Huntley’s First Round Playoff Picks

<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MILLIKAN VS. VILLA PARK</strong></h2>   <p>Millikan was in the Division 6 playoffs two years ago and the Division 4 playoffs last year. This year they are up in Division 2 largely due to its impressive overtime performance against Long Beach Poly. [player_tooltip player_id='282737' first='JP' last='Mialovski'] has been dominating the Moore League with receivers [player_tooltip player_id='115471' first='Ryan' last='Pellum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='942359' first='Loyall' last='Mouzon']. Villa Park is the best team Millikan has played since Poly. The Spartans are very well-coached and led by two-way star [player_tooltip player_id='797091' first='Carter' last='Christie']. <strong>Nate Lewis</strong> had a big game at quarterback against Brea Olinda last week. The teams have one common opponent: Villa Park beat Upland and Millikan lost to Upland.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Villa Park</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MillikanHSFB/status/1720486024311373962?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DAMIEN VS. MURRIETA VALLEY</strong></h2>   <p>Damien is stumbling into the playoffs with two consecutive losses. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212219' first='Isaiah' last='Arriaza']</strong> has still been playing well at quarterback for Damien along with top receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398430' first='Ayden' last='Gutierrez']</strong>. Damien's defense has been a disappointment lately giving up over 36 points in each of its last two games. Murrieta Valley is an excellent offensive team led by running back [player_tooltip player_id='1027779' first='Dorian' last='Hoze']. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='282686' first='Bear' last='Bachmeier'] is always capable of huge games and the impressive duo of <strong>Troy Karg</strong> and <strong>Derrick Johnson</strong>. Both teams lost to Rancho Cucamonga this season. Murrieta Valley's offense is a bad matchup for a struggling Damien defense right now.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Murrieta Valley</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MVNighthawkFB/status/1720419014974091729?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EL DORADO VS. LAGUNA BEACH</strong></h2>   <p>El Dorado is healthy and rolling right now with the return of running back <strong>Isaiah Quintero</strong>. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='943045' first='Nate' last='Bento'] is a quality dual threat quarterback and the offensive line is always physical. Laguna Beach is more of a finesse team led by junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='484412' first='Jackson' last='Kollock'], who leads Orange County in passing. <strong>Nick Rogers</strong> is a very good running back and BYU commit [player_tooltip player_id='398386' first='Ryner' last='Swanson'] is a tough guy to match up with. Laguna Beach won the Division 10 championship last season and is up to Division 7 now.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>El Dorado</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1718672025135501704?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>INGLEWOOD VS. CHAMINADE</strong></h2>   <p>Inglewood can hurt you via the run with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='283693' first='Victor' last='Santino'] or through the air with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='273557' first='Damon' last='Wrighster']. [player_tooltip player_id='115468' first='Terrell' last='Bradshaw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='195538' first='Bain' last='Eiseman'] are two very good receivers who can get open with ease. [player_tooltip player_id='406705' first='Kevin' last='Jennett'] is a sneaky good junior target for Inglewood and sophomore tight end [player_tooltip player_id='780279' first='Luke' last='Lopez'] has a lot of potential. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282773' first='Venilaite' last='Wolfgramm'] III</strong> had over 20 tackles against Leuzinger in Inglewood's last game. [player_tooltip player_id='282754' first='Seth' last='Shigg'] is an excellent dual-threat quarterback for Chaminade who can really hurt you with his legs. [player_tooltip player_id='723746' first='Ishmael' last='Gibbs'] leads Chaminade in interceptions with five. Chaminade's Mission League schedule has them well-prepared for the playoffs.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Chaminade</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NadeFootball/status/1718689978300190965?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CHAPARRAL VS. OAKS CHRISTIAN</strong></h2>   <p>Chaparral is led by one of the best junior quarterbacks in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='270900' first='Dash' last='Beierly']. He accounted for over 460 yards of offense in a win over Roosevelt last week and had eight touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398440' first='Blake' last='Lowe'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282683' first='Jacob' last='Alvarez']</strong> are good targets for Beierly and [player_tooltip player_id='205623' first='Jayce' last='Venable'] is a quality running back. Chaminade's defense does leave a lot to be desired and Oaks Christian should be able to move the ball on them. [player_tooltip player_id='683629' first='Nate' last='Bennett'] is a good quarterback for Oaks Christian and [player_tooltip player_id='195515' first='Chase' last='Farrell'] is his best target. [player_tooltip player_id='212217' first='Deshonne' last='Redeaux'] is the star running back who has been out for awhile and is questionable for this game. </p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Oaks Christian</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Amorelli_ls/status/1718717692323262596?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WARREN VS. TUSTIN</strong></h2>   <p>Tustin is the lone undefeated team in Orange County. The speedy duo of <strong>Eimesse Essis </strong>and <strong>MacKenzie Alleyne</strong> are capable of big scoring plays at any time. UCLA commit [player_tooltip player_id='115428' first='Khristian' last='Dunbar-Hawkins'] leads the Tustin defense which features some young stars in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197214' first='Taven' last='Epps']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197207' first='Khalil' last='Terry']</strong>. Warren has the quarterback advantage with [player_tooltip player_id='282717' first='Madden' last='Iamaleava']. His top two targets are bothers [player_tooltip player_id='147762' first='Jordan' last='Ross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780272' first='Jalen' last='Ross']. [player_tooltip player_id='195532' first='JT' last='Houston'] leads the Warren defense and freshman running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283636' first='Kelton' last='Strickland']</strong> is very effective. This game could go either way but Warren is the best team Tustin has played.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Warren</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TavenEpps/status/1720535159454519385?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PALOS VERDES VS. MISSION VIEJO</strong></h2>   <p>Palos Verdes is undefeated and can beat you with the run or pass. Freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='709444' first='Ryan' last='Rakowski'] has steadily improved over the course of the season and <strong>Eric Mulkey</strong> is a tough running back. The Sea Kings' defense has 30 sacks and <strong>Evan Aguirre</strong> leads the defense with four interceptions. Mission Viejo is in the Division 2 playoffs for the first time since 2015 when the Diablos won the championship. The offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='195576' first='Mark' last='Schroller'] is excellent and the receiving corps is young but fast with [player_tooltip player_id='282688' first='Phillip' last='Bell'], [player_tooltip player_id='283692' first='Vance' last='Spafford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780469' first='Markus' last='Kier']. Mission Viejo's defense has good pass rushers in [player_tooltip player_id='841044' first='Jaden' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='943007' first='Titus' last='Miller'] and good tacklers like [player_tooltip player_id='195570' first='Jack' last='Matranga']. The secondary has Boise State commits [player_tooltip player_id='581016' first='Travis' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='398456' first='Trey' last='Tolmaire'] and big safety prospect [player_tooltip player_id='723683' first='Dijon' last='Lee'].</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mission Viejo</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/breezepreps/status/1719806512468488473?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Huntley's Regular Season Record: </strong>53-24</p>