PREVIEW: Undefeated Segerstrom out to earn league title with win over Marina

Segerstrom’s football team takes on Marina Friday night for the league title. (Photo courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

Segerstrom’s football team has been pointing toward this week all season.

The undefeated Jaguars (8-0, 1-0) get a chance to play for a Big Four League title when they face Marina (6-2, 1-0) Friday night at 7 at Westminster.

To see the league title, please click on the first photo

Segerstrom comes into the game as one of six undefeated teams in Orange County and the only undefeated public high school football team in Santa Ana. Mater Dei is also 8-0.

“The idea of an undefeated season doesn’t really come to mind,” said Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “Our approach to the game is to compete every snap. I believe that when you compete, you give yourself the best possible chance to be successful. 

“One of the goals that our team set prior to the season was to have the opportunity to play for a league championship. This week against Marina, we will get our opportunity. “

Segerstrom and Marina are both 1-0 in league, so the winner will earn a share of the title. Segerstrom finishes the season Friday, Nov. 1, hosting Westminster (1-7) while Marina wraps up league play Thursday, Oct. 31 at Garden Grove.

Segerstrom is shooting for its first league title since 2015.

“Our team understands the importance of this week and the opportunity that they have earned,” Tagaloa said. “There are teams who never get a shot at a championship, so the fact that we are getting one is exciting.”

Segerstrom is led by its two quarterbacks, junior Angel Vega, who has completed 55 of 78 passes for 953 yards and 16 touchdowns and senior Andrew Contreras, who has completed 28 of 42 passes for 586 yards and 12 touchdowns. Vega is expected to start against Marina.

The leading rushers are junior Nathan Tagaloa (32 carries for 264 yards and four touchdowns), senior Jacob Rodriguez (24 for 255, two TDs) and Vega (37 for 236, seven TDs).

The top receivers are senior Andrew Schouw (15 for 287, four TDs), junior Anthony Gomez (11 for 263, seven TDs), senior Iverson Fuiava (15 for 260, five TDs) and Rodriguez (14 for 208, three TDs).

Coach Jeff Turley’s team is led by quarterbacks Jack Miller (44 of 83 for 709 yards and nine touchdowns) and Gavin Del toro (35 of 59 for 481 yards and eight touchdowns).

The top running backs are Pharoah Rush (67 for 497 and seven TDs) and Brantt Riederich (73 for 459 and four touchdowns).

The Vikings top receivers are Dane Brenton (21 for 374, eight TDs) and Eric Church (16 for 321, three TDs).

The Vikings opened league play defeating Westminster 78-6 last week.

“I think Marina is a solid team that has athletes with the ability to make plays,” Tagaloa said. “In order for us to be successful we will have to limit our mistakes in all facets of the game.”

Segerstrom has dedicated the season to junior linebacker Israel Escobedo, who has been out after being diagnosed with leukemia before the season, according to Tagaloa. Tagaloa said Escobedo was at Friday’s game with Garden Grove.

“He had just received another chemo treatment,” Tagaloa said. “OJ is in good spirits and is continuing to fight.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com