It’s a battle of the unbeatens in O.C. rivalry
Los Angeles Roosevelt (7-1, 4-0) vs. Los Angeles Garfield (4-4, 2-2) at East L.A. College, 7 p.m. -- Garfield has won three of the last four East L.A. Classics, and the Bulldogs feature a stingy defense giving up only 11 points per game. Roosevelt relies on three-year starter Manny Ayon, a quarterback and receiver whom Roughriders Coach Javier Cid describes as “our Tim Tebow.†Roosevelt has defeated L.A. Jordan and Bell, the Eastern League teams that have beaten Garfield. The pick: Roosevelt.
No. 3 Huntington Beach Edison (8-0, 3-0) vs. No. 15 Fountain Valley (8-0, 3-0) at Cal State Fullerton, 7 p.m. -- In a series spanning 40 years, these teams have never met when both were unbeaten and untied. Edison has won the last four meetings, but Fountain Valley has its best team in years with a seasoned offensive line blocking for running back Kyle Middlebrooks and quarterback Dominic Ragland. “They’re kind of like Oregon,†Edison Coach Dave White said of a Barons offense averaging 41 points. “We’ve got our hands full. The pick: Fountain Valley.
Dorsey (7-1, 3-0) at No. 1 Crenshaw (8-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. -- Crenshaw has a lot more to lose than its Coliseum League rival because a defeat would probably cost the Cougars a shot at becoming the first City Section team to be selected for a state championship bowl game. But Dorsey Coach Paul Knox acknowledges that his team will be the underdog. “They deserve to be the favorite,†Knox said of the Cougars. “They’ve destroyed everybody they’ve played.†The pick: Crenshaw.
No. 5 Anaheim Servite (7-1, 3-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (5-3, 3-0) at Cerritos College, 7:30 p.m. -- The winner of this Trinity League showdown will be one victory away from becoming the first outright winner of the league since Bellflower St. John Bosco won what was then called the Serra League in 2002. Servite and Lutheran have tied for the last three league titles, with Santa Ana Mater Dei making it a three-way tie in 2007 and 2008. Lutheran has won four consecutive games since a 1-3 start. Servite will be without two-way lineman Kirifi Leuta-Taula, who suffered a broken arm last week in practice. The pick: Servite.
No. 16 Norco (7-1, 5-0) at No. 13 Corona Centennial (7-1, 5-0), 7 p.m. -- Norco uses a running back-by-committee approach, and Centennial uses two quarterbacks, Michael Arredondo and Michael Eubank, who alternate series. Four of Norco’s victories have come by a total of 15 points. If running backs Deantre Lewis, Kelsey Young and Carl Bradford pile up the yards, Norco will be tough to stop. The pick: Norco.
No. 18 Carson (6-2, 3-0) at Harbor City Narbonne (5-3, 3-0), 7 p.m. -- Narbonne would clinch at least a tie for the Marine League title with a victory, while Carson would still need to beat San Pedro next week. Each team already has one signature victory -- Carson defeated Mater Dei, and Narbonne toppled Orange Lutheran. The winner could emerge as Crenshaw’s top challenger in the City Section playoffs. Narbonne quarterback Chad Dashnaw threw four touchdown passes last week in a little more than three quarters against Gardena. The pick: Narbonne.
-- Ben Bolch
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