Huntley’s Round 1 Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs are here and the games will be much more competitive and difficult to pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite it getting harder to pick just seven quality games to break down, I will continue previewing and making picks throughout the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at seven of the top playoff games in Southern California this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>SAN DIEGO SECTION</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 3</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MORSE VS. EL CAPITAN</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morse is a solid team from a very tough City League. The Tigers average around 36 points per game and have <strong>Johnny Mosti </strong>at quarterback who is averaging nearly 250 yards per game. Morse also runs the ball well with <strong>Damarion Wright</strong> 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 <strong>Brandt Barker</strong> has been good at quarterback and fellow sophomore <strong>Chance Lachappa</strong> has been great at receiver. <strong>Austin Cordeiro</strong> has 92 tackles to lead the El Capitan defense. I think Morse is more physical and more experienced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Morse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KUSIPPR/status/1586434945584545792?s=20u0026t=eHBJvSd2o-AUoDkJtMEhLg","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/KUSIPPR/status/1586434945584545792?s=20u0026t=eHBJvSd2o-AUoDkJtMEhLg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>SOUTHERN SECTION</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 4</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MIRA COSTA VS. NEWBURY PARK</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 <strong>Nicolas de la Cruz</strong> and <strong>Matthew Kraskouskas. Murphy Glasgow</strong> is a very good defensive player for Mira Costa and <strong>Archie Iacono</strong> can get in the backfield. Newbury Park is young with elite freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='282755' first='Brady' last='Smigiel'] and sophomore receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406725' first='Shane' last='Rosenthal']</strong>. Newbury Park is a slight favorite but my gut tells me they are a year away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mira Costa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 3</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>PALOS VERDES VS. LA SERNA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palos Verdes won the Bay League and six consecutive games. <strong>Charlie Beuerlein</strong> 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 <strong>Adrian Castro</strong> leads the defense with 100 tackles. Both teams have played solid schedules but I think La Serna is slightly better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>La Serna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LSHS_Football/status/1588572259622744064?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg","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/LSHS_Football/status/1588572259622744064?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MURRIETA VALLEY VS. BISHOP AMAT</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murrieta Valley has one of the best offenses in the Southern Section that is well-balanced. [player_tooltip player_id='282686' first='Bear' last='Bachmeier'] is a good young quarterback throwing to his brother [player_tooltip player_id='25360' first='Tiger' last='Bachmeier']. [player_tooltip player_id='450298' first='ASA' last='Chatman'] is a playmaking running back who broke out this season. [player_tooltip player_id='190351' first='Aiden' last='Ramos'] has been running the ball well for Bishop Amat. [player_tooltip player_id='145208' first='Delano' last='Franklin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='25439' first='Dominic' last='Bryant Rubio'] 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Bishop Amat</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>SAN CLEMENTE VS. CHAMINADE</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chaminade is coming off two consecutive losses after an 8-0 start. [player_tooltip player_id='145138' first='Javance' last='Tupouata-Johnson'] is the best quarterback in this matchup and [player_tooltip player_id='261749' first='Jaelon' last='Barbarin'] is the best running back. [player_tooltip player_id='261754' first='Isaiah' last='Chisom'] and [player_tooltip player_id='115429' first='Marquis' last='Gallegos'] are elite defensive players for Chaminade. San Clemente has a very good defense of its own. [player_tooltip player_id='168733' first='Brad' last='Gerken'] had a pick six last week and <strong>Ethan Rea</strong> had three interceptions against Tesoro. The Tritons seemed to have given the reigns to [player_tooltip player_id='273584' first='Dylan' last='Mills'] 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Chaminade</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Tritonfootball/status/1588616589586632704?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg","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/Tritonfootball/status/1588616589586632704?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>WARREN VS. SIERRA CANYON</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sierra Canyon was supposed to have a "rebuilding" year but the Trailblazers won the Mission League championship. [player_tooltip player_id='282704' first='Alonzo' last='Esparza'] has been playing well at quarterbackand the running back combo of [player_tooltip player_id='282703' first='Dane' last='Dunn'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='147709' first='Terrell' last='Cooks'] Jr.</strong> is very good. [player_tooltip player_id='384686' first='Lavon' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='25426' first='Josiah' last='Phillips'] are Division 1 committed receivers. Warren has the edge at quarterback with [player_tooltip player_id='25390' first='Nico' last='Iamaleava']. They have some Division 1 caliber skill players too with [player_tooltip player_id='147762' first='Jordan' last='Ross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='39430' first='Darius' last='Cowens']. The Mission League is a gauntlet and I think Sierra Canyon is just deeper than Warren.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Sierra Canyon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>DIVISION 1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>JSERRA VS. SANTA MARGARITA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Margarita won the first matchup between these two teams by one point. [player_tooltip player_id='25428' first='Jaxon' last='Potter'] is questionable at quarterback for Santa Margarita but [player_tooltip player_id='165130' first='Bekkem' last='Kritza'] is a more than capable backup. [player_tooltip player_id='115420' first='Emmett' last='Mosley'] gets all the short targets and [player_tooltip player_id='190355' first='Niko' last='Lopez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='195538' first='Bain' last='Eiseman'] split the deep balls. [player_tooltip player_id='204409' first='Jacob' last='Bower'] should have a big tackling day on defense. JSerra got a big win over Orange Lutheran to get here. [player_tooltip player_id='406721' first='George' last='Perez'] is a good running back who will have to extend drives for the Lions. [player_tooltip player_id='406653' first='Logan' last='Christensen'] 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Santa Margarita</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SMCHS_Football/status/1587901292088680448?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg","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/SMCHS_Football/status/1587901292088680448?s=20u0026t=i3NgCh6LyhBxo5gaW_Vreg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntley's Record: </strong>52-25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->