Huntley’s Week 9 Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week I will pick the top seven games in Southern California and break them down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I did pretty well last week going 5-2 with two close losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DANA HILLS VS. LAGUNA BEACH</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This would have been a battle of unbeaten teams going for the Foxtrot League title, but Laguna Beach suffered an upset loss to Aliso Niguel last week. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='484412' first='Jackson' last='Kollock'] was held under 100 yards passing in that game for the first time in his career and he is playing a little banged up. Dana Hills is undefeated with a very balanced offense. [player_tooltip player_id='368941' first='Vanden' last='Dugger'] has been a vast improvement at quarterback over what the Dolphins had last year. <strong>Radley Geiss</strong> is one of the leading rushers in Orange County and [player_tooltip player_id='1149019' first='Owen' last='Walz'] is back to be a playmaker on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Dana Hills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Friday night. Laguna Beach. <a href="https://t.co/n5h4s8KyT9">pic.twitter.com/n5h4s8KyT9</a></p>&mdash; DHHS Football (@FootballDHHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballDHHS/status/1849481243571962064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EL MODENA VS. CAPISTRANO VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capo Valley is on a winning streak and still has a chance at the Delta League championship. [player_tooltip player_id='595827' first='Tommy' last='Acosta'] has been very efficient at quarterback and showed he can hurt you with his legs last week in a win over Trabuco Hills. <strong>Kaden Hunter</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1197373' first='Talon' last='Spencer'] have been very good at receiver and <strong>Reily Walker</strong> is a great two-way player. El Modena will have the best player on the field in quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='484293' first='Xzavior' last='Guess']. The Vanguards are coming off a close loss to Tustin. <strong>Connor Smith </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1204763' first='Brodie' last='Hitchens']</strong> are guys who can make big plays at any time. This will be a "whoever has the ball last" type of game that could go either way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>El Modena</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They said the Defense is loaded with D1 commits 🤷‍♂️🤣 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rainman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rainman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mrgoyam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mrgoyam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elmodenafootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#elmodenafootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/xhRSN30sjP">pic.twitter.com/xhRSN30sjP</a></p>&mdash; xzavior.guess (@XzaviorQB1) <a href="https://twitter.com/XzaviorQB1/status/1848082225134510144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BONITA VS. CHARTER OAK</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bonita is undefeated but has played a softer schedule than Charter Oak. <strong>Travis Lippert</strong> has been mistake-free at quarterback and [player_tooltip player_id='1158475' first='Dylan' last='Robinson'] is a really good two-way player. [player_tooltip player_id='282738' first='Noah' last='Mikhail'] has 77 tackles and 20 for a loss this season for Bonita. Charter Oak is led by Boston College commit [player_tooltip player_id='1182939' first='Corin' last='Berry'] at quarterback and two elite receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='723863' first='Marquis' last='Bradley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1338365' first='Legend' last='Lyons']. <strong>Antonio Reasby</strong> is another receiver to keep an eye on. Charter Oak's defense has forced 16 turnovers and [player_tooltip player_id='406674' first='Lavar' last='Arrington'] flies around on defense. Arrington and Mikhail are two of the top linebackers in the SGV and all of Southern California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Charter Oak</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chargers WIN 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/CIFSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CIFSS</a> l <a href="https://twitter.com/COHSFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COHSFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ucg6Qbzu7z">pic.twitter.com/Ucg6Qbzu7z</a></p>&mdash; FanDuel Sports Network West (@FanDuelSN_West) <a href="https://twitter.com/FanDuelSN_West/status/1844961973051830579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CARLSBAD VS. LA COSTA CANYON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Costa Canyon had a come-from-behind win over Mission Hills last week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598369' first='Coby' last='Herman']</strong> ran for 126 yards with two touchdowns and [player_tooltip player_id='401286' first='Quinn' last='Roth'] threw a pair of touchdowns but also had two interceptions. Carlsbad beat Torrey Pines last week despite throwing four interceptions. <strong>Jake Morrison</strong> ran for 198 yards with a pair of touchdowns. <strong>Tadd Mitchell</strong> and <strong>Nixxon Gutridge</strong> had interceptions for Carlsbad's defense and <strong>Tyler Prasuhn</strong> gives Carlsbad the edge in the kicking game. La Costa Canyon hasn't beaten Carlsbad since 2017.