Manny’s Week 6 Picks: (10/01/19)

A 17-3 record this past week means a much improved record in Los Angeles. 

After going 1-4 last week in my LA games, I flipped it to a 4-1 record. 4-1 record also occurred in the Inland Empire and in San Diego and a 5-0 record in Orange County.

So, before we go to this weeks picks, let me eat my words on the three games I got wrong.

In the Inland Empire, Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley pulled off a big victory over Norco. I said that Norco should give Centennial of Corona a run for the Big VIII League title. Yeah, so much for that.

Granted, they can still pull it off, but Rancho Verde put a dent in a high scoring one sided victory.

Huge apology to Rancho Verde.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, I picked Crespi of Encino over St. Bonaventure of Ventura. I thought maybe the Celts are back after a few tough seasons. They might still be back, but St. Bonaventure is definitely back with a 24-12 victory last week.

In San Diego, Valhalla of El Cajon is bouncing back from an 0-10 season last year as they got their third win of the season with a victory over Kearny of San Diego, who after only lost two games last season, has suffered their third game so far this year. Glad to see Valhalla is back.

Now, let’s see if I can top last weeks 17-3 record, 20-0 perhaps? Probably not.

 

MANNY’S GAMES OF THE WEEK

Last Week Record: 17-3

2019 Record: 92-31

 

MANNY’S INLAND EMPIRE GAMES OF THE WEEK

Last Week IE Record: 4-1

Overall IE Record: 22-8

Temecula Valley (4-1) at Great Oak of Temecula (3-2), Thursday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Temecula Valley

Great Oak will look to continue their improved season by taking on an opponent that is beatable in comparison to a couple Southwestern League foes. Temecula Valley LB Anson Pulsipher will make sure they aren’t beat in the league opener. Golden Bears take the win.

 

Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga (4-1) at Etiwanda (3-2), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Los Osos

Etiwanda needs to recharge and get back into their winning ways. QB Donovan Smith will look to go to the air and make sure that Etiwanda doesn’t end their losing streak. Los Osos with a big Baseline League win.

 

Elsinore of Wildomar (4-1) at Heritage of Menifee (3-2), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Heritage

This is going to be an evenly matched game, which means Elsinore has improved to match up with the Patriots. LB Adrian Robles will look to keep Heritage on top. Patriots win a close one.

 

Palm Springs (2-3) at Xavier Prep of Palm Desert (4-1), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Xavier Prep

The two best teams in the Desert Empire League meet up in the opener and this can go either way. Xavier Prep has been very impressive and with DE Jack Howard shutting offensives down, the Saints should pick up a big victory.

 

Paloma Valley of Menifee (2-3) vs. Notre Dame of Riverside (2-3) at Riverside Community College, Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Notre Dame

Both these teams are very equal, but I’m going with LB Max Anderson and the Notre Dame defense, but I was flip flopping between the two.

 

MANNY’S LOS ANGELES GAMES OF THE WEEK

Last Week LA Record: 4-1

Overall LA Record: 21-11

No. 20 Bishop Amat of La Puente (4-1) at No. 12 Alemany of Mission Hills (5-0), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Alemany

Alemany runs into one of the tougher Mission League teams in the last few years in the Lancers. QB Miller Moss will lead the Warriors and make sure that everyone knows that Alemany is staying at the top of league from here on out.

 

No. 4 Narbonne of Harbor City (5-1) at San Pedro (5-0), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Narbonne

Once again, Narbonne top league foe will be San Pedro and while I enjoy someone taking over the throne from a powerful team, QB Jacob Garcia will make sure that the Gauchos are still the big dawgs in the Marine League. 

 

Long Beach Poly (2-3) at Wilson of Long Beach (6-0), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Long Beach Poly

Long Beach Poly normally cruise through the Moore League, but they have strong competition this year and it happens to be their first league opponent. Wilson should make this very interesting, but to be the man, you have to beat the man and that’s why I’m going with WR Ashun Brown and the Jackrabbits. Poly wins!

 

Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach (3-2) at Palos Verdes of Palos Verdes Estates (3-2), Friday, 3pm

Manny’s Pick: Palos Verdes

MIra Costa runs into their toughest opponent and while they look like the best team to dethrone the Sea Kings, DB Julian Alessi will make sure to keep Palos Verdes on top of the Bay League. Sea Kings for the win.

