Football: El Toro ready for South Coast showdown
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It’s only October, but tonight’s South Coast League contest between unbeatens Lake Forest El Toro and Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro is almost a play-in game. Whichever team loses could be left out of the Pac-5 Division playoffs because the league has only two automatic berths.
El Toro is led by quarterback Conner Manning, who is enjoying a season that even NFL great Peyton Manning would be proud of. He has completed nearly 69 percent of his passes with 2,939 yards, 30 TDs and only three interceptions.
The Chargers (7-0), ranked 17th in the Southland by The Times, can also run with Jacob Furnari, who had 194 yards and four TDs in last week’s 49-37 victory over San Clemente. El Toro’s defense had six sacks in that game--five by lineman Jeffrey Nelson.
Tesoro (6-0), ranked No. 4 by The Times, needs another big game from running back Nate Tago, who carried 27 times for 168 yards and two TDs last week in a 35-28 victory over Trabuco Hills. It was the third time this season the Titans needed a fourth-quarter rally to win.
Kickoff is minutes away. Stay logged on for scoring updates.
-- Steve Galluzzo