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Here are previews of the best local high school football matches this week on Friday night.
FRIDAY GAMES
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Simi Valley at No. 6 Saugus, 7 p.m.
It’s the fight of the undefeated. Both teams go 3-0 into Friday night’s matchup which will highlight Simi Valley’s strong offense and Saugus’ strong defense. The Pioneers averaged 49.6 points per game. The Centurions have only allowed one touchdown this season. Something has to give.
“After every measurement, this is our biggest test,” said Simi Valley trainer Jim Benkert of Saugus. “They hit the ball defensively and are very good at the front – in the defensive and offensive lines.”
Simi Valley quarterback Travis Throckmorton (an Oregon St. Commit) has seven touchdown passes and running back Caleb Alvary has stormed for 322 yards and six touchdowns. Wideout Cooper Wallace has four touchdown receptions.
“Our offensive creates problems for the defense because you can’t access a guy,” said Benkert.
Saugus is led by Sebastian Dallaire, who embraces a selfless role by playing quarterback despite being a natural wideout. He has thrown five touchdowns and leads the team with rousing touchdowns with three.
Defensively, linebackers Jacob Viger (team high 24 tackles) and Blake Zimmerman (17 tackles) lead the Saugus Defense. Junior Dylan Hampsten leads the team in sacks (4).
“I think the simplicity of our defense is what makes it so good,” said Saugus coach Jason Bornn. “We can use it to refine our concepts.”
Benkert said he expected the game to sell out.
“I don’t think there has been a game of this magnitude in the history of the program,” said Benkert, who is at the top in his fourth season. “In 71 years Simi Valley has averaged 2.96 wins per season.”
This game should have a great atmosphere and game.
Forecast: Simi valley
No. 3 Alemany at No. 8 Oaks Christian, 7 p.m.
This game features two notable programs in search of his first win of the season. But not all losses are created equal.
Alemany (0-2) lost to Lone Peak in Utah and showed a great defensive performance two weeks ago in St. John Bosco. Now, after a goodbye, the warriors should have no more excuses. Alemany’s losses are of such high quality that its ranking on Calpreps.com has barely fallen, despite being without a win.
Oaks Christian (0-3) has his worst start in program history and faces a potential 0-4 start on Friday night. It doesn’t get any easier for Lions. They will travel to La Verne next week to take on a very good Damien team.
Forecast: German
St. Genevieve at Harvard-Westlake, 7 p.m.
A fascinating matchup between two smaller programs in the San Fernando Valley. Both are unbeaten and will give each other the best test of the season so far.
St. Gens (2-0) and Harvard-Westlake (3-0) are in interesting limbo when it comes to the Daily News high school football landscape. Both have athletes who are good skill players, but are smaller programs when it comes to the size and number of their players.
Big under the Radar Game Friday: St. Genevieve in Harvard-Westlake. Both unbeaten. Both have athletes. Both programs at this small school level.
Camdan McWright vs. Jason Thompson
πΎππΎ
– Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) September 7, 2021
“We have 35 guys from college,” said Harvard-Westlake coach Aaron Huerta. βWe don’t have a JV program. We know what we are, but we’re working on getting back into the Angelus League. ”
The Wolverines are currently in the Del Rey League, which they won this spring. A league realignment could bring Harvard-Westlake back into the Angelus League in the near future.
The players featured in Friday’s game are Jason Thompson and St. Genevieve, who push Camdan McWright back.
If either team were to play against a Foothill, Marmonte or Mission League team, it would be a gigantic step-up game.
St. Genevieve has two wins against Canyon and Burroughs and hasn’t taken any points this season – that will change Friday night.
Forecast: Harvard-Westlake
Granada Hills at Kennedy, 7pm
This matchup has legendary nostalgia. In the late 1970s, Kennedy bragged about quarterback Tom Ramsey (who later played at UCLA) and Granada Hills had a young, blonde quarterback named John Elway. Those of you who are hailing from the San Fernando Valley know these matchups were epic.
The shine for Friday night’s game won’t be quite the same. But there is a chance for Kennedy (3-0) to go undefeated if he can stop Granada Hills (1-2) in the game.
Granada Hills Football will play in a legendary matchup at Kennedy High this Friday in the late 1970s. My mom, who cheered Kennedy on, said the Tom Ramsey and John Elway games were epic. Even more knowledge about this @RonMFlores, @ChemicalAT, @latsondheimer?
– Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) September 8, 2021
Highlanders star running back Dijon Stanley is “doubtful” according to coach Bucky Brooks. Stanley has not played in a home win over Arleta since showing five touchdowns in Week 0. He was injured in the game and never returned. Granada Hills have lost two times in a row without Stanley in the line-up.
Forecast: kennedy
Other games and predictions
Games start at 7pm unless otherwise stated
Crespi (0-1) at No. 2 Chaminade (2-1): Chaminade
No. 5 Valencia (1-0) at Rancho Cucamonga (1-1): Valencia
Campbell Hall (3-0) in Maranatha (1-1): Campbell Hall
Canoga Park (0-2) in Cleveland (0-1): Canoga Park
Palisades (3-0) in Reseda (0-1): Reseda
Westlake (2-1) at Birmingham Charter (0-3): Westlake
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