Starting Week 2 of the high school football season with notes, comments and observations …
A view of the Crestview: Yorba Linda has been the best team in the four-team Crestview League the past two seasons, having won the league championship the past two years and a CIF Southern Section title last season.
Yorba Linda is solid again this season, but Villa Park might be back on top of the league, which includes Brea Olinda (2-0) and Foothill (1-1).
The Spartans have an outstanding running back, Carter Christie, who also is part of a terrific linebackers crew. Lucas Simone is a quick and sure-tackling edge rusher. Henry Wonderlick (6-4, 290) is an outstanding left tackle on the fine offensive line.
Yorba Linda vs. Villa Park on Oct. 20 at El Modena High is a game to attend.
Surrounded by greatness: Tustin coach Anthony Lopez has constructed an outstanding staff that includes former USC and NFL star and Tustin alum Sam Baker, who is doing great things with the Tillers’ offensive line. There’s also Robin Marquez, who was a key contributor to some of Bob Johnson’s great teams at Mission Viejo, and Myron Miller who calls himself “just an advisor” but if you want advice there is no better source when it comes to line play and a running game.
Tustin coach Anthony Lopez talks about the Tillers’ dramatic 36-35 win over Foothill in a great neighborhood rivalry football game… pic.twitter.com/ir4dEDFSLx
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) August 26, 2023
Miller coached Tustin to four CIF Southern Section finals, including a CIF title in 2011, over his 26 years in charge of the Tillers during which he never wore a headset. Miller is wearing a headset these days when he is on the lift or on top of the announcer’s booth, and the story goes that Miller still is accustomed to yelling instructions which sometimes isn’t a great experience for the other coaches wearing headsets.
In the Trinity League: Last week Servite, perhaps the No. 6 team in the six-team league, lost by only three points to Rancho Cucamonga, No. 17 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings; JSerra ripped Aquinas 45-13; Santa Margarita led state No. 3 Centennial of Corona at halftime before succumbing to Centennial’s talent advantages; Orange Lutheran walloped state No. 9 De La Salle 35-14 in Concord; St. John Bosco went to Florida to beat Aquinas of Ft. Lauderdale and end Aquinas’ 27-game winning streak; and Mater Dei took a trip to Utah to roll Bingham of South Jordan 48-14.
The second-best league: The second-best league in the county, right now, is the South Coast League. The league is a composite 7-1 this season with the one defeat Tesoro’s three-point loss to Newport Harbor.
This week: On Thursday, Villa Park is at Upland, a loaded team that has outscored its two opponents 77-7, and El Modena plays Cypress at Western High. On Friday, in matchups of county Top 25 teams, La Habra is at Newport Harbor, Yorba Linda is at Tesoro, Trabuco Hills is at Crean Lutheran and Huntington Beach is at Capistrano Valley. Mission Viejo plays Long Beach Poly on Friday at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.
Home at last: Mater Dei is at Santa Ana Stadium to play Creekside of Georgia on Saturday for first-year head coach Frank McManus’ first home game as Monarchs head coach. Creekside was 10-3 last year.
Undefeated, for now: Two teams that have struggled in recent seasons, Kennedy and Sonora, are 2-0 going into their game Saturday at Western High.
It’s just a cramp: Sure, but cramps are painful and can limit how much a football player can play and how effective he can be. Several players cramped up last week. Staying hydrated during a game is important, but the proper hydration before the game is even more critical.
La Habra bounces back: After an abysmal 33-0 loss to Upland, La Habra last week beat El Dorado 40-16. We will know more about La Habra on Friday when the Highlanders play at Newport Harbor.
A nice touch: Bolsa Grande’s home game last week was Teacher Appreciation Night. Bolsa Grande players wrote short essays about the school’s teachers who have made significant impact on their lives.
