Huntley’s Week 0 Picks
In this article:
Each week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California. Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week: THURSDAY La Habra vs. Upland Upland always has a top notch…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEach week I will breakdown and make predictions for seven games in Southern California.
Here is a look at what I think are the top games of the week:
THURSDAY
La Habra vs. Upland
Upland always has a top notch defense and this year will be no exception. Eastern Washington commit Vincent Macaluso Vincent Macaluso 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Upland | 2023 State CA will lead the defense along with Brendan Ash. Ricky Allen will be a heavily-featured running back for Upland this season. La Habra will rely on Gabe Medel on defense and some two-way defensive backs like Marcus Works. The Highlanders were shut out in this game last year but it’s hard to imagine Justin Gil Justin Gil 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB La Habra | 2023 State CA , Jacob Apodaca and Dathan Lui letting that happen again.
Prediction: La Habra
Valencia vs. Bishop Amat
This is a loaded Bishop Amat team on both sides of the ball. Cal commit Tiumalu Afalava Tiumalu Afalava 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA and Raymond Macias Raymond Macias 6'2" | 275 lbs | DL Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA will be difficult for Valencia to block up front with Chris Cooper Chris Cooper 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Bishop Amat | 2023 CA and Corey Johnson Corey Johnson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA patrolling the secondary. Richie Munoz Richie Munoz 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Charter Oak | 2023 State CA will be the starting quarterback for the Lancers beating out Hunter Watson Hunter Watson 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Bishop Amat | 2023 CA at the moment. Aiden Ramos Aiden Ramos 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA could have a huge day on the ground for Bishop Amat. Reid Farrell Reid Farrell 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Valencia | 2024 State CA will be tasked with stopping Ramos and the running game. Valencia is a tough opponent but Bishop Amat should take this one at home.
Prediction: Bishop Amat
FRIDAY
Serra (Gardena) vs. Orange Lutheran
Orange Lutheran returns 11 starters from last year’s Division 2 championship team, including linebackers Gabe Morin Gabe Morin 5'10" | 215 lbs | LB Orange Lutheran | 2023 State CA and Jojo Edwards Jojo Edwards 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA . However, the weakness of Orange Lutheran’s team last year was stopping the run and Serra’s strength is its running game with Cincere Rhaney Cincere Rhaney 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Serra | 2024 State CA who may have a field day Friday. Orange Lutheran will display sophomore quarterback TJ Lateef TJ Lateef 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA , but his returning top receiver Kaleb Marshall Kaleb Marshall 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2023 CA may be locked down by Serra corner Rodrick Pleasant Rodrick Pleasant 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Serra | 2023 State CA .
Prediction: Serra
Sierra Canyon vs. JSerra
Both teams have better rosters than they did last season. Sierra Canyon will be led by quarterback Alonzo Esparza Alonzo Esparza 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2025 State CA , a talented transfer from Culver City. Sierra Canyon defensive lineman and Stanford commit Cameron Brandt Cameron Brandt 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon | 2024 CA will be the best player on the field. JSerra has a solid offensive line with David Tuliau David Tuliau 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Jserra Catholic | 2023 CA and Jake Flores Jake Flores 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL JSerra | 2025 State CA . The Lions love their junior quarterback Zander Singh Zander Singh 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB JSerra | 2024 State CA but I don’t think they have the skill players to hang with Sierra Canyon. Lavon Brown Lavon Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2023 State CA and Josiah Phillips Josiah Phillips 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Sierra Canyon | 2023 State CA could be matchup nightmares for JSerra.
Prediction: Sierra Canyon
St. Bonaventure vs. Inglewood
Inglewood drew a lot of praise from opposing coaches during the summer passing league tournaments. Tight end and Louisville commit Jamari Johnson Jamari Johnson 6'5" | 250 lbs | TE Inglewood | 2023 State CA has tight end athleticism with a tackle’s body. Inglewood is loaded with Division 1 commits at the skill positions in Makhi Connor Makhi Connor 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2023 State CA , Jonah Lewis Jonah Lewis 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2023 State CA , Justin Johnson Justin Johnson 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2023 State CA , Khalil Peart Khalil Peart 6'3" | 220 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2023 State CA and Jaden DaCosta Jaden DaCosta 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2023 State CA among others. Joaquin Johnson Joaquin Johnson 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR St. Bonaventure | 2023 CA is a marquee receiver for St. Bonaventure but Inglewood has the versatility in the secondary to contain him.
Prediction: Inglewood
Santa Margarita vs. San Juan Hills
I will be covering this game for the OC Register and while San Juan Hills is a very good public school team, I think this could be a mismatch. Santa Margarita’s defensive line is fantastic with Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA , Tyler Parker Tyler Parker 6'0" | 295 lbs | DL Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA , Gage Burnett Gage Burnett 6'1" | 230 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Nicholas Johnson Nicholas Johnson 6'4" | 190 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA . They will get after San Juan Hills star quarterback Michael “Butter” Tollefson. Weston Port Weston Port 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB San Juan Hills | 2025 State CA of SJH is an elite pass rusher but Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA gets the ball out quickly. Eagles running back Jake Foye Jake Foye 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA is out with mono but young Taurian Nash Taurian Nash RB Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA will get a chance to shine. I just think it will be difficult for San Juan Hills to match scores with the Eagles.
Prediction: Santa Margarita
SATURDAY
Cathedral Catholic vs. Mater Dei Catholic
Cathedral Catholic was the San Diego Section Open Division champion last season and Mater Dei Catholic was the Division 1 champion. Cathedral lost a ton of talent but they have two stars on defense in linebacker Victory Johnson Victory Johnson 6'4" | 230 lbs | LB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA and defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe Marcus Ratcliffe 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA . Mater Dei has a ton of returning skill talent in Surahz Buncom Surahz Buncom 6'4" | 175 lbs | DB Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA , Chris Snyder Chris Snyder 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA , Isaiah Buxton Isaiah Buxton 6'0" | 150 lbs | DB Mater Dei Catholic | 2024 State CA , Jeremiah McClure Jeremiah McClure 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA , Cruz Estrada Cruz Estrada 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA and quarterback Dominic Nankil Dominic Nankil 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA . The question of this game is can Mater Dei hang with Cathedral Catholic in the trenches? San Diego football fans are getting a treat in a game between arguably the top two teams in the section in the season’s opening week.
Prediction: Cathedral Catholic