Plenty left to play for

The final week of the prep football regular season is upon us and there’s plenty left to play for.

For three of the four local teams — Edison, Ocean View and Huntington Beach — a postseason playoff berth hinges on the outcome of their respective games.

Tonight

Edison (6-3, 3-1) vs. Newport Harbor (7-2, 3-1)

(at Newport Harbor High, 7 p.m.)

A share of the Sunset League title will be on the line when the Chargers and Sailors meet at Davidson Field.

The big scenario for Edison is this: A win tonight gives the Chargers no worse than a share of their third consecutive title and fifth in the past seven years. An Edison victory, coupled with an Esperanza win Friday over Fountain Valley, would leave both teams tied for the title. Edison would go as the league’s top-seed into next week’s playoffs by virtue of its Oct. 29 win over Esperanza.

A loss tonight by the Chargers, combined with how the other league teams fare, would create a few more scenarios, among them, dropping the Chargers all the way from first-place, to fourth, the latter of which could eliminate them from postseason play. There’s also the possibility of the Chargers gaining an at-large berth into the playoffs.

Newport is in the same situation as Edison. The Sailors, in just their second year in the league, can earn no worse than a share of the league crown with a win tonight.

“It’s a huge game for both teams with a lot on the line,” Edison Coach Dave White said. “Newport is playing really well right now. They don’t beat themselves because they don’t really make a lot of mistakes. They like to run the ball and eat up the clock.”

Newport rushed for 299 yards Nov. 2 to run past Marina, 42-7. Sailors quarterback Andrew McDonald ran for a touchdown and threw for two more to lead the victory.

On that same night, Edison retained “The Bell” for a third-straight year by defeating arch-rival Fountain Valley, 22-13, before a packed house at Orange Coast College. Senior quarterback Nick Crissman threw for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Chargers.

“I thought Nick and Aresio (Lakey) played well on offense, and linebackers Eric Smith and Blayne Anderson did a great job on defense,” White said.

Last year’s score: Chargers 37, Sailors 6

Orange (3-6, 2-2) vs. Ocean View (6-3, 2-2)

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View controls its own playoff fate: Simply put, a win tonight over Orange in the Golden West League finale for both teams, wraps up a CIF berth for the Seahawks.

The berth will go to Orange should the Panthers prevail.

Ocean View hasn’t made the postseason since 2001.

“We’re really excited to have this opportunity,” said third-year Ocean View Coach Dean Yoshiyama. “This program has taken some good steps in the past three years.

“It’s hard to hide the fact that this game is huge. We have our fate in our own hands, which is what you want.”

Ocean View and Orange enter tonight’s game tied for third-place in the league standings. Second-place Santa Ana plays at fist-place Westminster in another key game tonight. An Ocean View win, coupled with a Santa Ana loss, would leave the teams tied for second-place but Ocean View would earn the league’s second playoff berth by virtue of its Oct. 12 win over the Saints.

Ocean View fell 41-6 last Friday to Westminster. By the 5:21 mark of the first quarter, Alex Gomez had rushed for one touchdown and Steven Marquez for two more, as the Lions opened up a 21-0 lead. Ocean View’s lone score came on a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior Robert Garay on the final play of the third quarter

Orange, meanwhile, was a 38-21 winner over Saddleback. Running back Victor Amey rushed for 100 yards and a pair of scores. But it’s Panthers quarterback Newman Collett who concerns Yoshiyama.

“The No. 1 thing for us is stopping him,” Yoshiyama said of Collett, who also plays safety. “He’s very athletic and a real playmaker. We’ll need to contain him.”

Last year’s score: Panthers 24, Seahawks 20

Friday’s games

Los Alamitos (6-3, 2-2) vs. Marina (3-6, 0-4)

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

Marina will close out its season against a Los Alamitos team fighting to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth out of the Sunset League.

It will be Marina’s final game at Bill Boswell Field until the 2009 season, as the Westminster high stadium will undergo major renovations beginning in June and be closed for the 2008 football season.

The Vikings suffered a 42-7 defeat last Friday to Newport Harbor. Junior Zach Couey threw for 160 yards and scored on a one-yard run for Marina.

Los Alamitos can finish in a tie for second-place with a win over Marina.

Last week, the Griffins dropped their second-straight Sunset League game when they fell to rival Esperanza, 30-24. Clark Evans threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, with Paul Richardson on the receiving end of two of those passes.

Last year’s score: Griffins 38, Vikings 0

Huntington Beach (5-4, 2-2) vs. Foothill (7-2, 3-1)

(at Tustin High, 7 p.m.)

Huntington needs a win Friday over second-place Foothill in this Sea View League battle, to keep alive its CIF playoff hopes.

If Huntington defeats Foothill and El Toro beats league-leading Trabuco Hills tonight then the Oilers secure a postseason berth, Huntington Coach Eric Lo said.

If Huntington wins but El Toro loses, then there could be a three-way tie for second-place which would result in a coin flip to determine the second and third teams to receive a playoff berth from the league.

A loss would end the Oilers’ season.

“To be in this position, having the chance to earn a playoff berth, is great for us,” Lo said. “But we want the season to go beyond this week and well into the postseason.”

The Oilers put forth their best offensive effort last Friday during a 27-13 win over host Woodbridge, Lo said. Nick Gordon rushed for 137 yards and two scores, Johnny Olivé ran for a score and Clayton Prestridge booted a pair of field goals, the second from 46-yards out.

“It was probably our best offensive performance of the year, in terms of efficiency,” Lo said. “We ran the ball really well, completed nine of 11 passes for 100 yards and didn’t have a turnover. That was huge. In our game two weeks ago against El Toro, we turned the ball over five times.”

Last year’s score: Knights 26, Oilers 10

FOOTBALL LOGS

Edison (6-3; 3-1)

27…Diamond Ranch…13

26…San Clemente…17

45…L.A. Jordan…0

0…Servite…6

14…Mater Dei…42

9…*Los Alamitos…13

62…*Marina…7

9…*Esperanza…7

22…*Fountain Valley…13

Friday: vs. *Newport Harbor

(at Newport Harbor High, 7 p.m.)

Huntington Beach (5-4, 2-2)

10…L.B. Millikan…22

35…Los Amigos…20

3…L.B. Jordan…13

21…Westminster…0

25…Gardena…12

14…*Trabuco Hills…45

22…*Northwood…15

22…*El Toro…34

27…*Woodbridge…13

Friday: vs. *Foothill

(at Tustin High, 7 p.m.)

Marina (3-6, 0-4)

20…Capo Valley…26

14…Westminster…13

37…Orange…19

14…Colton…52

24…Paramount…9

0…*Esperanza…58

7…*Edison…62

6…*Fountain Valley…32

7…*Newport Harbor…42

Friday: vs. *Los Alamitos

(at Westminster High, 7 p.m.)

Ocean View (6-3, 2-2)

22…Calvary Chapel…15

14…University…42

21…Century…14

29…Bolsa Grande…6

27…Estancia…26

28…*Santa Ana...…

14…*Segerstrom…35

35…*Saddleback…14

6…*Westminster…42

Tonight: vs. *Orange

(at Ocean View High, 7 p.m.)

(*denotes league game)