s 138 rushing yards and one TD and 196 passing yards and three TDs helped the Timberwolves, who missed the playoffs last season, rally to a 42-28 victory over University in the regular-season finale to clinch second place in the Pacific Coast League.

Rancho Alamitos (7-3): The Vaqueros had a 9-1 record entering the postseason last season before getting knocked off by Woodbridge, 43-21. Rancho Alamitos gets another Pacific Coast League team, Northwood, in the opening round this season.

Santa Ana Valley (7-3): The Falcons finished second in the Orange League and are making their second straight appearance in the playoffs, but they haven’t won a playoff game since 1995. Valley will be big underdogs in the opening round against Segerstrom.

Segerstrom (8-2): The Jaguars were ranked No. 1 in the Southern Division for much of the season before losing two of its final three games to finish second in the Golden West League. Segerstrom remains a dangerous opponent with its high-powered wing-T offense that is averaging 356.6 rushing yards per game.

Westminster (6-4): The Lions closed out the regular season with a five game winning streak to win its first Golden West League title since 2008.

Woodbridge (5-5): The Warriors, who took third place in the Pacific Coast League, has reached the quarterfinals the past two seasons and they could make a deep run this season. Woodbridge running back Austin DeFreitas is thir din the county in rushing with 1,835 yards and 18 TDs.

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