SGV football: Previews, predictions for Friday’s top Week 3 games

Previews and predictions for Fridays featured high school football games in the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier and Pasadena area.

Dates, sites and times are subject to change.

Tustin (2-1) at Damien (3-0), 7 p.m .: The Spartans have impressive wins over Upland, JSerra and last weeks 38-28 victory over St.

Paul .

It doesnt get easier.

Tustin is a top 30 ranked team on HS Ratings computer rankings and features quarterback Ayden Edwards, who has offers to Arizona State, Boston College and others.

Tustin has several high-profile players and is coming off a tough 28-27 loss to Long Beach Poly.

However, it owns an impressive 30-17 win over San Clemente.

Damien fans remember San Clemente because it knocked the Spartans out in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs last season.

Tustin can score in bursts, but so can the Spartans, who boast one of the most dynamtic offenses in Southern California behind quarterback Isaiah Arriaza and his core of talented receivers.

If the Spartans need to win a shootout, theyre certainly capable, and this one is shaping up to be exactly that.

The pick : Damien Bonita (0-3) vs.

San Dimas (3-0) at Mt.

SAC, 7 p.m.

: The Bearcats have owned the Saints, winning six straight Smudge Pot games, including last years 47-7 victory.

But much has changed since then.

Bonita graduated Noah Mikhail and Dylan Robinson, who are both playing bigtime college football.

Senior quarterback Travis Lippert is out with an injured ankle, and two-way standout Joseph Lara is out for the season with a torn MC L.

San Dimas, meanwhile, has looked impressive over its past two wins, using its hard-nosed running style to beat Colony, 34-13 , last week.

Jacob Gallegos, Keenan Hoyt and Liam Loyola were part of an offense that ran for 277 yards and three TDs in the win.

Bonita is by no means a pushover because it is injured, but it has struggled to find wins against quality teams, losing to Aquinas last week, 35-13 .

The Bearcats have plenty in reserve and freshman QB Cade Burbidge looks more comfortable with each game.

Still, this is San Dimas best chance in a long time to get the Smudge Pot trophy back.

The pick: San Dimas.

West Covina (1-1) vs.

South Hills (1-2) at Covina District Field, 7 p.m .: When South Hills scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter last year in a stunning come-from-behind 16-13 victory over West Covina, it celebrated its Kings of Cameron victory with celebration pictures that went viral.

It was the Huskies first victory in the rivaly since 2019, and you can bet the Bulldogs remember.

West Covina posted an impressive win over El Rancho, 21-14 last week.

South Hills, meanwhile, lost its season opener to El Rancho 14-7 , and lost a close one to St.

Genevieve last week, 14-12.

The Huskies offense hasnt lived up to the pre-season billing, especially their running game.

The Bulldogs have surprised early under first-year coach Bai Kabba, and if this game is won in the trenches, hard not to like the maroon and gold.

The pick: West Covina Rowland (2-0) at Walnut (3-0), 7 p.m .: The Mustangs beat the Raiders, 24-21 last season and you can expect another close encouter.

The Raiders havent been tested yet, blowing out Wilson, 51-10, and following with a 42-6 victory over Placentia Valencia.

Raiders backs CJ Carillo and Bryce Johnson have led the way, and both make big impacts defensively too.

The Mustangs are coming off an impressive 37-12 win over Sonora, and beat a strong Montclair team in overtime, 21-14 .

Mustangs junior quarterback Nohlen Simons and receiver Keneh Ejike have provided most of the fireworks along with back Christian Mardueno.

You could flip a coin, the match-up is that good, but we like the Mustangs to get it done again.

The pick: Walnut Northview (2-1) at La Serna (2-1), 7 p.m.

: This is a prove-it game for the Vikings, who have looked so-so through three games after going 10-1 last year.

The Vikings struggled in a step-up game against La Habra, losing 56-21 , and needed to come-from-behind to beat struggling Glendora last week, 22-16.

Vikings QB Robert Lucero along with receivers Isaiah Lucero, Jaishon Bledsoe and Aiden Jimenez have been solid, but the Vikes havent shown a running game at all.

