Fred Kelly Stadium at El Modena High School. Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
There was plenty of excitement in Orange County last week as high school football’s regular season ended with week 10 games as teams battled to reach the CIF playoffs.
It likely marked the end of the football leagues and many traditional league rivalries in Orange County. A reconfiguration based on records the past two years, is scheduled to be implemented next season in OC.
The playoffs for most divisions begin this week.
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…..La Habra clinched a share of the Freeway League title with a victory over Sonora in what is most likely the last Freeway League game. Leagues are scheduled to be reconfigured next year into conferences. La Habra, Fullerton and Sonora are tri-champions and headed to the CIF playoffs.
….. Ocean View kept its CIF playoff hopes alive with a victory over Godinez in the final league game. On Sunday, Coach Daniel Hernandez’s team found out it was headed to the CIF playoffs. The Seahawks host Bolsa Grande Friday. Ocean View was 2-8 a year ago.
…… Coach Dan Davidson’s Western Pioneers brought home the bell trophy again with a win over Anaheim and finished an undefeated league season. The Pioneers head into the CIF playoffs Friday on the road vs. Colony in Division 5.
….. Tustin completed an undefeated regular season to defeat Cypress to capture the Empire League title. The Tillers open the CIF Division 3 playoffs Friday hosting Warren. Cypress is the No. 2 seed in Division 6 and hosts Rio Mesa at Western.
….. Crean Lutheran’s football team defeated Kennedy to clinch third place and earn a trip the CIF Division 6 playoffs Friday at Hart.
….. Orange earned a share the Orange Coast League title with a 14-0 victory over Santa Ana, which had already clinched a share of the title. Both teams are headed to the CIF playoffs and will be on the road for their Division 9 openers. Orange has three straight league titles. The Panthers star running back Ardwon Morris rushed for 366 yards and two touchdowns.
.….. Irvine’s football team, coached by Tom Ricci, won the Pacific Hills League title with a victory over University. The Vaqueros are seeded No. 2 in Division 8 and will host Jurupa Valley Friday night at Irvine Stadium.
….. Marina’s football team won the Big Four League title outright with a victory over Segerstrom Friday night in a game that went down to the wire. Anthony Fabian scored three touchdowns to lead Marina, coached by former Santa Ana Coach Charlie TeGantvoort. Both teams have road games Friday in the CIF playoffs.
….. Yorba Linda’s football team powered past Foothill 45-29 to win the Crestview League title. Yorba Linda, Foothill and Villa Park shared the league title. All three teams are headed to the CIF playoffs.
…… Dana Hills captured the Pacific Coast League title defeating Northwood, 42-21 at Dana Hills. Northwood had won two consecutive CIF titles, but with a 4-6 overall record, was left out of the playoff draw. Dana Hills (8-2 overall) plays at Ontario Christian in a CIF Division 6 playoff opener Friday night. Laguna Hills, which finished second in the league, is also in Division 6 and headed to Murrieta Mesa for a first-round game.
On to the CIF playoffs:
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