The Southern California News Group will be covering tonight’s high school football games and providing updates on the games impacted by fire and power outages.
Several games in south Orange County have been impacted by the Norte fire, which has caused evacuations in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. For the latest updates, click here.
There have also been two games postponed until Saturday because of power outages related to strong wind in Ventura County.
High school football analyst Michael Huntley has also put together his list of the “players to watch” tonight and his predictions for some of the top games on the Week 8 schedule.
PREDICTIONS: HUNTLEY’S PICKS
Santa Margarita vs. St. John Bosco: Santa Margarita has won 13 straight games and its last loss came against St. John Bosco last season. Bosco quarterback Koa Malau’ulu threw for 289 yards with four touchdowns last season against Santa Margarita. Freshman Aydan Steen leads Santa Margarita’s defense with 55 tackles and six sacks.
The pick: St. John Bosco
(Postponed) Mission Viejo vs. San Clemente: San Clemente recently dominated Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo struggled to beat Yorba Linda last week. BYU commit Jaxson Rex has two interception returns for touchdowns this season and four receiving touchdowns for San Clemente. Mission Viejo forced five turnovers when it beat San Clemente last season.
The pick: San Clemente
Redondo Union vs. Inglewood: Inglewood is coming off a huge win over Palos Verdes and Lincoln Jahn threw for 277 yards with three touchdowns in the win. Redondo Union is coming off a bye and is led by Rocky Martinez who has 999 yards rushing with nine touchdowns.
The pick: Inglewood
Rancho Cucamonga vs. Etiwanda: Rancho Cucamonga forced four turnovers when it beat Etiwanda last season. Bruce Barnier has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Cougars this season. Etiwanda has won three straight and Landon Congalton completed 90 percent of his passes for 175 yards last week in a win over Damien.
The pick: Rancho Cucamonga
Bishop Amat vs. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks): Bishop Amat’s defense was outstanding last week in a 28-7 win over Chaminade. Brandon Billups had an interception and KJ Paea had two sacks with two forced fumbles. Notre Dame is undefeated and Noel Washington ran for four touchdowns last week against Loyola.
The pick: Notre Dame
Murrieta Valley vs. Vista Murrieta: Both defenses have struggled this season with Murrieta Valley allowing 42 points or more in its last three games and Vista Murrieta allowing 91 points in its last two games. Murrieta Valley quarterback Ty Isaia threw for 255 yards with three touchdowns against Vista Murrieta last season.
The pick: Murrieta Valley
HUNTLEY’S PLAYERS TO WATCH
Enzo Gallo, RB, Dana Hills: Gallo has multiple rushing touchdowns in all seven of his games this season. He ran for 179 yards against Huntington Beach last week. Dana Hills ran for 230 yards with five touchdowns last season against tonight’s opponent, Laguna Beach.
Garrison Manzanarez, DE, Cypress: The Wyoming commit leads Cypress with 11 tackles for a loss and has six sacks. Manzanarez will be busy tonight against a Marina offense that runs for 193 yards per game and throws for 190.
Elisha Mueller, OL, St. John Bosco: Mueller is one of the top junior offensive linemen in the state. St. John Bosco’s offense looks better since he came back from the transfer sit-out period. He will have to have a big game at left tackle against Santa Margarita, which has 31 sacks this season.
Axel Gresen, OL, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks): Gresen is the starting right tackle for Notre Dame, which faces a Bishop Amat team tonight that has 26 sacks in seven games.
Tristan Dottin, DB, Westlake: Dottin leads Westlake in interceptions and pass deflections. He will have a tough matchup tonight against Ventura, which throws for 245 yards per game.
Edward Rivera, RB, Compton: Rivera is averaging nearly 12 yards per carry for Compton this season with 11 touchdowns. Compton ran for 338 yards last season when it beat tonight’s opponent, Cabrillo.
Ross Piken, DB, La Canada: Piken leads La Canada in turnovers with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. La Canada shut out Muir last week and has a tough matchup against a balanced Burbank offense this week in a potential league championship game.
Barrett Blied, LB, La Habra: Blied leads La Habra in tackles with 57 and faces Crean Lutheran, which has rushed for nearly 300 yards with five touchdowns in its two league games.
Derrick Coleman, DB, Serra: Coleman leads Serra in tackles and forced turnovers. Serra plays Loyola, which had three turnovers against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks last week.
Chris Fields III, QB, Carson: Fields has 24 touchdowns this season (12 passing, 12 rushing). He threw for 200 yards with six touchdowns in a blowout win last season against Narbonne, which he faces tonight.
Kannon Terracciano, WR, Great Oak: Terracciano had 205 yards receiving on just four catches and all four were touchdowns in a win over Santiago last week. He had a receiving touchdown last season against Temecula Valley, which he faces tonight.
Brock Norman, WR, Vista Murrieta: Norman leads Vista Murrieta in receiving this season with 428 yards and five touchdowns. He had 115 receiving yards with two touchdowns last season when Vista Murrieta beat Murrieta Valley.