Thats not a good sign going against La Sernas stout defense, which posted a 28-0 shutout over Schurr.

The Lancers put it on Warren last week too, winning 42-7 .

La Serna QB Grady Long had one of his best games against Warren, completing 13 of 15 passes for 228 and four touchdowns.

It just seems the Lancers are putting everything together while the Vikings are still searching for answers.

The pick: La Serna Bishop Amat (2-1) at Vista Murrieta (2-0), 7 p.m.: The Lancers are coming off their biggest win of the season, a come-from-behind 42-38 victory at Valencia.

Ryan Salcedo was most of their offense, rushing for 222 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winning 79-yard run in the final minute to pull it out.

There is no time to celebrate because Vista Murrieta quarterback Bryson Beaver is a big-time Oregon commit along with smooth running back Damari Booth.

The Broncos are coming off a 35-17 win over Murrieta Mesa, and could give Amat fits defensively.

As well as the Lancers have played offensively this season, they need to do better getting stops against quality teams.

While last weeks win was impressive, relying on a running game to win high-scoring games is not a recipe for long term success.

This is a chance for their defense to step up.

Problem is, Beaver is just on another level.

The pick: Vista Murrieta Charter Oak (3-0) at Corona del Mar (3-0), 7 p.m.

: The Chargers are still flying high following a stunning come-from-behind 34-33 victory over Muir last week.

Quarterback Corin Berry was spectacular, leading his team in the final minute.

This is an even tougher test.

Corona del Mar is ranked No.

44 on HS ratings computers with Charter Oak at No.

48.

Corona del Mark knocked off Santa Barbara 28-27 and crushed Dos Pueblos, 44-7, last week.

The Chargers are certainly capable of going to Orange County and getting a victory.

If they do, there is a strong chance they could have a 10-0 season.

But this is a tough ask, and it will be tough to match the emotion it used last week.

The pick: Corona del Mar Mira Costa (2-0) at La Habra (3-0), 7 p.m .: The Highlanders didnt work up much of a sweat beating Upland (34-20), Northview (56-21) and pounding Ayala (41-14) last week .

Highlanders quarterback DJ Mitchell hasnt had to dig deep yet, averaging 200 yards with seven touchdowns.

He also has ran for three scores.

He has great targets to feature with Blake Rogers, Bryce Vasquez and a dynamtic running back, Kevika MataUtia- Martinez.

But they will have their hands full with Mira Costa, who is more than capable of giving them their first loss.

Mira Costa crushed St.

Francis, 45-19, and shutout out Redondon Union, 31-0.

This is just what La Habra needs to show how special of a team it has.

The pick: La Habra Muir (1-1) at St.

Francis (0-3), 7 p.m.

: The Mustangs hope to bounce back after a 34-33 loss to Charter Oak and face a Golden Knights team battling injury problems and searching for their first win of the season.

Muir showed off its speed in last weeks loss, and quarterback Trey Gamble looks more and more comfortable.

The Golden Knights have lost eight straight non-league games dating back to last season.

But dont count them out.

All three losses have come against tough opponents.

Can they knock off Muir? Sure.

But we would like their chances a lot better if they were more healthy, and certainly if they had quarterback Shawn Sanders.

But with Sanders still recovering from a broken collarbone, hard to pick them in this spot.

The pick: Muir FRIDAYS OTHER GAMES All games start at 7 p.m., unless noted Don Lugo at Monrovia Alhambra at Azusa Glendora at Alta Loma Bassett at Rosemead Bosco Tech at Temple City Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary at St.

Bernard Crescenta Valley at La Canada California at El Monte El Rancho at Montebello South Pasadena at Golden Valley Grand Terrace at Diamond Bar Kennedy at Pioneer La Puente at Arcadia La Salle at St.

Genevieve St.

Paul at Los Alamitos Marshall at Heritage Christian Montclair at Wilson La Quina at Mountain View Ontario Christian at Diamond Ranch Pomona at Rialto San Gabriel at Carpinteria Whittier Christian at Santa Ana Santa Fe at Fullerton Schurr at Chino Baldwin Park at Sierra Vista Ganesha at Lincoln Marquez at Rio Hondo Prep, 7:30 p.m..

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