Whieldon’s Skills Hard to Miss

With such high-profile quarterbacks as Santa Margarita’s Chris Rix, Edison’s Richard Schwartz, Ocean View’s Deshai Houston and Buena Park’s Earl Parker in the county, it’s easy to overlook Jason Whieldon.

Orange Lutheran’s senior quarterback rarely plays before large crowds and his team plays at the Division XI level.

But after watching Whieldon throw for six touchdowns, pass for 310 yards and rush for 100 yards against his team on Thursday, Troy Coach John Turek is a believer.

“Whieldon might be the most outstanding quarterback in the county,” Turek said. “He runs the option as well as I have ever seen and he can pass as well as he runs. You don’t often find that combination. Usually they do one thing better than the other. He is also very poised. He should be able to play at the next level.”

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There’s no question Friday’s game against Mission Viejo was important to Aliso Niguel, which was moved out of the Pacific Coast League this season.

“It’s our first Sea View League-type of test,” Wolverine Coach Joe Wood said. “They’ve got some decent athletes and they’ll be well-coached.”

Mission Viejo is among the favorites to win the South Coast League. Three teams in the Sea View League--Woodbridge, Irvine and Newport Harbor--are in the county’s top 10.

Aliso Niguel won, 15-7.

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Friday’s game between Mater Dei and Loara had all kinds of interwoven themes:

* Loara Coach John deFries and Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson were assistant coaches at Rancho Santiago College.

* DeFries’ son, Kevin, graduated from Mater Dei.

* Hiram deFries, John’s brother, is an assistant line coach for the Monarchs.

“I think this is the first time we’ve ever opposed each other in a football game,” said John deFries, who played linebacker at Roosevelt High in Hawaii and at Loara. Hiram was on offensive lineman and linebacker at Punahou High in Honolulu.

The brothers said Friday’s game would be hard on their mother, who still lives in Hawaii. Hiram, who was talking with her by cell phone before kickoff, said she would not reveal who she was rooting for. “She just wanted everyone to come out of the game healthy,” he said.

Mater Dei won, 35-0.

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Esperanza’s search for a running game didn’t get any easier after the Aztecs were limited to 28 yards in a 14-3 loss to Servite last week.

Starting tailback Matt Parrish suffered a high ankle sprain during practice Wednesday and did not play Friday against No. 5 San Clemente.

Projected starter Temitope Sonuyi broke his wrist in spring practice.

“We’re looking for an offense,” Aztec Coach Gary Meek said.

Two sophomores, Louie Mares and Ben Alvarado, showed promise against the Tritons. Mares rushed for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns in 23 carries, and . Alvarado had 95 yards in 18 carries in the Aztecs’ 20-10 victory.