John Maffei's Prep Football Picks
Oct. 7, 2021 5:14 PM PT
Valley Center at Fallbrook

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: Both teams need a win to stay in the Valley League race. Valley Center (3-3, 1-1) is led by QB Colton Paxton and RB Lucas Sinohui. The Jaguars scored 33 points in a win over Escondido last week, but have scored just 101 points this season. Fallbrook (2-4, 1-1) has scored 119 points while giving up 137. Both teams have a loss to No. 10 Santa Fe Christian while Valley Center beat Brawley 17-6 and Fallbrook lost 20-14 in OT.

Prediction: Valley Center 28, Fallbrook 21

Bishop’s at Francis Parker

When: 7 p.m. today

Preview: Bishop’s (4-2, 1-1) has a nice win over University City and a 7-point loss to No. 10 Santa Fe Christian in Coastal League play. Parker (3-3, 1-3) is led by RBs Chris White and Chris Williams.

Prediction: Bishop’s 37, Francis Parker 20

No. 6 Torrey Pines at El Camino

When: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Preview: Torrey Pines (3-2, 1-1) has 2 losses – both to teams ranked No. 1 at the time, Cathedral Catholic (28-14) and a last-play loss last week at Carlsbad (34-33) in Avocado League play. The Falcons have weapons in QB Remi Baere and RBs Dylan Friedland and Easton Clements. El Camino (3-3, 0-2), which has a 28-14 loss to Carlsbad, had won 2 in a row, then lost to La Costa Canyon last week.

Prediction: Torrey Pines 31, El Camino 21

Escondido Charter at Maranatha Christian

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: Escondido Charter (6-0, 3-0) has control of the Pacific League and is having the best season since the school started playing football in 2006. There have been only 2 winning seasons in 15 years and only once have the White Tigers won more than 8 games in a season. Escondido Charter has outscored its opponents 127-26. Maranatha (1-5, 0-1) has allowed 221 points, with the lone win 20-6 over Clairemont.

Prediction: Escondido Charter 45, Maranatha Christian 14

Mission Bay at Crawford

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: This is for control of the Central League. Mission Bay (5-1, 1-0) is off to its best start since going 8-0 in 2015. QB Clash Orsborn has thrown for 1,571 yards and 21 TDs with only 2 interceptions. WR Keller Feltman has 28 catches for 495 yards and Jacob Sloan has 40 receptions for 486 yards and 11 TDs. Crawford (2-5, 1-0) is led by QB Gavin Nguyen, who has 679 yards total offense and RBs Hamadi Sharif and Kent Armstrong. The Colts, however, have been shut out twice and scored fewer than 10 points 5 times.

Prediction: Mission Bay 31, Crawford 10

Poway at Grossmont

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: After a loss to No. 6 Torrey Pines (4-2), Poway has righted itself with wins over Vista and Del Norte. The Titans grind it out on the ground behind Conner Rath, who has 102 carries for 870 yards and 9 TDS, and Luke Gonzalez, who has 34 carries for 161 yards and 3 TDs. Grossmont (2-4) has lost 4 in a row after opening the season with 2 wins. QB Trenton Giles has 1,166 yards total offense – 950 passing.

Prediction: Poway 28, Grossmont 14

Sweetwater at Montgomery

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Preview: The winner keeps pace with Chula Vista in the Metro South Bay League. Sweetwater (2-3, 1-0) has won 2 in a row after a tough start. The Red Devils average 7.6 yards on 168 rushes with Fabian Venegas, who is averaging 14.1 yards on 34 carries, Javier Sanchez and Carlos Hopper. Chula Vista (3-2, 1-0) has allowed just 74 points and has a pair of shutout wins. QB Ryan Vazquez and RBs Juan Estrada and Victor Flores lead the offense.

Prediction: Sweetwater 24, Montgomery 17

Ramona at Escondido

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Prediction: Ramona (4-2, 2-0) looks to stay unbeaten in the Valley League. The Bulldogs rely on QB Devin Sobczak and RB Cash Jones. Escondido (3-4, 0-2) is trying to play the role of spoiler and build a playoff resume. QB Xavier Terrazas is the key.

