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Calhoun's Games to Watch: Los Alamitos vs. Esperanza

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:38:21 +0000

The Calhoun Six: Games to Watch

No. 7 Los Alamitos (6-2, 1-2) vs. No. 18 Esperanza (4-4, 1-2)
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Veterans Stadium

Outlook: The playoffs begin this week for the Griffins, Aztecs and Newport Harbor. All of these teams are tied at 1-2 and only one is guaranteed a berth in the playoffs.

Someone might have to sweat out the at-large berth.

The Griffins, who have already lost to Newport Harbor and Edison, still has this game and a meeting with Fountain Valley left on the schedule.

The Aztecs still have to play Newport Harbor, who is playing Marina this week.

See how important every week is in the Sunset League?

The Griffins are coming off of a 27-10 loss to Edison, in which the Griffins held the Chargers offense to only six points, but did allow three defensive touchdowns.

The Aztecs defeated Marina, 52-27 last week. The Griffins turned the ball over three times and passed for just 52 yards last week against Edison.

The Aztecs rushed for 455 yards last week against Marina. The Griffins ended a three-game losing to the Aztecs with a 22-21 victory last season.

The Aztecs have had at least a share of the Sunset League title in each of the previous four seasons?

A fifth might be out of reach, but can they can make the playoffs?

The Calhoun 6 (Plus Two Bonus Games):

No. 1 Edison vs. No. 4 Fountain Valley

No. 2 Servite vs. No. 6 Orange Lutheran

No. 2 Mission Viejo vs. No. 12 San Clemente

No. 10 Tustin vs. No. 20 El Dorado

No. 16 Cypress vs. No. 24 Pacifica

BONUS GAMES

No. 17 Laguna Hills vs. No. 25 Irvine

Westminster vs. Segerstrom

RELATED SLIDE SHOW:

The Calhoun Six: Players to Watch Week 9

Football: New threat in the Sunset League

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:03:18 +0000

It was the home opener for the Newport Harbor Sailors Thursday night and it also turned into "Say Hello to Cedric Whitaker" Night.

The junior transfer, listed at 5-8, from San Francisco, excited the crowd with several long runs, including a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

He finished with 139 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

"I'm practicing every day on and off the field," Whitaker said. "After practice, I go to the gym and after the gym, I go run stairs ...When everybody else is home watching football, I'm still out trying to get better."

He adds a new dynamic as a legit breakaway threat to the Sailor offense that is going to make them a difficult team to defend.

"We're happy with the progress that he's making," Newport Harbor coach Jeff Brinkley said. "We've had some real good tailbacks, hopefully he falls right into that same group."

For Whitaker, it hasn't taken him long to make himself comfortable in his new surroundings.

"Everybody is making me feel comfortable," Whitaker said. "I love Newport."

(**follow me all season long at twitter.com/DamianCalhoun)

Football rankings: CIF Pac-5 Division

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:20:09 +0000

CIF-SS PAC-5 DIVISION
Preseason rankings
(Voting is done by the division's coaches)

1. Long Beach Poly, Moore League (14-1 in 2008)
2. Servite, Trinity (7-4)
3. Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, Serra (11-1)
4. Mission Viejo, South Coast (10-2)
5. Edison, Sunset (7-3)
6. Orange Lutheran, Trinity (10-3)
7. Lakewood, Moore (10-3)
8. Crespi, Serra (6-4)
9. Tesoro, South Coast (13-1)
10. Los Alamitos, Sunset (8-3)

Others to watch: San Clemente, South Coast (8-3): Esperanza, Sunset (8-4); Mater Dei, Trinity (8-4); Newport Harbor, Sunset (7-3); St. John Bosco, Trinity (7-3); Fountain Valley, Sunset (7-4); Loyola, Serra (6-5)

RELATED:

All CIF preseason rankings

O.C. football Top 25: No. 4

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:45:40 +0000

O.C. FOOTBALL TOP 25
4. Edison
(7-3 overall, 3-2 and tie for first place in Sunset League in 2008)

This could be a very fun team to watch. Quarterback Matt Viles, second-team all league in ’08, is back and so are two fine all-league receivers back, Mike Rivera and Jeff Trojan. The Chargers have a good line, too, led by another all-league returnee, Roman Sapolu. The defense features returning Sunset defensive player of the year Jordan Zumwalt, a linebacker. Edison does need to develop a running game to match the passing attack and fill holes on defense. The Chargers missed the playoffs because of a coin flip last season. They should return to the playoffs this year, and they won’t need a coin flip to get there.

