Previews and predictions for Thursday’s top high school football games in the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier and Pasadena. Sites and times are subject to change.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Cathedral (8-1, 4-0) at St. Paul (6-3, 4-0), 7 p.m.: The Swordsmen’s 31-28 victory at Paraclete set them up for a championship game at home. Marley Luatua had his best game, rushing for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and he will need to be effective again for them to win the league title. Cathedral pulled out a narrow 21-14 win over St. Francis last week, and has the most explosive player with quarterback Jaden Jefferson, who has thrown for over 2,200 yards and is the Phantoms’ best rusher. On paper, you go with the Phantoms, but at home, you take coach Mike Moschetti’s Swordsmen.
The pick: St. Paul
Damien (7-2, 4-0) at Rancho Cucamonga (6-3, 3-1), 7 p.m.: Spartans’ interim coach James Stewart has done an incredible job, clinching a share of the Baseline League title for the first time since 2010, which they can win outright with a win over the Cougars. The Spartans got their running game going with a 38-7 win over Ayala last week with Malachi McFarland rushing for 177 yards and a touchdown. You know what Isaiah Arriaza can do at quarterback, but this game likely comes down to which Cougars team will show up. They’re super talented, but last week’s 31-21 loss to Chino Hills was a head scratcher. It could go either way, but the Spartans are playing for a good draw for the likely CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, and need a close out win to get it.
The pick: Damien
Schurr (8-1, 4-0) at Bell Gardens (7-2, 4-0), 7 p.m.: The Spartans haven’t been touched in the Almont League, winning all four games by an average of 50 points, and beating likely third-place finisher and rival Montebello, 42-0, last week. Spartans quarterback Jose Alvarado has thrown for over 1,000 yards and running back Elias Navarro has ran for over 1,000 yards, and their defense has been nails. But Bell Gardens will be a tough out. The Lancers have blown everyone out in league too, winning by an average of 33 points. They also have a 1,000-yard passer with Michael Mendoza and 1,000-yard rusher with Jesse Medina. But take the Spartans, they’re the total package.
The pick: Schurr
Duarte (8-1, 3-1) at La Puente (9-0, 4-0), 7 p.m. The Warriors had their first close games of the season, edging Garey 28-27 last week. It came with a bigger cost as quarterback Ezekeil Zamora, who is averaging 232 yards a game with 16 TDs, left in the second half with an injury and will miss their chance to win an outright Miramonte League championship. Back-up Diego Sandoval will take over at QB. This is a huge blow for the Warriors, who are having one of their best season’s ever. The Falcons have firepower with QB Avenn Ortiz, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and receiver Jashion Wade. The Falcons lost to Ganesha, 34-21, so a Falcons win would likely set up a three-way tie for the league championship. With Zamora out, you have to believe the Faclons will get it done.
The pick: Duarte
Santa Fe (7-2, 3-0) vs. La Serna (6-3, 3-0) at Pioneer HS, 7 p.m.: The Chiefs won a big game last week, beating El Rancho 21-14 to clinch at least second-place in the Del Rio League, which they can win outright with a victory over the Lancers. Devin Clark has been great, averaging 145 yards with 21 touchdowns, but now they face a Lancers squad that has been head and shoulders better than the rest of the league for a few years. Sophomore Grady Long threw for 270 yards and four TDs when they beat El Rancho 42-18 earlier this season, and they have the best player on the field with all-purpose Kaimana Tufaga. If the Chiefs are close, it would be a surprise.
The pick: La Serna
Bonita (9-0, 4-0) at Colony (4-5, 3-1), 7 p.m.: The Bearcats won the big one last week, stunning Charter Oak with an easy 49-21 victory, dominating the line of scrimmage with running back Joseph Lara going for 177 yards and a TD. They’re likely headed to the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs, especially if they beat Colony and finish undefeated. The Bearcats would love an outright Sierra League title, but Colony is an improved team. It barely lost to Charter Oak, 18-14, and routed Claremont, 45-7, last week. It could be a hangover game for the Bearcats, but we think they finish the job in style.
The pick: Bonita
Pasadena (4-5, 4-2) vs. Muir (7-2, 6-0) at Rose Bowl, 7 p.m.: The Mustangs have won the Pacific League title and have beaten all their league opponents by an average margin of 51 points. The Bullodgs’ season looked over after a 2-5 start, but a two-game win streak and a huge 24-7 win over Burroughs last week suddenly leaves the Bulldogs tied with Burroughs for third and a shot at an automatic playoff spot. What is likely to happen is Muir beating Pasadena and Burbak beating Burroughs and if Crescenta Valley beats Arcadia as expected, there would be a three-way tie for third between Pasadena, Burroughs and Crescenta Valley, with coin flips sending at least two to the playoffs. And if Pasadena gets in the playoffs, they would fall into a division capable of a playoff run.
The pick: Muir
St. Pius X-St. Matthias (1-8, 1-3) at St. Francis (2-7, 2-2), 7 p.m.: Real simple, if the Golden Knights get a win, they finish third in the Angelus League and are headed to the playoffs, possibly in Division 5 or 6, which would be dreamy for their program. The Golden Knights showed how good they can be by nearly knocking off Catehdral last week, falling 21-14. A St. Pius win would likely force a three-way tie for third with a tiebreaker awarding just one of them an automatic playoff spot. The Golden Knights have come a long way to be in this position at home, and with quarterback John Sanders healthy, they look to finish the job.
The pick: St. Francis
FRIDAY’S REMAINING GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
ALMONT LEAGUE
San Gabriel at Montebello
CAMINO REAL LEAGUE
St. Genevieve at Bosco Tech
DEL REY LEAGUE
La Salle at Harvard-Westlake
Salesian at Cantwell-Sacred Heart
DEL RIO LEAGUE
Whittier vs. El Rancho at California HS
EPSILON LEAGUE
Foothill at La Habra
GANO LEAGUE
Rowland at Chaffey
GATEWAY LEAGUE
Warren at La Mirada
HACIENDA LEAGUE
Diamond Bar at Walnut
Covina at Chino
South Hills at Los Altos
MESQUITE LEAGUE
Whittier Christian vs. Maranatha at Whittier College
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Ganesha at Bassett
Workman at Garey
MISSION LEAGUE
Chaminade at Bishop Amat
MISSION VALLEY LEAGUE
El Monte at Mountain View
Rosemead at Gabrielino
South El Monte at Arroyo
MONTVIEW LEAGUE
Wilson at Pomona
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Crescenta Valley at Arcadia
RIO HONDO LEAGUE
Pasadena Poly vs. Monrovia at Pasadena City College
San Marino at Temple City
South Pasadena at La Canada
SIERRA LEAGUE
Glendora vs. Charter Oak at Citrus College