Big-time big game for Chargers

Mike Sciacca

The 18th meeting between two of Orange County’s storied prep football

programs figures to add luster to a well-played series.

Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College, Edison will play host to

Mater Dei in the county’s top matchup of the weekend.

Edison comes into the game 4-0 while Mater Dei is 3-1.

The Chargers are ranked third and the Monarchs are fourth, in the

latest Division I poll.

Mater Dei’s only loss was a tough, 14-7 setback to Mission Viejo,

the No. 1 team in Division II, on Sept. 16.

“It’s a great rivalry game and the programs have great respect for

each other,” Edison coach Dave White said. “This will be our toughest

test in nonleague play, without a doubt.”

Edison has been impressive in the first four weeks of the season.

While the offense has averaged 30 points an outing, the Charger

defense has been superb with two successive shutouts.

Edison has not given up more than 13 points in a single game.

Mater Dei comes into LeBard Stadium owning wins over Orange

Lutheran and last week defeated Foothill, 41-7.

Quarterback Kyle Woody riddled the Knights defense for 234 yards

and three touchdowns.

In three games, the Monarch defense is giving up an average of

nine points.

In Edison’s most recent triumph, a 30-0 shutout of Santa Fe, the

top-ranked team in Division VII, Brian Shrock threw for 232 yards and

three touchdowns, two of which went to Jimmy Flanagan.

Flanagan’s outstanding performance included 145 yards on just

three receptions.

“He had an incredible game,” White said of Flanagan, a junior.

Bill Colazas recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score.

In last year’s meeting, a defensive struggle ended with Mater Dei

coming out on top, 6-0. Edison, however, twice was at the Monarchs

goal line in the game’s final minutes, but lost a fumble and then was

stopped short of the end zone on its final possession.

“This game will be a great gauge for us, show us what our

strengths and weaknesses might be,” said White, whose Chargers have a

bye next week and then open Sunset League play on Oct. 15 in their

homecoming game against Huntington Beach. “It’ll be a big-game

atmosphere, and we’ll have a few of those types of games coming up in

Sunset League play.

“Regardless of whatever happens Friday, the game will be a good

experience for us.”

*--*

Chargers-Monarchs Series

2003 Monarchs 6, Chargers 0

2002 Monarchs 35, Chargers 18

2001 Chargers 20, Monarchs 13

2001 Chargers 41, Monarchs 7

2000 Monarchs 42, Chargers 10

1989 Monarchs 21, Chargers 14

1988 Chargers 21, Monarchs 9

1987 Monarchs 20, Chargers 10

1986 Chargers 34, Monarchs 17

1983 Chargers 22, Monarchs 7

1982 Chargers 7, Monarchs 7

1981 Chargers 48, Monarchs 24

1980 Chargers 35, Monarchs 7

1979 Chargers 14, Monarchs 7

1978 Chargers 14, Monarchs 6

1977 Chargers 42, Monarchs 21

1976 Monarchs 28, Chargers 20

(Edison leads, 10-6-1)

*--*

In other games:

TONIGHT

Century (2-1) vs. Huntington Beach (2-0-1)

(at Huntington Beach High, 7 p.m.)

Huntington Beach will be after its third straight win of the

season when it hosts the Centurions.

Justin Montes had a monster game for the Oilers in their 24-14 win

over visiting Laguna Hills on Friday. The senior rushed for 158 yards

and two touchdowns and intercepted two passes.

Mitch Roemer ran for 110 yards and a score to give the Oilers a

potent one-two punch in the backfield.

Century is coming off its first loss of the season, a 10-9

last-second setback at Ocean View. Simon Son, the Centurions’ top

rusher, ran for 86 yards and a touchdown in limited action.

Last year’s score: Teams did not meet

FRIDAY

Calvary Chapel (0-3) vs. Ocean View (1-2)

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View is coming off a last-minute, 10-9 home win over Century

and is looking for victory No. 2 against a winless Calvary Chapel of

Santa Ana squad.

Reice Hamel’s 20-yard field goal late in the game lifted the

Seahawks past Century and into the win column.

Quarterback Aaron Valenzuela and first-time starter Hue Lam turned

in strong performances. Valenzuela rushed for 45 yards and a

touchdown and threw for 85 more and Lam gained 72 yards on 16

carries.

The Seahawks defense keyed on Century’s leading rusher, Simon Son,

and limited the back to 86 yards.

Last year’s score: Teams did not meet.

Marina (0-3) vs. Orange Lutheran (2-1)

(at Brea-Olinda High, 7:30 p.m.)

Marina’s murderous schedule continues Friday with a date against

Orange Lutheran.

Two of Marina’s first three games have come against undefeated

teams Newport Harbor and Mission Viejo.

The Vikings have struggled on offense the first three weeks of the

season, scoring just one touchdown during that stretch.

They are coming off a 50-0 loss to undefeated Mission Viejo.

They’ll be meeting an Orange Lutheran team whose only loss is a

21-7 setback to Mater Dei in the opening week of the season.

The Lancers have outscored their last two opponents, Long Beach

Millikan and Santa Margarita, by a combined 54-3.

Orange Lutheran is playing the first half of the season without

starting quarterback Seth Blackamore, who is sidelined with a knee

injury.

Last year’s score: Orange Lutheran 34, Marina 14