Huntley’s Semifinal/Final 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. I…
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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. I went 6-1 last week.
Here is a look at seven of the top playoff games in Southern California this week.
LA CITY SECTION
OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
EAGLE ROCK VS. GARFIELD
Eagle Rock is coming off a major come from behind upset win over top-seeded San Pedro. Tanner Erwin is a productive quarterback for the Eagles who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes with a 5/1 touchdown to interception ratio. Barry Weatherspoon is one of the best receivers in the City Section. Brooklyn Pasten has well over 100 tackles to lead the defense and Jacob Bernal has 14 tackles for a loss with six sacks. Garfield’s only losses this year are to Southern Section teams Cathedral and Golden Valley who are still playing in the semifinals. Damian Cornejo is one of the best running backs in the Section with nearly 10 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns. Juju Zamudio has 117 tackles and Jayden Barnes has seven interceptions.
The pick: Garfield
SOUTHERN SECTION
DIVISION 4
NEWPORT HARBOR VS. CYPRESS
Newport Harbor was the fourth place team in the Sunset League and won the CIF Division 6 championship last season. Much of the team from last season is back but quarterback Colton Joseph Colton Joseph 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA has been an excellent addition. Josiah Lamarque Josiah Lamarque 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA and Kashton Henjum Kashton Henjum 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA each had two receiving touchdowns last week. Cypress has the top dual threat junior quarterback in Orange County in Aidan Houston. Trevor Monteleone Trevor Monteleone 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Cypress | 2023 CA is a very good two-way player and Matthew Morrell Matthew Morrell 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Cypress | 2023 State CA causes matchup problems at receiver. The Centurions barely escaped against Millikan last week and will need its defense to continue stepping up this week. They allowed a lot of passing yards so Henjum and Lamarque may be able to find holes in the Cypress defense. This is a really fun matchup but I think Cypress is a little better.
The pick: Cypress
DIVISION 3
CORONA DEL MAR VS. YORBA LINDA
David Rasor David Rasor 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Corona Del Mar | 2023 State CA threw six touchdown passes for Corona del Mar against Chaparral last week. Cooper Hoch Cooper Hoch 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Corona Del Mar | 2023 State CA had 141 yards receiving with two touchdowns. The Sea Kings had eight sacks and Mason Kubichek Mason Kubichek 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB Corona Del Mar | 2023 CA had 20 tackles. Yorba Linda is a balanced offense but wants to run the ball with William Saucedo. Quarterback Reyn Beal Reyn Beal 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA is more than capable of airing it out if the Mustangs need to play from behind. Wyatt Mosier Wyatt Mosier 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA is the best defensive player for Yorba Linda but if Corona del Mar passes the majority of the game, it could decrease the impact Mosier has. Corona del Mar is hotter right now but I respect the coaching staff and discipline of Yorba Linda too much to pick against them until they lose.
The pick: Yorba Linda
DIVISION 2
SIERRA CANYON VS. BISHOP AMAT
This is a rematch of a Mission League game where Bishop Amat won 31-28 in overtime. Stacy Bey Stacy Bey 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA ran the ball well in that game and came back from injury last week against Oak Hills. Delano Franklin Delano Franklin 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA had nearly 100 yards receiving and can make a big play at any time. Dane Dunn Dane Dunn 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA ran for 253 yards and three touchdowns for Sierra Canyon last week against Serra. Nevada Miller Nevada Miller 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA led the defense with 10 tackles and two for a loss. Carnell Fergusson and Seifanga Langi had two sacks as well. Sierra Canyon’s poor passing game against Serra last week scares me a bit and Amat is a tough place to play.
The pick: Bishop Amat
CHAMINADE VS. INGLEWOOD
Chaminade stumbled into the playoffs but beat San Clemente and Citrus Valley in the first two rounds. The Eagles ran for 397 yards and six touchdowns last week with Jaelon Barbarin Jaelon Barbarin 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Chaminade | 2023 State CA leading the charge. Quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson Javance Tupouata-Johnson 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Chaminade | 2023 State CA ran the ball effectively as well. Isaiah Chisom Isaiah Chisom 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Chaminade | 2023 State CA led the defense in tackles and Marquis Gallegos Marquis Gallegos 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA had two interception. Inglewood has been dominant in the passing game this season with quarterback Husan Longstreet Husan Longstreet 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Centennial | 2025 State CA and receivers Jamari Johnson Jamari Johnson 6'5" | 250 lbs | TE Inglewood | 2023 State CA and Terrell Bradshaw Terrell Bradshaw 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2024 State CA Jr. They have so much talent on defense like Makhi Connor Makhi Connor 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2023 State CA and Justin Johnson Justin Johnson 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2023 State CA among others. This may be the championship season for Inglewood.
The pick: Inglewood
DIVISION 1
ST. JOHN BOSCO VS. MISSION VIEJO
Mission Viejo upset Centennial last week and has its most talented roster since 2004. Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA is one of the more polished quarterbacks in the state. Mikey Matthews Mikey Matthews 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA is the best uncommitted receiver in Southern California and Edward Schultz Edward Schultz 6'1" | 195 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA has been getting open a lot lately. Michael Damato Michael Damato 6'0" | 205 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA should be back from injury this week. Treyvon Tolmaire Treyvon Tolmaire 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2024 CA had a huge interception last week and Joseph Libutti Joseph Libutti 6'0" | 195 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2023 CA played well. Bosco crushed Orange Lutheran behind a six touchdown performance from Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Chauncey Sylvester Chauncey Sylvester 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA ran the ball well and Cameron Jones Cameron Jones 6'2" | 220 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA is always dangerous. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA is the best defensive player Mission Viejo will play this season and the secondary is loaded which may make things difficult for Semonza. This is a matchup nightmare for the Diablos and I think Bosco is better in the trenches with Sean Haney Sean Haney 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA and Sean Na’a Sean Na’a 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA .
The pick: St. John Bosco
SAN DIEGO SECTION
OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
CARLSBAD VS. LINCOLN
These two teams dominated their semifinal games and are without question the best two teams in San Diego. Alabama commit Julian Sayin Julian Sayin 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Carlsbad | 2024 State CA is the best quarterback in San Diego and he is connecting with receiver Justin Johnson Justin Johnson 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2023 State CA right now. Zack Marshall Zack Marshall 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Carlsbad | 2023 State CA could cause matchup problems for Lincoln and Luke Ferrelli Luke Ferrelli 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Carlsbad | 2024 State CA is a great defensive player. Lincoln has the best running back in the state in Roderick Robinson II Roderick Robinson II 6'1" | 220 lbs | RB Lincoln (San Diego) | 2023 State CA . Makhi Gray is a real No. 1 receiver and BYU commit Josiah Cox Josiah Cox 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Lincoln | 2023 State CA is an elite defensive back. This game will come down to which team creates an untimely turnover or who has the ball last. This is the first high school game at the new Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
The pick: Carlsbad
Huntley’s Record: 62-29
Playoff Record: 10-4