ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : SCORECARD / COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK 4
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Usually after the marching band finishes its halftime show, there is little for spectators to do except wait for the second half to start. But there was a second quality halftime show Friday at the Los Amigos-Pacifica game at Garden Grove High. Los Amigos kicker Ryan Cleary, a junior, made two 60-yard field goals while warming up. He moved back to 62 yards and while his attempt had the distance, it sailed wide right.
LENDING A HAND
Rancho Alamitos defensive back Frank Ortiz had a big hand in the Vaqueros’ 58-0 victory over Bolsa Grande. Ortiz blocked a punt in the first half that was recovered by Leo Kosi for a touchdown. Late in the game, Ortiz yanked the ball out of punt returner Frank Angel’s hands and ran 35 yards for a score.
ONE-MAN SHOW
Fullerton’s defense had trouble containing Bellflower’s Marques Hannie, who rushed 18 times for 151 yards in the Indians’ 28-7 victory over Bellflower Friday night at Bellflower High. But Hannie’s effort was not a reflection of Bellflower’s total offense. Fullerton held the rest of the Buccaneers to only 19 total yards.
FRIENDLY RIVALS
University and Sonora have the friendliest of rivalries. Sonora Coach Mark Takkinen was an assistant coach under Mark Cunningham for seven years at University; he left four years ago. So it’s no wonder, Cunningham jumped on one of his players at the conclusion of the first half when it looked as if he tackled Raider quarterback Kevin Rodriguez late, although officials didn’t call a penalty. And the teams play for something called “the Mouse Ears.†Explained Takkinen: “It’s a Styrofoam mouse that I confiscated when I left.â€
ON THE RECORD
“Look at the size of those boys [from Savanna]. We are always matched against schools that are so much larger than we are. We’re the doormats.â€
--Buena Park booster during pregame warm-ups.
NOT A SNAP
University defeated Sonora, 14-7, despite a serious case of fumble-itis. Sophomore quarterback Damian Defeo fumbled five times--twice on the center snap, another time on an exchange with a running back--but lost only two. Trojan Coach Mark Cunningham said he was not happy in the first three games with the exchange between center and quarterback, so he changed centers this week, going with Ryan Collette. “It’s a preseason game, and yeah, you want to win,†Cunningham said, “but we’ve got to get ready for league. . . . We’ll get the exchange problems worked out.â€
GETTING BETTER
Saddleback coach Jerry Witte, in his 23nd season, had to be pleased with the way his defense played in the second quarter of Friday’s 34-14 loss to Corona del Mar. “We have a young team but we are improving each game,†Witte said. “We have played some good teams and hopefully that will get us ready for league.â€
Behind 14-0 after two big plays set up Sea King touchdowns, the Roadrunners’ defense stopped fourth down tries from the one and three and forced a field goal on a third drive as three Saddleback fumbles gave Corona del Mar excellent field position.
WONDER DOWN UNDER
Calvary Chapel senior running back David Kuhn, who rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 14-7 victory over Laguna Beach, is an Olympic hopeful in the decathlon for Australia. He is a Junior Olympic champion in the event.
ON THE RECORD
“The kids are 4-0, but that doesn’t matter next week because we’ll be playing someone who doesn’t care.â€
--Mark Cunningham, University coach, after the Trojans’ 14-7 victory over Sonora.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
HOW TOP 10 FARED
Results of games involving teams in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll:
1. Los Alamitos (4-0)
beat Pasadena Muir (2-2), 43-13.
2. Mater Dei (3-0)
at Irvine (2-1), tonight.
3. Foothill (3-1)
lost to No. 5 San Clemente (3-1), 38-15.
4. Esperanza (2-2)
lost to Long Beach Poly (4-0), 24-19.
5. San Clemente (3-1)
beat No. 3 Foothill (3-1), 33-14.
6. Servite (2-2)
lost to Fountain Valley (3-1), 33-14.
7. Capistrano Valley (3-1)
beat El Modena (3-1), 29-7.
8. Sonora (3-1)
lost to University (4-0), 14-7.
9. Santa Margarita (4-0)
beat San Diego St. Augustine (2-2), 28-6.
10. El Toro (3-1)
beat Aliso Niguel (3-1), 50-18.
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.