Related links:

O.C. football Top 25: No. 8

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:42:05 +0000

O.C. FOOTBALL TOP 25
8. Esperanza
(8-4 overall, 3-2 and tie for first place in the Sunset League in 2008)

Yes, the opening of Yorba Linda High will siphon the Esperanza talent pool. But the Aztecs probably still have at least one more good season in them. Esperanza has a new head coach, Greg Kemp, who replaces Bill Pendleton. But Kemp knows the program and the league; he has been on the staff at Esperanza for 13 years. Pendleton will be around as the offensive line coach, his forte. Esperanza has talent coming back, too, like all-league returnees Lukas Lopez at defensive line and Hayden Pierce at receiver and defensive back.

Related links:

O.C. football Top 25: No. 9

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:23:35 +0000

O.C. FOOTBALL TOP 25
9. Los Alamitos
(8-3 overall, 3-2 and tie for first place in the Sunset League in 2008)

The Griffins first and foremost have to replace Clark Evans, who was a great runner and passer as quarterback the past two seasons, and all-league receiver Paul Richardson transferred to Serra of Gardena. But there always is talent at the skill positions in Griffinland. Defensively, all-league returnees Josh Barut and Robert Watson will lead the backfield along with top recruit Shaquille Richardson. Another thing that cannot be overlooked is the veteran coaching staff. John Barnes, the all-time leader in football coaching victories in Orange County, has a group of assistants that has been there for decades. Coaching continuity is so important for a team to be successful year after year.

Related links:

O.C. football Top 25: No. 12

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:55:42 +0000

O.C. FOOTBALL TOP 25
12. Fountain Valley
(7-4 overall, 3-2 and tied for first place in the Sunset League in 2008)

This could be a breakthrough year for the Barons. They bring back one of the county’s top running backs, Kyle Middlebrooks, and an all-league quarterback, Dominic Ragland. The offensive line is big and strong. Fountain Valley has four returning starters on defense, too. If the passing game catches up the running game, Fountain Valley could compete for the league title again.

Related links:

O.C. football Top 25: No. 11

O.C. football Top 25: No. 13

O.C. football Top 25: No. 14

O.C. football Top 25: No. 13

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:53:42 +0000

O.C. FOOTBALL TOP 25
13. Newport Harbor
(7-3 overall, 3-2 and tied for first place in the Sunset League in 2008)

Here is a team that has plenty of motivation. The Sailors won its final three league games in ’08 to finish in that five-way tie for first in the Sunset League. No other league team won its final three games. But coin flips kept Harbor out of the playoffs. Harbor brings back Cecil Whiteside, who has committed to Cal. He is known as a great linebacker, but look for Whiteside to be more present on offense than before at receiver. There is a quarterback battle going on at Harbor, and other some new players at other key positions, too. But Harbor looks ready to make another run at the playoffs, coin flips or not.

Related links:

O.C. football Top 25: No. 11

O.C. football Top 25: No. 12

O.C. football Top 25: No. 14

Sunset League: Edison football schedule

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:15:45 +0000

Here is the 2009 football schedule for the Edison Chargers.

*Please note, this schedule is tentative and will be updated at a future date.

Edison
9/4 vs. Artesia, 7 pm @ Huntington Beach HS
9/10 vs. L.B. Wilson, 7 pm @ Huntington Beach HS
9/18 at Dana Hills, 7 p.m.
9/25 vs. Servite, 7 pm @ Huntington Beach HS
10/1 vs. Mater Dei, 7 p.m. at Santa Ana Stadium
10/16 vs. Esperanza at Valencia HS, 7 p.m.
10/23 at Newport Harbor, 7 p.m.
10/30 vs. Los Alamitos, 7 pm @ Huntington Beach HS
11/6 vs. Fountain Valley, 7 pm @Orange Coast College
11/13 vs. Marina at Westminster HS, 7 p.m.

RELATED:

All Fall 2009 football schedules

Sunset League: Los Alamitos football schedule

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:13:44 +0000

Here is the 2009 football schedule for the Los Alamitos Griffins.

*Please note, this schedule is tentative and will be updated at a future date.

Los Alamitos
9/11 vs. Mayfair, 7 p.m. at Bellflower HS
9/17 vs. Fremont, 7 p.m. at Veteran’s Stadium
9/24 vs. LB Wilson, 7 p.m. at Gahr HS
10/1 vs. La Habra, 7 p.m. at Gahr HS
10/8 vs. Narbonne, 7 p.m. at Gahr HS
10/16 at Newport Harbor, 7 p.m.
10/22 vs. Marina, 7 p.m. at Westminster HS
10/30 vs. Edison, 7 p.m. at Huntington Beach HS
11/5 vs. Esperanza, 7 p.m. at Veteran’s Stadium
11/12 vs. Fountain Valley, 7 p.m. at Gahr HS

RELATED:

All Fall 2009 football schedules