Locals near CIF playoffs

The prelude is over.

Now comes dinner time.

Should locals Edison, Huntington Beach, Marina and Ocean View polish off their respective five-course offering of league opponents in the coming weeks, then dessert — the CIF playoffs — awaits in November.

“We’ve been gearing up all season for this week,” said Huntington Beach Coach Eric Lo, whose Oilers begin their second year in the Sea View League Friday against Trabuco Hills.

Marina begins the local slate by playing tonight and Edison and Ocean View will join Huntington under the lights on Friday.

Tonight

Marina (3-2) vs. Esperanza (5-0)

(at Valencia High, 7 p.m.)

The Sunset League officially gets underway tonight when Marina travels to Placentia to take on Esperanza.

Marina wrapped up its nonleague schedule last Friday with a 24-9 road win at Paramount. The Vikings, who never trailed, scored the game’s final two touchdowns on second-half runs by Sam Wilson.

Jimmy Irvin also took in a 35-yard TD pass from Tim Atencio, Chase Robinson kicked a 24-yard field goal and Marina’s defense held an opponent to less than 10 points for the first time, shutting out Paramount (12-0) to open up the 2003 season.

Marina has won three nonleague games for the first time since the 2001 Vikings started out 4-0.

“It’s good to be 3-2 and have a winning record heading into league,” Marina Coach Dan Petrone said. “This league is tough, and I told the kids that every game in league is like a playoff game.”

Marina, however, will head into league play without the services of running back Charles Orrison. The senior dislocated his elbow in a Oct. 4 loss to Colton and is “most likely” lost for the remainder of the season, Petrone said.

“Our guys have responded to Charles’ loss and have stepped up and played hard,” Petrone said.

Esperanza enters Sunset League play undefeated and is coming off a bye week.

The Aztecs’ five wins have come over El Dorado, Murietta Valley, Mira Costa, L.A. Jordan and Tesoro. They are averaging 27 points on offense per game and the Aztecs defense is allowing just under one touchdown per game.

Among those nonleague opponents that the Aztecs defeated, El Dorado is ranked No. 1 in the Southwest Division and Murrieta Valley is No. 8 in the Inland Division.

Esperanza is ranked 10th in the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division.

Last year’s score: Aztecs 42, Vikings 7

Friday’s games

Los Alamitos (4-1) vs. Edison (3-2)

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

A bye last week has afforded Edison the chance to have two weeks to prepare what is the biggest game in the first week of the Sunset League schedule.

The Chargers haven’t played since falling 42-14 on Sept. 28 to top-ranked Mater Dei. They have lost two-straight since beginning the season 3-0.

Now comes Los Alamitos, which enters league play coming off a precarious, 34-26 victory over host Santa Monica. The sixth-ranked Griffins (Pac-5 Division) needed a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally past Santa Monica. Quarterback Clark Evans rushed for 230 yards and scored all four of Los Al’s four, second-half touchdowns.

The Los Al defense has one shutout to its credit and has held three of its five opponents to 10 points or less.

The challenge for the Edison defense is to try to contain Evans (6-5, 215) who has rushed for 12 touchdowns and passes for seven more in five games.

The senior is averaging 200 yards through the air per game.

“He can run and he can throw and he’s a beast,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “It’s a tough opener for us, and we’ll see what we’re made of. We were off last week, and we worked on things we needed to fix. We weren’t blocking well nor defending the pass as well as we should have in our two losses. We need to be a little more consistent as a team.”

Last year’s score: Chargers 28, Griffins 7

Trabuco Hills (4-1) vs. Huntington Beach (3-2)

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

This Sea View League opener pits two Southwest Division ranked teams who figure to challenge for league supremacy.

Tenth-ranked Huntington has won two-straight games and has improved its defensive play in the process. Last week, the Oilers defeated Gardena but needed a 32-yard TD pass from Bobby Duarte to Dereck Romo to finally put away the visiting Panthers and complete a 25-13 victory.

The Oilers’ rushing attack was in high-gear, led by Johnny Olivé and Nick Gordon who combined for 321 yards and each scored a touchdown.

“Right now we’re playing pretty good football, especially on defense,” Huntington Coach Eric Lo said. “There’s still room for improvement, but I’ve been pleased with what we’ve done in nonleague lay. Offensively, we’re starting to make strides. We’ve won two straight and that gives us confidence heading into league.”

Trabuco Hills, ranked fourth, has been impressive in nonleague play and heads into league coming off a 17-0 shutout of Aliso Niguel.

“The first thing that jumps out at you is their big offensive line,” Lo said. “They average something like, 6-4 and 250, across the line.

“They also have a real athletic quarterback, tailback and good receivers. Defensively, they’ve been very tough. Their linebacking corps also is pretty good.”

Last year’s score: Mustangs 17, Oilers 10

Ocean View (4-1) vs. Santa Ana (2-3)

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

Ocean View begins its quest for the Golden West League championship with a road test against Santa Ana.

Ocean View has won four nonleague games for the first time since the 1999 Seahawks also went 4-1 in nonleague play. That team also reached the CIF playoffs.

The Seahawks completed nonleague play on Oct. 4 by holding off host Estancia, 27-26, rallying from a 12-0 deficit. Dana Maley threw two touchdown passes to Richard Lam and rushed for another score, and Kyle Walker scored on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the Seahawks up for good.

Lam, a junior, had a 36-yard scoring reception in the first half and came up with what Coach Dean Yoshiyama said was a “huge” TD reception covering 45 yards in the second half.

Santa Ana ended a two-game losing skid Saturday by routing La Quinta, 47-6. Six different Saints scored touchdowns with quarterback Rudy Cerveanter throwing two TD passes.

Senior tailback Adam Salinas is a key figure for the Saints on offense.

“Obviously, it’s great to be 4-1 but everybody in our league right now is even at 0-0,” Yoshiyama said. “Everything starts all over. But I’m proud of what the kids have done in the nonleague, and we’re really excited to be going into league 4-1.”

Last year’s score: Seahawks 14, Saints 7

Edison (3-2)

27…Diamond Ranch…13

26…San Clemente…17

45…L.A. Jordan….0

0…Servite…6

14…Mater Dei…42

Friday: vs. Los Alamitos*

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

Huntington Beach (3-2)

10…L.B. Millikan…22

35…Los Amigos…20

3…L.B. Jordan…13

21…Westminster…0

25…Gardena…12

Friday: vs. Trabuco Hills*

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

Marina (3-2)

20…Capo Valley…26

14…Westminster…13

37…Orange…19

14…Colton…52

24…Paramount…9

Tonight: vs. Esperanza*

(at Valencia High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View (4-1)

22…Calvary Chapel…15

14…University…42

21…Century…14

29…Bolsa Grande…6

27…Estancia…26

Friday: vs. Santa Ana*

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

(*denotes league game)