 

El Rancho of Pico Rivera (5-1) vs. La Serna of Whittier (6-0) at California of Whittier, Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: La Serna

El Rancho is looking to not only pull off the upset over the Lancers, but be the top dog in the Del Rio League. This will be La Serna toughest opponent, but LB Joey Bustos will lead them to victory.

 

MANNY’S ORANGE COUNTY GAMES OF THE WEEK

Last Week OC Record: 5-0

Overall OC Record: 27-4

Foothill of Santa Ana (5-0) vs. Villa Park (2-3) at Tustin, Thursday, 7pm 

Manny’s Pick: Foothill

Villa Park will look to improve after a small victory over El Toro of Lake Forest. Granted, the Spartans have faced some very tough teams, but they have all been landslide victories for the opposite, so you wonder if that will help them for their Century Conference opponents. If they focus on RB Roman Pistone, QB Luke Peterman will have to step up again for Foothill. Knights order the upset special.

 

Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita (3-2) at No. 5 JSerra of San Juan Capistrano (4-1), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: JSerra

The Trinity League will be underway and both these South County League teams battle in the opener. QB General Booty will lead the charge and storm the Lions to victory.

 

Tesoro of Rancho Santa Margarita (6-0) at San Clemente (5-1), Friday, 7:30pm

Manny’s Pick: San Clemente

The Titans have proved that they can play with some of the best after two wins over two programs that are having great starts to their seasons. San Clemente has faced tough opponents all season and stayed with Corona del Mar of Newport Beach all year. LB Caiden Robertson will lead the Tritons to victory.

 

Loara of Anaheim (4-1) vs. Rancho Alamitos of Garden Grove (3-2) at Garden Grove, Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Loara

This matchup is pretty much for the Garden Grove League title. Loara only loss came to Esperanza of Anaheim, a program back on the rise. The loss to Magnolia of Anaheim raises questions if Rancho Alamitos can handle the Saxons. Loara wins this one.

 

Canyon of Anaheim (2-3) at Brea Olinda (3-2), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Canyon

Did my pick have anything to do with the fact that I went to Canyon, probably, but i’m loving the Comanches passing game and after two tough opponents, the Comanches will be ready for Brea Olinda. WR Joey Rouly will lead Canyon to victory.

 

MANNY’S SAN DIEGO GAMES OF THE WEEK

Last Week SD Record: 4-1

Overall SD Record: 22-8

Carlsbad (4-1) at Torrey Pines of San Diego (3-2), Friday, 7:15pm

Manny’s Pick: Carlsbad

The Lancers know that anything is possible in the Avocado League, so they won’t take Torrey Pines lightly despite losing to El Camino of Oceanside. WR Cole Wright leads Carlsbad to victory.

 

Oceanside (4-1) at Mission Hills of San Marcos (3-2), Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Oceanside

This one might be pretty close. I have to go with the running game, which means i’m going with RB Kavika Tua and the Pirates over Mission Hills.

 

Lincoln of San Diego (4-1) at Madison of San Diego (3-2), Friday, 6:30pm

Manny’s Pick: Lincoln

Madison is looking to roll the momentum truck into this week after last’s week victory over Grossmont of El Cajon. The Hornets are a different breed. WR Keyshawn Smith will end the momentum and lead Lincoln to victory. 

 

Rancho Bernardo of San Diego (3-2) at El Camino of Oceanside (3-2), Friday, 7:15pm

Manny’s Pick: El Camino

El Camino is on a roll and with the tough schedule and facing a Rancho Bernardo squad that is on a roll as well, the Wildcats will be prepared and take the victory before heading to the Avocado League again..

 

Bonita Vista of Chula Vista (3-3) vs. Otay Ranch of Chula Vista (2-4) at Southwestern College of Chula Vista, Friday, 7pm

Manny’s Pick: Otay Ranch

While Otay Ranch seems like they would roll through in this match, they haven’t proved that so far with the slow start. Hopefully LB Aiden Arguilla can get the Mustangs back on track with a Metro-Mesa League victory here.