Sports Shorts: Plenty of Football Games to Choose From on Friday

What’s going on this week in high school football for San Juan Capistrano's teams? Plenty, but unfortunately, it all takes place on Friday night. Here's a look at the games:

JSerra (2-0) at Trabuco Hills (2-1), 7 p.m. -- The Lions are off to another impressive start with a 28-21 victory over Long Beach Wilson and a 51-13 win over L.A. Wilson, but neither of those opponents is nearly as good as Trabuco Hills. I’m sure I don’t need to remind anybody about JSerra’s impressive start (and disastrous finish) in 2010, but a similar victory over the Mustangs -- the Lions beat Trabuco Hills, 40-17, last year -- would be very impressive. Trinity League rival Santa Margarita beat Trabuco Hills, 35-14, last week. Can the Lions, behind talented seniors quarterback Jake Hall and wide receiver Jonavaughn Williams, put up those same kinds of numbers against the Mustangs and their very impressive senior running back, Mitchell Simonsen? It's going to be tough.

San Juan Hills (0-3) vs. Foothill (1-2) at Tesoro High, 7:30 p.m. -- The Stallions are sure missing all those graduated seniors. After putting together a 7-3 regular season and getting to the Southwest Division playoffs for the first time with a senior-dominated team, coach Greg Gibson took off for Virginia, leaving Aaron Flowers to pick up the pieces. After being held to six points in losses to Villa Park and Dana Hills, San Juan Hills' offense finally woke up last week, but the Stallions still lost, 37-30, to El Modena. San Juan Hills defeated Foothill, 28-25, last season when senior George Winckel connected on a 39-yard field goal with three seconds left to play. The teams combined to score 33 points in the fourth quarter. Don’t expect that much offense this time around as Foothill is averaging only 13.7 points per game and San Juan Hills 12. It’s basically a one-man show on offense for both teams. Ryan Crowe leads the Stallions in passing and rushing yardage, as does Jake Dupre for Foothill. But all those stats are misleading when one sees that Foothill’s losses have come against Tustin (27-14) and Huntington Beach (32-13) and its victory is over Beckman (14-10), which reached the Southern Division championship game last season. San Juan Hills’ best bet for victory No. 1 will come on Sept. 30, when it plays University at Irvine High.

St. Margaret’s (1-1) vs. Whittier Christian (1-2) at Whittier College, 7 p.m. -- The Tartans, , bounced back from a season-opening 16-13 loss to Coronado to harpoon visiting Orcas Island from Eastsound, Wash., 44-0, Friday night. Matt Duenes is leading the way on the ground with 277 yards for run-oriented St. Margaret’s, which had seven players gain yardage last week. Whittier Christian opened its season with a 49-34 loss to Esperanza, followed by a 49-7 victory over Notre Dame of Riverside, but then the Heralds fell to Kern Valley, 28-21. Ranked No. 9 in the Mid-Valley Division, Whittier Christian had 300 yards of offense last week, keyed by quarteback Daniel Chacon, but also committed two key turnovers. Cody Bronkar led Whittier Christian with 100 yards receiving. Last season, Whittier Christian beat St. Margaret’s, 38-26, on its way to the playoff’s semifinals.

Saddleback Valley Christian (2-0) vs. Brethren Christian (2-1) at JSerra High, 7 p.m. -- When John Reber took over the Warriors’ program this summer, he inherited a strong nucleus of returning players led by senior Curran John, who averaged 7.67 yards per carry last season. John has picked up right where he’s left off, averaging 235.5 yards rushing per game with six touchdowns in two one-sided victories. SVCS' offense is averaging 39 points, compared to the 13 its defense is surrendering. Brethren Christian is averaging 22.3 points and 300 yards of total offense behind leading rusher and passer Samuel Franklin and is giving up 18 points per game. It should be a good battle between two teams named the Warriors.

Capistrano Valley Christian (2-1) vs. Hesperia Christian (2-1) at San Clemente High, 7 p.m. -- Youth is being served at CVCS, where the freshman quarterback-receiver combo of Riley Babick and AJ Discenzo are putting up amazing numbers, even for the eight-man game. Babick is 12th in the state at all levels in total offense and sixth in the Southern Section. He is the section’s 15th leading passer, but he is the state’s leading freshman passer. He is fourth in the nation among freshmen quarterbacks in total offense and fifth in passing. Babick is leading all freshmen in receiving in the state and is tied for sixth in receptions at all levels. He is tied for first in receptions in the Southern Section. Kiefer Lux is the leading passer and rusher for Hesperia Christian, which, after being blown out by Bloomington Christian, 45-0, in its opener, has recorded consecutive victories over Immanuel Christian, 24-12, and Big Pine, 48-6. Expect some points to be scored.

