Sierra Canyon’s football team will host Orange Lutheran on Friday night in a battle that could have a big impact on the Division 1 seedings for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Who will come away victorious in Week 4? And which programs will step up or possibly take a step back?
Here are previews of the top games along with predictions for every game in the area.
All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.
TOP WEEK 4 GAMES
Orange Lutheran (3-1) vs. Sierra Canyon (3-0), Friday
Sierra Canyon continued its domination during its three-game winning streak with a crushing 52-0 win over Saint Louis of Hawaii. The game was suspended with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter after Saint Louis quarterback Luke Shigeta suffered a head/neck injury. Sierra Canyon swarmed Saint Louis and had three different players return interceptions for touchdowns — sophomore Eli Zamorano, junior Christian Butler and senior Duvay Williams.
Orange Lutheran is the school that lineman Marcus Fakatou (Ohio State commit) attended before he transferred to Sierra Canyon for his senior season. Orange Lutheran is led by four-star wide receiver Nico Bland (Arizona State commit), three-star defensive back Anhor The Great Johnson, three-star defensive back King Rich Johnson and four-star safety Chauncey Washington II.
Sierra Canyon is led by senior and team captain Myles Baker (UCLA commit), 6-foot-1 junior Sir Homer King Webb, senior defensive lineman Kasi Currie (Texas commit), senior three-star wide receiver Jaxsen Stokes (Cal commit), four-star defensive back Duvay Williams, defensive lineman Brayden Tautolo, San Diego State commit Tyson Seidman, 6-foot-6 junior offensive lineman Lance Ciechanowski, three-star offensive lineman Braydenn Mercer, sophomore offensive lineman Hunter Bryant and senior defensive lineman Cooper Cook.
So what does the film say about each team, besides being big, fast, talented and physical? Both teams gang tackle and pressure the pocket. Orange Lutheran utilizes senior quarterback Reagan Toki and sophomore Ezrah Brown, while Sierra Canyon has lefty QB Ian Patterson and senior Demarco Hernandez. Two top-ranked programs hoping to create separation. It’ll come down to which quarterbacks deliver the football better against elite defenses. The offenses could cancel each other out until a final drive in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Sierra Canyon wins 16-13
Oak Park (4-0) vs. Crespi (3-1), Friday
Two high-powered offenses are set to battle. Sophomore four-star quarterback Chase Curren faces Oak Park sophomore quarterback Bryson Kennedy. Last week Oak Park found itself tied with Castaic 21-21 at halftime before pulling away to a 45-21 victory. Kennedy completed 13 of 22 passes for 145 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. St. Bernard’s transfer Gary Ferguson made four tackles and caught six passes for 66 yards and one touchdown. Senior Nevada Ford rushed for 120 yards.
Curren completed 10 of 12 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns in a 64-0 win over Canyon. Crespi junior linebacker Noah Sanchez’s stock is rising quickly after he made six tackles and two sacks. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, with an ability to square up ball carriers, schools will be calling his number soon. Battle-tested Crespi takes the win in a shootout.
Prediction: Crespi wins 49-35
Tustin (3-1) vs. Westlake (4-0), Friday
Westlake hosts Tustin after staving off Laguna Beach at home, 28-23. Freshman Hudson Tucker threw touchdown passes on both of his attempts while sophomore Ford Green completed 11 of 20 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Dylan Bruns finished with three sacks. Westlake matches up with a strong Tustin defense led by three-star defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams (BYU commit). Tustin’s four-star lineman Jon Ioane (Washington commit) underwent season-ending knee surgery this week. It’s hard to bet against Westlake at home with Green and the talents of four-star tight end Charles Davis III (Cal commit) and four-star wide receiver Demare Dezeurn(Cal commit). Westlake carries the athletes and physicality to upend Tustin.
Prediction: Westlake wins 27-17
Saugus (3-1) vs. Golden Valley (2-2), Friday
Golden Valley looks to avenge last season’s 32-29 loss to Saugus in the Foothill League. The victory by Saugus guaranteed the Centurions an automatic entry into the CIF Southern Section playoffs while the Grizzlies were left out of the postseason picture. Golden Valley relies heavily on its read-pass-option offense led by sophomore quarterback Jaxon Ray. Golden Valley also has a large group of running backs, including senior Aaron McCormick (231 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry) and sophomore Cornell Glass (12 carries, 111 rushing yards). Saugus’ all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards is senior Landon Lattimore, a top weapon for junior quarterback Brayden Connelly (44 of 59 passing, 549 yards, seven touchdowns, zero interceptions).
Prediction: Saugus wins 28-21.
Other Week 4 matchups
Thursday
Viewpoint vs. Hawkins. Prediction: Viewpoint wins 21-7.
Friday
Chatsworth vs. Sylmar. Prediction: Chatsworth wins 27-17.
Simi Valley vs. Palmdale. Prediction: Simi Valley wins 42-21.
Thousand Oaks vs. Lancaster. Prediction: Thousand Oaks wins 34-24.
La Canada vs. St. Francis. Prediction: St. Francis wins 28-17.
Birmingham vs. Burbank. Prediction: Burbank wins 21-20.
Agoura vs. Heritage Christian. Prediction: Agoura wins 24-17.
El Camino Real vs. Knight. Prediction: Knight wins 31-28.
Chaminade vs. St. Bonaventure. Prediction: Chaminade wins 17-14.
Moorpark vs. Elk Grove. Prediction: Elk Grove wins 28-20.
St. Genevieve vs. Cantwell Sacred Heart. Prediction: St. Genevieve wins 31-17.
Oaks Christian vs. Serra. Prediction: Oaks Christian wins 13-10.
Quartz Hill vs. Esperanza. Prediction: Esperanza wins 28-21.
Muir vs. Newbury Park. Prediction: Newbury Park wins 31-20.
Granada Hills vs. Fairfax. Prediction: Granada Hills wins 24-14.
La Salle vs. Taft. Prediction: La Salle wins 27-10.
Eastside vs. Temple City. Prediction: Eastside wins 24-23.
Stockdale vs. Antelope Valley. Prediction: Antelope Valley wins 28-20.
Alemany vs. Bishop Diego. Prediction: Alemany wins 27-23.
Grace vs. Western Christian. Prediction: Grace wins 35-10.
Paraclete vs. Crenshaw. Prediction: Crenshaw wins 35-7.
Crescenta Valley vs. Dos Pueblos. Prediction: Dos Pueblos wins 27-13.
Glendale vs. Arroyo. Prediction: Glendale wins 35-21.
Carpinteria vs. Fillmore. Prediction: Fillmore wins 31-14.
Foothill League
West Ranch vs. Canyon. Prediction: West Ranch wins 28-14.
East Valley League
Fulton vs. Sun Valley Poly. Prediction: Poly wins 31-10.
North Hollywood vs. Monroe. Prediction: Monroe wins 34-17.
Arroyo vs. Verdugo Hills. Prediction: Verdugo Hills wins 27-7.
Grant vs. Arleta, 3:30 p.m. Prediction: Arleta wins 35-7.
Valley Mission League
Canoga Park vs. Panorama. Prediction: Panorama wins 31-7.
Kennedy vs. Van Nuys. Prediction: Kennedy wins 42-7.
San Fernando vs. Reseda. Prediction: San Fernando wins 16-14.