A preview and prediction for each of the top football games in Orange County this week.

The teams are listed by their ranking in the Orange County Top 25.

GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 8 SAN CLEMENTE (1-2) VS. NO. 13 CORONA DEL MAR (2-1)

Where, when: Newport Harbor High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: San Clemente has played its usual challenging nonleague schedule. The Tritons lost by one point to Chaparral of Temecula and by 10 to La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad. Their win is over Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills, which is 0-3. San Clemente is throwing the ball well. Quarterback Dawson Martinez is completing 71 percent of his passes and is averaging 219 passing yards a game. Max Kontiranta has 19 receptions for 192 yards. But the running game, often a San Clemente strength, is at 79 yards a game. Corona del Mar is a bit better at it. The Sea Kings are averaging 112 yards rushing a game. Quarterback Max Nashed has been fine, completing 62 percent of his attempts for 175 yards a game. Junior receiver Dorsett Stecker has 17 receptions for 306 yards and five touchdowns. The Sea Kings have another good tight end in Zach Giuliano who has seven receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Corona del Mar has wins over Cypress and Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley, two 1-2 teams, and last week lost to Palos Verdes 21-17 on the road. San Clemente’s defense is going to lead the Tritons to victory here. Their linebackers crew that features Puka Fuimaono and Matai Tagoa’i is a special one.

Winner: San Clemente

NO. 11 SAN JUAN HILLS (2-1) VS. NO. 15 CREAN LUTHERAN (3-0)

Where, when: Crean Lutheran High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: This is the biggest regular-season game in Crean Lutheran football history because the Saints have a good chance to beat a team that is one of Orange County’s more consistent winners the past several seasons. Crean, averaging 46 points a game, has a promising sophomore quarterback, Caden Jones, who has completed an impressive 80 percent of his passes for 232 yards a game and eight touchdowns. The Saints average 175 rushing yards a game, too, spreading the carries among a variety of backs. San Juan Hills beat Oceanside and Roosevelt of Eastvale in one-sided games before last week’s 25-20 home loss to Higley of Gilbert, Ariz. Higley, 12-2 last year, has a Calpreps.com rating of 49.3, the highest of any opponent on the Stallions schedule. San Juan Hills junior quarterback Timmy Herr has thrown for 182 yards a game, but his running that was so effective last season has not been there yet. San Juan Hills has Weston Port, a senior and UCLA-committed linebacker who is averaging 11 tackles a game. Crean’s record is against teams that are a composite 2-6 — Mullen of Denver, St. Pius X-St. Matthias of Downey and Liberty of Winchester. The Saints program clearly is on the rise. This is a winnable game for them. The feeling here is that Herr has a big game and the San Juan Hills defense puts on a stout effort.

Winner: San Juan Hills

NO. 4 ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-0) VS. BISHOP GORMAN (2-1)

Where, when: Bishop Gorman High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: It’s Orange Lutheran’s turn to represent the Trinity League against mighty Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. The Gaels last week were at Santa Ana Stadium where they lost to Mater Dei 31-15. That says more about how good Mater Dei is than it says anything about Bishop Gorman. The head-scratcher was how one-dimensional Bishop Gorman’s offense was against Mater Dei. When you play a Trinity League team, you’d better be able to throw the ball but the Gaels did not seem interested in that. Orange Lutheran has offensive versatility that begins with quarterback TJ Lateef who is off to a fine start. His completion percentage is 77 percent, remarkable considering the Lancers opponents have been Serra of Gardena, Rancho Cucamonga and national Top 25 team St. Frances Academy of Maryland, which they beat 15-13. Orange Lutheran junior linebacker Talanoa Ili is averaging 8 tackles a game. Bishop Gorman plays better at home and the Gaels coaching staff will have learned that a balanced offense is the way to beat a high-quality Trinity League team like Orange Lutheran.

Winner: Bishop Gorman

ALISO NIGUEL (3-0) VS. NO. 21 CAPISTRANO VALLEY (2-1)

Where, when: Capistrano Valley High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Aliso Niguel, which has played teams that are a composite 2-7, confronts its most-challenging opponent so far. The Wolverines have wins over Laguna Hills 21-14, El Toro 28-14 and Chino 33-14. Aliso Niguel’s offense is led by senior running back Jarett Sabol who is averaging 180 rushing yards a game on an average of 21 carries a game. Capistrano Valley beat Moalanua at Hawaii 33-23 and Eastlake of Chula Vista 57-12 before last week’s 29-24 loss at Huntington Beach. Cougars senior quarterback Tommy Acosta has thrown 11 touchdown passes and has rushed for a team-high 131 yards. Cougars senior linebacker Reily Walker has been as good as expected, averaging 10 tackles a game. Acosta will be a passing and running force again, and the Cougars defense will shine.

Winner: Capistrano Valley

NO. 22 FOOTHILL (2-1) VS. TROY (3-0)

Where, when: Fullerton High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Foothill got pounded by neighborhood rival Tustin 42-14 two weeks ago and last week regrouped nicely for a 55-35 win over Orange. Knights senior running back Nathan Gouvion rushed for 289 yards in the season-opening 28-20 win over Madison of San Diego, was shut down by Tustin’s superb defense and came back to rush for 119 yards in last week’s victory. Troy is looking like the top contender for the championship of the new Iota League, although their 3-0 record has been forged against teams that are a combined 2-6. Warriors senior quarterback Rudy Alcala is averaging 210 passing yards a game and has eight touchdown passes with zero interceptions. Troy running back Ethan Mundt  is averaging 143 rushing yards a game and 9 yards a carry. Look for Foothill to put pressure on Alcala and control the clock to get the victory.

Winner: Foothill

Fryer on Football last week: 4-2

Season to date: 11-5

Originally Published: September 11, 2024 at 12:51 p.m.