orange lutheran

A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 6:

Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking

1. SANTA MARGARITA (7-0) def. Servite, 27-3; at St. John Bosco, Friday; 1

2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-1) def. Orange Lutheran, 28-14; vs. Santa Margarita, Friday; 2

3. SIERRA CANYON (7-0) def. Gardena Serra, 58-0; at Chaminade, Friday; 3

4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (4-3) def. Murrieta Valley, 42-20; vs. Norco, Thursday; 4

5. MATER DEI (5-2) def. JSerra, 41-7; at Servite, Thursday; 5

6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) def. Yorba Linda, 27-26; at San Clemente, Friday; 6

7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-3) lost to St. John Bosco, 28-14; vs. JSerra, Friday; 7

8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) def. Los Alamitos, 40-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Friday; 8

9. CORONA DEL MAR (7-0) def. Tustin, 28-14; at Capistrano Valley, Friday; 12

10. JSERRA (4-3) lost to Mater Dei, 41-7; at Orange Lutheran, Friday; 10

11. SERVITE (3-4) lost to Santa Margarita, 27-3; vs. Mater Dei, Thursday; 11

12. BISHOP AMAT (6-1) def. Chaminade, 28-7; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday; 13

13. LA SERNA (6-1) def. La Mirada, 56-19; vs. Cerritos, Friday; 14

14. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) def. Capistrano Valley, 30-22; vs. La Habra, Friday; 15

15. INGLEWOOD (7-1) def. Palos Verdes, 26-23; vs. Redondo Union, Friday; NR

16. PALOS VERDES (6-1) lost to Inglewood, 26-23; at Mira Costa, Thursday; 9

17. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-0) def Loyola, 49-21; vs. Bishop Amat, Friday; 23

18. CARSON (6-1) def. Banning, 41-3; at Narbonne, Friday; 16

19. CHAMINADE (5-2) lost to Bishop Amat, 28-7; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 18

20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (7-0) def Dana Hills, 21-16; at Western, Thursday; 20

21. SAN JACINTO (7-0) def. Tahquitz, 48-7; at Elsinore, Thursday; 21

22. GARDENA SERRA (3-4) lost to Sierra Canyon, 58-0; at Loyola, Friday; 19

23. ORANGE (7-0) def. Segerstrom, 53-7; at Beckman, Friday; 22

24. SAN JUAN HILLS (6-1) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 28-20; vs. Yorba Linda, Thursday; NR

25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-1) lost to Crean Lutheran, 30-22; vs. Corona del Mar, Friday; 24

A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 6:

Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking

1. SANTA MARGARITA (6-0) def. Mater Dei, 14-7; vs. Servite at Saddleback College, Friday; 1

2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (5-1) def. JSerra, 40-14; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 2

3. SIERRA CANYON (6-0) def. Loyola, 41-0; at Gardena Serra, Friday; 3

4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (3-3) def. Vista Murrieta, 65-14; vs. Murrietta Valley, Friday; 4

5. MATER DEI (4-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 14-7; at JSerra, Friday; 5

6. MISSION VIEJO (4-1) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 42-14; at Yorba Linda, Thursday; 6

7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Servite, 56-21; at St. John Bosco, Friday; 7

8. SAN CLEMENTE (6-0) def. Yorba Linda, 28-0; at Los Alamitos, Friday; 8

9. PALOS VERDES (6-0) def. Long Beach Millikan, 42-7; vs. Inglewood, Friday; 10

10. JSERRA (4-2) lost to St. John Bosco, 40-14; vs. Mater Dei, Friday; 11

11. SERVITE (3-3) lost to Orange Lutheran, 56-21; at Santa Margarita, Friday; 12

12. CORONA DEL MAR (6-0) def. Villa Park, 24-10; vs. Tustin, Friday; 13

13. BISHOP AMAT (5-1) def. Gardena Serra, 27-26; vs. Chaminade, Friday; 14

14. LA SERNA (5-1) def. Warren, 27-3; vs. La Mirada, Friday; 15

15. CREAN LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Tustin, 21-7; vs. Capistrano Valley, Friday; 16

16. CARSON (5-1) def. Gardena, 57-0; at Banning, Friday; 17

17. OXNARD PACIFICA (5-1) def. Oaks Christian, 38-17; at Newbury Park, Friday; 18

18 . CHAMINADE (5-1) lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 28-21; at Bishop Amat, Friday; 9

19. GARDENA SERRA (3-3) lost to Bishop Amat, 27-26; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 19

20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (6-0) def. El Modena, 24-21; at Dana Hills, Friday; 22

