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(Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
High school football season is flying by with some exciting match-ups in week nine.
There are many big games the next few days as teams battle for CIF playoff positions. OC Sports Zone will be covering some of these games and will have updates every night on our scoreboard page.
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Thursday games
The one with the most on the line is the Irvine vs. Beckman Pacific Hills League game at Tustin High School which will most likely determine the league champion. Beckman is 7-1, 1-0 while Irvine is 5-3, 1-0. Only three league games are played, so this one is huge.
Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano said to his knowledge the Patriots last league title was in 2011. Beckman is led by quarterback Austin Shephard and Irvine’s standout is running back Brandon “Figgy” Figueroa.
Irvine finishes league play Friday, Oct. 27, hosting University. Beckman plays Woodbridge Friday, Oct. 27 at University to wrap up the regular season.
Also on Thursday, Segerstrom looks to take a major step toward clinching a playoff berth in the Big Four League when it faces Garden Grove at Garden Grove. Segerstrom is 5-3 overall and 1-0 in league while Garden Grove is 2-6 and 0-1.
The Big 4 League title could come down to next week’s game between Marina and Segerstrom at Segerstrom.
And Mater Dei (7-1, 2-1) looks to bounce back from last week’s 28-0 loss to St. John Bosco when it meets Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College in a Trinity League game.
Friday games
A Freeway League showdown is looming at La Habra when Troy (5-3 overall) and Sonora (7-1) battle for first place in the league. Both teams are 3-0 in league and not far behind is La Habra, which has been the dominant team in the league for years, with a 2-1 record.
Foothill, coming off a big 22-21 road win over Villa Park last week, hosts Brea Olinda Friday night at Tustin. Both teams are 5-3 overall, Brea Olinda is 0-1 in league.
Foothill meets Yorba Linda next week.
Northwood, which opened Pacific Coast League play with a victory over Portola, hosts Laguna Hills, the team favored to win the title going into the season, Friday night at Irvine Stadium. Dana Hills, which upset Laguna Hills (7-1, 0-1) last week, plays at Portola. Northwood plays at Dana Hills next week.
The title picture looks like it will have plenty of drama in the final weeks for this four-team league.
In the Orange Coast League, Orange plays at Costa Mesa. The Panthers are coming off a 59-20 victory over Estancia Saturday. In that game, Ardwon Morris rushed for seven TDs and more than 400 yards. If the Panthers (4-4, 3-1) win, it would set the stage for their showdown with Santa Ana next week at Fred Kelly Stadium.
Santa Ana, which has a bye, has already clinched a share of the league title. The Saints are led by running back Charles Hughes and QB Sergio Torres.
In another league game, Estancia (4-4, 1-3) hosts Calvary Chapel (4-4, 2-2).
Westminster (6-2, 1-0) plays at Ocean View (4-4, 0-1) Friday night in a key Pac-4 League game. Westminster Coach Steven Anderson said the Lions can clinch a CIF playoff berth with a victory. Ocean View is still in the playoff hunt too.
Saturday game
It’s an Empire League showdown between Crean Lutheran and Cypress at Western. Coach Rick Curtis’ Saints (6-2, 2-1) need a win to keep their hopes alive of winning a share of the league title. Cypress (5-3, 3-0) needs to win Saturday and defeat Tustin next week to capture another league crown. The Centurions go into the week tied with undefeated Tustin (8-0, 3-0) for first place.
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
