Devil of a time

The juggernaut rolls into town today.

If you want to see a football program that has risen to the top of

Orange County prep football crop and ranks at or near the top of

state and national polls, then head to Westminster High, where mighty

Mission Viejo takes on host Marina.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Where to start with Mission Viejo? The better question is: Where

do you end?

The Diablos are defending CIF-Southern Section Division II

champions, have won 17 consecutive contests, and boast several

players being highly recruited by Division I colleges. They improved

to 3-0 last Friday by walloping -- of all teams -- Mater Dei, 48-7.

Trying to halt that win streak this week is Marina, which put up a

valiant effort last Friday against Newport Harbor.

The Vikings had the Sailors on the ropes but surrendered a drive

in the game’s final minute that culminated in a touchdown pass with

20 seconds remaining. They suffered a heartbreaking 21-17 loss.

“There was a lot of hugging and crying Friday night after the

game, but things were put into perspective Saturday morning when we

watched game film,” Marina coach Mike Dodd said. “There were a lot of

mixed emotions, but the bottom line is that we weren’t able to finish

the game.

“But this team has confidence, and we’re playing well. We’ve got

six or seven sophomores at a time out on the field, so the future

looks bright for us.”

Sophomore Justin Steen and senior Andre Gatlin combined to rush

for 210 yards for Marina, with Steen scoring on a 57-yard run in the

first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-6 lead.

Junior quarterback Josh Jordan scored on a two-yard plunge in the

fourth quarter to tie the score at 14-14. Sophomore Dustin Lockwood

booted a 32-yard field goal with 3:19 to play for a 17-14 lead.

Dodd said Marina (0-3) will stick with what it knows best against

Mission Viejo, whose explosive offense is powered by senior tailback

Chane Moline and tight end Konrad Reuland. The Diablos offense has

averaged 57 points per game in the first three weeks of the season.

“We’re approaching the game like any other week,” Dodd said of

practice preparations for the Diablos. “We’re just going to stay

within our game plan.

“If you try to do new things against a team like Mission Viejo,

you’ll be in big-time trouble. They are fast and quick and have a

certain charisma about them. That comes with winning.”

Last year’s score: Diablos 50, Vikings 0

In other games:

FRIDAY

Servite (1-1) vs. Edison (2-1)

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

The Edison offense has been in high gear since a season-opening

defeat to Kamehameha of Hawaii on Sept. 2.

For the second consecutive game, the Chargers offense hit the

40-point plateau, as they defeated host Capistrano Valley, 40-20,

last Friday. Brian Shrock threw for 200 yards and four touchdowns,

including a pair of scoring strikes to Jimmy Flanagan.

Servite got a pair of long touchdown passes from Dan Klein to

Dennis Shoemate in last week’s 38-14 win over Diamond Ranch, the

Friars’ first victory of the season.

Servite opened the season with a 27-22 loss to Lakewood.

Last year’s score: Chargers 34, Friars 9.

Huntington Beach (1-1) vs. Laguna Hills (0-2)

(at Mission Viejo High, 7 p.m.)

Huntington Beach is playing at Mission Viejo High, but instead of

getting the Diablos, they’ll face Laguna Hills, which also uses the

stadium as its home site.

The Oilers tuned up by pummeling visiting Costa Mesa, 37-14, in

their last outing. They led 27-0 at one point in the first half.

Curtis Crandell threw a pair of touchdown passes to Eric Jaso,

Mitch Roemer rushed for 85 yards and a score, Stephen Gabbard scored

on a touchdown run, and Adam Pierce returned a blocked punt for

Huntington’s first score.

Laguna Hills comes into this contest looking for its first win of

the season.

The Hawks dropped a 31-21 decision last week to Trabuco Hills,

although they did get 125 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from

Andrew Cheng.

Last year’s score: Oilers 24, Hawks 14.

SATURDAY

Ocean View (0-1-1) vs. Century (0-2)

(at Santa Ana Bowl, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View is coming off a 14-14 tie against Laguna Beach, a game

in which the Seahawks bolted to a 14-0 lead.

Running back Aaron Valenzuela threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to

Matt Graham, and quarterback Chris Katsuki hit Nguyen Nguyen with a

16-yard touchdown pass for the Seahawks.

Century fell to 0-2 after a 6-0 loss to Westminster La Quinta,

which won its first game since the 2002 season.

Ocean View defeated Century last year, noteworthy because it was

the last time the Seahawks tasted victory.

Last year’s score: Seahawks 10, Centurions 9