Football: Playoff intrigue in Trinity and Serra leagues

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It’s the final week of the regular season, and only a few playoff spots remain to be decided in the powerful Pac-5 Division. Here’s how things look in the Trinity and Serra leagues.

Anaheim Servite (8-1, 4-0) and Santa Margarita (8-1, 3-1) are in. Bellflower St. John Bosco (6-3, 2-2) gets third place if it beats Orange Lutheran (6-3, 1-3). But an Orange Lutheran win, combined with a victory by Santa Ana Mater Dei (3-6, 1-3) over JSerra (4-5, 1-3) would enable Orange Lutheran to make the playoffs, since the Lancers would own wins over St. John Bosco and Mater Dei.

If JSerra were to beat Mater Dei and end up in a three-way tie for third, then coin flips would be needed.

In the Serra League, Mission Hills Alemany (7-2, 3-0) and Los Angeles Loyola (7-2, 2-1) are in. Loyola plays Encino Crespi (7-2, 1-2) and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (6-3, 1-2) plays Alemany. La Puente Bishop Amat (6-4, 1-3) has a bye.

If Loyola and Alemany each win, there will be a three-way tie for the final playoff spot among Notre Dame, Crespi and Bishop Amat, resulting in a coin flip. If Crespi wins, it qualifies, along with Loyola, because each has beaten Notre Dame. So Notre Dame needs Loyola to beat Crespi no matter what.

-- Eric Sondheimer