The penultimate week of the high school football season has arrived, and almost all of the local squads have their sights set on the CIF-SS playoffs.
However, they must handle business in the last two weeks of their league schedules, with league championships and automatic postseason bids still up for grabs.
Bishop Diego will kick off the week with a Thursday night Marmonte League matchup, playing host to Simi Valley at La Playa Stadium at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos will roll out the welcome mats for the first-place teams in their leagues on Friday. The Dons will host Westlake in the Channel League, while the Chargers will clash with Fillmore in the Tri-County League.
Also in the Tri-County League, San Marcos will be in Simi Valley to take on Royal High on Friday, while Carpinteria High will host Del Sol in a Citrus Coast League battle to round out the local matchups.
Here is a quick preview and prediction for each of this week’s games. Through nine weeks of action, my picks are 32-6.
Simi Valley (4-4, 0-3 ML) @ Bishop Diego (2-6, 0-3 ML) (Thurs.)
The Cardinals suffered their third straight league loss to a strong Pacifica team last week, but they did break their two-game scoreless streak with 24 points in the defeat.
Bishop Diego continues to deal with the injury bug on an already-light roster, which is not exactly a recipe for success in the powerhouse Marmonte League. The defense has taken the biggest hit, as the Cardinals have allowed 42 points per game in league play.
The game will be broadcast live on KZSB-AM 1290, KZSB-FM 96.9, and online at AM1290KZSB.com.
Simi Valley is the other winless team in the Marmonte League, but two of its losses have been one-possession games, including a double-overtime loss to Oaks Christian.
Junior running back Salvador Villa has been a one-man wrecking crew this season for the Pioneers, totaling 1,020 rush yards and 16 touchdowns in six games played. Meanwhile, junior Connor Petrov has thrown for 16 touchdowns and just one interception
I think Simi Valley has the offensive power to put up points against a depleted Bishop Diego defense, and I’m not sure the Cardinals will be able to keep up on the other end. Give me Simi Valley in this one.
The Pick: Simi Valley
Westlake (7-1, 3-0 CL) @ Santa Barbara (5-3, 2-1 CL)
The Dons are fresh off a dominant 37-0 win over Rio Mesa, which was a good bounceback from a back-and-forth 24-21 road loss to Ventura High.
Junior Griffin Arnold is one of the most efficient passers in the area, accumulating 2,444 passing yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Junior Cade Mault has separated himself as the top offensive weapon, with 48 catches for 733 yards and six touchdowns through eight games.
The game will be broadcast live on KZSB-AM 1290, KZSB-FM 96.9, and online at AM1290KZSB.com.
On the other sideline, Westlake has been the team to beat throughout the Channel League season, outscoring opponents 97-20 through its three league victories.
Freshman Hendrix Tucker has taken over under center as the full-time quarterback and has 17 touchdowns to three interceptions. The Dons will have their hands full with 6-foot-5 senior wide receiver Charles Davis, who has 37 receptions for 605 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Westlake has plenty of playmakers all over the field, but so do the Dons. The Warriors are probably the favorites heading into this matchup, but I’ll take Santa Barbara to defend home field and pull off the upset.
The Pick: Santa Barbara
Fillmore (6-2, 3-0 TCL) @ Dos Pueblos (5-3, 2-1 TCL)
The Chargers erupted for a 56-21 win over Santa Paula last week to move above .500 in league play behind a dominant rushing attack on homecoming night.
With a backup quarterback starting the last two weeks, senior running back Chase Johnson has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark already this season with 159 carries for 1,064 yards and 12 touchdowns. The DP offensive line has been stout, anchored by Wyatt Mitchell and Marcus Carbajal.
Meanwhile, Fillmore has dominated its way through the first three weeks of league play, outscoring San Marcos, Hueneme and Royal 141-21. The Flashes’ offense has been on fire all year, averaging just over 39 points per game.
The senior trio of quarterback Nate Perez (1,871 pass yards, 19 TD), running back Micah Harm (773 rush yards, 12 TD) and wide receiver Saul Fraga-Sandoval (41 catches, 654 yards, 9 TD) have led the charge for Fillmore in their final high school seasons.
The Chargers will need to control the time of possession to keep this one close, but I think the Fillmore offense is too high-powered to be held down. Give me the Flashes to remain undefeated in league play.
The Pick: Fillmore
San Marcos (4-4, 2-1 TCL) @ Royal (7-1, 2-1 TCL)
The Royals have won two straight league contests after dropping their opener to Fillmore, including a 44-6 rout of Hueneme on Senior Night last week.
The senior pairing of running back Tommy Diaz and wide receiver Isaac Murillo will need to have big games for SM to pull this one out. Diaz has 689 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while Murillo has 31 catches for 556 yards and six touchdowns.
Royal High rattled off seven straight victories to begin the season before falling to Fillmore last week by a score of 35-0. The offense had led the way before last week’s contest, scoring at least 42 points in five games.
The Highlanders lean heavily on their rushing attack on the offensive end, with four different players totaling over 200 rushing yards this season. Senior Landon Shaffer is the leading rusher with 589 yards and eight touchdowns.
This could be a tight matchup if San Marcos can key in on the Royal run game, but I’ll give the edge to the Highlanders at home.
The Pick: Royal
Del Sol (2-6, 1-2 CCL) @ Carpinteria (1-7, 1-2 CCL)
The Warriors couldn’t keep up with defending league champion Grace last week in a 40-0 loss after they earned their first win of the season against Santa Clara the week prior.
Carpinteria High has struggled on the offensive end throughout the season, scoring 14 or fewer points in all seven of the team’s losses. Meanwhile, the defense has allowed 35 or more points in four of their games.
While Del Sol’s record may not show it, the program has taken huge steps forward in its second season in existence. The Jaguar offense has shown life throughout the year, scoring over 20 points in five games.
Del Sol has struggled with turnovers, including 13 interceptions, but the senior duo of Isaiah Flores and Hector Villaseñor have paced a strong rushing attack. Flores has 174 carries for 884 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Villaseñor has taken 107 carries for 645 yards and eight touchdowns.
Carpinteria High won this matchup last year, but I think the Jaguars will control the clock and pull out the win this time.
The Pick: Del Sol
North County Matchups to Watch
- Morro Bay @ Santa Ynez, Fri. @ 7 p.m.
- Cabrillo @ Pioneer Valley, Fri. @ 7 p.m.
- San Luis Obispo @ Righetti, Fri. @ 7 p.m.
- St. Joseph @ Arroyo Grande, Fri. @ 7 p.m.
- Atascadero @ Lompoc, Fri. @ 7 p.m.