Prediction: Ramona 27, Escondido 14

University City at Patrick Henry

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: After a 3-0 start, University City (3-3, 0-1) has lost 3 in a row, but 2 of those losses were by 2 points — 20-18 to Bishop’s and 14-12 last week to San Diego. QB Samuel Cooper has 1,680 yards total offense — 1,165 passing — and he has accounted for 22 TDs. Henry (4-2, 1-0) needs a win to stay with San Diego in the City league. RBs Elijah Lux, who has 64 carries for 762 yards, and Tabias Harris, 54 carries for 470 yards, lead the Patriots.

Prediction: Patrick Henry 35, University City 27

San Diego at Coronado

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Preview: This is another huge City League contest. San Diego has won 4 in a row since losing to Scripps Ranch. The Cavers run the ball with 6 backs with more than 100 yards. San Diego has outscored its opponents 309-81. Coronado (5-1, 0-0) has won 5 in a row since an opening-week loss to Santana. The Islanders attack behind QB Hudson Herber, RB Zane Delcore and WR Graham Bower. Coronado has outscored its opponents 182-63 and that includes a forfeit win over Hoover.

Prediction: San Diego 28, Coronado 20

Last week: 7-3

Season: 52-18

Prep football schedule
Thursday’s games
 
Desert League
Holtville at Palo Verde Valley

8-man game

Ocean League

San Diego Jewish Academy at Calvin Christian

Friday’s games
Avocado League

La Costa Canyon at Oceanside, 7:15 p.m.

No. 6 Torrey Pines at El Camino, 7:15 p.m.

No. 1 Carlsbad at San Marcos, 7:15 p.m.

Central League

Mission Bay at Crawford, 7 p.m.

Hoover at Clairemont, 7 p.m.

City League

University City at Patrick Henry, 7 p.m.

San Diego at Coronado, 7 p.m.

Coastal League

Bishop’s at Francis Parker, 7 p.m.

No. 10 Santa Fe Christian vs. Classical Academy at Del Norte HS, 7 p.m.

Desert League

Tri-City Christian at Mountain Empire, 7 p.m.

Eastern League

Canyon Hills at Point Loma, 7 p.m.

Christian at Mira Mesa, canceled Christian COVID

Grossmont Valley League

El Capitan at Mount Miguel, 7 p.m.

Monte Vista at Santana, 7 p.m.

West Hills at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.

Imperial Valley League

Calexico at Southwest-El Centro, 7 p.m.

Imperial at Brawley, 7 p.m.

Metro Mesa League

Bonita Vista at Olympian, 6:30 p.m.

Eastlake at Hilltop, 6:30 p.m.

No. 4 Mater Dei Catholic at Otay Ranch, 6:30 p.m.

Metro South Bay League

San Ysidro at Chula Vista, canceled San Ysidro COVID

Castle Park at Mar Vista, 6:30 p.m.

Sweetwater at Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.

Pacific League

Escondido Charter at Maranatha Christian, 7 p.m.

Palomar League

Del Norte at No. 8 Mt. Carmel, 7:15 p.m.

Vista at Westview, 7:15 p.m.

Valley League

Valley Center at Fallbrook, 7 p.m.

Rancho Buena Vista at San Pasqual, 7 p.m.

Ramona at Escondido, 7 p.m.

Western League

Madison at St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

No. 3 Lincoln at La Jolla, 7 p.m.

Nonleague games

Mira Mesa at Moorpark, 6 p.m.

O’Farrell at La Jolla Country Day, 7 p.m.

Orange Glen at Chula Vista, 6:30 p.m.

Granite Hills at La Canada St. Francis, 7 p.m.

Morse at Scripps Ranch, 7 p.m.

Poway at Grossmont, 7 p.m.

Rancho Bernardo at No. 5 Mission Hills

Mission Viejo at No. 9 Helix, 7 p.m.

El Paso, Texas Del Valle at Central Union, 6 p.m.

8-man games

Ocean League

Oceanview Christian vs. Coastal Academy at Army-Navy, 4:15 p.m.

Horizon Prep vs. Coastal Academy at Martin Luther King Middle School, 4:15 p.m.

Citrus League

Borrego Springs at San Pasqual Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Julian at Victory Christian, 7 p.m.

Warner vs. St. Joseph Academy at Bradley Park in San Marcos, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s game
Desert League

Calipatria at Vincent Memorial, 6:30 p.m.