By Los Angeles Times staff
SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
At Huntington Beach High
OPEN DIVISION
JSerra 40, Newport Harbor 14
DIVISION 1
Oxnard 18, Palos Verdes 12
DIVISION 2
San Clemente 35, Gahr 34 (OT)
DIVISION 3
Valencia 12, Quartz Hill 7
DIVISION 4
Cerritos Valley Christian 33, West Ranch 18
DIVISION 5
Loma Linda Academy 33, Peninsula 6
DIVISION 6
St. Monica 39, Heritage 20
The energy at The Badlands Stadium on Friday night was too much for Mother Earth to handle. She had to put a temporary stop to it.
Both sets of players for San Juan Hills High and San Clemente were fired up by a full crowd of rowdy fans, and it promised to be one of the best high school atmospheres of the season.
But then everybody was forced into the basketball gym after five minutes and seven seconds of play. For 90 minutes a lightning delay threatened to end the affair all together.
Nothing, however, could force these two teams and communities to give up on this night. After the Norte fire tore through 570 acres across south Orange County, destroying many homes in the process, everybody needed this. The matchup — which hadn’t been played since 2021 — meant so much to both the Stallions and Tritons.
“Between the white lines, for 48 minutes, I expect nothing less than war,” San Juan Hills head coach Robert Frith said before kickoff.
It was San Juan Hills (8-1) that ultimately came through with an 16-0 upset victory, which puts it on the brink of the Alpha League title before next week’s big matchup against Mission Viejo.
This was the Stallions’ first win against San Clemente (7-1) since 2015, and likely knocked the Tritons out of contention for the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. That felt pretty sweet for Arthur Tuverson, who gave a little smack talk to the San Clemente student section after the game, taunting them about the defense’s shutout.
It was the junior defensive back’s 52-yard touchdown interception that sealed the victory. As he ran it down the field, the noise in the stadium reached pre-delay levels.
“I knew they were in desperation mode and needed to pass the ball,” Tuverson said after the win. “I made the play. I was waiting for it.”
Both teams played with backup quarterbacks as Preston Beck for San Clemente and Eiler King for San Juan Hills were out because of injuries.
The Stallions turned to senior Parker Armstrong, who started two years at Scripps Ranch High in San Diego. He finished the night completing 17 for 19 passes for 172 yards, doing enough to manage a low scoring contest and help his team not turn the ball over for the seventh game running.
The Tritons gave freshman Koston James his first taste of varsity action, but it was a tough game to come into as he finished 11-for-16 passing for 60 yards with two interceptions.
San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz knew that points would be at a premium in this matchup.
“We’re going to have to play good defense and not allow the big play,” Ortiz said pregame.
Frith called it a power of wills. San Clemente let gave up only 20 rushing yards, but San Juan Hills’ two interceptions and swarming defensive line swung the game.
Late in the third quarter, San Clemente attempted a flea flicker and San Juan Hills was on James the second he got the ball back. It was exemplary of the home team’s sustained energy during a long and tiring night.
San Clemente often ran two-way star Jaxson Rex out of the Wildcat formation, letting the Brigham Young commit’s athleticism take center stage. A lot was put on the talented senior’s shoulders to get the offense going. He finished with five catches for 42 yards and 32 rushing yards.
His counterpart, Texas State commit Luke Frith, finished with four catches for 48 yards.
Frith noted pregame that special teams would have a big role to play in the night. He was correct, as San Juan Hills senior kicker Trevor Koko knocked through two field goals in the first half, and then nailed a season-long 44-yarder to put the Stallions up 9-0 in the third quarter. San Clemente missed a field goal when down 3-0.
Penalties also hurt the Tritons as they committed 10 for 105 yards in the team’s first loss of the season after last week’s game against Mission Viejo was cancelled because of the Norte fire.
Before the game, first responders were honored and both coaches made sure to express their gratitude for the swift and effective work of those who protected the communities.
The coaches on both sidelines wore Orange County Fire Authority hats as a token of gratitude.
“[The hats] are a sign that it is sometimes bigger than football, and a lot of programs could take note of that,” Ortiz said.