21. SAN JACINTO (6-0) def. Temescal Canyon, 49-0; vs. Tahquitz, Friday; 24

22. ORANGE (6-0) def. El Dorado, 42-14; vs. Segerstrom, Friday; 25

23. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (6-0) def. Chaminade 28-21; at Loyola, Friday; NR

24. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-0) def. La Habra, 42-20; at Crean Lutheran, Friday; NR

25. YORBA LINDA (4-2) lost to San Clemente, 28-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Thursday; 23

As if the six-team Trinity League wasn’t good enough in the first five weeks of the high school football season, here come the sit-out period players who become eligible on Monday after using their one-time transfer without moving.

St. John Bosco is the big winner. Offensive tackle Elisha Mueller, a transfer from Servite and one of the top prospects from the class of 2028, will make an immediate impact, helping both the passing and running games. Also becoming eligible for the Braves is sophomore defensive back Kingston Fatu, a transfer from Tustin who should be beneficial for a secondary that has given up big plays this season.

Santa Margarita will be adding 6-foot-3, 285-pound sophomore transfer Karras Vandermade, a defensive lineman. Servite has six players who could compete for major roles, with four on defense that will add much needed depth. Orange Lutheran gains 6-5 tight end Hudson Ploog and linebacker Jamaal Fay, who started for two years at Leuzinger.

JSerra adds 6-7, 315-pound offensive lineman Wyatt Martin and tight end/defensive end Blake Dunn.

The sit-out players have been practicing with teams. They just haven’t been allowed to play in a real game, so coaches know what they are capable of adding to the team.

They become eligible as teams begin Trinity League play next Friday. Five of the six teams are off this week, with only Servite playing Damien in a nonleague game.

The opening league games next week have Santa Margarita playing Mater Dei at Saddleback College, St. John Bosco hosting JSerra and Servite playing Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College.

The Times’ top 10 high school flag football rankings:

1. JSerra (17-0)

Kate Meier completed 50 passes for 591 yards and eight touchdowns in victories over Mater Dei and Corona del Mar.

Next: Tuesday vs. Orange Lutheran.

2. Orange Lutheran (15-1)

Lancers are motivated to avenge their defeat to JSerra in the semifinals of the Chargers Invitational on Aug. 15.

Next: Tuesday at JSerra.

3. Huntington Beach (13-3)

Five wins in six days, including an 18-6 victory at Newport Harbor to move into first place in the Sunset League.

Next: Monday at Los Alamitos.

4. Newport Harbor (15-3)

Scarlett Guyser threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in a 25-0 league shutout of Corona del Mar.

Next: Wednesday at Edison.

5. Dos Pueblos (14-2)

Brooklyn Hedricks had 14 receptions for 193 yards and four touchdowns in victories over Oxnard and San Marcos.

Next: Thursday vs. Rio Mesa.

6. Westlake (11-3)

Annabelle O’Keefe has passed for 2,921 yards and 47 touchdowns and has seven interceptions on defense.

Next: Tuesday vs. Newbury Park.

7. Edison (12-5)

Freshman Lyric Lesui has 55 catches for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Chargers, who have posted nine shutouts.

Next: Monday at Marina.

8. Oxnard (10-5)

Ryanna Harris threw for three scores and ran for three versus Rio Mesa, upping her season total to 32 touchdowns.

Next: Tuesday at Ventura.

9. Mater Dei (10-4)

The Monarchs have won seven of their last eight, their only defeat coming at the hands of Trinity League rival JSerra.

Next: Tuesday at Santa Margarita.

10. Sierra Canyon (12-4)

Makenna Cook threw for 312 yards and six touchdowns against Palos Verdes amid the Trailblazers’ four-game streak.

Next: Tuesday at Alemany.

A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 4:

Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking

1. SANTA MARGARITA (5-0) def. Norco, 34-0; vs. Mater Dei, Oct. 2; 1

2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (4-1) def. Honolulu Saint Louis, 63-21 ; vs. JSerra, Oct. 2; 2

3. SIERRA CANYON (4-0) def. Orange Lutheran, 28-10; vs. Oxnard Pacifica, Friday; 3

4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (2-2) def. Rancho Cucamonga, 41-7; vs. De La Salle at Cal, Saturday; 6

5. MATER DEI (4-1) lost to Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, 25-8; vs. Santa Margarita, Oct. 2; 5

6. MISSION VIEJO (3-1) def. Pittsburg, 42-35; vs. Huntington Beach Edison, Oct. 2; 7

7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-2) lost to Sierra Canyon, 28-10; vs. Servite, Oct. 2; 4

