Football: Observations from Week 2

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Hold off on the demise of Santa Ana Mater Dei. A 31-13 rout of Corona Centennial lets the fans know the Monarchs are still kicking and have a fabulous player in junior receiver Victor Blackwell. And it’s making Anaheim Servite fans nervous, considering the Friars (3-0) might be the best team in the Pac-5 but are 0-19-1 against Mater Dei since 1988.

Fountain Valley (3-0) is making noise and must be taken seriously as a Sunset League title contender. Its latest victory came over Temescal Canyon, 34-10. Kyle Middlebrooks is one of the fastest and best running backs in the Southland.

I say beware of Woodland Hills Taft, which lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 45-27. The Toreadors pick up runnning back-defensive Lucky Radley on Oct. 9, just in time for a showdown game against Gardena Serra. Radley is a terrific high school athlete who will fill in weakness everywhere and provide a big boost.

It’s all over but the arguing about whether Westlake Village Oaks Christian or Ventura St. Bonaventure belong in a state bowl game. Both are headed for unbeaten seasons unless they stumble in the section finals.

Oaks Christian’s schedule is miserable the rest of the way. St. Bonaventure still plays Encino Crespi and La Puente Bishop Amat. Good luck on trying to separate the two. They should be playing each other. Perhaps Gardena Serra and Moorpark will offer a challenge in the section finals.

-- Eric Sondheimer