A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 8:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking
1. SANTA MARGARITA (8-0) def. St. John Bosco, 21-7; vs. JSerra, Friday; 1
2. SIERRA CANYON (8-0) def. Chaminade, 41-0; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday; 3
3. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 21-7; at Servite, Friday; 2
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (5-3) def. Norco, 46-14; at Chaparral, Friday; 4
5. MATER DEI (6-2) def. Servite, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 5
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) vs. San Clemente, canceled; at Los Alamitos, Friday; 6
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-3) def. JSerra, 48-13; at Servite, Friday; 7
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) vs. Mission Viejo, canceled; at San Juan Hills, Friday; 8
9. JSERRA (4-4) lost to Orange Lutheran, 48-13; at Santa Margarita, Friday; 10
10. BISHOP AMAT (7-1) def. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 48-28; vs. Loyola, Friday; 12
11. SERVITE (3-5) lost to Mater Dei, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 11
12. LA SERNA (7-1) def. Cerritos, 57-7; vs. Mayfair, Friday; 13
13. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) def. La Habra, 35-28; at Corona del Mar, Friday; 14
14. INGLEWOOD (8-1) def. Redondo Union, 33-7; at Leuzinger, Friday; 15
15. PALOS VERDES (7-1) def. Mira Costa, 34-14; at Redondo Union, Friday; 16
16. CORONA DEL MAR (7-1) lost to Capistrano Valley, 21-17; vs. Crean Lutheran, Friday; 9
17. CARSON (7-1) def. Narbonne, 60-0; vs. San Pedro, Friday; 18
18. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-1) lost to Bishop Amat, 48-28; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 17
19. CHAMINADE (5-3) lost to Sierra Canyon, 41-0; vs. Gardena Serra, Friday; 19
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (8-0) def. Western, 34-14; vs. Troy, Thursday; 20
21. SAN JACINTO (8-0) def. Elsinore, 49-16; vs. Granite Hills, Friday; 21
22. GARDENA SERRA (4-4) def. Loyola, 26-0; at Chaminade, Friday; 22
23. ORANGE (8-0) def. Beckman, 51-14; vs. Irvine, Thursday; 23
24. SAN JUAN HILLS (7-1) def. Yorba Linda, 14-10; vs. San Clemente, Friday; 24
25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (7-1) def. Corona del Mar, 21-17; vs. Villa Park, Friday; 25
By Los Angeles Times staff
A look at how the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland fared this week:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game
1. SANTA MARGARITA (8-0) def. St. John Bosco, 21-7; vs. JSerra, Friday
2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 21-7; at Servite, Friday
3. SIERRA CANYON (8-0) def. Chaminade, 41-0; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (5-3) def. Norco, 46-14; at Chaparrel, Friday
5. MATER DEI (6-2) def. Servite, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) at San Clemente, postponed; at Los Alamitos, Friday
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-3) def. JSerra, 48-13; at Servite, Friday
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) vs. Mission Viejo, postponed; at San Juan Hills, Friday
9. CORONA DEL MAR (7-0) at Capistrano Valley, Saturday; vs. Crean Lutheran, Friday
10. JSERRA (4-4) lost to Orange Lutheran, 48-13; at Santa Margarita, Friday
11. SERVITE (3-5) lost to Mater Dei, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday
12. BISHOP AMAT (7-1) def. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 48-28; vs. Loyola, Friday
13. LA SERNA (7-1) def. Cerritos, 57-7; vs. Mayfair, Friday
14. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) vs. La Habra, late; at Corona del Mar, Friday
15. INGLEWOOD (8-1) def. Redondo Union, 33-7; at Leuzinger, Friday
16. PALOS VERDES (7-1) def. Mira Costa, 34-14; at Redondo Union, Friday
17. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-1) lost to Bishop Amat, 48-28; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday
18. CARSON (7-1) def. Narbonne, 48-14; vs. San Pedro, Friday
19. CHAMINADE (5-3) lost to Sierra Canyon, 41-0; vs. Gardena Serra, Friday
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (8-0) def. Western, 34-14; vs. Troy, Thursday
21. SAN JACINTO (8-0) def. Elsinore, 49-16; vs. Granite Hills, Friday
22. GARDENA SERRA (4-4) def. Loyola, 26-0; at Chaminade, Friday
23. ORANGE (8-0) def. Beckman, 51-14; vs. Irvine, Thursday
24. SAN JUAN HILLS (7-1) def. Yorba Linda, 14-10; vs. San Clemente, Friday
25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-1) vs. Corona del Mar, Saturday; vs. Villa Park, Friday
Anyone have a helicopter available for Friday night?