8. SAN CLEMENTE (4-0) did not play; at Murrieta Valley, Friday; 8

9 . CHAMINADE (5-0) def. St. Bonaventure, 27-24; vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Oct. 2; 9

10. PALOS VERDES (5-0) def. Wilmington Banning, 34-0; vs. Long Beach Millikan, Oct. 2; 10

11. JSERRA (4-1) def. Bishop Amat, 37-28; vs. St. John Bosco, Oct. 2; 11

12. SERVITE (2-2) did not play; at Damien, Friday; 13

13. CORONA DEL MAR (5-0) def. La Serna, 30-24; at Villa Park, Oct. 2; 14

14. BISHOP AMAT (4-1) lost to JSerra, 37-28; at Gardena Serra, Oct. 2; 15

15. LA SERNA (4-1) lost to Corona del Mar, 30-24; at Warren, Oct. 2; 21

16. CREAN LUTHERAN (3-2) def. Oakdale, 38-21; at Tustin, Oct. 2; 16

17. CARSON (4-1) def. North Torrance, 50-28; vs. Gardena, Oct. 2; 18

18. OXNARD PACIFICA (4-0) did not play; at Sierra Canyon, Friday; 19

19. GARDENA SERRA (3-2) def. Oaks Christian, 41-0; vs. Bishop Amat, Oct. 2; 20

20. TUSTIN (4-1) def. Westlake, 28-21; vs. Crean Lutheran, Oct. 2; 24

21. LA HABRA (5-0) def. Orange Vista, 36-7; at Capistrano Valley, Oct. 2; 25

22. HUNTINGTON BEACH (5-0) def. Yorba Linda, 29-25; vs. El Modena, Oct. 2; NR

23. YORBA LINDA (4-1) lost to Huntington Beach, 29-25; at San Clemente, Oct. 2; 12

24. SAN JACINTO (4-0) def. Great Oak 40-28; at Aquinas, Friday; NR

25. ORANGE (5-0) def. Etiwanda, 35-28; at El Dorado, Oct. 2; NR

A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 3:

Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking

1. SANTA MARGARITA (4-0) def. Sacramento Inderkum, 41-0; vs. Norco at Saddleback College, Friday; 1

2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (3-1) def. Kahuku (Hawaii), 49-3; at Honolulu St. Louis, Saturday; 3

3. SIERRA CANYON (3-0) def. Honolulu St. Louis, 52-0; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 4

4. ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-1) def. Gardena Serra, 35-0; at Sierra Canyon, Friday; 5

5. MATER DEI (4-0) def. Corona Centennial, 10-9; vs. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman at Santa Ana Stadium, Friday; 6

6. CORONA CENTENNIAL (1-2) lost to Mater Dei, 10-9; vs. Rancho Cucamonga, Friday; 2

7. MISSION VIEJO (3-1) def. San Diego Lincoln, 56-0; vs. Pittsburg, Friday; 7

8. SAN CLEMENTE (4-0) def. La Costa Canyon, 31-21; at Murrieta Valley, Sept. 25; 8

9 . CHAMINADE (4-0) def. Beaumont, 42-24; vs. St. Bonaventure, Friday; 9

10. PALOS VERDES (4-0) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 28-3; at Wilmington Banning, Friday; 10

11. JSERRA (3-1) def. Oak Hills, 63-0; at Bishop Amat, Friday; 11

12. YORBA LINDA (4-0) def. Esperanza, 42-7; at Huntington Beach, Friday; 12

13. SERVITE (2-2) def. St. Paul, 69-14; at Damien, Sept. 25; 14

14. CORONA DEL MAR (4-0) def. Newport Harbor, 16-6; vs. La Serna, Thursday; 15

15. BISHOP AMAT (4-0) def. Culver City, 65-13; vs. JSerra, Friday; 16

16. CREAN LUTHERAN (2-2) lost to El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge, 28-21; at Oakdale, Friday; 13

