This month's Division I playoffs might be the best in recent memory. Newport just beat thee best team in the state and the Sailors will likely be the second-place team to LosAl in the Sunset League. Also on Saturday night, Ventura claimed the Vellekamp tournament in big water at Northwood.

I wonder if any Division I county coaches made it over to see Ventura play.

Miramonte advanced with a 7-5 victory against Coronado.

The Tars improved to 3-1 against the Sea Kings this season, with all three victories coming in tournaments. This was by far the teams' biggest encounter and Newport made it a decisive victory.

The touted player from Serbia lost a bid for varsity eligibility during an injunction hearing earlier this month.

More details to come.

On Oct. 15, an Orange County judge denied the Serbian varsity eligibility in an injunction hearing, siding with the Southern Section's definition of enrollment. But attorney Richard Bridgford is seeking reconsideration in the case based on state and Southern Section rules and guidelines for the summer.

Summer contact has been an obstacle for Babovic since he played for Corona del Mar during a summer tournament in Hungary.

"In a nutshell, as with any other incoming student, Babovic was eligible to participate in water polo at Corona del Mar High School prior to his attendance in the Fall under what is known as the CIF Summer Rules," Bridgford wrote in an e-mail.

In other news later Friday night, the attorney for Corona del Mar goalie Martin Babovic said he will be in court Monday morning for reconsideration in a case that left the Serbian ineligible for varsity play. Richard Bridgford said in an e-mail that new evidence has been discovered. Stay tuned for more details.

Corona del Mar held center Cruz Smithson to a pair of goals. At the S & R, Smithson erupted for seven goals against the Sea Kings. Goalie Isle Anderson added 14 saves for Corona del Mar.

At the S & R, Servite posted a 12-11 victory against the Sea Kings.

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

Yep, Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven L. Perk, who denied an eligibility bid by Corona del Mar goalie Martin Babovic on Wednesday, has a daughter at Tesoro and had a son, Brian, attend Tesoro.

Brian is a very good soccer goalie at UCLA.

Babovic, a foreign exchange student from Serbia, has been cleared by the Southern Section to play junior varsity but was seeking to play varsity.

As it was late in Tuesday's session, the definition of enrollment loomed large in the decision by Judge Steven L. Perk.

The Southern Section and state CIF argued that enrollment starts when a student begins to attend class.

Babovic's attorney, Richard Bridgford, argued that enrollment started when Babovic's registration process was completed at Corona del Mar in March and his spot at the school was secured. The senior arrived in the United States in August and began taking classes in September.

In the end, Perk sided with the Southern Section and state CIF's definition, meaning that Babovic had inappropriate contact before enrolling.

"They (CIF) won a technicality based on an interpretation of enrollment," said Bridgford, also the father of Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford.

Perk emphasized that Corona del Mar administrators should have known the eligibility rules better.

Babovic played for Corona del Mar in a tournament in Hungary in July. James Watson, the father of the family hosting Babovic, said Corona del Mar's administration approved the participation.

But Perk also said that he believed Babovic was not recruited by the school and was a random placement. Watson took victory in that part of Perk's findings.

Watson said he was "thrilled" his family's name was cleared. But there was disappointment, too. He said he was disappointed that a "tragic comedy of errors" prevented Babovic from playing "varsity ball."

State CIF attorney Diane Marshall-Freeman was pleased with the ruling. "We're just pleased the judge upheld the rules of the CIF," she said.

Bridgford said he has not decided whether to appeal.