Chargers, Seahawks open at home

The third and final leg of the 2011 prep football season starts this week for four local teams that have moved on to compete for CIF Southern Section championships.

Edison, Huntington Beach, Ocean View and Brethren Christian are all part of the postseason party and each began preparations Monday for first-round games. Both Edison and Ocean View will play at home, while Huntington Beach and Brethren Christian open on the road.

"We're really excited to be where we are," said Eric Lo, who is taking the Oilers to the playoffs for the second time in his fifth year as head coach. "The kids have had a great season so far and we are focused now on the playoffs. We can't wait."

Below is a capsule look at the four games.

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Pac-5 Division

Tesoro (6-4) vs. Edison (8-2), 7 p.m., Friday, Orange Coast College: An intriguing first-round game pits teams coming from rugged leagues against each other in the first meeting between the schools.

Tesoro is the No. 3 team from the formidable South Coast League and the Titans enter postseason play on a two-game losing streak. Those losses, came against second-ranked Mission Viejo and sixth-ranked San Clemente. Their other two losses are to No. 4 Santa Margarita and Chaparral (No. 10, Inland Division).

Running back Nate Tago is just eight yards shy of reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season and leads a solid run game. Quarterback Matt Adams has thrown for 779 yards and has seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

"I think the teams are similar in that both are real hard-working programs that are balanced on offense and stingy on defense and both get the most out of their players," Edison Coach Dave White said. "They (Tesoro) come from a really tough league and played Mission Viejo close (14-7 loss). It should be a good game."

By contrast, Edison takes a Sunset League championship and five-game win streak into Friday's opener. The Chargers' two losses are to top-ranked and two-time defending Pac-5 champion Servite and a Mater Dei team that, on a rare occasion, failed to make the postseason.

The Chargers clinched an outright Sunset League title last week by routing host Newport Harbor, 35-7. Senior quarterback Chase Favreau ran for a pair of scores and threw for 267 yards and had touchdown passes to Curren Provost and Sedric Hill. Favreau has put up 1,690 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just five interceptions through the air.