GADREAU LEADS ST. MARGARET'S BOYS IN CROSS-COUNTRY

St. Margaret’s Billy Gaudreau, who turned in the fastest time (14:26) of all county runners competing in the Cross Country Classic Friday and Saturday at Estancia High, has been named the Orange County Register’s boys cross-country athlete of the week.

The senior, who finished sixth overall in the sweepstakes race, led the Tartans to the third-best team time among all county schools entered in the 31st annual meet that was co-hosted by Woodbridge, Estancia, and Costa Mesa high schools and the Newport-Irvine Rotary Club, and was sponsored by Puma.

"I just came out here today to run as fast I could for my team," Gaudreau told the Register.

Here are the results of races in which teams from San Juan Capistrano scored among the top 10:

SWEEPSTAKES

Boys Individuals -- 1. Albertson (Buchanan) 14:13; 2. Guijarro (Knight) 14:17; 3. Rushing (Del Campo) 14:22; 4. Bautista (Long Beach Poly) 14:23; 5. Miller (Stockdale) 14:23; 6. Gaudreau (St. Margaret’s) 14:26; 7. Vargas (Arcadia) 14:27; 8. Fernandez (Dos Pueblos) 14:27; 9. Haney (Stockdale) 14:23; 10. Haslam (University City/San Diego) 14:32

Girls Team Scores -- 1. Great Oak 89; 2. Simi Valley 112; 3. Woodbridge 181; 4. The Woodlands, Tx. 186; 5. Mira Costa 198; 6. Trabuco Hills 200; 7. Buchanan 215; 8. Arcadia 229; 9. JSerra 245; 10. Foothill 246

DIVISION 4

Sophomore Boys Team Scores -- 1. Bonita 90; 2. Santiago 179; 3. Orange Lutheran 229; 4. Yorba Linda 251; 5. Godinez 266; 6. Corona del Mar 267; 7. South Pasadena 269; 8. San Juan Hills 272; 9. Laguna Beach 287; 10. St. Francis/La Canada 288

Freshman Boys Individuals -- 1. Lindstrom (Granite Hills) 15:57; 2. Leon (Rancho Alamitos) 16:21; 3. Chavez (Don Bosco Tech) 16:31; 4. Osorio (Santiago) 16:43; 5. Esparza (Northview) 16:52; 6. Robison (St. Margaret’s) 16:53; 7. Escobar (Whittier Christian) 16:56; 8. Rivera (Segerstrom) 16:59; 9. Nevarez (Cathedral) 17:06; 10. Chamberlain (JSerra) 17:07

Freshman Boys Team Scores -- 1. Bonita 128; 2. Norte Vista 152; 3. Cathedral 153; 4. JSerra 163; 5. St. Margaret’s 181; 6. Santiago 198; 7. Godinez 205; 8. St. Francis/La Canada 230; 9. Don Bosco Tech 234; 10. Corona del Mar 248

Sophomore Girls Individuals -- 1. Naruse (Corona del Mar) 18:23; 2. Stiver (Corona del Mar) 18:36; 3. Tejada (Norte Vista) 18:47; 4. Glenn (Corona del Mar) 19:12; 5. Lacey (Granite Hills) 19:12; 6. Clifton (JSerra) 19:13; 7. Pineda (Godinez) 19:21; 8. Maldonado (Godinez) 19:21; 9. Gilmartin (Flintridge Scared Heart) 19:26; 10. Peterson (Flintridge Sacred Heart) 19:32

Freshmen Girls Individuals -- 1. Hansen (Corona del Mar) 18:42; 2. Morse (Granite Hills) 18:48; 3. Zamora (Granite Hills) 18:59; 4. Hagan (JSerra) 19:29; 5. Serna (Yorba Linda) 19:54; 6. Wolker (Corona del Mar) 19:58; 7. Gardner (Rim of the World) 20:00; 8. Liggan (El Camino/Oceanside) 20:03; 9. Prado (Bonita) 20:10; 10. Neely (Bonita) 20:11.

For complete meet results in all divisions, click here.

Coming up on Saturday are the Dana Hills Nike Invitational as well as the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto.

