Huntley’s State 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 went a perfect 5-0 last week in the Regional championship round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SONORA VS. ST. PIUS</strong> <strong>X-ST. MATTHIAS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Pius entered the playoffs with a 1-9 record and have cruised ever since. <strong>Jassi Williams</strong> has 3,600 total yards this season at quarterback and he has good receivers like [player_tooltip player_id='1182948' first='Jaylen' last='Stokes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780277' first='Demari' last='Nunley']. <strong>Geremya Hood</strong> leads the team in tackles and the duo of <strong>Marcus Ball</strong> and <strong>Desmond Tillmon</strong> is constantly in the backfield. Sonora put up 63 points in its regional championship win over Kerman. The Wildcats ran for 376 yards and seven touchdowns with <strong>Cash Byington</strong> leading the charge. <strong>Jonathan Curran</strong> had two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Sonora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">St. Pius X-St. Matthias junior quarterback Jassi Williams, who has more than 3,600 total yards this season, on leading his team into Saturday's CIF State football championship game vs. Sonora. <a href="https://t.co/6b5FESNXlK">pic.twitter.com/6b5FESNXlK</a></p>&mdash; John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnwdavis/status/1867337602862579821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>TWELVE BRIDGES VS. PALOS VERDES</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twelve Bridges is 14-0 and has only been a program for a few years. The Raging Rhinos are elite on offense. Quarterback <strong>Connor Flaherty</strong> has thrown 26 touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back <strong>Braeden Ward</strong> has run for 2571 yards with an insane 39 touchdowns. The defense has 20 interceptions and 28 sacks. Palos Verdes quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='709444' first='Ryan' last='Rakowski'] ran for 100 yards with two touchdowns last week in a win over Bakersfield Christian. The Sea Kings are good in the front seven on defense and can grab a timely interception now and then.</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">CIF Regional Champs! State up next! <a href="https://twitter.com/SeaKingFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeaKingFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GLOWESHOW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GLOWESHOW</a> <a href="https://t.co/r3YoS0DUru">pic.twitter.com/r3YoS0DUru</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='709444' first='Ryan' last='Rakowski'] (@ryanrakowski10) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanrakowski10/status/1865918488122155152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>VANDEN VS. RIO HONDO PREP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rio Hondo Prep may be the smallest school ever in terms of population to play for a state championship. The Kares beat Warren for a Southern Section title and Poway in its regional championship game. <strong>Noah Penunuri</strong> is the straw that stirs the drink of Rio Hondo Prep's offense from the running back position. <strong>Caeden Holcomb</strong> leads RHP's defense and <strong>Rainn Pollock</strong> leads the secondary. Vanden beat Pleasant Valley in its regional title game. <strong>Kalani Mcleod</strong> threw for 462 yards with four touchdowns in the win and <strong>Chris Clark</strong> led the team in receiving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Rio Hondo Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the state championship against Vanden at Long Beach City College on Saturday at 7 p.m., Rio Hondo Prep will go up against a pass happy quarterback.<br><br>Vanden&#039;s Kalani Mcleod completed 29 of 35 for 462 yards and four touchdowns in their 28-14 win over Pleasant Valley. He has… <a href="https://t.co/tfpcDuvnCT">https://t.co/tfpcDuvnCT</a></p>&mdash; Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻‍💻 (@SGVNSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SGVNSports/status/1865802677390889016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CENTRAL VS. EDISON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edison has been dominant throughout its Southern Section Division 3 championship run and had a strong win over Granite Hills in the regional championship. [player_tooltip player_id='348172' first='Julius' last='Gillick'] is a Prep Redzone All-Southern California team candidate at running back for Edison and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717984' first='Sam' last='Thomson']</strong> throws play action passes well. Edison's defense is loaded with good athletes like <strong>Matt Lopez</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213810' first='Jack' last='Knudtson'], Jake Minter</strong> and <strong>Carson Schmidt</strong>. Central beat Clovis East in its Section championship and St. Ignatius in its regional title game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560132' first='Jelani' last='Dippel'] </strong>has thrown over 231 yards per game with 39 touchdowns. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780470' first='Brandon' last='Smith']</strong> has run for 1800 yards with 25 touchdowns. <strong>Aidan Chavez</strong> leads the defense with 173 tackles.</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">Victory formation and they will win the State Regional Final 34-28 over a tough Granite Hills squad. Congrats Chargers!! ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsity</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/latsondheimer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@latsondheimer</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SteveFryer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SteveFryer</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/HBUHSD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HBUHSD</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/EdisonSportsNet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdisonSportsNet</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdisonChargerFB</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/eAQDbzK19N">pic.twitter.com/eAQDbzK19N</a></p>&mdash; Rich Boyce (@richboyce4) <a href="https://twitter.com/richboyce4/status/1865632420592066664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DE LA SALLE VS. MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei is the best team in the country and the Southern California team has dominated the Open Division state title games in recent years. [player_tooltip player_id='282698' first='Jordon' last='Davison'] ran for 196 yards with three touchdowns in Mater Dei's Section win over St. John Bosco. Mater Dei's offensive line is outstanding with [player_tooltip player_id='536980' first='Kodi' last='Greene'], [player_tooltip player_id='403058' first='Lex' last='Mailangi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='282776' first='Sione' last='Tohi']. [player_tooltip player_id='401316' first='Mark' last='Bowman'] is the best tight end prospect in the state and [player_tooltip player_id='401273' first='Kayden' last='Dixon-Wyatt'] is a big play receiver. Defensively, the edge rushers are elite in [player_tooltip player_id='282774' first='Nasir' last='Wyatt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212233' first='Shaun' last='Scott'] and so are the interior rushers: [player_tooltip player_id='283689' first='Tomuhini' last='Topui'] and [player_tooltip player_id='723702' first='Semi' last='Taulanga']. De La Salle is 12-0 and beat Pittsburg in its Section title game. [player_tooltip player_id='282689' first='Derrick' last='Blanche'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976876' first='Dominic' last='Kelley']</strong> lead a strong rushing game for De La Salle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1582120' first='Niko' last='Baumgartner'] </strong>leads De La Salle's defense and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282719' first='Matthew' last='Johnson']</strong> is the top pass rusher.</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">Mater Dei and De La Salle to meet in CIF Open Division Final. 🏈🔥<br><br>Full state brackets ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/Bcef0nrkbm">https://t.co/Bcef0nrkbm</a> <a href="https://t.co/fVHarbmSre">pic.twitter.com/fVHarbmSre</a></p>&mdash; MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/1863339983387386225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S PLAYOFF RECORD:&nbsp;</strong>23-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S OVERALL RECORD:&nbsp;</strong>80-31<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->