Previews and predictions for some of the top football playoff games Friday in the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier and Pasadena areas.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
CIF-SS QUARTERFINALS
DIVISION 8
Covina (9-2) at Charter Oak (3-8), 7 p.m.: It has been more than two decades since the crosstown schools have played. Their last meeting was in 2001, a year the Chargers beat the Colts then went on to win the CIF-SS Division 7 title. The Chargers are a surprise team in the quarterfinals after receiving an-large berth to the playoffs and winning just games in the regular season. They went on the road and knocked off North Torrance, 21-14 in overtime in the first round. The Colts got here a more traditional way, having put together a remarkable season. They were impressive knocking off fourth-seed Summit, 34-27, in the first round. The Colts have one of the area’s best dual-threat quarterbacks in Jake Duronslet, who has thrown for 2,165 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Colts can also pound the ball on the ground with Joaquin Barragan and Joseph Rangel, who have over 1,200 yards and 25 touchdowns between them. The Colts will likely be without their top receiving threat, Abraham Perez, who was injured in last week’s win. The Chargers will be missing some offensive linemen because of injuries, and sophom*ore RB Tory Huff is still injured. However, this is a dream spot for the Chargers, who played an extremely tough schedule and wound up dropping several divisions after being in D3 last season. The outlook is suddenly bright for them, and playing at home they have a good chance to show why tough schedules matter.
The pick: Charter Oak
Quarterfinal breakdown, prediction’s with @ChemicalAT
🎤Covina-Charter Oak
🎤Agoura-Muir
🎤Bonita-Thousand Oaks
🎤La Serna-Trabuco Hills
🎤Arrowhead Christian-Santa Fe https://t.co/h3wsW3ZrTP
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) November 7, 2023
DIVISION 4
La Serna (8-3) at Trabuco Hills (8-3), 7 p.m.: The Lancers showed why they are a No. 2 seed in a dominating 46-21 victory over Great Oak in the first round. They pounded out nearly 400 yards rushing, led by Owen Long’s 97 yards and two touchdowns. It’s possible senior QB CJ Ceron, a recent transfer, will make his first start for La Serna. He split time with senior starter Aiden Leonardo during last week’s playoff game. Both are capable and the Lancers are going to do what they do best anyway, which is run the ball and play good defense. Trabuco Hills won its fourth straight by beating Newport Harbor 24-21 in the first round. They run the ball well too. Taylor Bowie had his best game for the Mustangs, rushing 37 times for 220 yards and three TDs. Road games are never easy, but the Lancers have the coaching staff and confidence to get it done.
The pick: La Serna
DIVISION 5
Bonita (9-2) at Thousand Oaks (8-3), 7 p.m.: The Bearcats are certainly glad they do not have to see Northview again this season, not after two brutally tough games against them. Last week Bonita pulled out a 21-20 overtime victory over the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs after losing to them during the regular season. The Bearcats’ Noah Mikhail scored the go-ahead TD in overtime. Then after the Vikings scored, the Bearcats blocked the extra point to advance. While it was a great win, there is much to work on if they want to keep going. The Bearcats rushed for only 39 yards in the victory, and that won’t get it done consistently in the playoffs. QB Daniel Mielke was solid for the most part, throwing for 271 yards and a touchdown, and the Bearcats played solid defensively. The Lancers have won five straight, including last week’s 41-34 win over El Modena in the first round. Thousand Oaks throws and passes the ball evenly, for the most part. Bonita might pull this off, but it’s tough to trust a team struggling with its run game as we get deeper into the playoffs.
The pick: Thousand Oaks
DIVISION 7
Agoura (7-3) at Muir (8-3), 7 p.m.: Last season the Mustangs won the Division 10 championship without having to rely much on quarterback Brandon Valencia because they ran the ball so effectively. This season Valencia, now a senior, will play a big role for the Mustangs as they try to win back-to-back titles. In a 26-20 first-round win over Diamond Ranch last week, Valencia threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns. For the Mustangs to keep advancing, they will need to run the ball too and commit far less penalties than they did last week. Agoura posted a 42-18 win over Burroughs in the first round, which should be a concerning margin of victory for Muir considering that Burroughs edged Muir for the Pacific League title. However, Burroughs had five fumbles and an interception in its loss, and few teams can win when it commits six turnovers. Agoura lost its final two league games, against Thousand Oak and Moorpark, before the playoffs. Muir should have the advantage at home, though this should be a close contest.
The pick: Muir
DIVISION 9
Rio Hondo Prep (10-1) vs. Orange (7-4) at El Modena HS, 7 p.m.: It might be surprising to some that the Kares are one of the winningest programs in CIF-SS history with 14 championships, trailing only Long Beach Poly. They won 10 title playing 8-man football and have won four since then in 11-man. Their last titles were in back-to-back years, 2011 and ’12, when they won the Northeast Division, which is the equivalent of Division 13 now. The school with just over 100 students, half of which are girls, and hardly ever receives a transfer, is the top seed. But the Kares will need to be at their best to advance. In the Kares’ 26-24 win over St. Margaret’s in the first round, they did what good playoff teams do by rushing the ball 65 times for 364 yards. They were led by sophom*ore Noah Penunuri (26 rushes, 161 yards, 3TDs) and Nate Curtis (23 rushes, 127 yards, TD). Orange is tough and can run the ball with Ardwon Morris (2,147 yards, 26 touchdowns) and they have a talented QB in Hype Grand. Orange got through the first round with a 19-14 win over Diamond Bar. That should give the Kares hope. In the playoffs, where costly mistakes can decide games, the Kares rarely make them.
The pick: Rio Hondo Prep
DIVISION 10
West Covina (9-2) vs. Beckman (9-2) at Laguna Hills HS, 7 p.m: It was vintage Bulldogs last week in a 30-16 win over Paloma Valley in the first round. They rushed for 344 yards with Zander Requena getting 37 carries for 287 yards and three touchdowns. It was the Bulldogs’ first playoff win since 2014. For them to be successful in the playoffs, running the ball effectively is what they must do. Beckman advanced to the quarterfinals with a 14-9 win over Capistrano Valley Christian. The Patriots held their opponent to under 100 yards rushing. The Patriots have a dual-threat QB in Austin Shepard, who has thrown for 1,670 yards and 22 touchdowns and also rushed for 10 TDs. Not sure the Patriots can contain the Bulldogs’ run game, especially after what they showed last week.
The pick: West Covina
FRIDAY’S OTHER QUARTERFINALS
Games start 7 p.m.
DIVISION 6
Murrieta Mesa (5-6) at La Habra (7-4)
DIVISION 11
Cantwell Sacred Heart (9-2) at Westminster (8-3)
DIVISION 12
Arrowhead Christian (9-2) vs. Santa Fe (8-3) at Pioneer HS
DIVISION 13
Walnut (5-6) vs. Los Amigos (7-4) at Bolsa Grande HS
Desert Hot Springs (8-3) at Baldwin Park (5-6)
DIVISION 14
Hawthorne (5-6) at El Monte (5-6)
Whittier Christian (7-4) at Lynwood (5-5)
