Division VIII at a Glance

Defending champion: Trabuco Hills (now in Division I).

Top teams: La Mirada (10-0), Bloomington (10-0), Laguna Hills (8-2), San Marino (8-2).

Dark horse: Duarte (5-4-1) has outscored its last three opponents, 129-12, and won its last four games. Though beaten by La Mirada, 48-6, in Week 3, the Falcons would get a rematch in the second round.

Top players: Jeff Auterson, Riverside Norte Vista, RB; Tony Avila, San Marino, TB; Malachi Brown, Duarte, RB; Cheyane Caldwell, Bloomington, RB; Charles Chatman, Costa Mesa, RB; Dewayne Crenshaw, Costa Mesa, RB/DE; Tucker Highfield, University, RB; Drippy Horton, Norte Vista, RB; Dan Loyd, San Marino, QB; Darrell McGhee, Duarte, RB; Brendan McGraw, Laguna Hills, RB; Greg Oliver, Bloomington, RB; Alan Price, University, RB; Tucker Sabo, San Marino, TE; Jason Weir, Costa Mesa, OL/DL; Sako Yakinian, Laguna Hills, K.

Best draw: Costa Mesa (7-2-1) is generally regarded as the best second-place team in the division and should win its first-round game against the second-place team from the Sunkist League, Norte Vista (6-4); provided that happens, the Mustangs would have an advantage over fourth-seeded San Marino (8-2) by playing a home game.

Worst draw: University (4-5-1) is coming off a loss to fledgling Aliso Niguel one week after its tie with Costa Mesa; now the Trojans open the playoffs against the No. 1 team in the division, La Mirada.

Notes: Costa Mesa reached the finals last year and has two of its primary weapons back, Dewayne Crenshaw and Charles Chatman. . . . University is making its fifth playoff appearance in the school’s 25-year history. It last appeared in 1991 when they reached the semifinals. . . . Laguna Hills’ Brendan McGraw can tie an Orange County scoring record with two touchdowns. . . . Laguna Hills has won six in a row; only five other teams have won more than six games. . . . Laguna Hills is averaging 31.5 points per game. Costa Mesa is averaging 40. . . . Coaches at the seeding meeting were generally more fearful of second-seeded Bloomington than La Mirada. . . . Bloomington last week scored a 66-8 victory over Norte Vista, which is Costa Mesa’s opponent. . . . Bloomington has outscored opponents, 646-118, including an 86-8 victory over Big Bear and 84-0 over Riverside Notre Dame; its lowest offensive output was a 40-0 victory over Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, and its closest game was a 68-27 victory over La Sierra in Week 9. . . . Although comparing scores is never a sure sign of how one measures up, Laguna Hills might get a peek at how it could fare against Bloomington in the semifinals; Laguna Hills opens the playoffs with Temescal Canyon (5-5). . . . Rio Hondo League champion San Marino had four consecutive shutouts before ending the season with a 28-21 victory over second-place Temple City (6-4).