They’re going Four those crowns

By OC Tribune Staff on October 11, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

RANCHO ALAMITOS players raise helmets after defeating Bolsa Grande 21-20 in a key Garden Grove League game last week. Vaqueros may be in first, but playoff spots are still very much in play (Tribune photo).

Thanks to the “competitive equity” policy that took place a few years ago in high school sports, there’s been lot of shuffling of leagues.

One consequence of that is the formation of some four-team leagues for football. That means that those teams play seven pre-league games and three in league action.

For the two local leagues – Big 4 and Pac 4 – the “real” season starts this week. However, it’s temping to think of those races as being already decided.

The Big 4 group appears to be dominated by Garden Grove (a co-champ from last year) which has won six of seven games, and no other league squad has a winning record; indeed none has won more than two so far.

The Pac 4 bunch looks like Westminster (7-0) and three followers. Only Laguna Beach (4-3) has won more than one game.

Of course, there’s more at stake than just a championship plaque. Four-team leagues will get two CIF-SS playoff berths, just as s six-team groupings will get three.

As for the rest of the West Orange County area, the “big game” is Edison (7-0, 2-0) hosting Los Alamitos (5-2, 2-0) for the Sunset League title on Thursday. The Chargers are ranked fourth in Orange County and the Griffins second.

In the Garden Grove League, the race for a playoff berth is wide open. Four of six teams have 1-1 league records and some seem evenly matched.

Bolsa Grande (4-3, 1-1) nearly beat Rancho Alamitos (7-0, 2-0) last week and and so the most interesting matchup this week could be the Matadors at Los Amigos (5-2, 1-1) at Monsoor Stadium on Friday.

Here’s the schedule for this week’s area high school football games. As always, times, days, locations, etc. are subject to change without notice so check with the school. Games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

THURSDAY

Sunset League

Los Alamitos at Edison

Big 4 League

Katella (2-5) at Marina (1-6)

Garden Grove League

Loara (3-4, 1-1) at Santiago (5-2, 1-1)

Empire League

Crean Lutheran (7-0, 2-0) at Pacifica (3-4, 1-1).

FRIDAY

Sunset League

Fountain Valley (4-3, 0-2) at Newport Harbor (4-3, 0-2), Corona del Mar (4-3, 1-1) at Huntington Beach (5-2, 1-1)