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>La Costa Canyon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great team Win! 8-0! <br>Came down to the last minute of the game and we pulled through! <a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonMaggiore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacksonMaggiore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SSovacool55?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SSovacool55</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LeftCoastAthl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeftCoastAthl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/leftcoastOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leftcoastOL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KUSIPPR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KUSIPPR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneCA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://t.co/8Yfo6p9dDx">pic.twitter.com/8Yfo6p9dDx</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='401286' first='Quinn' last='Roth'] (@quinnroth18) <a href="https://twitter.com/quinnroth18/status/1848104213823541607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EDISON VS. MISSION VIEJO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mission Viejo had a bad game by its standards and still beat San Clemente handily last week. [player_tooltip player_id='406731' first='Draiden' last='Trudeau'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1000890' first='Luke' last='Fahey'] have been playing well at quarterback and Mission Viejo's offensive line is rolling right now. [player_tooltip player_id='282688' first='Phillip' last='Bell'], [player_tooltip player_id='283692' first='Vance' last='Spafford'] and <strong>Cash Semonza</strong> have been playing well at receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='348172' first='Julius' last='Gillick'] is the fourth leading rusher in the Southern Section with 1489 yards and 19 touchdowns for Edison. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717984' first='Sam' last='Thomson']</strong> led a game-winning drive at quarterback last week after starting the game on the bench. He will have to throw against an elite secondary led by [player_tooltip player_id='723683' first='Dijon' last='Lee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='283628' first='Jeron' last='Jones'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mission Viejo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4/12 call ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/CashSemonza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CashSemonza</a>⁩ 💰1:17 left in half 17-0 MV <a href="https://t.co/OxZFcgZIQU">pic.twitter.com/OxZFcgZIQU</a></p>&mdash; Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy/status/1847471202417123410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SERVITE VS. ORANGE LUTHERAN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orange Lutheran survived a low-scoring game over Santa Margarita last week. [player_tooltip player_id='282728' first='TJ' last='Lateef'] threw for 234 yards and [player_tooltip player_id='282694' first='Steve' last='Chavez'] ran for 124 with a touchdown. AJ Ia had 116 yards receiving for the Lancers. Orange Lutheran had seven sacks in that game with [player_tooltip player_id='958763' first='Marcus' last='Fakatou'] and [player_tooltip player_id='723736' first='Jireh' last='Moe'] each having three. Servite lost to St. John Bosco at SoFi Stadium but [player_tooltip player_id='723744' first='Quaid' last='Carr'] ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns. This game may decide who gets third place in the Trinity League. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Orange Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita getting ready at Orange Coast College. Orange Lutheran 1-1 in the Trinity League. Santa Margarita 0-2. <a href="https://t.co/2L5PRD2i3A">pic.twitter.com/2L5PRD2i3A</a></p>&mdash; Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveFryer/status/1847457295007125988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ST. JOHN BOSCO VS. MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I broke this game down in <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/st-john-bosco-vs-mater-dei-preview-2/">detail in a separate article here</a>. I am expecting a low-scoring game and the strength of both teams are their defenses. Both teams have elite pass rushes that will put pressure on the quarterbacks and it could come down to which team creates a turnover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Mater Dei</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A look back at every matchup between Mater Dei and St. John Bosco since 2016. 🔥🏈<br><br>Full story ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/NB2nyrnY8B">https://t.co/NB2nyrnY8B</a> <a href="https://t.co/HQcIOnJns8">pic.twitter.com/HQcIOnJns8</a></p>&mdash; MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/1849536351202574584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S RECORD: </strong>46-17<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->