Huntley’s Semifinal and Final Playoff Picks

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>YORBA LINDA VS. CORONA DEL MAR</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a rematch of the Southern Section Division 3 championship game from last season. Yorba Linda lost a lot of talent from that team but is heating up at the right time. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158506' first='Holden' last='Nagin']</strong> has been sharp at quarterback for the playoffs and [player_tooltip player_id='317023' first='Dylan' last='Gardner'] is as reliable a target as ever. <strong>Jason Escovar</strong> and <strong>Chase Jones</strong> can also make big plays on offense. Corona del Mar is led by Boise State commit [player_tooltip player_id='942919' first='Kaleb' last='Annett'] at quarterback. <strong>Christian Brooks</strong> may be the best defensive player in this game and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='708357' first='Colin' last='Pene']</strong> can make plays in all three phases of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Yorba Linda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ylhsfootball/status/1724834603486351568?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/ylhsfootball/status/1724834603486351568?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CARSON VS. BIRMINGHAM</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Birmingham has won three consecutive City Section Open Division championships and knocked off Narbonne last week. [player_tooltip player_id='683608' first='Peyton' last='Waters'] had a big game receiving and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780332' first='Ronnell' last='Hewitt']</strong> is a dominant sophomore running back. Carson is having a fantastic season led by running back <strong>Jerry Misaalefua</strong>. <strong>Kameryn Hurst</strong> is also nearly a 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197281' first='Troy' last='Taulua']</strong> is an impact player on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/latsondheimer/status/1722992177498738808?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/latsondheimer/status/1722992177498738808?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6555d9d87f0c1"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MISSION VIEJO VS. MURRIETA VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murrieta Valley had a controversial one-point win over Rancho Cucamonga in the second round. [player_tooltip player_id='1027779' first='Dorian' last='Hoze'] ran for over 100 yards with a touchdown and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='282686' first='Bear' last='Bachmeier'] ran for a touchdown. Asa Chatman had two touchdowns. Mission Viejo cruised in its win over Oaks Christian. [player_tooltip player_id='841044' first='Jaden' last='Williams'] had four sacks with eight hurries. [player_tooltip player_id='398456' first='Trey' last='Tolmaire'] had two interceptions and [player_tooltip player_id='283692' first='Vance' last='Spafford'] blocked a crucial field goal. Mission Viejo lost to San Clemente this season and Murrieta Valley beat San Clemente.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mission Viejo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1723252841928884388?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/mikehuntley63/status/1723252841928884388?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SERRA VS. SERVITE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Serra beat a very good Los Alamitos team 38-28 in the second round of the Division 2 playoffs last week. [player_tooltip player_id='147716' first='Cincere' last='Rhaney'] ran for 212 yards with three touchdowns. <strong>Jimmy Butler</strong> threw for 240 yards with two touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='780328' first='Khary' last='Wilder'] led the defense with four sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='723744' first='Quaid' last='Carr'] had a big running game for Servite in its win over Long Beach Poly last week and <strong>Gavin Gutierrez </strong>had two rushing touchdowns. <strong>Tristin Ordaz</strong> led the defense and <strong>Justin De La Rosa</strong> had a big interception. I am breaking my rule here of picking against a Trinity League team in a Division lower than one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Serra</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Serra__Football/status/1723012110282879440?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/Serra__Football/status/1723012110282879440?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>GRANITE HILLS VS. LINCOLN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln is the defending Open Division champion in San Diego and will defend its title against Granite Hills. <strong>Aden Jackson</strong> had three rushing touchdowns for Lincoln in its semifinal win over Helix. [player_tooltip player_id='406658' first='Akili' last='Smith Jr.'] overcame an interception and threw for over 260 yards. Granite Hills upset Carlsbad in the semifinals and [player_tooltip player_id='683681' first='Nokoi' last='Maddox'] was the only player to have an interception against Carlsbad this season. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='398391' first='Damarrion' last='White'] is the leader of the Granite Hills defense and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='691923' first='Zachary' last='Benitez']</strong> is a quality freshman quarterback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/THEHIVEFB/status/1724097730857906606?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/THEHIVEFB/status/1724097730857906606?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CENTENNIAL VS. ST. JOHN BOSCO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams had strong running games in their first round playoff wins. [player_tooltip player_id='683627' first='Cornell' last='Hatcher'] ran for 190 yards with five touchdowns in Centennial's first round win over Orange Lutheran. [player_tooltip player_id='406636' first='Husan' last='Longstreet'] also had a big game passing with 311 yards and three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='115464' first='Chauncey' last='Sylvester'] was dominant running the ball for Bosco in its win over San Clemente. [player_tooltip player_id='115443' first='Kyngstonn' last='Viliamu-Asa'] led the defense and [player_tooltip player_id='273626' first='Tamal' last='Johnson'] had a big game in the secondary. This game may come down to who turns over the ball less frequently. [player_tooltip player_id='595826' first='Tayten' last='Beyer'] (Centennial) and [player_tooltip player_id='115432' first='Marcelles' last='Williams'] (Bosco) are two elite defensive backs that can intercept passes at any time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>St. John Bosco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Zack_Poff_MP/status/1724216632434958412?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/Zack_Poff_MP/status/1724216632434958412?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SIERRA CANYON VS. MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sierra Canyon is undefeated for the first time since 2016 and can give Mater Dei a run for its money. [player_tooltip player_id='282703' first='Dane' last='Dunn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='147709' first='Terrell' last='Cooks'] Jr. were excellent in the running game in the Trailblazers first round win over Santa Margarita. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='282687' first='Wyatt' last='Becker'] committed to Utah this week. [player_tooltip player_id='115429' first='Marquis' last='Gallegos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401278' first='Madden' last='Riordan'] each had interceptions in the win and [player_tooltip player_id='147748' first='Ruben' last='Gamboa'] led the team in tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='115462' first='Ajon' last='Bryant'] had three rushing touchdowns for Mater Dei and [player_tooltip player_id='683642' first='Elijah' last='Brown'] threw two touchdown passes in Mater Dei's first round win over JSerra. [player_tooltip player_id='147715' first='Zabien' last='Brown'] had a late interception. Sierra Canyon could be standing in the way of a seventh consecutive Division 1 final between Mater Dei and St. John Bosco.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mater Dei</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MDFootball/status/1724463872307036616?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/1724463872307036616?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntley's Playoff Record: </strong>12-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall record: </strong>65-26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->