Huntley’s Week 9 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. Here’s a look at the top games this week and who I think will come out victorious. YORBA LINDA VS.…
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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.
Here’s a look at the top games this week and who I think will come out victorious.
YORBA LINDA VS. VILLA PARK
Villa Park suffered its first loss of the season last week at the hands of Foothill. A positive from that game for Villa Park was the Spartans forcing two interceptions and sophomore quarterback Vince Lagatta played well. Carter Christie Carter Christie 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Villa Park | 2024 CA is an excellent two-way player for Villa Park and may be the best player on the field. The Spartans have some good offensive linemen in Henry Wonderlick Henry Wonderlick 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Villa Park | 2025 State CA and Ethan Sickles Ethan Sickles 6'4" | 315 lbs | OL Villa Park | 2025 CA . Yorba Linda is finally healthy with the return of senior star Jason Escovar. Chase Jones is having a nice year at running back and Dylan Gardner Dylan Gardner 6'0" | 190 lbs | WR Yorba Linda | 2024 CA is the best receiver in this game. Yorba Linda is young but solid on defense. The Crestview League title is still very much in play for the winner of this game.
The pick: Yorba Linda
TROY VS. SONORA
Troy is in the mix for its first Freeway League championship in many years after it upset La Habra a couple of weeks ago. The Warriors have some good skill players in Declan Healey Declan Healey 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Troy | 2024 CA and Vander Ploog Vander Ploog 6'6" | 200 lbs | TE Troy | 2025 State CA . Caleb Huss and Ethan Mundt are solid underclassmen and Mundt is a two-way player. Troy played a very challenging nonleague schedule and it’s paying off. Sonora is 7-1 and has scored over 40 points in each of its last two games. Landon Martin is a quality quarterback and Anthony Abad is one of the best running backs in North Orange County. Brady Ackerman is a quality tight end/receiver who causes matchup problems. Troy has won the last two games between the two schools.
The pick: Troy
BIRMINGHAM VS. CLEVELAND
Birmingham owns the LA City Section and has won the last three Open Division Championships. Washington commit Peyton Waters Peyton Waters 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH Birmingham | 2024 State CA is the best player in the City Section and leads Birmingham on both offense and defense. Sophomore running back Ronnell Hewitt Ronnell Hewitt 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Birmingham | 2026 State CA is capable of having huge games. Cleveland is tied for second place in the West Valley League with El Camino Real and Granada Hills Charter. The Cavaliers barely beat Chatsworth who Birmingham beat convincingly. Donovan Powell is the offensive star for Cleveland.
The pick: Birmingham
SANTA MARGARITA VS. SERVITE
This game means a lot because Servite may need that fifth win to qualify for the playoffs as an at-large team. Quaid Carr Quaid Carr 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Servite | 2025 State CA had a huge game running the ball last week in a loss to Orange Lutheran and Leo Hannan Leo Hannan 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Servite | 2025 State CA is a quality junior quarterback. Quinn Rosenkranz and Ethan Naudin Ethan Naudin 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA are good deep threats at receiver. Santa Margarita got a big league win over JSerra last week. Trent Mosley Trent Mosley 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Santa Margarita | 2026 State CA leads the league in touchdowns at receiver and wildcat quarterback. John Gazzaniga John Gazzaniga 6'6" | 230 lbs | QB Santa Margarita | 2025 State CA is competent at quarterback and Sean Embree Sean Embree 6'4" | 170 lbs | WR Santa Margarita | 2025 State CA is a sneaky good receiver. The defense is hard to move the ball on with Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Noah Sulick.
The pick: Santa Margarita
SERRA VS. SIERRA CANYON
Sierra Canyon is a virtual lock to be in the Division 1 playoffs. The duo 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 outstanding at running back and Wyatt Becker Wyatt Becker 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Sierra Canyon | 2025 State CA has been very good at quarterback. Cameron Mitchell Cameron Mitchell 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA and Kwazi Gilmer Kwazi Gilmer 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA are elite receivers that will be tough for Serra to cover. Serra running back Cincere Rhaney Cincere Rhaney 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Serra | 2024 State CA has been picking up steam lately and quarterback Jimmy Butler has been steadily been improving. Zacharyus Williams Zacharyus Williams 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Serra | 2024 State CA has a knack for finding the endzone. Duvay Williams Duvay Williams 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Serra | 2027 State CA is one of the best freshmen in the Southern Section and Dakoda Fields Dakoda Fields 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Serra | 2024 State CA is an elite corner who am I excited to see cover Gilmer and Mitchell.
The pick: Sierra Canyon
CORONA DEL MAR VS. NEWPORT HARBOR
Newport Harbor played Edison very close last week and raised some eyebrows among Sunset League football fans. Jaden O’Neal Jaden O’Neal 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Narbonne | 2026 State CA has improved lately at quarterback and Oregon commit Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA has been unstoppable the past few weeks. Josiah Lamarque Josiah Lamarque 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA is also a matchup nightmare at receiver for a lot of teams. Tanner Muir is one of the leading tacklers in the Sunset League for Newport. Kaleb Annett Kaleb Annett 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Corona Del Mar | 2024 CA is very good at quarterback for Corona del Mar but the Sea Kings have trouble giving him time to throw. Russell Weir is a real No. 1 receiver. Christian Brooks leads the Sea Kings in tackles. The Sea Kings have won the last 10 games against Newport Harbor but that’s about to change.
The pick: Newport Harbor
RANCHO CUCAMONGA VS. DAMIEN
This game will likely decide the Baseline League championship. Emiliano Villareal has taken over at quarterback for Rancho Cucamonga with a little bit of athlete Tyler Dudden Tyler Dudden 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA mixed in. Trey Wilson is an elite running back for the Cougars and Jonah Dawson Jonah Dawson 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA is a top tier receiver. Rahim Wright Rahim Wright 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA leads the defense and Stacy Bey Stacy Bey 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA is a playmaker along with Kyren Condoll Kyren Condoll 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA . Damien is the best team in the San Gabriel Valley by a mile. Isaiah Arriaza Isaiah Arriaza 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Damien | 2026 State CA is a very good sophomore quarterback for Damien and Angel Gutierrez is always atop the leaderboards at receiver. Caden Arellano Caden Arellano 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Damien | 2025 State CA is a great tackler. This game could go either way but I like Rancho Cucamonga’s nonleague schedule better.
The pick: Rancho Cucamonga
Huntley’s Season Record: 44-19