Some more big-game predictions
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It’s easy to get caught up in all the Friday night hype surrounding the Canyon-St. Bonaventure and Corona Centennial-Crespi games, but there are some other regional contests that are just as important in terms of teams’ expectations and season outlook. So without further ado, here are my picks for the region’s “other” big games that I didn’t blog about this week:
Atascadero (1-1) at Thousand Oaks (0-1), 7:30 p.m. -- I’ll cut the Greyhounds a break for losing to St. Bonny because they’ll run their way back to the win column behind RBs Nick Tenhaeff and Andrew Hernandez. QB Steven Manier also adds a balance to the offense that’ll be too much for T.O. Still, if the Lancers can eliminate the first-game mistakes they made in their opener against Loyola, there’s a chance they can upset one of the best teams in the Northern Division and prove they’re more than a Marmonte League afterthought.
My Prediction: Atascadero 27, Thousand Oaks 17
No. 11 Birmingham (1-1) at Valencia (1-0), 7 p.m. -- So Valencia beat Palmdale in its opener -- so what! This is the perfect chance for Valencia to make a statement and stick it to all the doubters out there (including me) who think it won’t make the playoffs for a second straight year. Unfortunately, the Patriots are a talented team coming off a big win over Long Beach Poly. And if they have this week’s Times’ rankings posted up on their motivational board, it could be a long night for the Vikes.
My Prediction: Birmingham 41, Valencia 13
Burbank Burroughs (0-1) at Harvard-Westlake (2-0), 7 p.m. -- A couple of weeks ago, I would never have predicted the Wolverines would lay the smackdown on Pasadena. And I also thought it was a Schurr bet that Burroughs would win its first game. What I do know is if the Indians want to prove they’re still Pacific League title-winning material, they’re going to have to stop RB Terhon O’Neal and the Sean Berman-Paul Royster connection. Good luck.
My Prediction: Harvard-Westlake 35, Burroughs 16
Rio Mesa (1-0) at Newbury Park (1-0), 7 p.m. -- Thanks to a late-game fumble recovery, the Spartans escaped what could have been an embarrassing loss to San Marcos. At least the defense looked good and it’ll have to make an encore Friday if Rio Mesa has any hope of stopping QB Colby Cameron. But I was a little disappointed with how the Panthers just skimmed past Camarillo. Come on guys; I picked you to win the Marmonte this year.
My Prediction: Newbury Park 17, Rio Mesa 7
- Austin Knoblauch
