Top spot on the line

It’s only a week into the Golden West League schedule, but the Ocean View High football team finds itself in a rare spot: tied for first place in the standings.

The Seahawks can stay atop those standings and knock Saddleback out of a share of that lead Friday, when the two teams tangle at Ocean View Stadium.

Ocean View is one of four local schools playing Friday. The highlight game for the week is Edison matching wits against Esperanza in a key Sunset League showdown.

Friday’s games

Esperanza (5-1, 0-1) vs.

Edison (5-1, 1-0)

(at Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.)

This game begins a grueling four-game stretch for Edison, which opened Sunset League play last week with a 37-2 homecoming victory over Marina. The Chargers jumped out to a 23-0 lead on Marina and were up 30-0 at the half. Ceasare Nieto rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns, but the junior tailback suffered a knee injury midway through the third quarter and left the game.

Nieto, who was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday, is definitely out for Friday’s game and could be done for the season, Edison Coach Dave White said, adding that senior Devon Bahrami and sophomore Preston Spence will rotate in place of Nieto.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” White said of Nieto’s injury. “Devon and Preston are two talented runners who will get the call now.

“Esperanza is a big game for us. They will be fired up for this game. They need this one if they want to win the league championship and we need it, too. It’s a big one Friday.”

Esperanza rolled into Sunset play last week with a 5-0 record and with an offense that had averaged 44 points in those five victories. But against league newcomer Newport Harbor, the Aztecs, despite rushing for 333 yards and out-gaining the Sailors in yardage, suffered four fumbles and had a punt blocked for a touchdown in a 21-13 upset loss.

Northwood (1-5, 0-1) vs. Huntington Beach (4-2, 0-1)

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

Two teams looking for their initial Sea View League win size up at Cap Sheue Field.

Huntington is on a two-game skid after last week’s 17-10 league-opening loss at Trabuco Hills.

For the first time this year, Oilers running back Stephen Gabbard was held under triple-digits (95 yards, one TD), as the Mustangs led from start to finish.

Northwood, like Huntington, is looking to reverse a trend that has seen the Timberwolves drop four consecutive games over a five-week period. They haven’t won since defeating University, 23-10, on Sept. 7.

The teams did not meet last year.

Fountain Valley (4-2, 0-1) vs. Marina (1-5, 0-1)

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

Marina will be out to win for the first time in six meetings against Fountain Valley, as the two longtime Sunset League rivals square off at Bill Boswell Field.

On a rainy night last Friday, Marina fell behind big early and went on to suffer a 37-2 defeat to Edison.

Fountain Valley also wasn’t as fortune in its Sunset opener on Oct. 12, as the Barons were edged by Los Alamitos, 7-6.

A blocked extra-point attempt in the third quarter proved to be the difference in the game.

Saddleback (3-3, 1-0) vs. Ocean View (2-4, 1-0)

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

Ocean View opened up Golden West League play last Friday by denying upstart Segerstrom its first win at the varsity football level, winning, 28-21. Junior quarterback Dana Maley passed for 222 yards and a touchdown — a 27-yard scoring pass to sophomore Richard Lam — and also rushed for Ocean View’s first two scores of the night.

Senior Nhan Nguyen scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Seahawks on a four-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Saddleback got a top-notch performance from Rischard Matthews in a 28-3 rout of Santa Ana. Matthews threw for one score, caught a TD pass and had two interceptions.

Last year’s score: Roadrunners 21, Seahawks 14