Football: Schedule for Week 6

By Martin Henderson

If last week's football schedule was on the light side (it was), then this week's schedule is the exact opposite. It's the first week of league play, and it has some fantastic games to kick off the season. In fact, in the Sunset League, Newport Harbor upset Los Alamitos in overtime, 27-24, on Thursday. 

Friday could be that kind of night as well. 

• See the Orange County Top 10 and Patch's Vote

Some of the best games are: 

• For the past two seasons, JSerra (5-0)—ranked No. 5 in the Orange County Top 10—has upset Orange Lutheran (5-0). Many players from JSerra are back this season, and No. 8 OLu is supposed to be better, too. JSerra has to be physical on defense and, with its two-way starters, not wear down. The Lions have plenty of playmakers, and even though they won a Trinity League type of game of game last week against Trabuco Hills, it's not the Trinity League until the schedule says it's the Trinity League. Ultimately, this game could be huge in determining who makes the playoffs, and JSerra has something special about them right now.

• Seventh-ranked Trabuco Hills (4-2) should be refocused after the embarrassing loss last week to JSerra, and that will only help the Mustangs, who have to be physical. If they play like they did against Santa Margarita, they win. But they have to finish plays, and they have to it until the final horn because No. 9 Tesoro (4-1) knows it can make plays in the fourth quarter. Top-ranked Mission Viejo should get one of the two automatic berths coming out of the South Coast League, and the other should go to either of these teams or El Toro. Tesoro has had two weeks to prepare for this game, but the Titans have been so Jekyll and Hyde. This one goes to the wire.

• Fourth-ranked Santa Margarita (3-2) has turned in some amazing performances under Coach Harry Welch, who's retiring at the end of the season. It will take an amazing performance to beat Bellflower St. John Bosco (5-0), which is ranked No. 2 in the state and is one of the most highly regarded teams in the nation. If the Eagles turn the ball over more than Bosco, they can't possibly win.

Here's the schedule for local schools:

Friday, Oct. 11

Trinity League

• JSerra vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College
• St. John Bosco vs. Santa Margarita at Saddleback College

South Coast League

• El Toro at San Clemente
• Trabuco Hills at Tesoro

Sea View League

• Aliso Niguel at Dana Hills
• San Juan Hills at Laguna Hills

Sunset League

• Fountain Valley vs. Marina at Westminster

Orange Coast League

• Laguna Beach vs. Saddleback at Segerstrom

Pacific Coast League

• Irvine vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor

Academy League

• Sage Hill at St. Margaret’s

Nonleague

• Saddleback Valley Christian vs. San Bernardino Indian Springs at San Gorgonio

Saturday, Oct. 12

San Joaquin League

• Capistrano Valley Christian vs. Walnut Southlands Christian at Walnut