Empire League

VALENCIA (2-5, 0-2) VS. KENNEDY (4-3, 1-1)

Where, when: Western High, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Outlook: Valencia’s 13-year playoff-appearance streak is in trouble. The Tigers never really got their offensive bread-and-butter, their running game, going this season. Last week’s loss to Katella was Valencia’s first since joining the Empire League in 2002.

Kennedy had won four in a row before losing to Pacifica last week. Kennedy can score a lot of points, averaging 29 a game, but the Irish give up that many a game, too. Valencia’s defense has been OK, but that Tigers’ offense has not kept pace. Cypress and Pacifica clearly are the league’s top two teams. But who is No. 3? This game will determine that.

Winner: Kennedy

Frankly Fryer: San Clemente vs. Tesoro

Frankly Fryer: Fountain Valley vs. Newport Harbor

Frankly Fryer: Villa Park vs. El Dorado

Frankly Fryer: Orange vs. Segerstrom

Frankly Fryer: Los Alamitos vs. Edison

Frankly Fryer: Mater Dei vs. JSerra

Play the OCVarsity.com football challenge

Site, time: Western High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Outlook: We have some interesting angles here. Tustin missed the playoffs last year, and looks to be good enough for a return to postseason play this year. Tillers junior running back Anthony Wilkerson could be among the county's leading rushers all season. Tustin might not have had all the weapons needed to run Coach Myron Miller's double-wing offense the past couple of seasons, but it looks like he has them now. Kennedy has a new head coach, Brit Johnson, who has been an assistant with the Fighting Irish. He knows the school, the kids and the style of play. Kennedy always has been known for its physicality. That's not going to change. This is another tough one to forecast, but we think if that double-wing and Wilkerson get a rhythm going, the Tillers will prevail.

Winner: Tustin

TUSTIN VS. KENNEDY
AT WESTERN HIGH

We placed Tustin at No. 25 in our county preseason rankings because that Tillers offense might be that high-scoring outfit we became so accustomed to seeing for so long. They bring back an outstanding running back, Anthony Wilkerson, who rushed for 1,211 yards last year as a sophomore. He is part of a speedy group of Tillers who could get Tustin back into the playoffs after missing postseason play in 2007. Tustin coach Myron Miller thinks this team will run that double-wing offense the right way. He did pick the Tillers to finish out of the playoffs this year, but keep in mind that all coaches are worry warts and Miller is among the biggest worriers of all (although he sure can be refreshingly honest, too). Kennedy will be interesting this year. The Fighting Irish have a new head coach, Brit Johnson, who replaces longtime coach Mitch Olson, who left to pursue new coaching challenges and humidity in Georgia. Under Olson, Kennedy has been one of the more consistently winning programs in the county. It will be interesting to see how the Irish fare without Olson, and this is a heck of a test.

Next: Week 1