We're getting closer to what is going to be an unpredictable playoff.

1. Long Beach Poly (Moore) 9-0

2. Notre Dame (Serra) 9-0

3. Tesoro (South Coast) 9-0

4. Orange Lutheran (Trinity) 7-2

5. Los Alamitos (Sunset) 8-1

6. Edison (Sunset) 7-2

7. Mater Dei (Trinity) 7-2

8. Mission Viejo (South Coast) 8-1

9. Servite (Trinity) 6-3

10. Bishop Amat (Serra) 7-2

Others: Compton (Moore) 7-1; St. John Bosco (Trinity) 7-2; Long Beach Jordan (Moore) 7-2; San Clemente (South Coast) 7-2; Crespi (Serra) 6-3

OTHER O.C. DIVISIONS:

• Southern
• Southwest
• East Valley
• Northeast

NON-O.C. DIVISIONS

• Central
• Eastern
• Inland
• Mid-Valley
• Northern
• Northwest
• Southeast
• Western

Abele is taking advantage of the Vaqueros' open weekend to make his first official recruiting trip. His destination this weekend will be Colorado, which plays host to Iowa State.

Interestingly, Abele also has been hearing from UCLA but he said the Bruins have not offered.

He has been offered in recent weeks by Pac-10 members Arizona State and Oregon State. Abele said both schools are recruiting him as an offensive lineman.

Abele's other offers include Utah, Boise State and San Diego State.

But his first order of the business is taking on the No. 1-ranked team in the Southern Division. Abele plays defensive end and right tackle for the Vaqueros. The Hawks have battled some injuries along their offensive line but they showed me last week against Beckman that they can still play a physical style of football.

Abele said he will head to Boulder with an open mind. "I really don't have a top (school)," he said.

Colorado already has had great success with another county football standout. Los Al quarterback Clark Evans has committed to the Buffs.

PLAYER, TEAM, PASSING YARDS
1. Sean Schroeder, Dana Hills: 2,066
2. Matt Barkley, Mater Dei: 1,924
3. Allan Bridgford, Mission Viejo: 1,778

4. Ryan World, Santa Margarita: 1,667
5. Matthew Viles, Edison: 1,520
6. David Mothander, St. Margaret's: 1,438
7. Clark Evans, Los Alamitos: 1,430
8. Duke DeLancellotti, San Clemente: 1,406
9. Robbie Picazo, Tesoro: 1,389
10. Sean Guite, Huntington Beach: 1,373
11. Zach Griffith, Foothill: 1,371
12. Anthony Daniel, El Modena: 1,201
13. Cody Fajardo, Servite: 1,180
14. Marcus Meraz, Loara: 1,082
15. Stephen Anderson, Whittier Christian: 1,068
16. Jose Gonzalez, Los Amigos: 1,063
17. Bobby Wheatley, Orange Lutheran: 1,061
18. Mike Frank, Rancho Alamitos: 1,032
19. Randall Nygren, La Habra: 1,026
20. Andy Peterson, Kennedy: 1,020

Stats are based on information gathered by OCVarsity's reporters and on information supplied by the teams. Please e-mail us at preps@ocregister.com for corrections or additions to our stats.

RELATED:

• O.C. leaders slideshow
• Passing leaders (TDs)
• Rushing leaders (overall yards)
• Receiving leaders (overall yards)
• Scoring leaders (total points)
• Defense: Interceptions

PLAYERS, SCHOOL, TD PASSES
1. Allan Bridgford, Mission Viejo: 27
2. Sean Schroeder, Dana Hills: 23
3. Clark Evans, Los Alamitos: 21

4. Matt Barkley, Mater Dei: 18
5. Stephen Anderson, Whittier Christian: 17
6. Robbie Picazo, Tesoro: 16
7T. Ryan World, Santa Margarita: 15
7T. Matthew Viles, Edison: 15
9T. David Mothander, St. Margaret's: 14
9T. Randall Nygren, La Habra: 14
11. Mitch Sands, Corona del Mar: 13
12. Zach Griffith, Foothill: 12
13T. Sean Guite, Huntington Beach: 11
13T. Jose Gonzalez, Los Amigos: 11
15. Christopher Ledesma, Santa Ana: 10
16T. Anthony Daniel, El Modena: 9
16T. Duke DeLancellotti, San Clemente: 9
16T. Harvey Alavez, Santiago: 9
16T. Sammy Salgado, Liberty Christian: 9
16T. Carlos Acevedo, Santa Ana Valley: 9

Stats are based on information gathered by OCVarsity's reporters and on information supplied by the teams. Please e-mail us at preps@ocregister.com for corrections or additions to our stats.

