Great Games Highlight The Weekend In Prep Football

Rahshaun Haylock

CBS -- There is plenty of action to take in Week 3 ...at Veteran's Stadium in Long Beach tonight, Long Beach Poly will face its toughest challenge of the young season in (5) Mission Viejo. 

 The Diablos are 3-0 with road wins at Bothell (Washington) and Loyola.  If this Poly team is as good as predicted at the start of the season, this is the type of game that they should win. 

Unfortunately, Poly (2-1) hasn't looked like that team since Zero Week.  Last time they played at home, they were embarrassed by St. Bonaventure 32-7. 

Last week, they barely came away with a 23-20 win at Narbonne.  The passing game that looked like it could be a problem for Jackrabbit opponents has been problematic in recent weeks. 

 After a 300 yard performance and completing 62 percent of his passes opening night, junior QB Chaiyse Hales was just 10/27 in the St. Bonaventure loss. 

Last week, it was the running of RB Keltain Malveaux that helped Poly escape with a win.  Meanwhile, the Diablos haven't had a problem scoring all year, averaging 49 points through their first three games.

  Junior QB Alex Brigford has thrown eight TDs and no INT this season.  Giving the offense a change of pace, running the wildcat, is Army All American Tre Madden. 

 Known more for his LB prowess, Madden is out with a fractured foot suffered in last week's win against Corona.  Mission Viejo has been the most impressive team, not named Servite, in the PAC-5 during the early part of the season. 

This is the first meeting between the two powerhouses since the Diablos' 41-14 win in 2004.  Coincidentally, that was also the fourth game of the season for both teams. 

MaxPreps has this as one of their Top 10 games of the week nationally.

Another game on the MaxPreps Top 10 games of the week is quickly becoming a huge rivalry. 

(6) Corona Centennial (2-0) travels to take on reigning Inland Division Champion, Chaparral (0-2).  This is the 7th meeting between the two foes since 2006.  The Huskies own a 4-2 edge over that span. 

 The teams have also met twice in each of the last two seasons, with the last meeting resulting in a 43-35 Inland Division Semifinal win for the Pumas.

  Interestingly enough, during this span the Pumas have not won a regular season game against the Huskies.  Centennial will be led by senior QB Michael Eubank. 

If you ask him, he'll tell you he's a pocket passer.  If you ask Mater Dei, they'll tell you otherwise.  Last week, Eubank turned in one of his most impressive peformances as a Husky.  In the win against Mater Dei, Eubank threw for 200 yds and two TD and ran for 180 yds and three TD. 

 Chaparral, no stranger to slow starts (Chaparral started the '09 season 2-2), has been a thorn in their own side.  Penalties have plagued the Pumas in their two losses to Oceanside and (Fresno) Central.   

Chaparral committed 11 penalties last week and drew crucial flags down the stretch during a potential game-tying drive against Oceanside. 

If that wasn't enough, star WR Antoine Arnold has been slowed by shoulder and groin injuries.  He found his way into the endzone for the first time last week and has 10 catches over the Pumas first two games.  

As for State Bowl aspirations for Chaparral, those dreams are all but over and an 0-4 start to the season is not out of the realm of possibility.  After hosting the Huskies, they'll travel north to take on (3) Servite. 

Top 10 programs will collide at Cerritos College tonight when  (3) Servite (3-0) hosts (9) Edison (3-0).  Where have we seen this before? 

Now I recall.  It was a rainy, December night, in Anaheim.  The PAC-5 Title was on the line and the Friars handed the Chargers their first loss of the season, on their way to a State Bowl Championship.

  There has not been a more impressive team in this young season than the Friars.  True to Troy Thomas form, the defense has been once again stellar. 

The Friars have only allowed two TD on the season, both of which have come in the fourth quarter of games the Friars had well in hand. 

Servite is coming off of a 23-0 shutout win of three-time defending Southwest Champion La Habra.  It should be noted the Highlanders were without QB Cody Clements who is committed to Washington State. 

 Edison's last two wins have come with junior Chase Favreau starting at QB.  The junior transfer from Mater Dei was ruled ineligible before the start of the season, but on an appeal was granted eligibility. 

In two games, Favreau has thrown for 327 yds, five TD, and no INT.  Don't be surprised if this turns into a slugfest. 

Remember that 6-0 Servite win over Edison in 2007?  We could see something similar tonight.  Servite has won 3 of the last 4 meetings with Edison.
 
Other Games to Watch Tonight:
Taft (1-1) QB Michael Bercovici threw a school-record 474 yards last week in a win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.  What will he do for an encore?  Alemany (3-0) hosts Bercovici and company. 
 
Crenshaw (1-2) is trying to get to .500 for the first time this season.  Tonight they get a visit from J.W. North (0-2).
 
(10) Norco travels to Upland (3-0).  Cougars RB Kelsey Young has been on a tear.  After rushing for 297 yds and three TD in a win over Crenshaw, he backed that up last week with 288 yards and six TD in a win over Etiwanda.  Scots beware.
 
Mater Dei is in the midst of their first 0-2 start since 2005.  The Monarchs are also endanger of losing three in a row for the second consecutive season when they travel to San Clemente (4-0).  Mater Dei, one of the most storied programs in the country, is 3-6 in their last nine games dating back to last season. 
 
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (0-3) will welcome Birmingham (1-2).  The young Knights are still looking for their first win of the season. 
 
Monrovia (1-1) travels to San Dimas (1-2) in a rematch of last years Mid Valley Division Final won by the Saints 12-7.   

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)