Huntley’s Week 3 Picks
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Each week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California. Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week: MULLEN (COLORADO) VS. SANTA MARGARITA Santa Margarita got an unexpected bye…
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Continue ReadingEach week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California.
Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week:
MULLEN (COLORADO) VS. SANTA MARGARITA
Santa Margarita got an unexpected bye week after its game against St. Augustine of San Diego was canceled due to lack of healthy players for St. Augustine. The Eagles looked great against Norco in their last game. Michigan commit Collins Acheampong Collins Acheampong 6'7" | 255 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita | 2023 State CA and Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA do a great job on the edges and Jacob Bower Jacob Bower 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 CA racks up the tackles up the middle with 16 per game. Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA was in a groove against Norco and Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA is a great underneath target with Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA being a deep threat. Mullen has a handful of college prospects like offensive lineman Hayden Woodruff Hayden Woodruff 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Mullen | 2023 State CO (Colorado Mines), Hunter Lay Jr Hunter Lay Jr 6'3" | DL Mullen | 2023 State CO (Air Force, Penn) and Ishmael Aceves Jr Ishmael Aceves Jr 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Mullen | 2023 State CO (New Mexico State). Mullen has a well-balanced offense, but Santa Margarita is just more talented.
The pick: Santa Margarita
NEWPORT HARBOR VS. CAPO VALLEY
Newport is coming off a close loss to a Trinity League opponent in JSerra. Capo Valley is 3-0 but its opponents are 0-8 this year. Colton Joseph Colton Joseph 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA is a quality quarterback for Newport who isn’t lighting up the stat sheet this year but makes few mistakes. Kashton Henjum Kashton Henjum 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA is one of the best receivers in Orange County and Carson De Avila Carson De Avila 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA can shut down the run game. Trey Kukuk Trey Kukuk 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Capistrano Valley | 2023 State CA is the heart and soul of Capo Valley and can beat you with his arms and legs. Hunter Napoleon has been a pleasant surprise at receiver for the Cougars and Hudson Campbell is a talented sophomore receiver. Capo’s defense is much-improved with a bigger Jackson Sievers Jackson Sievers 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Capistrano Valley | 2024 State CA and more mature Reily Walker. While Capo is better on defense, the Cougars have not been tested yet this season.
The pick: Newport Harbor
WARREN VS. SERRA
Serra has challenged itself with a tough schedule and got its first win last week over Cathedral of Los Angeles. Cincere Rhaney Cincere Rhaney 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Serra | 2024 State CA is a dominant running back for the Cavaliers. Rodrick Pleasant Rodrick Pleasant 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Serra | 2023 State CA is the fastest player in the state at corner and can match up against any of the good Warren receivers. Warren is led by Tennessee commit Nico Iamaleava Nico Iamaleava 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Warren | 2023 State CA at quarterback. Former quarterback Darius Cowens Darius Cowens 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Warren | 2023 State CA has shifted to receiver and has looked very good. Receiver Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Warren | 2024 State CA may miss the game due to injury which is crucial for the Bears. This is Warren’s toughest game of the season so far and Serra is battle-tested.
The pick: Serra
MISSION VIEJO VS. SIERRA CANYON
Mission Viejo is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Long Beach Poly where they had many chances to win the game. The passing game looked good in flashes with Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA finding Mikey Matthews Mikey Matthews 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA and Jackson Holman Jackson Holman 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA for big plays. The defense had good moments as well with Jonathan Becerra Jonathan Becerra 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA and Michael Damato Michael Damato 6'0" | 205 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA having big games. Sierra Canyon has a bit of a quarterback controversy with Damon Wrighster Damon Wrighster 6'3" | 170 lbs | QB Inglewood | 2024 State CA and Alonzo Esparza Alonzo Esparza 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2025 State CA . Wrighster has been playing better as of late so he may get the start. BYU commit Josiah Phillips Josiah Phillips 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2023 State CA has been outstanding at receiver and Cameron Brandt Cameron Brandt 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon | 2024 CA will be tough for the Diablos to block. Look for Mission Viejo to get a nice bounce back win here.
The pick: Mission Viejo
FOOTHILL VS. TROY
This is a matchup between two quality Orange County public school programs. Aaron Mitchell Aaron Mitchell 5'8" | 210 lbs | RB Foothill | 2024 CA has been a workhorse for Foothill at running back. Ethan Charpentier Ethan Charpentier 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Foothill | 2023 CA has the second most tackles in the Southern Section and Bode Jellerson is a solid tackler as well. Troy has a great running attack led by Fischer Huss, Declan Healey Declan Healey 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Troy | 2024 CA and Kieran Klingsberg. Troy has a solid win over Irvine but has not really been tested yet. Foothill is the toughest opponent Troy has faced so far. If Foothill can contain Troy’s running game and force Troy to pass, it will win. If Troy can score 28 points, they should win.
The pick: Foothill
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC VS. HELIX
Cathedral Catholic may be the top team in San Diego and is coming off losses against outstanding opponents in Centennial and Chandler (AZ). Jack Stevens Jack Stevens 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Cathedral Catholic | 2024 State CA is a quality quarterback who doesn’t have impressive numbers but that isn’t surprising considering the tough competition the team has faced. Will Bond has playmaking potential for the Dons. Victory Johnson Victory Johnson 6'4" | 230 lbs | LB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA may be the top linebacker in San Diego and Madden Faraimo Madden Faraimo 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB JSerra | 2025 State CA is one of the top sophomores in the region. Ryland Jessee Ryland Jessee 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Helix | 2024 State CA has been near perfect at quarterback for Helix. Quincy Herron has been a reliable redzone target for Jessee and Jackson Daniels Jackson Daniels 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Helix | 2024 State CA has three interceptions for the defense. This begins a tough stretch of games for Helix. They may be catching Cathedral Catholic at the right time when they may be banged up and dejected.
The pick: Cathedral Catholic
SAN CLEMENTE VS. CORONA DEL MAR
San Clemente is 3-0 against San Diego teams and Corona del Mar is the toughest test of the year so far. Broderick Redden Broderick Redden 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE San Clemente | 2024 State CA was efficient at quarterback last week and Blake Allen is a hard runner. The defense is speedy and physical with Cole Robertson, Kyle Yamano Kyle Yamano 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB San Clemente | 2023 CA , Nolan Reid and Brad Gerken Brad Gerken 5'11" | 190 lbs | DB San Clemente | 2023 CA . Corona del Mar narrowly beat Palos Verdes last week with backup quarterback Kaleb Annett. David Rasor David Rasor 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Corona Del Mar | 2023 State CA is nursing an injured ankle but may play Friday. Cooper Hoch Cooper Hoch 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Corona Del Mar | 2023 State CA has been solid at receiver and the defense has been led by Ryan Nielsen and Mason Kubichek Mason Kubichek 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB Corona Del Mar | 2023 CA . This could be a low-scoring game. Annett is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the county and would start for a lot of schools. I think Corona del Mar’s defense can make it difficult for San Clemente to score.
The pick: Corona del Mar