Playoff pictures coming into focus

With just two weeks left in the regular season, the first-place battles in the Del Rio, Freeway and Almont leagues became a little clearer Thursday and Friday.
La Serna and El Rancho are both 3-0 in the Del Rio League, and they’ll meet Nov. 7 – that’s a Thursday – with the league championship likely at stake, although both have to win next week to make that happen. La Serna plays Whittier at Cal High on Nov. 1 while El Rancho hosts Santa Fe.
In the Freeway League, La Habra and Buena Park are both 3-0, and they’ll meet at La Habra on Nov. 8. After Friday’s victory over Troy, La Habra has won 33 consecutive Freeway League games.
Rivals Montebello and Schurr are also hurtling toward a Nov. 8 first-place showdown in the Almont League after each posted a decisive victory Friday. Both are 3-0 and both should roll to blowout victories next week – Montebello hosts Alhambra (1-2) and Schurr visits Keppel (0-2 entering Friday’s game vs. San Gabriel).
La Mirada throttled Cerritos on Thursday to improve to 3-1 in the Suburban League, and the Matadores will host first-place Norwalk (8-0, 4-0) on Nov. 1. The Lancers are ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS Southeast Division.
In the Olympic League, Whittier Christian (2-1) visits Maranatha (2-0) next week. Cantwell-Sacred Heart’s loss Friday dropped the Cardinals to 2-2 in the Del Rey League, which means next week’s home game vs. first-place La Salle (4-0) is critical.

This week’s scores
Thursday
La Serna 62, Pioneer 7
La Mirada 42, Cerritos 8
Friday
La Habra 42, Troy 14
El Rancho 22, Cal 15
Montebello 29, Bell Gardens 7
Whittier Christian 41, Heritage Christian 34
Santa Fe 24, Whittier 21
Schurr 47, Alhambra 0
Verbum Dei 46, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 10
Chaminade 64, St. Paul 13

Next week
Thursday
Pioneer at Cal
Friday
Alhambra at Montebello
Schurr at Keppel
La Salle at Cantwell-Sacred Heart
Santa Fe at El Rancho
Whittier vs. La Serna at Cal High
Sonora at La Habra
Cathedral at St. Paul
Whittier Christian at Maranatha
Norwalk at La Mirada

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St. Paul tastes victory for first time since last season

It’s time to celebrate at St. Paul High!

The Swordsmen secured their first victory of the season Friday night, defeating Harvard-Westlake 31-23 in the Mission League. St. Paul had lost 13 consecutive games dating back to 2012, and won a league game for the first time since 2011.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart also earned a victory Friday, 54-7 over winless Bosco Tech in the Del Rey League. The Cardinals improved to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

La Mirada suffered its first Suburban League loss, falling 28-21 to visiting Mayfair. The Matadores are now 2-5 overall and 2-1 in league.

Montebello and Schurr each earned Almont League victories Friday to improve to 2-0, and El Rancho improved to 2-0 in the Del Rio League by walloping Pioneer 62-21. Cal evened its Del Rio League record at 1-1 by defeating Whittier 17-14.

Here are all the area scores from this week.

Thursday

Whittier Christian 41, Village Christian 21

Friday

La Habra 55, Sunny Hills 0

La Serna 37, Santa Fe 0

Mayfair 28, La Mirada 21

El Rancho 62, Pioneer 21

Montebello 42, San Gabriel 0

Cal 17, Whittier 14

Schurr 10, Bell Gardens 0

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 54, Bosco Tech 7

St. Paul 31, Harvard-Westlake 23

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Heralds drop Olympic opener, extend losing skid to three games

Defending Olympic League champion Whittier Christian suffered a 35-27 loss to visiting Valley Christian on Friday in the league opener for both teams, the Heralds’ third consecutive setback after three victories to open the season.
Other defending league champs from the area had better nights, with La Serna and La Habra each earning victories. La Serna topped rival Ca 35-14 to open the Del Rio League, and Freeway League power La Habra overcame a slow start to beat Fullerton 48-21.
In the Almont League, Montebello and Schurr both scored decisive victories their opener. Montebello continued its excellent play of late by whipping Keppel 55-6, and Schurr rebounded from last week’s disappointing effort vs. Whittier by thrashing San Gabriel 47-9.
In other games, Santa Fe beat Pioneer 49-15 to open the Del Rio League, St. Paul fell to 0-6 after a 63-18 loss to St. Francis in the Mission League, and Cantwell-Sacred Heart fell to 1-1 in the Del Rey League after a 21-16 loss to Mary Star.

How the Top 10 Fared
La Habra (5-1, 1-0): Defeated Fullerton 48-21
La Serna (4-2, 1-0): Defeated Cal 35-14
Santa Fe (4-2, 1-0): Defeated Pioneer 49-15
La Mirada (2-4, 2-0): Bye
El Rancho (3-3, 1-0): Defeated Whittier 17-3 Thursday
Whittier Christian (3-3, 0-1): Lost to Valley Christian 35-27
Montebello (3-3, 1-0): Defeated Keppel 55-6
Whittier (3-3, 0-1): Lost to El Rancho 17-3 Thursday
Cal (2-4, 0-1): Lost to La Serna 35-14
Schurr (2-4, 1-0): Defeated San Gabriel 47-9

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This week’s football schedule

Thursday
El Rancho vs. Whittier at Cal High

Friday
La Habra at Fullerton
La Serna at Cal
Santa Fe vs. Pioneer at Cerritos College
Valley Christian vs. Whittier Christian at Whittier College
Keppel at Montebello
Schurr at San Gabriel
Cantwell-Sacred Heart vs. Mary Star at Daniels Field
St. Francis at St. Paul, 7:30 p.m.

Bye
La Mirada

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