GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 4 ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-3, 0-1) VS. NO. 5 SANTA MARGARITA (4-2, 0-1)
Where, when: Saddleback College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Every game in the Trinity League is a big game, and not just because all five of the league’s Orange County teams are among the top six teams in the Orange County Top 25 and all six are in the CalHiSports.com California top 20. The top three teams in the final standings of a six-team league like the Trinity League are guaranteed a berth in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The other three have to hope for an at-large berth (known as a wild-card berth in the NFL). Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita lost their league openers last week. Orange Lutheran lost to JSerra 24-14. Santa Margarita lost to St. John Bosco 42-7. There is a subplot in this one: Santa Margarita starting quarterback John Gazzaniga was a backup at Orange Lutheran before transferring to Santa Margarita and becoming eligible Sept. 7. Gazzaniga had a difficult time against St. John Bosco’s outstanding defense, completing 11 of 30 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown with one interception. The Eagles rushed for only 47 yards on 25 carries. Santa Margarita might be the healthier of these two teams, and Gazzaniga might be fairly motivated to have a big game.
Winner: Santa Margarita
NO. 14 NEWPORT HARBOR (3-3, 1-0) VS. NO. 7 LOS ALAMITOS (4-2, 1-0)
Where, when: Westminster High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Newport Harbor sophomore quarterback Jaden O’Neal, who was at Los Alamitos last season, completed 22 of 30 passes for 202 yards with five touchdowns in the Sailors’ 59-21 win over Huntington Beach in a Sunset League opener last week. Jagger Blauwkamp rushed for 101 yards on only eight carries. Senior receivers Jordan Anderson and Josiah Lamarque did their thing with nine receptions each and five touchdown catches between them. Los Alamitos won its league opener, too, 49-10 over Fountain…
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