SAN JUAN HILLS ADVANCES TO VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS

San Juan Hills girls volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the Silver Division of the Aloha Classic Saturday at Capistrano Valley High.
Aliso Niguel also reached the semifinals of the Silver Division, which was won by Campbell Hall of North Hollywood.

Yucaipa defeated Chino Hills, 19-25, 28-26, 15-7 to win the Gold Division title.

Mission Viejo and Tesoro both advanced to the semifinals, before losing. The Diablos lost to Chino Hills, 25-20, 25-19 and the Titans fell to Yucaipa (15-25, 25-23, 17-15.

Speaking of volleyball, here are the pool assignments and schedule for pool play for the Divisions 1 and 2 brackets of the Dave Mohs O.C. Championships, which begin play at 3 p.m. Friday and resume at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Friday's pool schedule: 1 vs. 3; 2 vs. 4; 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3. On Saturday, it's 3 vs. 4 and 1 vs. 2. Afterward, the top two teams advance to the playoffs Saturday afternoon at Edison High.

The Division 1 final is Monday at 7:30 p.m., and it's preceded by the Division 2 final at 6 p.m. Both games are at Edison High.

DIVISION 1

Pool 1 at Edison -- 1. Los Alamitos; 2. Rosary; 3. Mission Viejo; 4. Los Osos.

Pool 2 at Corona del Mar -- 1. Corona del Mar; 2. El Dorado; 3. Tesoro; 4. West Ranch.

Pool 3 at Edison -- 1. Edison; 2. Poly/Long Beach; 3. Bakersfield; 4. University/Irvine.

Pool 4 at Marina -- 1. Mater Dei; 2. San Clemente; 3. Marina; 4. Beckman.

Pool 5 at Newport Harbor -- 1. Newport Harbor; 2. Harvard-Westlake; 3. Capistrano Valley; 4. Chaparral.

Pool 6 at Newport Harbor -- 1. Laguna Beach; 2. Orange Lutheran; 3. Centennial/Corona; 4. Murrieta Valley.

Pool 7 at Edison -- 1. Santa Margarita; 2. Palos Verdes; 3. Wilson/Long Beach; 4. Upland.

Pool 8 at Huntington Beach -- 1. Huntington Beach; 2. Yucaipa; 3. Dana Hills; 4. Carson.

DIVISION 2

Pool 1 at Huntington Beach -- 1. Notre Dame; 2. Garces Memorial; 3. La Habra; 4. Estancia.

Pool 2 at Costa Mesa -- 1. Francis Parker; 2. Villa Park; 3. Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana; 4. Norco.

Pool 3 at Fountain Valley -- 1. Temecula Valley; 2. San Juan Hills; 3. R.E. Mountain; 4. El Modena.

Pool 4 at Marina -- 1. Trabuco Hills; 2. Peninsula; 3. Woodbridge; 4. Fullerton.

Pool 5 at Corona del Mar -- 1. Ayala; 2. Troy; 3. Stockdale.

Pool 6 at Costa Mesa -- 1. Sage Hill; 2. Carlsbad; 3. Canyon/Anaheim; 4. Costa Mesa.

Pool 7 at Corona del Mar -- 1. St. Margaret's; 2. Northwood; 3. Valencia/Placentia; 4. Silverado.

Pool 8 at Fountain Valley -- 1. Brea Olinda; 2. Laguna Hills; 3. Bonita; 4. Connelly.

WRESTLING OFFICIALS NEEDED FOR 2011-12 SEASON

The Orange County Wrestling Officials Assn. is looking to add officials to its rosters and is holding its first mandatory meeting for candidates for the 2011-12 high school season on Sunday at 6 p.m. in Room 240 (across from gymnasium) at Corona Del Mar High School.

For more information, contact Bruce Terry at (714) 876-7230 or drbruceterry@yahoo.com.

IVC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL HOSTS 'DIG PINK' GAME

Proceeds from the Irvine Valley women's volleyball home match on Friday, Oct. 28, against Orange Empire Conference rival Golden West, dubbed the "Dig Pink" match, will be donated to the Side-Out Foundation, which raises awareness for breast cancer research nationwide through volleyball matches, clinics and camps.

Everyone who donates $5 will receive a pink T-shirt from ASICS and a pink spray cleaner from Simple Green. To check out the Side-Out Foundation’s website, click here.

If you have results or news that you'd like to share, please send it OC Patch sports Editor Bob Rohwer at bob.rohwer@patch.com.