The final week of the high school football regular season is upon us, and every local team has either clinched a playoff spot or will play for a potential CIF-SS postseason berth this week.
The Battle for the Goodland between Dos Pueblos and San Marcos leads the local action on Thursday, as the winner of the game will clinch third place in the Tri-County League and a spot in the playoffs.
Carpinteria High will also be playing with a playoff spot on the line, as the Warriors will roll out the welcome mat for Channel Islands on Thursday while competing for third place in the Citrus Coast League.
In the rugged Marmonte League, Bishop Diego will host Pacifica with the league title on the line on Friday. Santa Barbara High rounds out the local action with a home game against Thousand Oaks. The Dons need a win to have a chance to reach the CIF-SS playoffs.
Here is a quick preview and predictions for each of this week’s regular-season finales. Through 10 weeks of play, my picks are 35-7.
Dos Pueblos (4-5, 2-2 TCL) @ San Marcos (3-6, 2-2 TCL) – Thurs. @ 7 p.m.
The Royals are coming off a 35-6 loss to league-leading Agoura last week in which they struggled to slow down the passing attack, which has been a theme for a San Marcos defense that has been strong up front.
On the offensive side of the ball, San Marcos is also built in the trenches as running back Cole Dominguez (775 rush yards, 13 TD) has been the team’s most productive player. Meanwhile, they are averaging less than 60 passing yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Chargers came up just short against Fillmore, 24-17, to move to .500 in league play. The Dos Pueblos offense has struggled to find a groove as of late, scoring 17 or fewer points in three straight weeks.
The Chargers average just about 100 passing yards per game, utilizing an option offense while alternating between Grady Felix and Drew Schultz under center. Callan Lee (359 rush yards) leads the rushing attack.
This should be an electric matchup between two rivals vying for their second consecutive playoff appearance. I believe in the San Marcos running game just a bit more at home, so I’ll give the edge to the Royals.
The Pick: San Marcos
Channel Islands (2-7, 2-2 CCL) @ Carpinteria High (3-5, 2-2 CL) – Thurs. @ 7 p.m.
The Warriors suffered a shutout loss to Nordhoff last week, but remain in control of their own destiny with a spot in the playoffs on the line this week.
Carpinteria has shown the side effects of its lack of depth at times this season, but it has leaned on the trifecta of Drew Filippini, Isaac Neri and Chris Jaimes atop the roster to make big impacts on both sides of the ball.
After opening the season on a six-game losing streak, Channel Islands has won two of its last three Citrus Coast League matchups.
Aside from 35 and 42 points in wins over Del Sol and Santa Clara, respectively, the Raiders have struggled to put up points this year. In its seven losses, Channel Islands has averaged less than 10 points per game.
These two teams have defeated and lost to the same squads during the league season, but the Warriors have looked a bit better throughout the year. Give me Carpinteria on its home field.
The Pick: Carpinteria High
Pacifica (9-0, 4-0 ML) @ Bishop Diego (8-1, 3-1 ML) – Fri. @ 7 p.m.
The Cardinals are riding high after a big 35-27 win over rival St. Bonaventure last week, the latest in what has been a series of big performances on the offensive side of the ball.
Bishop Diego is averaging just under 34 points per game and has scored over 40 points four times. They did most of this without standout running back Oscar Mauia, who returned from injury last week and will provide an extra boost to the Cardinals’ rushing attack this week.
On the other sideline, the Tritons have been one of the best teams in the Southern Section from start to finish this season. They are averaging 44 points per game while holding opponents to 16 points per contest.
Quarterback Taylor Lee has lit up the scoreboards, throwing for 276 yards per game while accumulating 34 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The Bishop Diego secondary will have its hands full with the duo of Anthony Jacobs and Alijah Royster, who have combined for 1,392 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
This has all the makings of a track race, as both offenses boast plenty of talent. However, I think the Bishop Diego defense will have a tougher time keeping up with the Triton playmakers, so I’ll give the edge to undefeated Pacifica.
The Pick: Pacifica
Thousand Oaks (7-2, 3-1 CCL) @ Santa Barbara High (4-5, 1-3 CCL) – Fri. @ 7 p.m.
The Dons have dropped back-to-back Conejo Coast League games, leaving their CIF-SS postseason hopes in the balance for the regular-season finale.
While Santa Barbara High’s offense has struggled to find a groove without quarterback Griffin Arnold, the defensive unit has given up 84 points across the past two contests. The running back duo of Monty Lopez and Aaron Baizan is expected to be leaned on heavily again this week.
The Lancers, meanwhile, will be postseason-bound this year thanks in part to wins in the last two weeks over Rio Mesa and Newbury Park.
The Dons will have to slow down Thousand Oaks running back Jordan Johnson, who is averaging 117 rushing yards per game and has scored nine times. Meanwhile, Hayden Vercher has been a threat on the outside with 51 catches for 708 yards and eight touchdowns.
Santa Barbara High should come out of the gates playing inspired in front of its home crowd, but I don’t think it will be able to keep up with the Lancer offense.
The Pick: Thousand Oaks