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(Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Week nine of high school football in Orange County included some thrilling finishes and league showdown games and it looks like week 10 will be one to remember.
…… Cypress moved ahead of Crean Lutheran 24-0 but the Saints rallied to tie the Empire League showdown Saturday night. Then Cypress won in the final minute. Cypress meets Tustin Friday night at Tustin for the league title. Both teams are 4-0 in league play. Crean Lutheran (6-3, 2-2) is in third place entering Friday’s game with Kennedy at Crean Lutheran. Three teams advance to the CIF playoffs.
….. Marina remained undefeated in Big Four League play with a decisive victory over Katella Saturday at Glover Stadium. The Vikings play Segerstrom Friday night for the league title. First-year Marina Coach Charlie TeGantvoort returns to the city where he coached for in for many years at Santa Ana High School.
…… Santa Ana and Orange will have their annual Orange Coast League showdown, and most likely last in league play, Friday night at Fred Kelly Stadium. Santa Ana has already clinched a share of the league title. Orange can earn a share with a win. Orange (5-4, 4-1) defeated Costa Mesa 51-6 on Friday.
Santa Ana (7-2, 5-1) had a bye. St. Margaret’s (5-4, 4-1) is tied for second place with Orange.
….. University High School’s football team, behind a strong effort by quarterback Blaine Anderson, defeated Woodbridge on senior night in a Pacific Hills League game to keep its CIF playoff hopes alive.
….. Sonora’s football team defeated Troy 34-14 in a Freeway League showdown to take over sole possession of first place. Sonora (8-1, 4-0) and La Habra meet Friday night. La Habra can earn a share of the title with the win.
……Laguna Hills rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to capture a 31-28 overtime victory over Northwood in a Pacific Coast League showdown at Irvine Stadium. Laguna Hills moved ahead by three in the overtime on a 27-yard field goal by Luke Whitfield then blocked a field goal to end the game.
The Hawks got a lift by the return of their star running back junior Ryan McKevitt, who rushed for 122 yards on 19 carries and a game-tying TD.
Northwood was led by Joseph Harper, who stood out on both offense and defense and quarterback Eddie Ma. Northwood needs to defeat Dana Hills at Dana Hills Friday to earn a share of the league title and help its CIF playoff chances.
….. Foothill High School’s football team earned a trip to the CIF playoffs with a 55-0 victory over Brea Olinda during homecoming at Tustin. The Knights will take on Yorba Linda Friday for the league title.
…. Irvine High School’s football team earned a share of the Pacific Coast League title and the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy when it rallied for a 20-12 victory over Beckman. The Vaqueros can win the outright title with a win over University Friday at Irvine Stadium.
The Fence Post is that annual, rather ugly trophy, which the players from Irvine cherish. Northwood took it home last year. It’s named after a former beloved youth football coach in Irvine, Dennis Toohey.
….. Segerstrom’s football team clinched a CIF playoff berth with a 34-14 victory over Garden Grove Thursday. Coach Joseph Tagaloa’s Jaguars meet Marina Friday night at Segerstrom for the league title.
On to week 10!
OC Sports Zone presented expanded coverage over the weekend with scores, photos and stories. Just click on the links to read the stories.
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
