Unlike the "Battle of the Bell" football game between Edison and Fountain Valley, tonight's showdown between No. 2 Newport Harbor and No. 5 Corona del Mar didn't need to switch venues or deal with a ticket uproar.
Unlike the "Battle of the Bell" football game between Edison and Fountain Valley, tonight's showdown between No. 2 Newport Harbor and No. 5 Corona del Mar didn't need to switch venues or deal with a ticket uproar.
Last year, there was a five-way tie for first with these teams at 3-2: Edison; Esperanza; Fountain Valley; Los Alamitos and Newport Harbor.
A series of coin flips took Edison and Newport Harbor out of the playoffs (and Newport Harbor had won its final three games, including victories over Esperanza and Los Alamitos, both of which made the playoffs via those coin flips).
Fourth-ranked Fountain Valley wasn't happy with its performance in a 37-32 victory over Newport Harbor on Thursday night. The Barons botched two punts, which led to safeties, and were heavily penalized in the contest.
Quarterback Dominic Ragland and Kyle Middlebrooks played well, each scoring two touchdowns. Check out highlights of the contest and postgame interviews in this video by OCVarsity.com's Jonathan Khamis.
Related:
Fountain Valley sloppy in victory over Newport Harbor
All of Thursday's game stories and more
No. 4 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (7-0, 2-0) VS. NEWPORT HARBOR (4-3, 1-1)
Where, when: Newport Harbor High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: There is a lot of excitement about next week’s Fountain Valley-Edison “Battle for the Bell” game – and that’s not good for Fountain Valley. The Barons cannot look past Newport Harbor to their big rivalry game against Edison. Newport is good. The Sailors beat Los Alamitos two weeks ago, handing Los Al its first loss, then got clobbered by a terrific Edison team, 34-6, last week. Edison can make good teams look bad (see “Edison 23, Servite 9” for details).
A scheduling mix up postponed a meeting of the county's top two teams earlier this week.
Now, No. 1 Newport Harbor visits No. 2 Los Alamitos on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at Los Al High.
We have a live feed from the Mater Dei-Servite, Edison-Newport Harbor, Santa Margarita-St. John Bosco games. Click here to watch them.
Examining the numbers prior to Friday night's shocker pulled by Newport Harbor over Los Alamitos, you couldn't have imagined the Sailors winning.
But they did, 23-20, against the previously unbeaten and fourth-ranked Griffins.
And to do it on fourth-and-goal in the final minutes was spectacular. I was stunned.
The much anticipated showdown of the county's top two teams produced a twist before the first ball was served.
Jane Croson out for Los Alamitos. It wasn't the only injury news - Newport Harbor was without setter Mackenzi Campbell - but it was the biggest.

Update 6
Newport Harbor closes it out 25-23. NH was up 23-15. What a finish. Check back later for more from tonight's match.
Update 5
Timeout Los Al. That's their second. They trail 18-13, and are seven points from their night ending.
Update 4
Newport Harbor is up 14-12.
Update 3
Timeout Los Al. Newport Harbor up 10-6.
Update 2
Newport Harbor up 8-6.
Update 1
Tied at 3.
More from the girls volleyball blog:

Here's what has happned so far. Pregame. Game 1. Game 2.
Update 9
Los Al takes Game 3, 25-23. Los Al rode hitters Christina Harris and Alijah Gunsaulus. NH made a furious rally. Los Al has enough to win this match still. Los Al has yet to get everyone involved. If they get that going, watch out. NH doesn't want to go to Game 5 after leading 2-0.
Update 8
Tied 23.
Update 7
Timeout Los Al. NH went on a run and trails 22-19. Los Al is having all sorts of rotation issues this game. They have lost 4 points that way so far.
Update 6
Los Al in front 20-12.
Update 5
15-9 Los Al

Update 5
NH won Game 2 25-15. NH started quick and never slowed. Los Al has to settle down and get more looks. Los Al has lost the first two games before this season to rally and win, but not without Jane Croson.
Update 4
Is the sweep coming? Newport Harbor leads 19-8. Timeout Los Al. Los Al just can't slow NH's slew of hitters.
Update 3
Timeout Los Al. Newport Harbor up 12-6. Los Al has no answer for Maddy Brown so far this game.
Update 2
All even at 6
Update 1
NH out quick 5-2 NH.
Update 8
Newport Harbor took the opening game 25-17. Los Al's service return broke down late. Newport Harbor has plenty of weapons and they are using them all. Los Al needs to find a way to get middle Emily Hartong involved. She has two kills, the only two times she's swung. Newport Harbor is controlling the net right now. Los Al has been down before to start, so this is nothing new to them.
Update 7
2nd timeout Los Al. NH expands lead to 22-15. Maddy Brown is back serving and Los Al is having fits with its servie return.
Update 6
Timeout Los Alamitos, and you know what that means. Newport Harbor leads 18-15. NH middle Katey Thompson has been the key so far. She has 1 of the team's 3 aces, and has combined on 4 blocks. Without Croson out, the hitting depth now favors NH.