A preview and prediction for each of the top football games in Orange County this week. The teams are listed by their ranking in the Orange County Top 25.
GAME OF THE WEEK
ST. JOHN BOSCO (7-0, 2-0) VS. NO. 2 SANTA MARGARITA (5-2, 2-0)
Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: Spectrum News 1
Analysis: St. John Bosco is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps.com and HSratings.com. Santa Margarita is ranked No. 10 by MaxPreps and No. 8 by HSratings. This looked like a fairly interesting game a few weeks ago. Santa Margarita’s 7-6 win over Mater Dei last week raised the profile and makes this the most intriguing game in California. These teams are tied for first place in the powerful Trinity League. St. John Bosco is averaging 47 points a game while giving up only nine points a game. The Braves have three shutout wins, including 48-0 over Orange Lutheran last week. Bosco sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu completed 17 of 21 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Santa Margarita’s great defense includes linemen Simote Katoanga, a senior who is committed to USC, and Arizona-committed senior Manoah Faupusa (6-4, 360); linebackers Dash Fifita, a senior who is an Orange County defensive player of the year candidate, and senior Leki Holani, who was in on 15 tackles against Mater Dei. The Eagles also have Cal-committed senior Jayden Crowder and UCLA-committed senior Logan Hirou in the defensive backfield. Senior receiver Trent Mosley (USC commit) played last week for the first time since the season opener and made the expected impact, grabbing eight receptions for 56 yards and scoring on a direct-snap run. The Santa Margarita defense will have plenty of grand moments against St. John Bosco. But the Braves offense will find its way into the end zone more often than Santa Margarita’s offense will against Bosco’s equally-outstanding defense.
Winner: St. John Bosco
NO. EDISON (5-2, 0-0) VS. NO. 6 LOS ALAMITOS (7-0, 0-0)
Where, when: SoFi Stadium, Thursday, 5 p.m.
Analysis: It’s the Alpha League opener for both teams, and it’s at a very nice place. Edison lost many standout players from its CIF Southern Section and CIF State championship team last season, and of course it shows. The roster still has plenty of good ones, including The Sams — quarterback Sam Thomson and junior running back Sam Edmisten. The player to watch in this game, and every game, for Los Alamitos is senior Lenny Ibarra, who has scored six rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns, leads the Griffins in receiving yards (363), is their leading tackler, has two interceptions and does some kicking and punting. The pride at Edison football is widely known. You’re always going to get 48 minutes of the Chargers’ best. Their best Thursday might not match the many great athletes Los Alamitos puts on the field.
Winner: Los Alamitos
Chaparral’s quarterback Dane Weber runs into the defense in a game against Mission Viejo at Chaparral High School in Temecula on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)NO. 12 SAN CLEMENTE (4-3, 0-0) VS. NO. 1 MISSION VIEJO (6-1, 0-0)
Where, when: Mission Viejo High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This was a terrific rivalry for many years when these two were together in the South Coast League and continues to be in the four-team Alpha League. This is the league opener for both teams. Neither played last week, taking that valuable bye week before starting league play. San Clemente’s losses are to good teams – Tustin 30-17, La Costa Canyon 28-14 and Murrieta Valley 26-14. Those three teams’ combined record is 17-4. San Clemente beat Nevada’s Coronado 39-14 in the Tritons’ last nonleague game. A top contributor for the Tritons is junior Jaxson Rex, who is their leading receiver with 39 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns and is their third-leading tackler as a safety. Mission Viejo crushed Long Beach Poly 56-7 in the Diablos’ final nonleague game. Senior quarterback Luke Fahey is having a fantastic season, completing 75 percent of his passes for an average of 255 yards a game with 17 touchdowns and only one interception. The Diablos will win this game and will win it by a lot if they can.
Winner: Mission Viejo
Irvine quarterback Sina Saferzadeh threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score in the Vaqueros’ 229-21 victory over Canyon in an Iota League game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)IRVINE (6-1, 2-0) VS. EL TORO (4-3, 2-0)
Where, when: El Toro High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: These teams are tied with Troy for first place in the Iota League. Irvine has league wins over Santa Ana 43-7 and Canyon 29-21. El Toro’s league wins are over Canyon 27-17 and Sonora 35-21. Of the two teams in this game El Toro has the more impressive nonleague win, 56-14 over Trabuco Hills, which is the only team to beat Huntington Beach. Irvine senior Sina Saferzadeh has been a star. He has completed 62 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and is the Vaqueros’ leading rusher at 410 yards with six rushing touchdowns. El Toro junior quarterback Wyatt Nucci has completed 67 percent of his passes for an average of 223 yards a game. Irvine has won five in a row since its weird 7-0 loss to Portola. The Vaqueros have played like a determined bunch since then.
Winner: Irvine
Servite’s Jorden Wells, (#4), carries the ball and is pursued by Centennial’s Felix Munoz, (#47), during a game at Centennial High School in Corona, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo by John Valenzuela/Contributing Photographer)NO. 5 SERVITE (5-2, 1-1) VS. NO. 3 MATER DEI (4-2, 1-1)
Where, when: Santa Ana Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Servite got a critical win last week when it beat JSerra 43-26. It kept Servite in the running for one of the Trinity League’s three guaranteed playoff berths. Servite junior quarterback Kale Murphy had one of his better games, throwing for 216 yards and two touchdowns. The Friars rushed for 348 yards, led by speedster Jorden Wells’ 103 yards. One bad mark on the JSerra game report card was Servite’s 15 penalties for 163 yards. Stopping a team on third down only to have a penalty grant the opponent a first down is self-destructive – and would be especially so against Mater Dei if the Monarchs offense gets it together. They just missed on some deep passes in last week’s 7-6 loss to Santa Margarita. A long completion here or there and the outcome is reversed. Mater Dei’s offense is due for a big game. The Monarchs have it in them. There is plenty of team speed on the Mater Dei defense, too, to corral Servite’s big-play potential.
Winner: Mater Dei
Fryer last week: 4-1
Fryer for the season: 27-13
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