Huntley’s Round 1 Picks
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The playoffs are here and the games will be much more competitive and difficult to pick. Despite it getting harder to pick just seven quality games to break down, I will continue previewing and making picks throughout the playoffs. Here…
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Continue ReadingThe playoffs are here and the games will be much more competitive and difficult to pick.
Despite it getting harder to pick just seven quality games to break down, I will continue previewing and making picks throughout the playoffs.
Here is a look at seven of the top playoff games in Southern California this week.
SAN DIEGO SECTION
DIVISION 3
MORSE VS. EL CAPITAN
Morse is a solid team from a very tough City League. The Tigers average around 36 points per game and have Johnny Mosti at quarterback who is averaging nearly 250 yards per game. Morse also runs the ball well with Damarion Wright who has over 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns. El Capitan won the Grossmont Valley League and is on a six-game winning streak. Sophomore Brandt Barker has been good at quarterback and fellow sophomore Chance Lachappa has been great at receiver. Austin Cordeiro has 92 tackles to lead the El Capitan defense. I think Morse is more physical and more experienced.
The pick: Morse
SOUTHERN SECTION
DIVISION 4
MIRA COSTA VS. NEWBURY PARK
Mira Costa is the second place team from the Bay League and its only bad loss is the season-opener against St. Francis. The Mustangs have a balanced offense with quarterback Nicolas de la Cruz and Matthew Kraskouskas. Murphy Glasgow is a very good defensive player for Mira Costa and Archie Iacono can get in the backfield. Newbury Park is young with elite freshman quarterback Brady Smigiel Brady Smigiel 6'4" | 175 lbs | QB Newbury Park | 2025 CA and sophomore receiver Shane Rosenthal Shane Rosenthal 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Newbury Park | 2025 State CA . Newbury Park is a slight favorite but my gut tells me they are a year away.
The pick: Mira Costa
DIVISION 3
PALOS VERDES VS. LA SERNA
Palos Verdes won the Bay League and six consecutive games. Charlie Beuerlein is an efficient quarterback and the team has 22 rushing touchdowns this season. La Serna went 9-1 and is the champion of the Del Rio League. La Serna has 28 rushing touchdowns and Adrian Castro leads the defense with 100 tackles. Both teams have played solid schedules but I think La Serna is slightly better.
The pick: La Serna
DIVISION 2
MURRIETA VALLEY VS. BISHOP AMAT
Murrieta Valley has one of the best offenses in the Southern Section that is well-balanced. Bear Bachmeier Bear Bachmeier 6'2" | 225 lbs | QB Murrieta Valley | 2025 State CA is a good young quarterback throwing to his brother Tiger Bachmeier Tiger Bachmeier 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Murrieta Valley | 2023 State CA . ASA Chatman ASA Chatman 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Murrieta Valley | 2024 State CA is a playmaking running back who broke out this season. Aiden Ramos Aiden Ramos 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA has been running the ball well for Bishop Amat. Delano Franklin Delano Franklin 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA and Dominic Bryant Rubio Dominic Bryant Rubio 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Bishop Amat | 2023 CA are good receivers but Amat has trouble getting them the ball. I think Amat is a little better but I wouldn’t be shocked if Murrieta Valley won here.
The pick: Bishop Amat
SAN CLEMENTE VS. CHAMINADE
Chaminade is coming off two consecutive losses after an 8-0 start. Javance Tupouata-Johnson Javance Tupouata-Johnson 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Chaminade | 2023 State CA is the best quarterback in this matchup and Jaelon Barbarin Jaelon Barbarin 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Chaminade | 2023 State CA is the best running back. Isaiah Chisom Isaiah Chisom 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Chaminade | 2023 State CA and Marquis Gallegos Marquis Gallegos 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA are elite defensive players for Chaminade. San Clemente has a very good defense of its own. Brad Gerken Brad Gerken 5'11" | 190 lbs | DB San Clemente | 2023 CA had a pick six last week and Ethan Rea had three interceptions against Tesoro. The Tritons seemed to have given the reigns to Dylan Mills Dylan Mills 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB San Clemente | 2024 State CA at quarterback. This game could go either way but I don’t know if I can trust the San Clemente offense to beat top Division 2 teams.
The pick: Chaminade
WARREN VS. SIERRA CANYON
Sierra Canyon was supposed to have a “rebuilding” year but the Trailblazers won the Mission League championship. Alonzo Esparza Alonzo Esparza 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2025 State CA has been playing well at quarterbackand the running back combo of Dane Dunn Dane Dunn 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA and Terrell Cooks Terrell Cooks 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA Jr. is very good. Lavon Brown Lavon Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2023 State CA and Josiah Phillips Josiah Phillips 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2023 State CA are Division 1 committed receivers. Warren has the edge at quarterback with Nico Iamaleava Nico Iamaleava 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Warren | 2023 State CA . They have some Division 1 caliber skill players too with Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Warren | 2024 State CA and Darius Cowens Darius Cowens 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Warren | 2023 State CA . The Mission League is a gauntlet and I think Sierra Canyon is just deeper than Warren.
The pick: Sierra Canyon
DIVISION 1
JSERRA VS. SANTA MARGARITA
Santa Margarita won the first matchup between these two teams by one point. Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA is questionable at quarterback for Santa Margarita but Bekkem Kritza Bekkem Kritza 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2025 CA is a more than capable backup. Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA gets all the short targets and Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA and Bain Eiseman Bain Eiseman 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2024 State CA split the deep balls. Jacob Bower Jacob Bower 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 CA should have a big tackling day on defense. JSerra got a big win over Orange Lutheran to get here. George Perez George Perez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Jserra | 2025 State CA is a good running back who will have to extend drives for the Lions. Logan Christensen Logan Christensen 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB JSerra | 2025 State CA was out the first time the teams met but will play Friday. If Santa Margarita can avoid turnovers, they should win this game and move on to play Mater Dei.
The pick: Santa Margarita
Huntley’s Record: 52-25