ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : SCORECARD / COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
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MAKING HIS MARK
Tom O’Meara scored his 17th touchdown--and later his 18th--to surpass J.R. Walz for most touchdowns in a season at Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings defeated Kennedy, 28-0, to avenge an early season, 17-10 loss to the Fighting Irish.
ON THE RECORD
‘Now put them away.’
--Roger Takahashi, Los Amigos coach, after his team stopped West Covina South Hills on a drive late in the third quarter. The Lobos answered by scoring a touchdown that gave them a 34-7 lead.
LANCERS ADVANCE
Only four county teams have advanced to the Southern Section football semifinals this season and last.
Los Alamitos is the obvious one, and Servite and El Toro probably soon come to mind. Any idea what the other is?
It’s that football factory by the Costa Mesa Freeway, the Orange Lutheran Lancers. Coach Jim Kunau’s squad was the runner-up in Division X a year ago, losing in the championship game to Van Nuys Montclair Prep, and the Lancers advanced to this year’s semifinals Friday with a 19-8 victory over Lake Isabella Kern Valley.
With a star-laden defense and Che Holloway, the best running back you haven’t heard a lot about (1,739 yards and 20 touchdowns, both school records), the Lancers are one victory away from a likely rematch with Olympic League rival Cerritos Valley Christian, the top- seeded team in the division.
Valley won, 36-31, in the regular season finale, and you can be sure that Holloway & Co. would love a rematch.
CAGING PARROTT
When Santa Ana Valley receiver Jason Parrott ran wild against Irvine last week from the quarterback position, gaining 59 yards and scoring a touchdown in five carries, Falcon Coach Scott Orloff remarked, “I wonder why I didn’t think of using him like that sooner.”
Lightning didn’t strike twice, however. Though Parrott completed one pass for 18 yards, Servite held him to only two yards in five carries in a 26-6 victory.
AM I BLUE?
Either way you look at it, someone was bound to come away blue Friday night at Saddleback College.
Blue is the dominant uniform color for Western and Santa Margarita.
Western wore white jerseys with blue numerals and slick white pants that bordered on silver. Santa Margarita wore blue jerseys with white numbers and gold pants.
A sea of blue jackets, sweat shirts and sweaters dotted bleachers on both sides.
ON THE RECORD
‘What can I say? Our guys like to tackle and hit people.’
--Julian Smilowitz, Fullerton coach, after his team limited Redondo Union to 64 yards offense in a 28-0 victory in a Division VII second-round game.
HANG TIME?
Capistrano Valley punter Chris Culbertson’s second-quarter punt caught Long Beach Poly’s returner, Kenyon Rambo, by surprise when it disappeared into the fog above the field at Capistrano Valley Friday.
The ball fell a few yards behind a puzzled-looking Rambo and was downed by the Cougars.
ON THE RECORD
‘I couldn’t believe how big the ball looked coming at me. It was a blimp. I just caught it and fell to the ground and said, “Thank you, God.” ’
--Greg Madalena, Temescal Canyon linebacker, on his interception of a Laguna Hills pass with 25 seconds remaining to preserve a 14-13 victory.
County Leaders
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING
1. Jeff Byrd
Rancho Alamitos, 1992
2,596 yards
2. Brendan McGraw
Laguna Hills, 1994
2,511 yards
3. Charles Chatman
Costa Mesa, 1994
2,500 yards
4. Michael Jones
Laguna Hills, 1995
2,350 yards
5. Binh Tran
Costa Mesa, 1993
2,303 yards
SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING YARDAGE
1. Tony Hartley
Los Alamitos, 1995
1,478 yards
2. Robbie Katzaroff
Los Alamitos, 1985
1,388 yards
3. George Sagen
Los Alamitos, 1992
1,285 yards
4. Brad Melsby
Los Alamitos, 1993
1,279 yards
5. Dave Poltl
Capistrano Valley, 1990
1,229 yards
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