Huntley’s Regional Championship Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week I pick and break down the top games in Southern California. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had my worst week of the season last week in the CIF championship games which goes to show you how competitive the games were between quality teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PORTOLA VS. KING/DREW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>King/Drew got a dominant win over Palisades in the City Section Division 1 championship game. <strong>Keenan Jackson</strong> threw four touchdown passes and <strong>Jahmir Torres</strong> scored six touchdowns in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='723701' first='Chinedu' last='Onyeagoro'] is one of the best defensive players in the City Section and will be the best prospect on the field in this game. Portola beat El Rancho in the Southern Section Division 11 championship game. the Bulldogs ran for 170 yards and <strong>Nash Luper</strong> threw two touchdown passes. <strong>Maxwell Mapstone</strong> had 18 tackles with an interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Portola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/PortolaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PortolaFootball</a> players celebrate <br>after defeating <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreERFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WeAreERFootball</a> 31-14 in the <a href="https://twitter.com/CIFSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CIFSS</a> Division 11 title game. <a href="https://twitter.com/OCSportsZone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OCSportsZone</a> coverage to follow!<br>Video &amp; Photos 🎥©️<a href="https://twitter.com/FernandoMDonado?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FernandoMDonado</a>, For <a href="https://t.co/vo2SQoEYLx">https://t.co/vo2SQoEYLx</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/TimBurtIrvine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimBurtIrvine</a> <a href="https://t.co/nFNlF9MOq8">pic.twitter.com/nFNlF9MOq8</a></p>&mdash; Fernando M. Donado (@FernandoMDonado) <a href="https://twitter.com/FernandoMDonado/status/1862747960125399094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NARBONNE VS. PACIFICA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Narbonne dominated San Pedro to win the City Section Open Division championship. [player_tooltip player_id='401257' first='Jaden' last='O'Neal'] threw six touchdown passes and Narbonne's defense shut down a good San Pedro offense. Pacifica edged St. Bonaventure due to big plays on defense. The Tritons blocked a field goal and a punt a forced three turnovers. <strong>Dominic Duran</strong> had a nice game with 226 yards and two touchdown passes. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1698887' first='Alijah' last='Royster']</strong> had 152 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Narbonne rolled through the playoffs but struggled against Southern Section opponents this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Pacifica</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/mikemoon42?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikemoon42</a> and his <a href="https://twitter.com/TritonsFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TritonsFootball</a> coaching staff! <a href="https://t.co/epsEmeq8ra">pic.twitter.com/epsEmeq8ra</a></p>&mdash; Richard Lavizzo (@StadiumFlashes) <a href="https://twitter.com/StadiumFlashes/status/1863158741551796245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN VS. PALOS VERDES</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palos Verdes beat La Serna in the Southern Section Division 5 championship game thanks to four turnovers. [player_tooltip player_id='1000974' first='Camren' last='Hughes'] had two interceptions including a pick-six and <strong>Josh Williams</strong> had two sacks. He didn't have a huge game against La Serna, but sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='709444' first='Ryan' last='Rakowski'] is a fun playmaker for the Sea Kings. Bakersfield Christian beat Central Valley Christian in the Central Section Division 2 championship. <strong>Talen Mather</strong> ran for 126 yards with two touchdowns and <strong>Lincoln Adame</strong> threw a touchdown pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Palos Verdes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We will play Bakersfield Christian this Saturday 12/7 at South Torrance in the Division 2-A State Bowl Game. Kickoff is at 7:00pm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllGrit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllGrit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/latsondheimer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@latsondheimer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tarek_Fattal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tarek_Fattal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/breezepreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@breezepreps</a> <a href="https://t.co/BCzSQMqQJM">pic.twitter.com/BCzSQMqQJM</a></p>&mdash; Palos Verdes HS Football (@SeaKingFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeaKingFootball/status/1863325323305332894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>GRANITE HILLS VS. EDISON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edison convincingly beat Simi Valley in the Division 3 championship game. The Chargers won despite missing their best offensive player, [player_tooltip player_id='348172' first='Julius' last='Gillick'], but he is back this week. Edison's offensive line dominated Simi Valley and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717984' first='Sam' last='Thomson']</strong> made nice plays in the passing game. [player_tooltip player_id='1213810' first='Jack' last='Knudtson'] led the defense which held Simi Valley's elite rushing offense under 100 yards. Granite Hills beat San Marcos with a big game from Utah Tech [player_tooltip player_id='612834' first='Maxwell' last='Turner']. The Eagles have experience at the Regional Championship level and gave Mission Viejo a fight for a half last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Edison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Edison football powers past Simi Valley to win Division 3 title <a href="https://t.co/LLWedxw2hQ">https://t.co/LLWedxw2hQ</a></p>&mdash; ocvarsity (@ocvarsity) <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsity/status/1862737259771953565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NEWBURY PARK VS. LINCOLN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln dominated Cathedral Catholic in the San Diego Section Open Division championship and proved without a doubt that it is the best team in San Diego. [player_tooltip player_id='1183032' first='Aden' last='Jackson'] ran the ball well and Lincoln is physical in the trenches. <strong>Dylon Dunn</strong> leads Lincoln's defense which was excellent against Cathedral Catholic. Newbury Park beat Murrieta Valley in what was arguably the best Southern Section championship game last week. [player_tooltip player_id='282755' first='Brady' last='Smigiel'] threw for 322 yards with three touchdowns and ran for another in that game. [player_tooltip player_id='406725' first='Shane' last='Rosenthal'] is the top receiver in Ventura County and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976866' first='Drew' last='Cofield']</strong> is a big playmaker. Lincoln is coming off a bye and Newbury Park is banged up playing six days later on the road. Lincoln went 2-1 against Southern Section teams this year with its only loss coming against a Trinity League team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Road To State. Final 4 Teams Are Set<a href="https://twitter.com/CIFState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CIFState</a> D1-AA Regional Championship Matchups Are Set.<br><br>12/6 vs Newbury Park at <a href="https://twitter.com/SWC_college?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SWC_college</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LincolnCertified?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LincolnCertified</a> 🍀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepTheHive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepTheHive</a> <a href="https://t.co/XSz16ZbCvM">pic.twitter.com/XSz16ZbCvM</a></p>&mdash; LINCOLN HORNETS FOOTBALL (@THEHIVEFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/THEHIVEFB/status/1863329535267049900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S PLAYOFF RECORD: </strong>18-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S OVERALL RECORD: </strong>75-31<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->