THE RANCHO ALAMITOS flag football team won the Grove League title (GGUSD photo).
No “new” sport in high schools has multiple as quickly as flag football has in Orange County.
Since the CIF-SS authorized the sport – so far, for girls only – it’s become the hottest athletic activity in memory. At last count, 260 teams are being fielded across the section, and all the schools serving our West Orange County cities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster are fielding teams.
On Tuesday, the initial ratings and rankings – based on offense, defense and strength of schedule – were released.
Huntington Beach is third in the whole CIF-SS and tops what would be a “High Five” for flag football.
So let’s make one:
- Huntington Beach
- Edison
- Westminster
- Santiago
- Bolsa Grande
On the bubble: Garden Grove, Pacifica and Rancho Alamitos.
League play is over and playoff brackets will be announced on Saturday. Rancho Alamitos won the Grove League title, and Santiago took top honors in the Orange League, Flag football is an exciting variation on a sport under severe scrutiny because of concern about concussion. The “flag” mutation is not contact-free but it looks like a safer alternative to “tackle.”
Speeding toward the playoffs
The “tackle” football season for preps is past the half-way mark and now come the “crunch” games for league titles and and playoff berths.
Topping the list of games this week is the initial Alpha League showdown between Edison and Los Alamitos (both 5-2) on Friday. Those teams that have dominated the Sunset League for years on the gridiron.
In the Sigma League, unbeaten Los Amigos (7-0 overall and 2-0 in conference) will host Estancia (6-1 and 2-0) at Monsoor Stadium on the Garden Grove High campus in a battle for the lead.
Here are the schedules and records for the teams serving our area. As always, game times, locations, dates, etc. are subject to change without notice. All games, unless otherwise noted, are at 7 p.m.
THURSDAY
Tango League
Costa Mesa (4-2, 0-2) at Bolsa Grande (4-3, 2-0)
Santiago (3-4, 1-1) at Anaheim (5-2, 2-0)
Omicron League
Pacifica (3-4, 2-0) at Buena Park (4-3, 2-0)
Delta League
Western (3-4, 0-2) at Cypress (3-5, 0-2)
Lambda League
Fullerton (0-7, 0-2) at Marina (7-0, 2-0) at Boswell Field on the Westminster High campus.
FRIDAY
Alpha League
Edison (5-2) at Los Alamitos (5-2)
Kappa League
Garden Grove (1-6, 0-2) at Brea Olinda (7-0, 2-0)
Segerstrom (5-2, 2-0) at Westminster (3-4, 1-1)
Epsilon League
Huntington Beach (4-3, 1-1) at Foothill (4-3, 1-1)
Sigma League
Estancia (6-1, 2-0) at Los Amigos (7-0, 2-0) at Monsoor Stadium.
Ocean View (2-5, 1-1) at Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana (2-5, 1-1)
Rancho Alamitos (4-3, 0-2) at Santa Ana Valley (0-7, 0-2)
Tango League
Loara (0-7, 0-2) at La Quinta (6-1, 1-1)
Foxtrot League
Aliso Niguel (4-3, 0-2) at Orange (1-6, 1-1)
Zeta League
Godinez Fundamental (3-4, 0-1) at Magnolia (1-7, 1-1).
Categories: High school sports
