Huntley's Week 5 Picks

<p>Each week I will pick and break down seven of the top games in Southern California.</p>   <p>I had my best week of the season in <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/huntley-week-4-picks/">Week 4</a> going 6-1.</p>   <p>Here is a look at some of the best games this week:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SERVITE VS. DAMIEN</strong></h2>   <p>Servite is coming off a bye after a dominant win over St. Paul. [player_tooltip player_id='1742104' first='Jorden' last='Wells'] leads Servite's rushing attack with 127 yards per game with seven touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1205702' first='Gino' last='Wang'] isn't a high-volume passer but he doesn't make mistakes with five touchdowns and zero interceptions this season. [player_tooltip player_id='2100470' first='Allen' last='Kennett V'] leads the defense with 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1695404' first='Kamil' last='Pelovello'] has transitioned to defensive back nicely and [player_tooltip player_id='1621233' first='Kaleb' last='Aiava'] is a strong defender. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1242514' first='Anthony' last='Randolph']</strong> has been good at quarterback for Damien with 199 yards per game and eight touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1382568' first='Travon' last='Garrison'] Jr. is a leading receiver for the Spartans and USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='471041' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] is the best prospect in this game along with future USC teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1674665' first='Drew' last='Fielder'] of Servite.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Servite</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ServiteFootball/status/2102602380399522292?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>LAGUNA BEACH VS. SAN PEDRO</strong></h2>   <p>San Pedro is a contender to win the Open Division in the City Section this year. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2136096' first='Seth' last='Solorio'] has thrown for 246 yards per game with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106870' first='Jaxon' last='Brown']</strong> is Solorio's top target along with <strong>Braeden Villegas</strong>. San Pedro is 1-0 against Southern Section teams this season. Laguna Beach is coming off a tough loss to Westlake, who just was competitive with a good Tustin team. [player_tooltip player_id='1545888' first='Jack' last='Hurst'] is completing 67 percent of his passes for 211 yards with 11 touchdowns and [player_tooltip player_id='2106868' first='Brady' last='Stringham'] has 45 catches with 418 yards and eight touchdowns through four games. [player_tooltip player_id='2124184' first='Wyatt' last='Bogdan'] leads Laguna Beach's defense along with pass rushers <strong>Xavier Brooks</strong> and <strong>Garrett Byerly</strong>. Laguna Beach is the best team San Pedro will play this season until it faces Carson later.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Laguna Beach</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BradyStringham/status/2096314444448215312?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>TRABUCO HILLS VS. EL MODENA</strong></h2>   <p>Trabuco Hills is coming off a huge win over its rival El Toro where it threw for 292 yards and ran for 188. <strong>Jackson Verplancke</strong> is completing 69 percent of his passes for 206 yards per game with nine touchdowns and <strong>Luke Hoffman</strong> runs for 99 yards per game. <strong>Logan Zack</strong> is one of the better junior defensive players in the county. El Modena is 4-0 and has a good dual threat quarterback in <strong>Ethan Sorenson</strong>. El Modena's defense has five interceptions with <strong>Aiden Sullivan</strong> leading the group. </p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>El Modena</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SteveFryer/status/2100821445106680023?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PACIFICA VS. SIERRA CANYON</strong></h2>   <p>Pacifica has won 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to 2024. [player_tooltip player_id='1197356' first='Taylor' last='Lee'] is averaging 271 yards per game with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions. [player_tooltip player_id='1197241' first='Isaiah' last='Phelps'] is one of the best two-way players in the state and [player_tooltip player_id='1199097' first='Philip' last='Wilson III'] is a key defender for the Tritons. Sierra Canyon has the best defensive line in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='2065932' first='Stephan' last='Harrison'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197327' first='Kasi' last='Currie'] are coming off huge games against Orange Lutheran. [player_tooltip player_id='2066011' first='Eli' last='Zamorano'] had a big game as well along with [player_tooltip player_id='958763' first='Marcus' last='Fakatou']. Pacifica is a really good team but Sierra Canyon is a contender for the Division 1 title.