17. CHAPARRAL (2-2) def. Rancho Cucamonga, 20-15; vs. Herriman (Utah) Mountain Ridge, Friday; 18

18. CARSON (3-1) def. Long Beach Poly, 17-14; at North Torrance, Friday; 19

19. OXNARD PACIFICA (4-0) def. Palmdale Highland, 35-6; at Sierra Canyon, Sept. 25; 21

20. GARDENA SERRA (2-2) lost to Orange Lutheran, 35-0; vs. Oaks Christian, Friday; 22

21. LA SERNA (3-0) def. Northview, 45-6; at Corona del Mar, Thursday; 25

22. WESTLAKE (4-0) def. Laguna Beach, 28-23; vs. Tustin, Friday; 23

23. RANCHO CUCAMONGA (2-2) lost to Chaparral, 20-15; at Corona Centennial, Friday; 17

24. TUSTIN (3-1) def. Damien, 21-10; at Westlake, Friday; NR

25. LA HABRA (4-0) def. Mira Costa, 29-24; vs. Orange Vista, Friday; NR

Taking your peers into battle every week requires leadership that inspires respect and admiration. Orange Lutheran High’s star offensive lineman Lucas Rhoa has figured out the perfect formula to achieve that.

The senior Texas commit is easily noticeable before, during and after a game. He leads the team in warmups, conducting their every move. If he jumps up, so does every other player. If he waves his arms this way and that, you bet his teammates follow.

It’s the perfect hype up to get Orange Lutheran in the mood to win.

Rhoa has earned that respect partly because he reminds opponents on a weekly basis that they need to hit the weight room. Sometimes Orange Lutheran will put Rhoa in motion after the snap, blocking multiple players to create a hole for the run game. On passing plays he’ll face off one on one against the outside defensive lineman, and he stops them in their tracks.

During the game, if he isn’t on the field, Rhoa can be seen giving encouragement to every player. In a recent win against Chandler (Ariz.) Basha there were two moments that exemplified this.

First, when Orange Lutheran’s punter pinned Basha inside its own three-yard line, Rhoa was the first to come off the sidelines and get excited for his teammate. On the flip side, when a teammate’s holding penalty negated a 20-yard run, the big man was sympathetic. Rhoa gave a head pat and some words of encouragement and ran back to the line for the next play.

“There’s no room to get caught up on anything,” Rhoa said. “If you’re getting caught up on a play then you’re three steps behind. You just gotta forget.”

To Rhoa, his star quality and mentality are non-negotiables of the job. His offensive line coach, Chris Ward, is less humble when talking about his best player.

“He’s been extremely dominant individually and he’s really grown as a leader,” Ward said. “We have some young guys in there, it’s their first time playing varsity football. He’s kept his composure and really let those guys grow.”

Rhoa has shown his skill level and leadership against a bevy of highly ranked opponents so far this season, but his toughest task may come against a player who has seen his best traits firsthand.

Orange Lutheran, which is 3-1 after shutting out Gardena Serra 35-0, is next playing Sierra Canyon, where former teammate and senior defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou now plies his trade.

Sierra Canyon has started the season 3-0, with a big 41-21 opening-weekend win against JSerra, which has won three straight since. Rhoa spoke on the potential matchup against Fakatou.

“I’ve seen him the most out of anybody,” Rhoa said. “We used to go against each other every day at practice. But it’s just another game for me.”

Fakatou is committed to Ohio State and, given its recent rivalry with Texas, this isn’t likely to be the last time he and Rhoa meet.

Fakatou is listed at 6 feet 7, 285 pounds while Rhoa is 6-5, 295. When they hit each other, the collision might create the force of an atomic bomb or at least a high speed car crash.

Richard Wesley and Trey Brown of Sierra Canyon combine for one of seven sacks against Orange Lutheran last season, when the Trailblazers won 41-9.

(Craig Weston)

The key to victory for either Orange Lutheran or Sierra Canyon may come down to this matchup. There could be more joy for Fakatou lining up against the other side of the offensive line, but Rhoa is as mobile as they come and will certainly try to find a way to put his former teammate on the ground.

Ward said that both players are likely to make great plays, and that his offensive line can’t be frustrated if Fakatou hits somebody for a loss. Like Rhoa said, they have to move on to the next play right when the whistle blows. “There’s never a thought of ‘oh, I got beat!’ It’s out of the mind,” he said. Head coach Ray Fenton said that his team goes as Rhoa does, and that his leadership will be the key to a great season beyond just the Sierra Canyon matchup.

“One of the best [leaders] I’ve been around in my many years of coaching,” he said. “He says it with his words but most importantly he says it with his own actions …It makes life easier as a coach.

The Times has Sierra Canyon ranked as the fourth best team in the Southern Section and Orange Lutheran ranked as No. 5. But Rhoa doesn’t care who lines up across from him, the goal is always the same: to dominate.

“At the end of the day [the opponents] are just humans,” Rhoa said. “However many stars they have, it’s just football.”