Huntley’s SoCal Picks (Week One)
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Huntley’s season record: 3-4 (ouch). Mission Viejo vs. Servite Analysis: Servite is coming off a very impressive blowout win over Edison, one of the top public school teams in Orange County. Mission Viejo is a better team than Edison, but Servite…
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Continue ReadingHuntley’s season record: 3-4 (ouch).
Mission Viejo vs. Servite
Analysis: Servite is coming off a very impressive blowout win over Edison, one of the top public school teams in Orange County. Mission Viejo is a better team than Edison, but Servite is the best team the Diablos will play this season. Mission Viejo had a comeback win against Apple Valley in which Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA and Mikey Matthews Mikey Matthews 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA shined to lead the Diablos’ offense. Servite’s defense is much better than Apple Valley’s. The Friars are led by Jacob Manu Jacob Manu 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Servite | 2022 State CA on defense and we may see some of Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Servite | 2022 State CA at cornerback. I don’t expect Servite’s linemen to bully Mission Viejo the way the did Edison, but if Mission Viejo falls behind in this one, they won’t be coming back.
The pick: Servite
Alemany vs. St. John Bosco
Analysis: Bosco had a huge win over Miami Central High of Florida last week and dominated defensively. Sione Hala Sione Hala 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA had a huge game as well as Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Alemany is loaded with talent and is the best team in Los Angeles in my opinion this season. Larry Turner-Gooden Larry Turner-Gooden 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Bishop Alemany | 2022 State CA is one of the best players in the state and Niuafe Tuihalamaka Niuafe Tuihalamaka 6'3" | 240 lbs | LB Bishop Alemany | 2022 State CA is a sight to be seen in person. Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA was outstanding for Bosco last week and Jabari Bates Jabari Bates 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA made clutch runs when he had to. Kudos to Alemany for scheduling this game and I expect them to give Bosco a challenge.
The pick: St. John Bosco
Lincoln vs. Los Alamitos
Analysis: These are two of the most athletic teams in the state at the skill positions. I am excited to watch Jahlil Florence Jahlil Florence 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Lincoln - San Diego | 2022 State CA and Jalil Tucker Jalil Tucker 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2022 State CA match up with Makai Lemon Makai Lemon 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and DeAndre Moore DeAndre Moore 5'11" | 190 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Los Al has the advantage at quarterback with Malachi Nelson Malachi Nelson 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA but Jalen Daniels Jalen Daniels 6'5" | 215 lbs | QB Lincoln | 2022 State CA was great in Lincoln’s dominant win last week. I expect some of the secondary receivers and defensive backs to shine in this one like Nathan Acevedo for Lincoln and Ethan O’Connor Ethan O’Connor 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and Gavin Porch Gavin Porch 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA for Los Alamitos. The Griffins have the advantage in the trenches in this one with David Main David Main 6'3" | 245 lbs | OL Los Alamitos | 2022 State CA , Cash Koepke Cash Koepke 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Los Alamitos | 2022 State CA and Adam Tomczyk Adam Tomczyk 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Los Alamitos | 2022 State CA . A player to watch in this one is Sinn Brennan Sinn Brennan 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA .
The pick: Los Alamitos
Tustin vs. Foothill
Analysis: One of the best rivalries in Orange County is a fun one this year with both teams coming off huge wins last week. Tustin beat Capo Valley behind new quarterback Tobey Schmidt Tobey Schmidt 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Marantha | 2022 CA . Foothill’s offense was stellar in a win against Cypress and the Knights took advantage of timely turnovers. Brody Jones looked good at quarterback making big plays with Austin Overn and Patrick Hawkins Patrick Hawkins 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Foothill | 2022 State CA was great defensively. This game was close last season and I expect the same this year.
The pick: Foothill
Serra vs. Long Beach Poly
Analysis: Serra had a tough loss against Orange Lutheran last week. Maalik Murphy Maalik Murphy 6'5" | 225 lbs | QB Serra - Gardena | 2022 State CA had a decent game for the Cavaliers but still threw two interceptions. Serra running back Cincere Raney made big plays and rushed for 92 yards on just seven carries with a touchdown. This is the most talented Long Beach Poly team in recent years. Daylen Austin Daylen Austin 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Long Beach Poly | 2023 State CA is an outstanding cornerback and Dylan Williams Dylan Williams 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA is fun to watch. I am interested to see how Long Beach Poly uses its quarterbacks Shea Kuykendall Shea Kuykendall 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2022 State CA and Darius Curry Darius Curry 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA .
The pick: Long Beach Poly
Upland vs. Orange Lutheran
Analysis: Orange Lutheran got a much-needed win against Serra last week. Logan Gonzalez Logan Gonzalez 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2022 State CA was effective for Orange Lutheran throwing two touchdown passes. Upland’s defense is outstanding and had 11 sacks in a shutout win against La Habra. Apisai Matelau and Christopher Ponce each had 2.5 sacks and Bishop Blakely had 13 tackles. I will be covering this game for the Orange County Register and I am curious to see how Upland’s defense holds up against a Trinity League team like Orange Lutheran.
The pick: Upland
Cathedral Catholic vs. Centennial
Analysis: Cathedral Catholic is the top team in San Diego. The Dons gutted out a tough win against Torrey Pines last week. Charlie Mirer Charlie Mirer 6'6" | 225 lbs | QB Cathedral Catholic | 2022 State CA is the quarterback for the Dons and Rex Haynes Rex Haynes 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR Cathedral Catholic | 2022 State CA and Lucky Sutton Lucky Sutton 6'1" | 205 lbs | RB Cathedral Catholic | 2022 State CA are two big play guys to watch. Centennial scrimmaged Mater Dei last week. Carson Conklin Carson Conklin 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Centennial - Corona | 2023 State CA and Izzy Carter Izzy Carter 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Centennial - Corona | 2023 State CA will play quarterback for Centennial and have different skillsets. Their top targets will be Eric Denham Eric Denham 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Demarieon Young Demarieon Young 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Centennial | 2022 State CA and Kai Lauderdale. I look forward to seeing Haynes potentially matchup with Centennial corner Jaden Mickey Jaden Mickey 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Centennial - Corona | 2022 State CA .
The pick: Centennial