GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 12 YORBA LINDA (1-1) VS. NO. 16 TESORO (1-1)
Where, when: Tesoro High, Friday, 1 p.m.
Analysis: Yorba Linda is not as good as it was last year when it went 14-1 and won the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship, at least it hasn’t been so far. The Mustangs opened with a 31-21 loss to Damien and last week beat La Mirada 40-20. Senior Dylan Gardner has been sensational. He is averaging 32 yards a kickoff return, his only punt return was for 42 yards, he has 16 of the team’s 31 pass receptions and has four tackles. Tesoro, as usual, is playing a challenging nonleague schedule. It lost 17-14 to Newport Harbor last week on a late field goal after opening with a 27-7 win over Murrieta Mesa. Running back Travis Wood has been splendid. He has rushed for 323 yards including 181 yards last week against Newport Harbor. Yorba Linda has new players in important positions. Those players are getting better and the Mustangs are gathering momentum, as this game will prove.
Winner: Yorba Linda
NO. 3 MISSION VIEJO (2-0) VS. LONG BEACH POLY (1-1)
Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: Bally Sports West
Analysis: Mission Viejo has two good-looking wins, 38-14 over Citrus Valley last week and 38-13 over El Camino of Oceanside two weeks ago. The Diablos have used two quarterbacks equally, Luke Fahey and Daeden Trudeau. While this observer is not a fan of a two-QB scheme, it does force opposing defenses to essentially prepare to play two different teams, and Mission Viejo excels at developing fine quarterbacks. Sophomore Vance Stafford might be the next great Diablos receiver. He has 13 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Jack Matranga is averaging nine tackles a game. Long Beach Poly lost big to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas last week 60-15. Yes, that’s a wipeout of a score but Gorman is ranked No. 2 in the nation by MaxPreps. Poly has a good quarterback,…
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