Huntley’s Championship Picks
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It’s championship week and the top teams in Southern California will play for their respective Section championships on Friday and Saturday. The Southern Section has 14 championship games and the LA City and San Diego Sections each have a handful…
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Continue ReadingIt’s championship week and the top teams in Southern California will play for their respective Section championships on Friday and Saturday.
The Southern Section has 14 championship games and the LA City and San Diego Sections each have a handful of games.
Mater Dei and St. John Bosco headline the slate at the Rose Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m.
I went 5-2 last week and have a playoff record of 15-7.
Here are seven of the best games this weekend:
LA CITY SECTION
OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
BIRMINGHAM VS. GARFIELD
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. Peyton Waters does it all for Birmingham and is the best player on the field. Damian Cornejo is the star running back for Garfield and Jayden Barnes is a great two-way player. Juju Zamudio is one of the best defensive players in the City Section. I have a new policy of not picking against Birmingham until they lose.
The pick: Birmingham
SOUTHERN SECTION
DIVISION 8
NORTHWOOD VS. LAKEWOOD
Both of these teams are powered by strong running backs in Adam Harper (Northwood) and Kaleb Foster (Lakewood). Brayden Downen Brayden Downen 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Lakewood | 2023 State CA of Lakewood is the better quarterback in this matchup but Eugene Miyata 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.
The pick: Northwood
DIVISION 7
SAN JACINTO VS. ORANGE
This game is loaded with playmakers at the skill positions. Dereun Dortch Dereun Dortch 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB San Jacinto | 2023 State CA is a playmaker at quarterback for San Jacinto and Dillon Gresham Dillon Gresham 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR San Jacinto | 2024 State CA is one of my favorite receivers to watch. Hype Grand Hype Grand 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Pasadena | 2025 State CA has really developed into a nice quarterback and has greatly improved from when I first saw him in September. Kobe Boykin Kobe Boykin 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Los Alamitos | 2024 CA and Ardwon Morris Ardwon Morris 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Orange | 2024 State CA are big play threats at running back for Orange. A big matchup is Gresham against Jett White Jett White 6'1" | 155 lbs | DB Los Alamitos | 2025 CA . White and Jalen Lightfoot have done a good job shutting down opposing passing games. This game will come down to which team avoids a late mistake.
The pick: Orange
DIVISION 4
DOWNEY VS. CYPRESS
Downey had a miraculous win against Cathedral in the semifinals. Bryant Carey has been a two-way star for the Vikings this season and quarterback Aidan Chiles Aidan Chiles 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Downey | 2023 State CA is one of the best in the Section. Cypress has been winning close games in the playoffs too. Aidan Houston is a great two-way quarterback. Matthew Morrell Matthew Morrell 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Cypress | 2023 State CA causes matchup problems and Trevor Monteleone Trevor Monteleone 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Cypress | 2023 CA 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.
The pick: Downey
DIVISION 3
YORBA LINDA VS. UPLAND
Yorba Linda is the hot team that is coming off a dominant performance against Corona del Mar in the semifinals. William Saucedo is a downhill runner and Reyn Beal Reyn Beal 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA can beat you through the air if needed. JJ Conrad JJ Conrad 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Yorba Linda | 2023 CA is a big play threat at receiver and Wyatt Mosier Wyatt Mosier 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA 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. Vincent Macaluso Vincent Macaluso 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Upland | 2023 State CA may be the best defensive player in this game. Upland will try to wear Yorba Linda down with Rickey Allen with the running game.
The pick: Yorba Linda
DIVISION 2
INGLEWOOD VS. SIERRA CANYON
I saw these teams at the CIF media luncheon on Monday and these teams have big dudes. Jamari Johnson Jamari Johnson 6'5" | 250 lbs | TE Inglewood | 2023 State CA of Inglewood is a marvel to see in person and he was the MVP in Inglewood’s semifinal win over Chaminade. Husan Longstreet Husan Longstreet 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Centennial | 2025 State CA is one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the Section and Terrell Bradshaw Terrell Bradshaw 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2024 State CA Jr. is a speedy receiver. Dane Dunn Dane Dunn 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA has been excellent at running back for Sierra Canyon and Alonzo Esparza Alonzo Esparza 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2025 State CA has been mistake free at quarterback lately. Cameron Brandt Cameron Brandt 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon | 2024 CA is a great defensive player for the Trailblazers and Nevada Miller Nevada Miller 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA 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.
The pick: Sierra Canyon
DIVISION 1
MATER DEI VS. ST. JOHN BOSCO
I wrote an in-depth preview of this game earlier for Prep Redzone here. Elijah Brown is 29-0 as a starter for Mater Dei. Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA got hurt in the first matchup and is hungry for revenge. Expect Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA to be a factor in this one for Bosco.
The pick: Mater Dei
Huntley’s Record: 67-31
Playoff Record: 15-6