Lutheran Playing Above ‘Small-School’ Tag

Thursday’s game between Woodbridge and Orange Lutheran, the first meeting between the schools’ football teams, has evolved into one of the more intriguing nonleague matchups of the season.

The 4-0 Lancers, who entered the county sportswriters’ poll this week at No. 10, are averaging 47 points.

The 4-0 Warriors, ranked fourth and the defending Southern Section Division VI champions, have the county’s longest unbeaten streak (17-0-1) thanks to a defense that has given up an average of only 10 points.

Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson said no one should consider Lutheran “a small program” simply because they play in Division XI.

“This is the best team we have faced to this point,” Gibson said. “I don’t care about large or small schools. You only play with 11 guys at a time, and their 11 are quite good.

“Their quarterback, Jason Whieldon, is as talented a kid as I have seen. I am very impressed with his decision-making skills and he is so accurate passing. The best thing to do is to keep their offense off the field. Whether we can do that is a huge question.”

Jim Kunau, Orange Lutheran’s coach, said his Lancers “will be huge underdogs to a great team,” but he doesn’t plan to make this game the focal point of their season.

“We are not losing perspective,” Kunau said. “Both teams have more important games after this because league starts next week.

“But anytime you play a great team that has the kind of coaching they have and plays as hard as they play, it’s a great opportunity for your team to improve. It forces to you try to rise to another level. And we will have our hands full trying to stop Shane Harris, who I feel is one of the top five overall players in county. He is an unbelivably versatile player and playmaker.”

BEDEVILED DIABLOS

Mission Viejo (0-4) has got to be the most frustrated team in Orange County. The Diablos have been outscored by a total of 17 points, losing three games by three points each.

ABDELMUTI PAYS PRICE

Fountain Valley running back Nedal Abdelmuti was headed for a big day against Servite, with 178 yards and four touchdowns in eight carries. But on his last touchdown, Abdelmuti was flagged a second time for taunting and was ejected from the game. Now, according to Southern Section rules, he must sit out the Barons’ next game, which is Friday against Trabuco Hills.

Fountain Valley Coach Eric Johnson hopes Abdelmuti hears the message being sent.

“Nedal is very talented but he can’t do those things,” Johnson said. “Besides, when you do that stuff, it makes defensive guys mad and they go after you.”

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Southern California Christian will play its last 11-man football game against Fairmont Saturday before switching to eight-man football.

“We’re still talking to them about playing it as an eight-man game,” SCC Coach Alan Degenhardt said. “If not, we’ll play as if we have enough healthy players, and play as long as we can.”

The 0-3 Flames, who canceled last Friday’s game against Covina Western Christian, have 15 healthy players, Degenhardt said.

Bill Clark, Southern Section assistant comissioner, said his office has yet to receive a letter from Academy League representives agreeing to the change. “But I expect to get it, and then [SCC] will be allowed to drop to eight-man,” he said.

Fairmont Coach Tom Caffrey, whose team is playing its first season of varsity football, said he sympathizes with SCC.

“We’re getting pounded every week and we are down to 21 players,” Caffrey said. “If anyone understands what they are going through, it’s us.”

EXPECTATIONS TOO GREAT

When the season began, Santiago Coach Ben Haley said his team was good enough to go 10-0 and win its first Garden Grove League title in 20 years. But after four games, the Cavaliers are 2-2, including a league-opening 28-14 loss to Pacifica.

“I think maybe we put too much pressure on the kids,” Haley said. “Winning the league probably meant more to the coaches on the staff who were part of the last title team.

“We kind of felt like this was the game. Now we have to hope that someone can take Pacifica on and we can win the rest of our games.”

Staff writers Martin Henderson and Dave McKibben contributed to this story.