By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
The Teams
Oaks Christian, Calif. (2-0) at St. Bonaventure, Calif. (3-0)
Friday's game is the long-awaited "big test" for head coach Bill Redell's Oaks Christian program. The Lions have run roughshod over lower-division opponents in California's Southern Section, collecting 33-straight victories and outscoring victims by an average of 53-6 over their last 15 games.
The Westlake Village school has an overwhelming cast of Division I-A talent, headlined by Notre Dame-bound quarterback Jimmy Clausen. A member of the MaxPreps Preseason All-American team, Clausen hasn't been asked to do much two games in to his senior season, but that should change tomorrow.
Redell's ground game is in good hands with senior Marc Tyler, a heading to USC. In addition to Clausen and Tyler, the Lions feature four other seniors already committed to BCS conference schools, including Mike Ebbitt (Texas A&M), Anthony Gildon (Oregon), Marshall Jones (USC), and Casey Matthews (Oregon).
Although St. Bonaventure is well-established as a Southern California powerhouse, a win against Oaks Christian might be the final nudge Jon Mack's program needs to be a fixture in the national picture.
The Seraphs have won 98 of their last 101 games (27-straight), and are a battle-tested bunch with wins over Hart and Canyon already this season, and Burroughs, Crespi, and Moorpark in 2005.
Like their Friday counterparts, there will be no shortage of starpower on the Ventura school's sideline. Although wide receiver/linebacker Blaine Irby - committed to Texas - is garnering the most attention from schools at the next level, little Michael Lee is the team's sparkplug. Lee ran for 1,929 yards as a junior, and is off to a solid start again this season. Senior defensive back Michael Williams is also sifting through offers from Division I-A powers.
The Bottom Line
There is no way to tell how Oaks Christian will react in the face of a serious challenge. But this game has been circled on the Lions' schedule for a long time, and Clausen and Co. would love to silence the critics with a convincing win.
The Seraphs are an absolute juggernaut and have been successful on the big stage before. As talented as Oaks Christian is, St. Bonaventure won't be seriously overmatched, if at all, particularly on the lines.
We'll stay away from predictions until the computer goes to work for us next week, but at the very least, the expected crowd of 8,000-plus is going to see more talent on one field than any other game in California all season long. That should be worth the price of admission.
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