Huntley’s Week 4 Picks
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Each week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California. I don’t want to boast, but I went a very nice 6-1 last week. Here is a look at what I think are the top games…
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Continue ReadingEach week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California.
I don’t want to boast, but I went a very nice 6-1 last week.
Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week:
DAMIEN VS. LA SERNA
Reporters I know in the San Gabriel Valley always hype up Damien football but I have yet to be blown away by the Spartans. They are off to a 1-3 start this season but have played a challenging schedule with losses to Yorba Linda, Pasadena and Orange Lutheran. Dylan Gutierrez Dylan Gutierrez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Damien | 2023 State CA is an athletic senior quarterback who can extend plays with his legs. La Serna is coming off a big win against Tesoro where they overcame a 21-0 deficit. Owen Long is a great two-way player for La Serna and Jayden Northrup Jayden Northrup 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR La Serna | 2024 CA had a big second half last week. Damien’s losses are impressive but they need to learn how to win close games. La Serna can’t fall behind like they did last week.
The pick: La Serna
SANTA MARGARITA VS. LOS ALAMITOS
Santa Margarita is 3-0 but only has one impressive win so far. Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA is a good quarterback who can move the ball down the field. I like how they use Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA on underneath routes and Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA and Bain Eiseman Bain Eiseman 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2024 State CA over the top. Defensively, Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Collins Acheampong Collins Acheampong 6'7" | 255 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita | 2023 State CA are lethal on the edge and Jacob Bower Jacob Bower 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 CA is a tackling machine. Los Alamitos’ USC commits Malachi Nelson Malachi Nelson 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and Makai Lemon Makai Lemon 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA are red hot right now. Damian Henderson Damian Henderson 6'3" | 185 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA has been great running the ball as well. A potential mismatch is Los Al’s receiving corps with Lemon, Ethan O’Connor Ethan O’Connor 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA , Kassius Ashtiani Kassius Ashtiani 5'9" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and Gavin Porch Gavin Porch 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA against the Eagles’ secondary. Joshua Tuchek Joshua Tuchek 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Millikan | 2025 State CA and LaRue Zamorano LaRue Zamorano 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Centennial | 2025 State CA are talented young players but they haven’t been tested like this yet. This game is huge as far as playoff placement goes.
The pick: Santa Margarita
RANCHO CUCAMONGA VS. JSERRA
We will learn a lot about where these two teams stand after this week. CJ Tiller CJ Tiller 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Rancho Cucamonga | 2023 State CA is a quality quarterback for Rancho Cucamonga but he can get careless with the football at times. Jason Harris Jason Harris 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Centennial | 2024 State CA will be the best receiver on the field and Julian Lundy Julian Lundy 6'3" | 170 lbs | WR Rancho Cucamonga | 2023 State CA can make big plays. Lavaka Latu can cause major problems in the backfield. George Perez George Perez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Jserra | 2025 State CA is a talented running back for JSerra behind a quality offensive line. Logan Christensen Logan Christensen 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB JSerra | 2025 State CA is a talented sophomore receiver who has yet to have a breakout game. Clarence Chaney Clarence Chaney 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB JSerra | 2024 State CA leads a solid defense for the Lions. JSerra’s losses are to Chaminade and Centennial who are great teams. This was a 20 point game last season and I don’t think Rancho Cucamonga has closed the gap by that much.
The pick: JSerra
YORBA LINDA VS. SIMI VALLEY
Yorba Linda is 4-0 with a nice win over Damien and two blowout wins over Orange and San Juan Hills. The Mustangs are versatile and can beat you through the air with quarterback Reyn Beal Reyn Beal 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA or on the ground with running back William Saucedo. JJ Conrad JJ Conrad 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Yorba Linda | 2023 CA is a good receiver who can get open and Wyatt Mosier Wyatt Mosier 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Yorba Linda | 2023 State CA covers a ton of ground at linebacker. Simi Valley is coming off its first regular season loss in two seasons. Steele Pizzella Steele Pizzella 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Notre Dame | 2025 State CA is one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the state and Caleb Alvary is a big playmaker on offense. Colorado commit Carson Mott Carson Mott 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Simi Valley | 2023 State CA is great off the edge and may cause problems for the Yorba Linda offensive line. This is a tough test for Yorba Linda but they are so well-coached and versatile that they are prepared for this.
