Huntley’s Week 6 Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week, I pick the top seven games in Southern California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a nice week last week going 6-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the top games this week and who I think will come out victorious.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SERVITE VS. MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Servite is much-improved from the 1-9 performance it put up last season. [player_tooltip player_id='406664' first='Leo' last='Hannan'] is one of the best junior quarterbacks in Southern California and [player_tooltip player_id='723744' first='Quaid' last='Carr'] can make big plays out of the backfield. Mater Dei's defense is a whole different animal and can be the first team to really get in the backfield to bother Hannan. [player_tooltip player_id='282774' first='Nasir' last='Wyatt'] had a massive game last week with four sacks and [player_tooltip player_id='195568' first='Tanner' last='Williams'] is also effective off the edge. Mater Dei's secondary led by [player_tooltip player_id='147715' first='Zabien' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='282734' first='Chuck' last='McDonald III'] can blanket the Servite receivers. I see Servite having a difficult time scoring against this Mater Dei defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mater Dei</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MDFootball/status/1707138708791783513?s=20","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/MDFootball/status/1707138708791783513?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CORONA DEL MAR VS. EDISON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Corona del Mar and Edison have lost to the same two teams: Palos Verdes and San Clemente. The Sea Kings are coming off a close win against Trabuco Hills where the offense was stagnant. [player_tooltip player_id='942919' first='Kaleb' last='Annett'] is a good enough quarterback to carry an offense and <strong>Russell Weir</strong> is a difficult receiver to match up with. Edison got a nice win last week against Wilcox of Santa Clara. <strong>Julius Gillick</strong> ran the ball effectively for the Chargers and <strong>Save Niumata</strong> was solid at quarterback. Hoi Hansen had 16 tackles and will be the best defensive player in this game. Both teams have played below expectations for themselves this season and this game could come down to whoever has the ball last.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Edison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CDMFOOTBALL/status/1707109695738306814?s=20","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/CDMFOOTBALL/status/1707109695738306814?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SAN PEDRO VS. GARDENA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Pedro seems to be bound for the LA City Section Open Division playoffs again this year and will play undefeated Gardena this week. <strong>Santiago Rivera</strong> is a strong running back who can run between the tackles and <strong>Marcus Jeronymo</strong> is a good athlete at quarterback. <strong>Xavier Grant</strong> had a big game for Gardena in its close win over King/Drew last week. <strong>Keyshawn Hood</strong> leads the Gardena defense which had three sacks last week. Both of these teams could be in the City Section Open Division playoffs in November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>San Pedro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>TESORO VS. SAN JUAN HILLS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the bigger new rivalries in South Orange County. Tesoro is coming off a bye after beating a banged up Cypress team. The Titans seemed to have unleashed the athleticism of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='984743' first='Cash' last='O'Byrne'] to pick up yardage when needed. Air Force commit [player_tooltip player_id='595828' first='Travis' last='Wood'] accounts for a lot of Tesoro's offensive production. San Juan Hills can move the ball on the ground or through the air with running back <strong>Sullivan Land</strong>, quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283687' first='Timmy' last='Herr']</strong> and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='282751' first='Jadyn' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='115473' first='Jason' last='Robinson JR']. The Stallions are a little better on defense with [player_tooltip player_id='155848' first='Weston' last='Port'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='685004' first='Jake' last='Javorsky']</strong>. Tesoro will hang tough in this game, but San Juan Hills is more athletic at the skill positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>San Juan Hills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy/status/1705118703728366005?s=20","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/ocvarsityguy/status/1705118703728366005?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>UPLAND VS. DAMIEN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Damien is the top team in the San Gabriel Valley this year and just beat the No. 2 team in La Serna. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212219' first='Isaiah' last='Arriaza']</strong> has been outstanding at quarterback for Damien and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398430' first='Ayden' last='Gutierrez']</strong> is a real playmaker. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471041' first='Gavin' last='Williams']</strong> has three interceptions to lead the Damien defense. Upland is a very strong team with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='683633' first='Noah' last='Sandoval']</strong> at quarterback. The receiving duo of <strong>Justin Benson</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723695' first='Trestin' last='Castro']</strong> can cause matchup problems for Damien. <strong>Donovan Brown</strong> had 9 tackles and a pick-six last week for Upland in its win over Charter Oak last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Damien</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/James_Escarcega/status/1706051087068008581?s=20","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/James_Escarcega/status/1706051087068008581?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CARLSBAD VS. MISSION HILLS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsbad is 5-0 and once again is a top two team in the San Diego Section along with Lincoln. Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id='115456' first='Julian' last='Sayin'] has completed 79 percent of his passes for 1026 yards with 13 touchdowns and zero interception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128336' first='Mason' last='Walsh']</strong> is a good running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128278' first='Josh' last='Ball']</strong> has proven himself to be the top receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='689921' first='Jude' last='McLellan'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398452' first='Luke' last='Ferrelli']</strong> lead the Lancer's defense. Mission Hills is coming off strong wins against Orange Vista and San Marcos. <strong>Jonathon Class</strong> is one of the better pass rushers in San Diego and may be able to make Sayin a little uncomfortable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Carlsbad</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ORANGE LUTHERAN VS. JSERRA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game may decide third place in the Trinity League. A lot of the game hinges on whether Orange Lutheran quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='282728' first='TJ' last='Lateef'] plays. [player_tooltip player_id='401215' first='Alex' last='Medyn'] filled in against Sierra Canyon but left that game with an injury as well. [player_tooltip player_id='282694' first='Steve' last='Chavez'] has broken away as the top running back for Orange Lutheran and Tyler Hennessey and [player_tooltip player_id='723685' first='AJ' last='Ia'] are reliable targets for whoever plays quarterback. [player_tooltip player_id='283686' first='Talanoa' last='Ili'] will be the best defensive player in this game. [player_tooltip player_id='282761' first='Michael' last='Tollefson'] has been more effective with his legs than his arm at quarterback for JSerra. The running game is strong with <strong>Gabriel Rivas</strong> and <strong>Kamar Garbourel</strong>. The matchup I am excited to see in this game is JSerra edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] against Orange Lutheran tackle [player_tooltip player_id='780266' first='Samuelu' last='Utu']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Orange Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CIFSS/status/1702879013520511354?s=20","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/CIFSS/status/1702879013520511354?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntley's Season Record: </strong>32-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->