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Sierra Canyon</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MarcusFakatou/status/2101324065155973529?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC VS. GRANITE HILLS</strong></h2>   <p>Cathedral Catholic is on a two-game winning streak after playing a tough schedule in its first two games. [player_tooltip player_id='1284695' first='Koa' last='Smith-Mayall'] has emerged as the top quarterback for the Dons and had a big rushing touchdown last week against Helix. San Diego State commit [player_tooltip player_id='2106842' first='Isaac' last='Cook'] is one of the top receivers in San Diego and [player_tooltip player_id='1197204' first='Honor' last='Faalave'] is the best two-way player in the state. <strong>Kevin Clark</strong> leads the Dons in tackles and [player_tooltip player_id='1201860' first='Titus' last='Napoleon'] is a defender to watch. Granite Hills has won three in a row after a disappointing loss to Oceanside in the season-opener. [player_tooltip player_id='691923' first='Zachary' last='Benitez'] is averaging 230 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and [player_tooltip player_id='2106846' first='Courtney' last='Miller-Thompson'] is his top target. [player_tooltip player_id='1698882' first='Jesse' last='Wilhite'] has two interceptions and leads the defense.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Cathedral Catholic</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Koa_SmithMayall/status/2102230883373928899?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SAN CLEMENTE VS. MURRIETA VALLEY</strong></h2>   <p>San Clemente is 4-0 for the first time since 2023. [player_tooltip player_id='2121939' first='Preston' last='Beck'] has completed 74 percent of his passes for 191 yards with four touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1858610' first='Ryan' last='Matheson'] has emerged as the top receiver along with two-way star [player_tooltip player_id='661909' first='Jaxson' last='Rex']. Rex leads the team in tackles and the linebacker duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2110483' first='Jack' last='Weller']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2384813' first='Declan' last='Sawyers']</strong> can stop the run. [player_tooltip player_id='1717673' first='Ty' last='Isaia'] returned at quarterback from injury last week for Murrieta Valley against Roosevelt and ran for two touchdowns. <strong>Tahj Stevens</strong> ran the ball well and the Nighthawks line is led by [player_tooltip player_id='1717672' first='Vincent' last='Shields']. [player_tooltip player_id='432277' first='Nash' last='Goade'] had a big game defensively with 13 tackles and a forced fumble.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>San Clemente</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Tritonfootball/status/2098775998829674625?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CENTENNIAL VS. DE LA SALLE</strong></h2>   <p>Centennial snapped a rare two-game losing streak last week with a blowout win over Rancho Cucamonga. [player_tooltip player_id='709616' first='Jaden' last='Jefferson'] threw for 173 yards with a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='1514780' first='Braylin' last='Drake'] ran for 102 yards with two touchdowns and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1698911' first='Gavin' last='Lorge']</strong> had a touchdown catch. [player_tooltip player_id='1283560' first='Kye' last='Duval'] had a sack and is one of a few very good pass rushers for the Huskies. De La Salle is 4-0 and has wins over two high-level Northern California teams in Serra and Cardinal Newman. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2345840' first='Jaxon' last='Loftin']</strong> has thrown eight touchdowns with no interceptions and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2144587' first='Damari' last='Dean'] </strong>is his top receiver. UCLA commit [player_tooltip player_id='1197563' first='Duece' last='Jones-Drew'] leads the rushing attack. De La Salle is pretty young on defense but [player_tooltip player_id='1621216' first='Landon' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2247307' first='Jameson' last='Mitzel'] are key players to watch. This game is a good litmus test for De La Salle to see if it can compete with the best Southern Section Division 1 teams when the state championships come.</p>   <p><strong>The pick: </strong>Centennial</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/2102921862078460240?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>HUNTLEY'S RECORD: </strong>23-12</p>

Each week I will pick and break down seven of the top games in Southern California.