RELATED:

• O.C. leaders slideshow
• Passing leaders (total yards)
• Rushing leaders (overall yards)
• Receiving leaders (overall yards)
• Scoring leaders (total points)
• Defense: Interceptions

I must be feeling confident about who's the best football team in the county when I'm writing about ... my No. 10.

In my voting this for the county rankings, I welcome back the La Habra Highlanders and San Diego State-commit Ronnie Hillman (left) to my top-10, replacing Esperanza. The Aztecs have been hanging on for weeks and going overtime against Marina- even though the Vikings are vastly improved - creates enough doubt.

Esperanza, of course, will have a chance starting this week against Newport to change my mind, so I'm not forgetting about the Aztecs and that defense.

I like the Highlanders for handing South Hills' its only loss to date and playing LosAl and San Clemente tough. Sure, I considered Dana but the Dolphins need at this point a higher quality victory than Foothill, another improving team.

Laguna Hills is out there, too, and I believe I'll be seeing the Hawks live this week, so we'll see.

Here's my top-10 vote this week:

1. Tesoro
2. Los Alamitos
3. Orange Lutheran
4. Mater Dei
5. Edison
6. San Clemente
7. Mission Viejo
8. Servite
9. Newport Harbor
10. La Habra

RELATED:

• Top 10 gets new No. 1 and a new entry

Richardson said the Bruins are the first team to offer him but there certainly will be many others.

I think USC also would be smart to offer Richardson, who is great at leaping for catches.

Richardson's father, Paul, played receiver at UCLA with Troy Aikman. If 'SC does get into the mix, the family connection could be a tough hurdle.

It wasn't exactly a slam-dunk but my vote for No. 1 in the county football poll went to Tesoro, which knocked off previously No. 1-ranked Mission Viejo in impressive fashion. Tesoro can play better than it did Friday and that should be a scary thought for San Clemente this week.

Tesoro could have won that game at least 38-14 but didn't capitalize on some chances in the third quarter.

I heavily considered Los Alamitos. I saw them beat Narbonne and Narbonne would beat some county top-10 teams. The Griffins might not be dazzling the pollsters, but they are getting the job done. Kinda of like Clark Evans. He sometimes isn't pretty but he gets the job done, is super tough and makes big plays.

I also looked long and hard at Edison. The Chargers' loss to Servite hurts their case but before it is all said and done, they could still get my No. 1 vote.

With the parity in county football, there certainly is a chance the South Coast or Sunset league champions won't be 5-0.

Ok, so here's what the vote I submitted:

1. Tesoro
2. LosAl
3. Edison
4. Mater Dei
5. OLu
6. San Clemente
7. Mission Viejo
8. Servite
9. Newport Harbor
10. Esperanza

Sunset League

Somebody might post a winning record in league and miss the playoffs. It happened to Los Alamitos last year. The Griffins (5-0) were the preseason favorite to win it. The league title should be decided Oct. 23 when the Griffins play host to Edison (4-1). If Edison can get healthy, then it should challenge for the title. Esperanza (4-1) and Newport Harbor (4-1) will be in the mix and will play Oct. 31. An at-large bid is available in the Pac-5, but it went to the Trinity League last year.

Trinity League

This race is as open as it has been in years. St. John Bosco (5-0), led by Washington-bound quarterback Keith Price, should be the favorite. Orange Lutheran (4-1), Servite (3-2) and Mater Dei (3-2) could fall anywhere. The Friars might be the best team of the three, but you can't count out Mater Dei and quarterback Matt Barkley. The Lancers are on a three-game winning streak. There is a good possibility that only three teams will get in the playoffs, so every game is important.

In a very cool show of strength and support, the football teams at Tesoro and Los Alamitos (coached by Brian Barnes and his father, John, respectively) will feature players wearing new pink football gloves that have been donated by Cutters Gloves.

The pink gloves are a sign of strength in honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Los Al will do the honors first Thursday against Marina. Tesoro will don the gloves Friday for its FSN-televised showdown against Mission Viejo at 7:30 p.m.

"They're fired up to wear them," Coach Brian Barnes said of the gloves.

Anyway, here's how I voted this week in the county football poll (The Diablos finally got my No. 1 vote):

1. Mission Viejo
2. Servite
3. Edison
4. Los Al
5. Tesoro
6. OLu
7. Mater Dei
8. Newport Harbor
9. San Clemente
10. Esperanza