OC Varsity » top 25 rankings

Fryer reveals his O.C. football Top 25

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:21:04 +0000

Sure, only nine Orange County football teams still are alive, but that's no reason to kill off our rankings fun. We're changing it a bit (no slide show this week), but you're still getting your Frankly Fryer pal's picks for the best teams in the county.

Click on the following links to find the rankings and analysis of the teams, then enter your thoughts about the rankings in the comment field below.

Poll: Who will win Pac-5 Division semifinals?

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Poll: Who will win Southern Division semifinals?

Poll: Who will win East Valley Division semifinals

Fryer's teams 1-5

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:14:21 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 1-5:

1. Tesoro (12-0): Is this a team of destiny? The Titans keep getting turnovers at crucial times, and always come up with a big play just when they need one which they did in their 38-35 victory over Mater Dei in a Pac-5 Division second-round playoff game. They also have displayed resiliency the past two weeks with close playoff victories over Los Alamitos and Mater Dei.

2. Orange Lutheran (10-2): This is the best defensive team in the county. The guys at Tesoro might argue that, and they have a great point. But Lutheran controlled two excellent quarterbacks, Mater Dei's Matt Barkley and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks' Ryan Kasdorf, like no other team has. The Lancers' 24-14 victory over Note Dame sets up a 1-vs.-2 showdown, Tesoro-Orange Lutheran, in a Pac-5 semifinal game Saturday at Santa Ana Stadium.

3. Mater Dei (8-4): The Monarchs simply got beat by a better team in their 38-35 loss to Tesoro in a Pac-5 second-round game. Matt Barkley threw four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, as he was under pressure all game. It is not often that Mater Dei loses the interior-line battle, but that happened against Tesoro. Still, the Monarchs did have a season in which they won a share of the championship of the best football league in California: the Trinity League.

4. Mission Viejo (10-2): Turnovers, difficulty protecting quarterback Allan Bridgford and an inability to stop Lakewood's running game led to a 28-7 loss in a Pac-5 second-round playoff game. Bridgford was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. The Diablos were able to produce some long drives, but turnovers killed them. Their other loss this season was to Tesoro.

5. Servite (7-4): The Friars were eliminated in the first round by Lakewood, as Servite decided to go for two points and the victory instead of the PAT and the tie. The two-point effort, a decision Coach Troy Thomas made after an offsides penalty moved the ball halfway to the goal line, to a yard-and-a-half from the stripe, was a pass that fell incomplete. If I am the coach in that situation, I am trying for two points, too.

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Fryer's teams 6-10

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:10:00 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 6-10:

6. Esperanza (8-4): I almost put the Aztecs at No. 4 after they played with Long Beach Poly until Poly scored late to beat Esperanza, 17-10, in a Pac-5 second-round game Saturday. But I would pick Mission Viejo or Servite to beat Esperanza, based on those two teams' offensive superiority. Esperanza had lost two of its final three Sunset League games and got to the playoffs thanks to the luck of a draw. But the Aztecs sure played well in the playoffs, beating San Clemente, 24-16, before losing to Poly.

7. Newport Harbor (7-3): This was the hard-luck team in that draw that determined Sunset League playoff representation. Harbor had won its final three league games, including victories over Esperanza and Los Alamitos. It would have been interesting to see what the Sailors could have done with that momentum in the Pac-5 playoffs.

8. San Clemente (8-3): That Pac-5 first-round loss to Esperanza looks a bit better after Esperanza's close, 17-10 loss to top-seeded Long Beach Poly. As so often happens when two good teams meet, mistakes make the difference and The Tritons made more of them in that game against Esperanza.

9. Edison (7-3): Another good team that was eliminated by that draw that broke up the five-way tie in the Sunset League. But a deep run in the Pac-5 playoffs would have been unlikely, given the growing list of injured key players. Edison beat Mater Dei, Newport Harbor and Fountain Valley.

10. Fountain Valley (7-4): The Barons had a fine season that was ended by Orange Luthean, 28-0, in a Pac-5 first-round playoff game. They should have another good season in 2009, too, with several top returnees including running back Kyle Middlebrooks. Coach John Shipp's name will be mentioned when the Register/OCVarsity staff meets to select the All-Orange County team and our offensive and defensive players of the year, and coach of the year.

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Fryer's teams 11-15

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:07:30 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 11-15:

11. Los Alamitos (8-3): The Griffins were eliminated by Tesoro in the Pac-5 first round, as son Brian's Tesoro group beat dad John's Griffins. John probably was happier about Tesoro's follow-up victory over Mater Dei in the second round.

12. La Habra (10-2): The Highlanders beat a defending CIF-Southern Section champion with a 23-14 victory over El Dorado in a Southwest Division second-round game. El Dorado was Southwest champion in 2007 and '06. La Habra won the Southeast title in '07. The Freeway League is a Southwest Division league now. La Habra plays '07 Southwest Division runner-up Trabuco Hills this week.

