With league play underway for all prep football teams in the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area, attention turns to the battle for championships and playoff spots.
In the Garden Grove League, Rancho Alamitos and Los Amigos look like they’ll contend for a playoff spot along with defending champion Garden Grove and Santiago.
The Empire League campaign features five teams (out of seven) ranked in CIF’s Southwest Division, so nearly every game is a battle. Even Pacifica and Valencia, winless so far in EL play, could end up with a ticket to the post-season.
In the Golden West League, Westminster showed its bona fides by upsetting previously unbeaten Loara, which was highly-ranked in the CIF Southern Division. Even Magnolia, which lost its first five games, finds itself tied for first in the Orange League after an upset win last week.
Tonight (Thursday) action in the Garden Grove League will see Los Amigos (2-4 overall and 1-0 in league) and Santiago (3-3, 0-1) clashing at Garden Grove Stadium. At Glover Stadium in Anaheim, Magnolia (1-5, 1-0) will face Anaheim (3-3, 1-0) in an Orange League matchup.
At Bolsa Grande Stadium, Pacifica (4-2, 0-2) will host Valencia (3-3, 0-2) in a battle of Empire League powerhouses off to a slow start.
On Friday in the Golden West League, Segerstrom (5-1, 1-0) will test Westminster (2-4, 1-0) at Boswell Field. Also, Orange (1-5, 0-1) will visit Santa Ana (0-6, 0-1) at Santa Ana Stadium in a revival of one of Orange County’s longest prep football series.
In the Garden Grove League, Garden Grove (5-1, 1-0) will host its oldest rival, Rancho Alamitos (1-5, 1-0). Bolsa Grande (0-6, 0-1) will host La Quinta (2-4, 0-1).
Over in the Empire League, Western (2-4, 0-2) will host Kennedy (6-1, 2-1) at Handel Stadium.
