High school football regular season concludes, playoffs loom with numerous scenarios.
Exciting Conclusion to Orange County High School Football Season
This weekend marks the thrilling end of the Orange County high school football regular season in Southern California, with multiple league championships and CIF Southern Section playoff berths up for grabs.
As teams battle it out on the field, the anticipation builds for the Oct. 29 Southern Section announcement, where league champions and at-large candidates will discover their playoff fate in various divisions.
Get ready for an action-packed Friday night on Oct. 27, with all games kicking off at 7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).
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One of the highly anticipated matchups is between Foothill and Yorba Linda on Oct. 26 at Tustin High. Foothill, with an impressive 6-3 overall record, has a chance to secure the Crestview League championship with a victory.
However, four-time defending champion Yorba Linda, also 6-3 overall, and Villa Park are both 1-1 in league play, setting the stage for a potential three-way tie for the championship if Yorba Linda defeats Foothill. In that case, a thrilling coin flip would determine the league’s playoff priority.
Villa Park, with an impressive 8-1 overall record, needs a victory at Brea Olinda to keep their hopes alive for a share of the title. After a narrow 22-21 loss to Foothill on Oct. 12, Villa Park bounced back with a thrilling 34-33 overtime win against Yorba Linda on Oct. 20.
The Garden Grove League presents an even more complex scenario, with Los Amigos, Rancho Alamitos, and La Quinta all boasting 3-1 league records. Each team has a chance to claim at least a share of the championship by winning this week.
Mark your calendars for Oct. 26, as Los Amigos takes on Santiago at Garden Grove, and Rancho Alamitos faces Loara at Bolsa Grande (6:30 p.m. kickoff). La Quinta will play the following night at Bolsa Grande.
In the Sunset League, the path to the championship is straightforward. Edison and four-time defending champion Los Alamitos, both with perfect 4-0 league records, will battle it out for the title at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.
Tustin, the undefeated powerhouse with a 9-0 overall record, and Cypress (6-3) are set to clash for the Empire League championship at Tustin. Tustin Coach Anthony Lopez emphasizes the importance of seizing this opportunity: “This week is our first opportunity to put something together and win something meaningful, that being the Empire League championship. We’ve been harping on that, not to let this opportunity slip away, really take advantage of it.”
The Orange Coast League presents the possibility of a thrilling three-way tie for first place. Santa Ana, the unbeaten team with a 5-0 league record, faces Orange, who could secure a share of the title with a victory. St. Margaret’s is also in the mix and could claim a piece of the championship with a win over visiting Calvary Chapel combined with a Santa Ana loss.
Orange, last season’s CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship runner-up, eagerly awaits their playoff fate this year.
Coach Robert Pedroza expresses optimism about their chances: “I think right now, where we’re placed as far as division, we have a really good shot. The last couple of years, we have been in high divisions that are really tough for our school, and we’ve succeeded in those divisions, but now it looks like we’re in a spot that we have a good shot, I think, to make a good run.”
A similar three-team scenario unfolds in the Freeway League, where Sonora aims to secure the outright title with a victory against La Habra. However, La Habra could claim a share of the championship with a win, and Troy could also enter the mix with a victory at Sunny Hills.
In the South Coast League, San Clemente has the opportunity to clinch the outright championship with a win against Tesoro. A Tesoro victory, though, would create a co-championship, possibly involving Mission Viejo if they win at Capistrano Valley.
Segerstrom and Marina, both with perfect 2-0 records in Big Four League play, will battle it out for the league title at Segerstrom.
Irvine, fresh off a 20-12 victory against Beckman, can secure the Pacific Hills League championship by defeating University. However, a victory by University would create a co-champion scenario that could also involve Beckman if they win at Woodbridge.
Coach Tom Ricci emphasizes the importance of finishing the league strong: “We want to finish up league strong.”
In the Pacific Coast League, Dana Hills needs a win against Northwood to secure the championship. However, defending league champion Northwood could stake claim to a co-title with a victory, while Laguna Hills needs a win over Portola and a Dana Hills loss to share the championship.
Trabuco Hills, the lone team with a perfect 2-0 record in the Sea View League, aims to wrap up the title with a win at El Toro. If Trabuco Hills falters, the winner of the San Juan Hills at Aliso Niguel game could claim a co-championship.
In the Pac-4, Laguna Beach and Westminster, both with perfect 2-0 league records, will face off for the title at Westminster.
Capistrano Valley Christian, with an impressive 4-0 league record, eyes a second consecutive Mesquite League championship with a victory against Arrowhead Christian. However, Arrowhead Christian and Linfield Christian are both 3-1, leaving the door open for a multiple-team tie for first place.
What are some of the standout moments and performances from Orange County high school football this season
Tright championship with a win against Mission Viejo. Both teams have impressive records, with San Clemente at 9-0 overall and Mission Viejo at 8-1. This game will undoubtedly be a showdown between two powerhouse teams.
Aside from the league championships, teams are also vying for CIF Southern Section playoff berths. The top teams in each league will secure automatic playoff spots, while others will have a chance to compete as at-large candidates based on their overall records and strength of schedule.
The announcement on October 29th will reveal the playoff fate of these teams, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the conclusion of the regular season.
As the high school football season in Orange County reaches its thrilling climax, fans, players, and coaches are bracing themselves for an action-packed weekend. The intensity on the field will be matched by the suspense off the field as teams await the Southern Section announcement that will determine their playoff destiny.
From potential three-way ties for league championships to highly anticipated matchups between top teams, this weekend promises to deliver excitement and drama. The hard work and dedication displayed by these players throughout the season will culminate in these final games, where the ultimate prize awaits.
Whether it’s the fierce competition in the Crestview League between Foothill, Yorba Linda, and Villa Park, or the complex scenarios in the Garden Grove League and Orange Coast League, each game has high stakes and playoff implications.
The Sunset League showdown between Edison and Los Alamitos, the clash between Tustin and Cypress for the Empire League championship, and the battles in the Freeway League and South Coast League all highlight the level of talent and competitiveness in Orange County high school football.
As this thrilling season comes to a close, it is an opportune time to appreciate the hard work and dedication of these student-athletes. Their commitment to their sport, their teammates, and their schools has been commendable, and they have provided fans with memorable moments throughout the season.
As we eagerly await the conclusion of the regular season and the start of the CIF Southern Section playoffs, let’s celebrate the excitement, passion, and sportsmanship that Orange County high school football has brought us this year. May the best teams emerge victorious and may the spirit of the game continue to inspire
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