13. Dana Hills (5-5): The Dolphins did not make the playoffs, having finished fourth in the tough South Coast League. They were one of the most improved teams in the county, after last year's 1-8-1 finish.

14. Laguna Hills (11-0): After struggling some in a 17-9 first-round victory over Artesia of Lakewood, the Hawks rolled to a 41-7 triumph over Santiago in a Southern Division second-round game. They had a shutout through three quarters. Laguna Hills plays Norwalk in the semifinals Friday at Laguna Hills.

15. Tustin (8-4): Another big offensive night for the Tillers as they beat Pacifica, 49-21, in a Southwest Division second-round game. They have scored 125 points in two playoff games. Tustin plays host to Century League rival-Canyon in the semifinals Friday. Tustin beat Canyon, 42-13, in a league game.

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Fryer's teams 16-20

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:03:06 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 16-20:

16. Canyon (8-4): The Comanches won their fifth in a row, with a 53-17 victory over fourth-seeded Fullerton in a Southwest second-round game. They have scored 95 points over two playoff games. Canyon plays Tustin in the semifinals Friday at Tustin. Canyon's most recent loss was to Tustin, 42-13, in a Century League game.

17. Trabuco Hills (8-4): Defense led the way for the Mustangs in a 28-21 victory over Western in a Southwest second-round game. Western was averaging 303 yards rushing a game, but only amassed 89 against Trabuco Hills. The Mustangs are one of the hottest teams in the county, with eight victories in their past nine games.

18. El Dorado (6-6): They led going into the fourth quarter, but the Golden Hawks lost to La Habra, 23-14, in a Southwest second-round game. They had won five in a row, going into the La Habra game. El Dorado was 1-4 at one point this season.

19. Western (9-3): The Pioneers put together a great drive in the final seconds, but came up 5 yards short of the goal line on the final play of the game in a 28-21 loss to Trabuco Hills in a Southwest Division second-round game. Western was the Orange League champion.

20. Fullerton (9-3): Two teams the Indians could not beat this season – La Habra, and Canyon. And they lost to Canyon twice, in the season opener and last week, 53-17, in a Southwest Division second-round game. It did not help that Fullerton ace running back Michael Allain left the game in the second quarter because of an ankle injury.

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Fryer's teams 21-25

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:58:03 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 21-25:

21. Cypress (7-4): The Centurions were eliminated by Canyon in the first round of the Southwest Division playoffs. They went 5-0 in the Empire League to win the league championship.

22. Pacifica (6-6): After upsetting top-seeded Foothill in the first round of the Southwest Division playoffs, the Mariners were knocked out by high-scoring Tustin, 49-21, in the second round.

23. Foothill (9-2): The Knights were eliminated two weeks ago by Pacifica in the Southwest Division first round. Since losing to Dana Hills in their season opener, the Knights won nine in a row, including a 5-0 run through the Sea View League, before the loss to Pacifica.

24. Corona del Mar (10-2): The Sea Kings advanced to the Southwest Division semifinals by beating Laguna Beach, 41-0. They had beaten Laguna Beach, 37-0, in a nonleague game in September. Corona del Mar will play Mayfair of Lakewood in the semifinals Friday, likely at Newport Harbor High.

25. Santa Margarita (3-7): The only sub-.500 team in the top 25. The Eagles played a challenging schedule, against the likes of Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran and Servite in the Trinity League and nonleague games against St. Bonaventure of Ventura and Chaparral of Temecula.

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Fryer's teams 21-25

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:15:52 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 21-25:

(Click on a team name to see its season totals.)

21. Western (8-2): The Pioneers went 5-0 in the Orange League to take the league title. They have won nine consecutive league games. Western's average margin of victory in league was 17 points. The Pioneers, seeded third in the Southwest Division, play Sunny Hills (6-4) in a first-round game Thursday at Western.

22. Santa Margarita (3-7): The Eagles had a tough year, but they played a tough schedule. Not only did they have to contend with Trinity League opponents, Santa Margarita also played nonleague games against St. Bonaventure of Ventura, Foothill, and Chaparral of Temecula – all 9-1 teams, all league champions. Cumulative record of Santa Margarita's opponents: 76-24.

23. Corona del Mar (8-2): The Sea Kings earned the No. 2 seeded position in the Southern Division playoffs, in which they will play La Mirada (4-6) in the first round Friday at Newport Harbor High. Their only losses were to Newport Harbor and Laguna Hills,which finished 7-3 and 9-0 respectively. Corona del Mar finished 4-5 and out of the playoffs last year.

24. Valencia (8-2): It was no fun dropping the Tigers from No. 23 to here, with losses only to Cypress and Western. But El Dorado's victory over Tustin, and its position as a co-champion of the Century League, inserted El Dorado into the top 25 and dropped some good teams down a notch. Valencia plays Trabuco Hills in a Southwest Division first-round game Saturday at Valencia.