This is the weekend when high school football fans and sportswriters across the Southland need air transportation or multiple screens on a computer or cellphone or at a sports bar to watch the many top games during Week 8.
It doesn’t get any better than No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita (7-0) playing at No. 2 St. John Bosco (6-1) in a Trinity League game that will feature big-boy football at its best. The NFHS Network will be streaming the game.
It’s not the only game you’ll want to see.
Let’s review the choices so you can use Google Maps or a TV remote control or just never let go of your phone on Friday night.
Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer, center, with offensive coordinator Lenny Vandermade, left.
(Craig Weston)
Santa Margarita at St. John Bosco, 7 p.m.
Last week, St. John Bosco avenged last year’s stunning Southern Section Division 1 first-round playoff loss to Orange Lutheran, a team it beat 48-0 in the regular season. This week, the Braves finally get to play Santa Margarita, the school that won the state Open Division championship because St. John Bosco was nowhere to be found. Santa Margarita has a 13-game winning streak since losing to the Braves last October.
This isn’t the same Santa Margarita team. Trent Mosley is now at USC, where he looks like a Heisman Trophy candidate when not injured. The Trojans are off this week, so look for Mosley to be on the sideline supporting brother Grant, an Eagles receiver. Santa Margarita’s strength is running the ball with undersized Adrian Petero (5 feet 5, 175 pounds) to set up the pass for quarterback Fletch Palmer, son of coach Carson Palmer.
St. John Bosco has become more of a running team with Maliq Allen, but quarterback Koa Malau’ulu remains a dangerous weapon with receivers DJ Tubbs and Kuika Moaalii. This game likely comes down to a chess match each play, testing defensive coordinators Steve Fifita (Santa Margarita) and Chris King (St. John Bosco). Both have great respect for each other. Turnovers, penalties and special teams must be watched closely. The pick: St. John Bosco.
Bishop Amat (6-1) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (7-0), 7 p.m.
Spectrum 1 chose to televise this game, which will decide who gets to finish second in the Mission League behind Sierra Canyon. Notre Dame is a surprise being unbeaten at this point, but Tahj Skinner has proven to be one of the best athletes at quarterback, and the Knights are filled with fast players on both sides of the field from their successful track program. Bishop Amat must worry about Notre Dame’s speed, but Notre Dame must deal with the Lancers’ physicality. The pick: Bishop Amat.
Mission Viejo (6-1) at San Clemente (7-0), 7 p.m.
Home-field advantage matters in this annual rivalry game in the recently renamed Alpha League. Mission Viejo’s offensive line is elite. Receiver Jack Junker got to play running back last week and showed his big-play skills. San Clemente has its own versatile star in receiver/safety Jaxson Rex. In the end, it’s about which young quarterback can avoid mistakes, with Mission Viejo relying on sophomore Brett Burnor and San Clemente turning to junior Preston Beck. The pick: San Clemente.
King/Drew (4-3) at Crenshaw (5-2), 7 p.m.
King/Drew has been the upstart trying to win the Coliseum League with Crenshaw always standing in the way. Quarterback Gerald Torres has put together a strong season, passing for 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns. Crenshaw struggled against Palisades’ passing attack this season, so the Cougars’ defense will be tested. Crenshaw has added more balance on offense with quarterback Ethan Grant. The pick: Crenshaw.
Hamilton (3-4) at Palisades (3-3), 7 p.m.
There should be more than 100 passes attempted in a game that will decide the Western League title. Have ice available afterward for the elbows of quarterbacks Robert Holohan III of Palisades and Thaddeus Breaux of Hamilton. The pick: Hamilton.