Both upper-bracket games in the CIF Southern Section's Pac-5 playoff division involve Moore League teams . . . Poly and Lakewood, if you haven't been paying attention.
Here are some quick thoughts on each game
FRIDAY
Mission Viejo (10-1) at Lakewood (5-6, on paper, 9-2, on the field), 7:30 p.m.
Frank Says: The Diablos have one of the best passing attacks in Southern California, led by Cal-bound quarterback Allan Bridgford and directed by Bob Johnson, considered the "guru" of quarterbacks among all high school coaches. Mission Viejo has an underrated running attack, led by Jake Marshall, and will try to make the Lancers pay if they try too put too much pass-rush heat on Bridgford. The Diablos have one of the best two-way players in Southern California in defensive back/wide receiver Alex Mascarenas, who is committed to UCLA. Mission Viejo's defense faced some quality offenses in the South Coast Coast (include that of unbeaten Tesoro, the only team to beat the Diablos). But none of them appear to be as diversified and explosive as the one Lakewood Coach Thadd MacNeal will put on the field Friday night.
Projection: Lakewood 31, Mission Viejo 28
SATURDAY
Poly (11-0) vs. Esperanza (8-3) at Valencia High in Placentia, 7 p.m.
Frank Says: The Aztecs will attempt to do against the Poly defense what they were able to accomplish in the first round against San Clemente: occupy the ball for long stretches of time to keep the opposing offense off the field and "shorten" the game. But Esperanza, which finished in the much-discussed five-way tie for the Sunset League crown, hasn't faced a defense of the magnitude it will see Saturday night in Bradford Stadium. Look for the Jackrabbits to make much quicker work of the Aztecs than they did last week in the gut-cruncher with Bishop Amat.
Projection: Poly 28, Esperanza 10
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