25. St. Margaret's (10-0): The Tartans machine rolls on. They beat Sage Hill, 56-0, to go 3-0 in the Academy League and run their winning streak to 38. That's the second-longest winning streak in county football history. Mission Viejo won 41 in a row, 2001-03. With potentially four CIF-SS East Valley playoff games coming, and perhaps even a spot in the state bowl championship games, St. Margaret's can break the record this season. The Tartans play Campbell Hall of North Hollywood in a first-round game Friday at St. Margaret's.

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Fryer's teams 16-20

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:08:11 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 16-20:

(Click on a team name to see its season totals.)

16. Fullerton (8-2): The Indians finished second in the Freeway League, behind La Habra, and are the No. 4 seeded team in the Southwest Division. They play Santa Ana Valley in the first round Friday at Fullerton. Fullerton's other loss was to Canyon. The Indians beat El Dorado, Western and La Mirada in nonleague games.

17. Cypress (7-3): Given the competitive balance in the Empire League, it looked like no team could go 5-0 in league, but that's what the Centurions did. Their closest league victory was a 15-10 triumph over Valencia. The Southern Division champion last year, Cypress is in the Southwest Division this year and plays Canyon (6-4) in the first round Friday at Western High.

18. Tustin (6-4): The Tillers had won six in a row before losing to El Dorado, 28-23. Their other losses were to Kennedy, Foothill and Orange Lutheran. Tustin plays Magnolia (6-4) in the first round of the Southwest Division playoffs Thursday at Tustin.

19. Canyon (6-4): Canyon was part of a three-way tie, with El Dorado and Tustin, for first place in the Century League. It is the Comaches' first varsity football league championship. Canyon beat El Dorado, but lost to Tustin. Canyon also beat Fullerton in nonleague. The Comanches play Cypress (7-3) in a Southwest Division first-round game Friday at Western High.

20. El Dorado (5-5): The Golden Hawks won the three-way coin flip with Canyon and Tustin to go to the Southwest Division playoffs as the league's No. 1 representative. A fine defensive effort, and another fine game from quarterback Kane Wilson, led a 28-23 victory over Tustin last week. El Dorado plays Huntington Beach (5-5) on Thursday in a Southwest first-round game at Valencia High. If air-quality issues prohibit El Dorado from a full practice Tuesday, the Golden Hawks might seek a Friday game at Cal State Fullerton or Brea Olinda High, according to El Dorado coach Jeff Bailey.

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Fryer's teams 11-15

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:06:14 +0000

Here are Steve Fryer's teams 11-15:

(Click a team name to see it's season totals.)

11. Esperanza (7-3): Aztecs beat Edison, 16-3, in the final league game and thanks to the way the five-way tie in the Sunset League was broken, Esperanza goes into the Pac-5 playoffs as the league's No. 1 representative. The Aztecs play San Clemente in the first round. That's a challenging matchup for Esperanza, as it would be for any other team.

12. La Habra (8-2): Highlanders went 5-0 in the Freeway League. Their two losses were to teams that are in the Pac-5 playoffs – San Clemente and Los Alamitos. The Highlanders, seeded No. 2 in the Southwest Division, play Anaheim (5-5) in the first round Friday at La Habra. La Habra dropped to this spot from 11th, because Esperanza beat Edison.

13. Dana Hills (5-5): This was a year of improvement for the Dolphins, who were 1-8-1 in 2007. They finished fourth in the South Coast League, with league losses to Tesoro, Mission Viejo and San Clemente. They averaged 38 points a game, but gave up an average of 29.

14. Foothill (9-1): The Knights went 5-0 in the Sea View League. Zach Griffith turned out to be a solid replacement at quarterback for last year's senior starter, Chad Miller. Foothill beat Santa Margarita in nonleague, and lost only to Dana Hills. Foothill won nine in a row after that. The Knights are the No. 1 seed in the Southwest Division, in which the Knights will play Pacifica (5-5) in the first round Friday at Tustin High.

15. Laguna Hills (9-0): The Hawks had a bye last week. They go into the playoffs as the top-seeded team in the Southern Division. They play Artesia of Lakewood (7-3), the No. 4 team from the Suburban League, in the first round Friday at Laguna Hills. That's not an easy draw.

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Top 25 countdown: No. 7

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:02:05 +0000

7. Esperanza (10-2) – A good running game and a hard-nosed defense have been the Aztecs' strengths for a long time, and that appears to be their assets again this year.

Esperanza, the Sunset League co-champion with Edison last year, brings back running back Jared Moore. He rushed for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

Sean McDonald, left, ran for 652 yards as an option quarterback in '07, and moves to running back this year. He attempted only 56 passes last season, a figure that could be eclipsed quickly by this year's quarterback, junior Drew Huusfeldt.

The defensive line could be outstanding, led by nose guard Sean Avila.

Click here to see the No. 6 team.