Huntley’s Championship Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's championship week and the top teams in Southern California will play for their respective Section championships on Friday and Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southern Section has 14 championship games and the LA City and San Diego Sections each have a handful of games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei and St. John Bosco headline the slate at the Rose Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I went 5-2 last week and have a playoff record of 15-7. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are seven of the best games this weekend:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>LA CITY SECTION</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>BIRMINGHAM VS. GARFIELD</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Birmingham is the big bad wolf of the City Section and have won 33 consecutive games against City Section opponents on the field. They survived a double overtime win against Venice in round one and dominated Banning in the semifinals. <strong>Peyton Waters</strong> does it all for Birmingham and is the best player on the field. <strong>Damian Cornejo</strong> is the star running back for Garfield and <strong>Jayden Barnes</strong> is a great two-way player. <strong>Juju Zamudio</strong> is one of the best defensive players in the City Section. I have a new policy of not picking against Birmingham until they lose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Birmingham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CIFLACS/status/1594106334852845568?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/CIFLACS/status/1594106334852845568?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>SOUTHERN SECTION</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 8</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>NORTHWOOD VS. LAKEWOOD</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams are powered by strong running backs in <strong>Adam Harper</strong> (Northwood) and <strong>Kaleb Foster</strong> (Lakewood). [player_tooltip player_id='219817' first='Brayden' last='Downen'] of Lakewood is the better quarterback in this matchup but <strong>Eugene Miyata</strong> manages the Northwood offense very well. Both teams are well-coached and have been hot lately. It's very impressive that Northwood won the Division 11 championship last season and is now in the championship game three divisions higher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Northwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/OCSportsZone/status/1595599556044984320?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/OCSportsZone/status/1595599556044984320?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 7</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>SAN JACINTO VS. ORANGE</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game is loaded with playmakers at the skill positions. [player_tooltip player_id='261800' first='Dereun' last='Dortch'] is a playmaker at quarterback for San Jacinto and [player_tooltip player_id='398384' first='Dillon' last='Gresham'] is one of my favorite receivers to watch. [player_tooltip player_id='282709' first='Hype' last='Grand'] has really developed into a nice quarterback and has greatly improved from when I first saw him in September. [player_tooltip player_id='115424' first='Kobe' last='Boykin'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='942936' first='Ardwon' last='Morris']</strong> are big play threats at running back for Orange. A big matchup is Gresham against [player_tooltip player_id='149316' first='Jett' last='White']. White and <strong>Jalen Lightfoot</strong> have done a good job shutting down opposing passing games. This game will come down to which team avoids a late mistake.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Orange</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1594777598126657540?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/mikehuntley63/status/1594777598126657540?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 4</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>DOWNEY VS. CYPRESS</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Downey had a miraculous win against Cathedral in the semifinals. <strong>Bryant Carey</strong> has been a two-way star for the Vikings this season and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='25366' first='Aidan' last='Chiles'] is one of the best in the Section. Cypress has been winning close games in the playoffs too. <strong>Aidan Houston</strong> is a great two-way quarterback. [player_tooltip player_id='35436' first='Matthew' last='Morrell'] causes matchup problems and [player_tooltip player_id='173344' first='Trevor' last='Monteleone'] is a good two-way player. This game will come down to the big men up front and the team that is most physical will win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Downey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CypressHSFB/status/1594879527993352193?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/CypressHSFB/status/1594879527993352193?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 3</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>YORBA LINDA VS. UPLAND</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yorba Linda is the hot team that is coming off a dominant performance against Corona del Mar in the semifinals. <strong>William Saucedo</strong> is a downhill runner and [player_tooltip player_id='270909' first='Reyn' last='Beal'] can beat you through the air if needed. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220688' first='JJ' last='Conrad']</strong> is a big play threat at receiver and [player_tooltip player_id='270026' first='Wyatt' last='Mosier'] is a tackling machine at linebacker. Upland's defense has been playing well in the playoffs and held Bishop Diego to seven points in the semifinals. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384742' first='Vincent' last='Macaluso']</strong> may be the best defensive player in this game. Upland will try to wear Yorba Linda down with <strong>Rickey Allen</strong> with the running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Yorba Linda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/coachbailey_yl/status/1595854654570577920?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/coachbailey_yl/status/1595854654570577920?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>INGLEWOOD VS. SIERRA CANYON</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw these teams at the CIF media luncheon on Monday and these teams have big dudes. [player_tooltip player_id='261865' first='Jamari' last='Johnson'] of Inglewood is a marvel to see in person and he was the MVP in Inglewood's semifinal win over Chaminade. [player_tooltip player_id='406636' first='Husan' last='Longstreet'] is one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the Section and [player_tooltip player_id='115468' first='Terrell' last='Bradshaw'] Jr. is a speedy receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='282703' first='Dane' last='Dunn'] has been excellent at running back for Sierra Canyon and [player_tooltip player_id='282704' first='Alonzo' last='Esparza'] has been mistake free at quarterback lately. [player_tooltip player_id='273549' first='Cameron' last='Brandt'] is a great defensive player for the Trailblazers and [player_tooltip player_id='282739' first='Nevada' last='Miller'] is a promising young player. CalPreps gives Inglewood the worst chance of winning of any team this weekend but I disagree and think this will be a very close game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Sierra Canyon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/UTRScouting/status/1594071821770375168?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/UTRScouting/status/1594071821770375168?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MATER DEI VS. ST. JOHN BOSCO</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wrote an in-depth <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/division-1-championship-preview-mater-dei-vs-st-john-bosco/">preview of this game earlier for Prep Redzone here</a>. [player_tooltip player_id='147708' first='Elijah' last='Brown'] is 29-0 as a starter for Mater Dei. [player_tooltip player_id='25367' first='Pierce' last='Clarkson'] got hurt in the first matchup and is hungry for revenge. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='25456' first='Matayo' last='Uiagalelei'] to be a factor in this one for Bosco. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mater Dei</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1596166667519725570?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/mikehuntley63/status/1596166667519725570?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1594810951186145280?s=20u0026t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w","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/mikehuntley63/status/1594810951186145280?s=20&amp;t=p4iUGWkC_x08P7DEE8IP4w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntley's Record: </strong>67-31</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Playoff Record: </strong>15-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->