The pick: Yorba Linda
ALEMANY VS. MISSION VIEJO
Alemany has not played a game since August 26 when it had an impressive win over Lincoln of San Diego. CJ Ceron is a dual threat quarterback with a backfield of Paden White Paden White 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Bishop Alemany | 2024 State CA and Jeremiah Claiborne Jeremiah Claiborne 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Bishop Alemany | 2023 State CA . Juan Martinez is the leading tackler for the defense and La’Mario Claiborne La’Mario Claiborne 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Oak Hills | 2025 State CA is one of the best sophomore defensive linemen in the state. Arizona commit Siaosi Tapaatoutai Siaosi Tapaatoutai 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Bishop Alemany | 2023 State CA is great playing both ways. Mission Viejo bounced back from its loss against Long Beach Poly with a dominant win over Sierra Canyon. Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA can throw down the field and Mikey Matthews Mikey Matthews 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA can get open with ease. The Diablos front seven will have to play big this week and I expect Jonathan Becerra Jonathan Becerra 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA , Joey Torrez Joey Torrez 6'0" | 230 lbs | LB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA and Michae Damato to step up. I think Alemany is too one dimensional to beat Mission Viejo.
The pick: Mission Viejo
DE LA SALLE VS. CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC
De La Salle is a top three team in Northern California and is heading south to play Cathedral Catholic. Fresno State commit Charles Greer Charles Greer 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH De La Salle | 2023 State CA leads the running game along with Dylan Greeson Dylan Greeson 6'0" | 100 lbs | LB De La Salle | 2023 State CA . Notre Dame commit Cooper Flanagan Cooper Flanagan 6'6" | 240 lbs | TE De La Salle | 2023 State CA is a matchup nightmare at tight end. De La Salle is bigger than usual on the offensive line this year with TCU commit Cooper Powers Cooper Powers 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL De La Salle | 2023 State CA and Harvard commit Derek Thompson Derek Thompson 6'2" | 290 lbs | OL De La Salle | 2023 State CA . Cathedral Catholic is coming off a nice win over Helix. Will Bond can make plays out of the backfield and Marcus Ratcliffe Marcus Ratcliffe 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA is one of the best athletes on the field. Defensively, Victory Johnson Victory Johnson 6'4" | 230 lbs | LB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA is a star and will be busy stopping the De La Salle running game. Sophomore Madden Faraimo Madden Faraimo 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB JSerra | 2025 State CA is a great athlete for the Dons. This is a good matchup but this isn’t the strongest Cathedral Catholic team in recent years.
The pick: De La Salle
EDISON VS. SAN CLEMENTE
Both teams are very hot with 4-0 starts. San Clemente just had a convincing win over Corona del Mar. Blake Allen is a workhorse at running back and Broderick Redden Broderick Redden 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE San Clemente | 2024 State CA is a very good game manager at quarterback. Defensively, San Clemente can get into the backfield with Cole Robertson and Nolan Reid. Brad Gerken Brad Gerken 5'11" | 190 lbs | DB San Clemente | 2023 CA covers a ton of ground in the secondary. Edison can move the ball through the air with quarterback Parker Awad and receivers Jackson Irwin Jackson Irwin 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL Edison | 2023 CA , Tucker Tripp, Ashton Hurley and Mason York. Dom Lopez and Logan Gregory are two very good defensive players for the Chargers. This was a 42-0 game in Edison’s favor last season. This game will not be like that, but I don’t think San Clemente has closed the gap by 42 points.
The pick: Edison
HUNTLEY’S RECORD: 18-10