Previews and predictions for Thurday’s football games:
SANTA ANA VALLEY (3-3 overall, 0-1 league) VS. ANAHEIM (2-4, 0-1)
Where, when: Glover Stadium, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The second league is an important one for teams that 0-1 in league. If a team loses the second game, it will be 0-2 and almost certainly must win the final three games of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs. Valley lost its league opener to Katella, by far the best team in the league, 41-7 last week. Anaheim lost to the league’s second-best team Savanna 26-7. Valley might have the offensive firepower advantage in this one.
Winner: Santa Ana Valley
CREAN LUTHERAN (4-2, 0-1) VS. PACIFICA (3-3, 1-0)
Where, when: Garden Grove High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Crean Lutheran made one giant leap to the Empire League from the Academy League coming into this school year. The Saints’ Empire debut last week was a rough one, a 34-7 loss to Valencia. Valencia is the best team in the league, so that’s OK. Pacifica is the second-best team in the league. The Mariners beat Cypress 48-28 in a league opener last week. They rushed for 384 yards and passed only four times in the win. Crean is going to be fine in this league some day, but Pacifica will have matchup advantages especially along the offensive and defensive lines in this game.
Winner: Pacifica
Also Thursday
Games 7 p.m. unless noted
ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
Calvary Chapel (0-6, 0-1) vs. Santa Ana (4-2, 1-0) at Santa Ana Stadium
ORANGE LEAGUE
Savanna (5-1, 1-0) vs. Magnolia (2-4, 0-1) at Western High
NONLEAGUE
No. 7 Villa Park (5-1) vs. El Dorado (2-4) at Valencia High
Godinez (1-5) vs. Fairmont Prep (3-3) at Yorba Linda High