Huntley’s Week 7 Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a nice week last week going 6-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>NORCO VS. MURRIETA VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norco has found its stride lately and it's because they are getting the ball to their star [player_tooltip player_id='145245' first='Grant' last='Gray']. The defense has been effective but has a real test against a great Murrieta Valley offense. [player_tooltip player_id='282686' first='Bear' last='Bachmeier'] is a good quarterback and his brother [player_tooltip player_id='25360' first='Tiger' last='Bachmeier'] is an even better receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='450298' first='ASA' last='Chatman'] has been a good surprise at running back too. Norco has two quality wins over Rancho Cucamonga and Vista Murrieta. Murrieta Valley is coming off two impressive wins against San Clemente and Roosevelt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Murrieta Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>BISHOP AMAT VS. SERRA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Amat is the best team in the San Gabriel Valley and is coming off a tough win against Sierra Canyon. Three quarterbacks threw passes for the Lancers in that game: [player_tooltip player_id='147734' first='Richard' last='Munoz Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='240019' first='Hunter' last='Watson'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406732' first='Frankie' last='Villalbazo']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195520' first='Stacy' last='Bey']</strong> had a good game running the ball and [player_tooltip player_id='145208' first='Delano' last='Franklin'] is one of the top receivers in the section. Serra goes as its running back [player_tooltip player_id='147716' first='Cincere' last='Rhaney'] goes. If Amat can shut him down, Serra can't score enough to keep pace with Amat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Bishop Amat</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DelanoLee23/status/1576288731593515008?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DelanoLee23/status/1576288731593515008?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>TESORO VS. TRABUCO HILLS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was one of the best games I covered last season. Trabuco Hills quarterback <strong>Will Burns</strong> is a dual threat who essentially won the game for the Mustangs last season in this matchup. Burns threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns against Los Osos last week. <strong>Mikey Gray</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1284472' first='Ryan' last='Luce']</strong> are quality sophomore receivers and <strong>Lucas Short</strong> is a good cornerback who had a pick-six in this game last year. <strong>Travis Wood</strong> is a dominant running back for Tesoro. The passing game isn't great for the Titans but <strong>Cash O'Byrne</strong> made his debut at quarterback last week and [player_tooltip player_id='169106' first='Evan' last='Pierce'] can throw. The key to the game is the Tesoro defense, led by [player_tooltip player_id='270888' first='Owen' last='Burnside'], being able to keep Burns from beating them with his legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick:</strong> Tesoro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Nolan_Football/status/1577321887218081794?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Nolan_Football/status/1577321887218081794?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>VALENCIA VS. WEST RANCH</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a big Foothill League matchup. Valencia has two blowout wins after its league opening loss to Saugus. <strong>Daniel Hernandez</strong> is a quality running back for Valencia and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='273601' first='Reid' last='Farrell']</strong> is very good on defense. Colorado commit [player_tooltip player_id='261742' first='Ryan' last='Staub'] is the star for West Ranch and <strong>Chaz Hilst</strong> has over 600 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. <strong>Luke Deperno</strong> is an under-the-radar sophomore running back for West Ranch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>West Ranch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/chris_t_torres/status/1576348896070053888?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/chris_t_torres/status/1576348896070053888?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>JSERRA VS. SANTA MARGARITA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JSerra is coming off an impressive 21-13 loss to Mater Dei. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406721' first='George' last='Perez']</strong> is a speedy sophomore running back for the Lions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='942928' first='Clarence' last='Chaney']</strong> is one of my favorite junior linebackers in Orange County and was in the backfield a lot against the Monarchs. Santa Margarita is coming off a disappointing close loss to Orange Lutheran and needs to win this game. [player_tooltip player_id='25428' first='Jaxon' last='Potter'] formerly went to JSerra and is now having a stellar season at quarterback for the Eagles. [player_tooltip player_id='115420' first='Emmett' last='Mosley'] is a good receiver for the Eagles and [player_tooltip player_id='195538' first='Bain' last='Eiseman'] is a nice deep threat. [player_tooltip player_id='204409' first='Jacob' last='Bower'] is a tackle machine on defense for the Eagles and [player_tooltip player_id='147756' first='Levar' last='Talley'] is a good pass rusher. Santa Margarita needs this game more than JSerra does.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Santa Margarita</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JSerraAthletics/status/1577062849033084929?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JSerraAthletics/status/1577062849033084929?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>MADISON VS. CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are two top five teams in San Diego. Cathedral Catholic is coming off a loss to Lincoln and has played a brutal schedule this season. <strong>Sean Kagen</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='145201' first='Victory' last='Johnson'] had big games on defense against Lincoln. The Dons want to run the ball with <strong>Will Bond</strong> and make it easier on junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398444' first='Jack' last='Stevens']</strong>. <strong>Reggie Johnson</strong> is one of the more reliable quarterbacks in San Diego for Madison. [player_tooltip player_id='115441' first='James' last='Tivao'] is one of the best defensive players in San Diego and [player_tooltip player_id='25435' first='Jonah' last='Rodriguez'] is the best offensive lineman in San Diego.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Cathedral Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>ST. JOHN BOSCO VS. MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wrote an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/st-john-bosco-vs-mater-dei-preview/">in depth preview </a>of this game here. I think Mater Dei has the edge at quarterback in this game with [player_tooltip player_id='147708' first='Elijah' last='Brown'], but Bosco has the depth in the secondary to shut down the Mater Dei receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='282711' first='Marcus' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='384736' first='Jordan' last='Onovughe'] are good receivers but [player_tooltip player_id='115432' first='Marcelles' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='115433' first='Peyton' last='Woodyard'], [player_tooltip player_id='145132' first='Ty' last='Lee'], [player_tooltip player_id='25459' first='Aaron' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='25395' first='RJ' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='25380' first='Jshawn' last='Frausto-Ramos'] are great defensive backs for the Braves. Bosco did not have [player_tooltip player_id='115443' first='Kyngstonn' last='Viliamu-Asa'] in this game last season and he is the best junior in the state. Mater Dei has played a more challenging schedule than Bosco. I am breaking my cardinal rule here which is never pick against Mater Dei.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>St. John Bosco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/johnwdavis/status/1578069175452385280?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/johnwdavis/status/1578069175452385280?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SteveFryer/status/1578069871727976449?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SteveFryer/status/1578069871727976449?s=20u0026t=0ZiggSAk2fCyoh0uORQESA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntley's Record: </strong>32-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->