CASSIUS SAVAGE (1) of Western High gets a convoy on a run in the Pioneers’ CIF-SS Division 11 win over Peninsula last week. WHS is in a state playoff game this week (Orange County Tribune photo by Christoper Abdelmalek).
It may seem like high school football is over, now that the CIF-SS sectional finals have been played, but no, not at all. Now the statewide California Interscholastic Federation steps in with its “state championship bowl games,” which are the cause of the regular football season starting deep in August.
That contest will be played at San Gorgonio High in San Bernardino. The winner there will be the SoCal 5-AA champ, and meet the winner in the northern bracket for the state crown on Dec. 15 at a location to be announced later.
Comparing how the teams did against the same opponent, the Spartans would be considered favorites. SG defeated GGHS by 23 points in the playoffs, while the Pioneers bested the Argonauts by four points in a pre-league contest.
On the other hand, Dan Davidson’s Western High team has been underestimated before. Perhaps the school’s first CIF-SS title is destined to be followed by its first state championship trophy.
And the girls are shooting for success, too.
Local girls basketball teams are in action, and although league play is more than a month away, these pre-league contests are valuable in getting teams and players ready for the “real season.”
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL is underway, and two of the strongest local teams look to be Marina and Santiago.
Here’s a sampling of the records of local girls’ prep hoops teams. Monday’s results not included.
- Bolsa Grande: 0-2.
- Edison: 1-1.
- Garden Grove: 2-2.
- Huntington Beach: 3-1.
- La Quinta: 3-2.
- Los Amigos: 0-5.
- Marina: 6-2.
- Ocean View: 0-2.
- Orange: 1-2.
- Orangewood: 1-0.
- Pacifica: 1-3.
- Rancho Alamitos: 1-2.
- Santiago: 4-1.
- Western: 3-0.
- Westminster: 1-3.
The stars that shone brightest
With most local prep football teams having stowed away their helmets for the year, some of us are looking back on the top games and players from the almost-done 2018 campaign.
Here are some guesses:
- Best game: For teams serving the cities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Edison and Westminster, the most exciting game was probably the clash between Garden Grove High and Western High. That contest featured the top two offensive players in the area, Western’s QB Anthony Munoz and Garden Grove running back Mike Carrillo. The Pioneers won 35-31 in a game decided in the closing moments. It’s worth pointing out that the Argonauts had what could have been a game-winning TD run by Carrillo called back on a holding penalty.
- Best players: Munoz and Carrillo, to be sure, but don’t forget Nathan Kanyavong (Rancho Alamitos), Rasheen Hester (Western), Rai Sagastume (Pacifica), Caine Savage (Western), Jayleen Todd (Bolsa Grande), Jack Miller (Marina) and Noah Hickman (Ocean View).
- Coach of the Year: Lots of good jobs by head coaches this year, but it’s hard to pick against Dan Davidson of Western with 12 wins, a CIF-SS section title and maybe more.
- Worst idea: We’ve always been skeptical about the re-leaguing process, but the creation of two four-team mini-leagues for football only – the “Big” 4 and the Pac 4 – strikes us as one of the dumbest re-alignments in a long time. Two wins and you’re the co-champ!
Prep Sport Spotlight is posted each Tuesday during the high school athletic year.