Huntley’s Week 2 Picks
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Each week, I pick the top seven games in Southern California. I had a rough week last week going 3-4 and losing my perfect record on the young season. Here’s a look at the top games this week and who…
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Continue ReadingEach week, I pick the top seven games in Southern California.
I had a rough week last week going 3-4 and losing my perfect record on the young season.
Here’s a look at the top games this week and who I think will come out victorious.
LA HABRA VS. NEWPORT HARBOR
La Habra bounced back from a season-opening loss with an impressive win over El Dorado. Kenneth Saucedo completed five of six passes, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown for the Highlanders. Bryce Whitley caught five passes for 142 yards with three touchdowns. Gabriel Jimenez Gabriel Jimenez CA led the defense with an insane 20 tackles. Newport Harbor won a defensive battle with Tesoro last week. Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA caught a crucial deep ball in the fourth quarter and Josiah Lamarque Josiah Lamarque 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA had two touchdown catches. If Newport can play the way it did in the fourth quarter against Tesoro, they have a great chance to win, but if they make mistakes and the offense stalls, La Habra won’t let them off the hook.
The pick: Newport Harbor
GRANITE HILLS VS. ST. AUGUSTINE
Granite Hills took care of a solid Mission Hills team last week and will matchup with perennial power St. Augustine this week. The Eagles ran for 228 yards with the duo of Pablo Jackson and Max Turner dominating, the latter of which scored two touchdowns. Eric Grant had an interception for the Granite Hills defense and so did Nokoi Maddox. St. Augustine has two dominate wins over Patrick Henry and Poway. Sophomore quarterback Brady Palmer Brady Palmer 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Cathedral Catholic | 2026 State CA has been solid with 140 yards per game and four touchdowns. Parker Patterson leads the running game and freshman William Flores William Flores 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Cathedral Catholic | 2027 State CA has two touchdowns. Ezaya Tokio Ezaya Tokio 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB St. Augustine | 2026 State CA is a sophomore who is an excellent pass rusher. St. Augustine is on the rise but Granite Hills is too good for them right now.
The pick: Granite Hills
MILLIKAN VS. ST. FRANCIS
Millikan had a big offensive game against Cathedral last week in its first win of the season. USC commit Ryan Pellum Ryan Pellum 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Millikan | 2024 State CA had two touchdown receptions and a kick return touchdown. New quarterback JP Mialovski JP Mialovski 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Millikan | 2025 State CA threw three touchdown passes. St. Francis has new star quarterback John Sanders John Sanders 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB St. Francis | 2025 CA who is averaging 260 yards per game with 9 touchdowns and just one interception. Princeton commit Preston Jernegan Preston Jernegan 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB St. Francis | 2024 State CA has seven touchdown receptions for St. Francis. These two teams are ranked one spot apart in the CalPreps rankings.
The pick: St. Francis
WARREN VS. LA SERNA
Warren got blown out by Serra last week but was missing its starting quarterback Madden Iamaleava Madden Iamaleava 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Warren | 2025 State CA due to a concussion he suffered in week zero. Without him, Warren was shut out and had less than 100 yards of total offense. La Serna also did not have an offensive touchdown in a loss against Los Alamitos. Owen Long Owen Long 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB La Serna | 2024 State CA and Jayden Northrup Jayden Northrup 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR La Serna | 2024 CA had interceptions for La Serna, who has been elite on defense so far this season. I expect Iamaleava to be back this week and hit Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Warren | 2024 State CA and Jalen Ross Jalen Ross 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Warren | 2026 State CA in space for big yardage, but La Serna hasn’t let anyone throw much on them yet this season. This is a fun matchup.
The pick: Warren
EASTSIDE CATHOLIC (WA) VS. ORANGE LUTHERAN
Eastside Catholic has not played a game yet this season but has some very good prospects on its roster. Defensive back Tyson Weaver is committed to Washington State. He is part of a loaded secondary with Ambrose Marsh and Bryson Ross. Orange Lutheran is coming off an impressive win over Northern California power De La Salle. TJ Lateef TJ Lateef 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA has been mistake-free at quarterback and his favorite targets are Tyler Hennessey and AJ Ia AJ Ia 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA . Running back Steve Chavez Steve Chavez 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA has six touchdowns this season and has been a pleasant surprise after transferring from Damien. Wes Barksdale forced two fumbles last week and Auma Jennings Auma Jennings 6'0" | 285 lbs | DL Orange Lutheran | 2026 State CA had a sack.
The pick: Orange Lutheran
PUNAHOE VS. CENTENNIAL
Punahoe of Hawaii dominated a Southern California team in Millikan earlier this season, but Centennial is a far cry from Millikan. Cornell Hatcher Cornell Hatcher 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Centennial | 2024 State CA ran for three touchdowns last week in Centennial’s win over Santa Margarita. Husan Longstreet Husan Longstreet 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Centennial | 2025 State CA made some mistakes at quarterback but also had a few big plays. Cory Butler Cory Butler 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Centennial | 2025 State CA is a reliable target and Noah Westbrook Noah Westbrook 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Centennial | 2025 State CA impressed me with his route running. The defense was physical with Syncere Brackett Syncere Brackett 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State CA at linebacker and Tayten Beyer Tayten Beyer 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Corona Centennial | 2024 State CA is a ball-hawk at cornerback. Punahoe is a very tough game for Centennial but I expect the Huskies to hold down the fort in the mainland.
The pick: Centennial
MISSION VIEJO VS. LONG BEACH POLY
This is easily the game of the week in Southern California and these two teams played a fantastic game last season. Luke Fahey Luke Fahey 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2026 State CA is emerging as a top sophomore quarterback for the Diablos and Draiden Trudeau Draiden Trudeau 6'5" | 185 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2025 State CA has been good in his reps too. Vance Spafford Vance Spafford 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2026 State CA is a top sophomore receiver and Phillip Bell Phillip Bell 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2025 State CA can make big plays whenever he wants. The offensive line led by Mark Schroller Mark Schroller 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Mission Viejo | 2024 State CA is effective. Poly is coming off a tough loss to Bishop Gorman, but the Jackrabbits are still a Division 1 caliber team. Darius Curry Darius Curry 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA was lights out against Mission Viejo last season. The defense led by Dylan Williams Dylan Williams 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA and Quimari Shemwell Quimari Shemwell 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA will make it tough for the Mission Viejo offense.
The pick: Mission Viejo
Huntley’s Record: 10-4