Sports

Football: Los Alamitos Drops out of Top 10 After Week 10

Mission Viejo rules Orange County football through the regular season, but the playoffs is where real superiority is counted.


By Martin Henderson

Through 11 weeks in which to play 10 games, football teams in Orange County pretty much lived up to expectation. One notable exception: JSerra, unranked overall in the early going by a panel of 10 media members, closed the season at No. 5, which probably isn't much consolation for a program that was looking to get its first taste of the playoffs. 

Though Mater Dei began the season at No. 1—the Monarchs reached the Southern Section Pac-5 finals a year ago—it was Mission Viejo who remained more impressive, more consistent, week after week and spent the better part of the season at No. 1.

Another bright spot in the minds of the collective 10 voters was Corona del Mar, the two-time Southern Section champion who scored early victories over larger schools such as El Toro and Newport Harbor and never experienced the downside of a scoreboard's story.

Below is the county Top 10 after Week 10, with first place counting for 10 points, second for nine, etc.). 

ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL POLL

Text by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register

(Ten members of the media vote each week in the poll)

1. Mission Viejo (10-0, 100 points): Diablos unofficial 'Orange County Champion.' Next: Vs. Crespi of Encino at Mission Viejo High, Friday

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2. Mater Dei (8-2, 90 points): Great defense shut out Orange Lutheran, 15-0. Next: At Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, Friday

3. Orange Lutheran (7-3, 72): Lancers moved ball well, just could not manufacture points in loss to Mater Dei. Next: Vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium, Friday

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4. Servite (5-5, 70): Friars concluded regular-season with back-to-back losses to JSerra, St. John Bosco. Next: At Westlake, Friday

5. JSerra (7-3, 63): Coach Hartigan among many thinking this team should be in playoffs. Next: Season is over.

6. La Habra (9-1, 53): Margin not as large as some expected, but Highlanders still beat Buena Park. Next: Vs. Canyon at La Habra High, Friday

7. Tesoro (8-2, 40): Titans beat Chula Vista, 48-7, in nonleague game. Next: Vs. Cabrillo of Long Beach at Tesoro High, Friday.

8. Santa Margarita (4-6, 22): No playoffs for Eagles as Coach Welch makes exit. Next: Season is over.

9. Edison (7-3, 18): Chargers outright champions of Sunset League at 4-1. Next: Vs. Cypress at Orange Coast College, Friday

10. Corona del Mar (10-0, 17): Sea Kings average margin in league victories was 24 points. Next: Vs. Loara at Newport Harbor High, Friday.


MARTIN HENDERSON'S VOTE FROM PATCH.COM

1. Mission Viejo (10-0)
Diablos rout El Toro. No one’s even a close second.

2. Mater Dei (8-2) Monarchs may sputter, but they’re No. 2 in Trinity, County.

3. Servite (5-5) Friars get big win—a coin flip.

4. Orange Lutheran (8-2) Lancers drop finale to Mater Dei.

5. JSerra (7-3) Deserved a shot in the playoffs.

6. Tesoro (8-2) Got an easier first-round opponent than Mission Viejo. 

7. Edison (7-3) Last man standing in wild Sunset League race.

8. La Habra (9-1) Struggled a bit against Buena Park. 

9. Santa Margarita (4-6) No blaze of glory in Harry Welch’s final season.

10. Trabuco Hills (6-4) Despite losses, body of work was more impressive than Corona del Mar.

LOOKING BACK

Martin Henderson's First Top 10, Sept. 3, 2013

1. Mater Dei

2. Mission Viejo

3. Santa Margarita

4. Edison

5. La Habra

6. Servite

7. JSerra

8. Trabuco Hills

9. Tesoro

10. Huntington  Beach


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