Huntley’s Week 1 Picks
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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 San Juan Hills vs. Cypress Cypress opened its season with…
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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
San Juan Hills vs. Cypress
Cypress opened its season with an impressive win over Foothill. Los Alamitos transfer Aidan Houston completed 11 of 15 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown for the Centurions while returning quarterback Elliot Lemonnier had 106 yards with a touchdown pass as well.
Oregon State commit Matthew Morrell Matthew Morrell 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Cypress | 2023 State CA caught five passes for 92 yards with a touchdown and slot receiver Blake Cuisamano caught six passes for 83 yards with a touchdown.
San Juan Hills struggled offensively against a very good Santa Margarita defense last week. Michael “Butter” Tollefson had just over 80 yards passing and 50 yards rushing. Brayden Bockler Brayden Bockler 6'4" | 240 lbs | TE San Juan Hills | 2023 State CA caught a touchdown pass for the Stallions but was banged up after the game.
The Stallion’s defense was very good led by Weston Port Weston Port 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB San Juan Hills | 2025 State CA and Jake Javorsky.
Cypress upset San Juan Hills last year in a game that shocked the OC football community. San Juan Hills is ready for the Centurions this time in what should be a low-scoring affair.
The pick: San Juan Hills
FRIDAY
JSerra vs. Chaminade
JSerra had one of the biggest upsets in week zero with a convincing win over Sierra Canyon. Quarterback Zander Singh Zander Singh 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB JSerra | 2024 State CA completed 10 of 19 passes for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sophomore George Perez George Perez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Jserra | 2025 State CA ran for 139 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown.
What was most impressive about JSerra was the performance of its offensive line led by 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 .
Chaminade edged Oaks Christian by seven points in week one and is led by defensive stars Marquis Gallegos Marquis Gallegos 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA and Isaiah Chisom Isaiah Chisom 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Chaminade | 2023 State CA .
This will be a very close game but JSerra’s win last week was more impressive than Chaminade’s. They won’t catch Chaminade off-guard like they may have done to Sierra Canyon, but games are won in the trenches and JSerra has an edge there.
The pick: JSerra
Serra vs. Long Beach Poly
Serra had a 20-3 lead midway through the third quarter against Orange Lutheran before the Lancers made an impressive comeback to win. Cincere Rhaney Cincere Rhaney 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Serra | 2024 State CA was excellent against Orange Lutheran and rushed for 171 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. Kai Honda is a receiver to watch who had six catches for Serra.
Poly was dominant in week zero and got a superstar performance out of quarterback Darius Curry Darius Curry 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA with 358 yards and four touchdowns. USC commit Jason Robinson JR Jason Robinson JR 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR San Juan Hills | 2024 State CA led the Jackrabbits receiving corps with 114 yards on six receptions with a touchdown. Running back Devin Samples Devin Samples 5'7" | 190 lbs | RB Long Beach Poly | 2023 State CA had a touchdown reception out of the backfield and Raiden Brown Raiden Brown 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Long Beach Poly | 2023 State CA had a touchdown catch.
USC commit Dylan Williams Dylan Williams 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA led the Poly defense with 11 tackles and Phoenix Tusa Phoenix Tusa 6'0" | 245 lbs | DL Long Beach Poly | 2023 CA had two sacks.
The last six games between these two teams have been decided by six points or less. Serra won both games last season including the CIF State Division 1A Regional championship. The intriguing matchup to watch is between Poly receiver Jason Robinson JR Jason Robinson JR 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR San Juan Hills | 2024 State CA and Serra cornerback Rodrick Pleasant Rodrick Pleasant 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Serra | 2023 State CA .
The pick: Long Beach Poly
Centennial vs. Cathedral Catholic
Centennial was dominant in its opening game against Santiago and because of the 85-0 score, none of the starters put up impressive numbers due to low playing time. Arizona State commit Izzy Carter Izzy Carter 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Centennial - Corona | 2023 State CA had two touchdown passes on just three attempts and running back Cornell Hatcher had 94 yards rushing with two touchdowns.
Owen Chambliss Owen Chambliss 6'3" | 205 lbs | DB Centennial - Corona | 2023 State CA had an interception on defense and Samarai Anderson Samarai Anderson 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Centennial | 2023 State CA had six tackles and one for a loss for the Centennial defense.
Cathedral Catholic ran for 164 yards in a win over Mater Dei Catholic last week, in a battle between two of the top teams in San Diego. Sean Kagen led the defense with 17 tackles and two sacks and Victory Johnson Victory Johnson 6'4" | 230 lbs | LB Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State CA had 12 tackles. Madden Faraimo Madden Faraimo 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB JSerra | 2025 State CA had two interceptions for the Cathedral Catholic defense.
The Dons lost a ton of talent from their Open Division championship team last season and Centennial is just too good for most teams to beat right now.
The pick: Centennial
Norco vs. Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita’s defense shined in the team’s opening win over San Juan Hills. 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 were dominant on the edges and constantly got in the backfield. Tyler Parker Tyler Parker 6'0" | 295 lbs | DL Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA drew a lot of double teams on the inside which opened tackling windows for Jacob Bower Jacob Bower 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 CA who had 16 tackles.
Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA had a fine game but played it very safe with a lot of underneath throws. Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA had 9 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown and Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA had a long catch.
Norco has a new face in at quarterback in Tyler Dudden Tyler Dudden 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA and his top target will be UCLA commit Grant Gray Grant Gray 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Norco | 2023 State CA . The defense is loaded with talent like defensive back Clayton Zentner, Chase Miller, Tobias Thomasscales and Mater Dei transfer Thaddeus Woods Thaddeus Woods 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB Centennial | 2024 State CA .
This was one of Santa Margarita’s losses last year but I think they will benefit from being at home and having already played a game to work the kinks out.
The pick: Santa Margarita
Servite vs. Mission Viejo
Servite struggled last week against Rancho Cucamonga and hits the road again this week for a tough matchup.
Mission Viejo had the week off after a win over Mililani of Hawaii. Jackson Holman Jackson Holman 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA had multiple touchdown receptions and Michael Damato Michael Damato 6'0" | 205 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA led the defense with two interceptions. Trey Tolmaire Trey Tolmaire 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2024 State CA had an interception and Jonathan Becerra Jonathan Becerra 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA had 1.5 sacks.
Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA is one of the sharpest quarterbacks in the county and Servite doesn’t have the strength in the trenches to attack Mission Viejo’s offensive line.
The pick: Mission Viejo
Carlsbad vs. Mater Dei Catholic
Mater Dei Catholic struggled in its season opener against Cathedral Catholic and gave itself no time to recover to now play another top team in the county in Carlsbad.
Kansas commit Chris Snyder Chris Snyder 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Mater Dei Catholic | 2023 State CA had a nice game for the Crusaders with a rushing touchdown against Cathedral Catholic.
Carlsbad is led by the top quarterback in the 2024 class Julian Sayin Julian Sayin 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Carlsbad | 2024 State CA . Tight end Zack Marshall Zack Marshall 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Carlsbad | 2023 State CA just committed to Michigan and receiver Justin Johnson Justin Johnson 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2023 State CA is a weapon. Luke Ferrelli Luke Ferrelli 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Carlsbad | 2024 State CA is a two-way star who will be one of the most physical guys on the field.
Mater Dei had the benefit of playing a game to work out the kinks and Carlsbad is playing its first game. But I think Carlsbad is too talented and has the edges in the trenches.
The pick: Carlsbad