Bell Game takes center stage

It’s a sure bet that LeBard Stadium will be abuzz throughout the night Friday.

At 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College, long-time nemeses Edison and Fountain Valley square off in the latest edition of this fiery-fueled rivalry that has major implications this year.

Yes, the fabled Bell Game has a lot riding on its outcome late-Friday.

“Playing in a huge rivalry that is larger than life, is so exciting for this kids,” Fountain Valley Coach Ray Fenton said. “This is what it’s all about. We’ve told the kids, this is why you’ve worked so hard, this is where you want to be. Embrace it. Have fun with it.”

The buzz began to build from the get-go earlier in the week for a game that traditionally has been a sellout. Fountain Valley Coach Ray Fenton said pre-game ticket sales started Monday, and that the school had sold out its ticket allotment by noon that day. Edison was on track to do the same Wednesday, Edison Athletic Director Rich Boyce said.

All the pregame excitement is well-founded, too, as a few streaks are working for both teams heading into the showdown: Fountain Valley has won six straight games after an 0-2 start, Edison is on a three-game win streak, and the Chargers have won the last 10 games in the Bell Game series.

Not only is possession of The Bell at stake, but so are two other sought-after distinctions: sole possession of first place in the Sunset League, and a share of the league championship.

Edison holds a 30-14-1 lead in the series.

“It’s not just the Bell this year, there’s a lot riding on this game,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “Both teams are playing well and Fountain Valley is coming in really confident. They’ve played really well in recent weeks.”

Fountain Valley (6-2) went to 3-0 in league play last week by taking down Marina, 49-7. Senior Kent Swift took over at quarterback after senior starter Chad Olberding was injured in the first quarter, and Swift went on to throw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 68 yards and an additional score. Junior receiver Jacob Garrett had two TD receptions (one from both Olberding and Swift, the second on a double-reverse pass) and finished with 138 yards. Tight end/defensive end Angel Hernandez, part of the double-reverse TD pass play, also scored on a fumble return, and freshman Arick McLawyer and sophomore Adam Arganda both rushed for touchdowns.

Edison (5-3), the designated home team Friday, is coming off a 28-13 win over Huntington which also put the Chargers at 3-0 in league. Sophomore quarterback Griffin O’Connor rushed for two touchdowns, senior running back Jacob Marines ran for a score before leaving the game with an injury (knee), and junior Turner Maza, Edison’s leading tackler, took charge of the ground game by rushing 20 times for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Edison is ranked sixth and Fountain Valley is No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section West Valley Division rankings entering the game.

The Barons made their first rankings appearance of the season this week.

Both teams, the last remaining undefeated squads in the Sunset League, are banged up and will be without key starters Friday. Fenton said he wasn’t sure which of his injured players will be ready at game time. White said the Chargers will be without four senior starters (Marines, Grant Lowary, Jacob Price, Shane Fullbright).

“This is an incredible rivalry,” said White who has been involved with it as a player, assistant coach and head coach. “it’s a game where the student bodies and communities of both schools really get fired up. It’s an incredible experience.”

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Thursday

Huntington Beach (3-5) vs. Los Alamitos (3-5)

(7 p.m., Veterans Stadium)

A three-way tie for third place in the Sunset League will be broken when two of those teams, Huntington and Los Al, tangle in Long Beach.

Huntington dipped to 1-2 in league after last week’s 28-13 loss to Edison. Senior running back Hunter Simmons again went over the 100-yard rushing mark this time, with 143 yards on 25 attempts. He also threw a short touchdown pass to senior receiver Mondo Duarte to account for Huntington’s only touchdown. Junior Fletcher Wilson hit a pair of field goals.

Los Alamitos also is 1-2 in league after it got its initial win last week by romping past Newport Harbor, 49-0. The Griffins, who had scored 21 total points in its first two league games (losses to Edison and Fountain Valley), broke out of their offensive slump as quarterback Jack Telenko threw three touchdowns passes and rushed for another, two-way player Jacob Gasser, returning from injury, caught three TD passes, and Dylan Laurent scored twice including on a punt return.

The win over Newport Harbor, which is the third Sunset team at 1-2 in league, ended a five-game losing streak for the Griffins.

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Friday

Newport Harbor (3-5) vs. Marina (1-7)

(7 p.m., Westminster High)

The Vikings have the chance to notch their first Sunset League victory and deal the Sailors’ playoff hopes a blow when the teams meet at Bill Boswell Field.

Marina’s winless streak went to six games after last week’s 49-7 loss to Fountain Valley. The Vikings’ score came on an 85-yard pass play between senior quarterback Anthony Del La Torre (125 passing yards) and senior receiver Ethan Young.

Newport Harbor also gave up 49 points in its last game, a 49-0 shutout loss to Los Alamitos.

The Sailors, who defeated Huntington Beach two weeks ago and are 1-2 in league, have lost five of their last six games.

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Ocean View (4-4) vs. Segerstrom (5-2-1)

(7 p.m., Segerstrom High)

Coming off a lopsided victory, the Seahawks go up against a Segerstrom bunch that was equally as impressive last week in Golden West League play.

Ocean View registered its second shutout victory of the season last week by downing visiting Orange, 34-0. Senior quarterback Blake Meyer had 146 yards of total offense and threw touchdown passes to junior Xavier Salgado and senior Jason Bryan, and rushed for a score. Senior running back opened the scoring with a six-yard run, and Salgado scored the second of his two touchdowns on an interception return.

Ocean View picked up its first league win in improving to 1-2.

“We were able to take advantage of some of Orange’s turnovers and defensively, we were exceptional all night,” Ocean View Coach Luis Nunez said. “The defense has really been solid in league and has really taken pressure off the offense.

“Offensively, we will have to do better this week to beat Segerstrom. Segerstrom is rolling right now but our kids feel that they can play with anyone in league.”

Segerstrom is the co-leader with Westminster of the Golden West League at 3-0. The Jaguars are coming off an impressive victory, handing then-sixth-ranked Santa Ana (7-1) its first defeat by routing the Saints, 35-0. Quarterback Marcos Avalos and running back Abel Diaz both scored twice, and linebacker Rodolfo Mendoza had 10 tackles and two sacks.

The Segerstrom defense has four shutouts this season including the last two games.

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Brethren Christian (7-1) vs. Sage Hill (1-7)

(7 p.m., Sage Hill School)

The Warriors look to bounce back from their first loss of the season against the Lightning.

BC had defending Academy League champion and CIF-SS East Valley Division champion St. Margaret’s on the ropes in a thrilling showdown that featured eight lead changes Saturday. In the end, the visiting Tartans pulled in front for good by scoring with just over seven minutes left to play, then intercepted a pass in the end zone on BC’s final possession, to hold on for a 34-31 victory.

Junior running back Jordan Leonard rambled for 254 yards and a pair of scores on 29 carries, junior quarterback Joey Gutierrez went 15 of 22 for 204 yards with a touchdown pass to junior receiver Josh Gorrell, junior running back Levon Lester rushed for a score, and senior Bobby Hardigree kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Warriors who racked up 470 yards of total offense.

Warriors Coach Pat McInally called it a “great football game.”

“We sincerely hope we get to play them again this year,” he said, referencing next month’s CIF playoffs.

Sage Hill has dropped six consecutive games and is 0-2 in league play. The Lightning has been outscored, 108-13, in its two league losses.

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CIF Weekly Rankings

(released Monday)

West Valley Division: Edison, No. 6; Fountain Valley, No. 10.

East Valley Division: Brethren Christian, No. 6.