Week 10: Even more big-game predictions
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Plenty of league titles and playoff spots will be on the line during the final Friday of the regular season, so let’s get right down to it:
No. 10 Crespi (7-2, 2-0) at No. 7 Notre Dame (8-1, 2-0), 7:30 p.m. -- Will the Knights’ Serra League dominance come to an end? It depends on how well the Celts’ defense slows down QB Dayne Crist and RB Thaddeus Brown. It looked good against Birmingham and St. Bonaventure and it got things done against Loyola and Bishop Amat. Notre Dame University-bound TE Joseph Fauria, pictured left, and the Crespi offense also needs to make some noise. I like the Celts’ chances in this one.
My prediction: Crespi 26, Notre Dame 24
Calpreps.com prediction: Notre Dame 21, Crespi 20
No. 24 Canyon (4-5, 2-2) at No. 25 Valencia (5-3-1, 2-1-1), 7 p.m. -- Whichever team wins this one makes the postseason. Both squads have played tough schedules and have come up just points shy of challenging for the Foothill League title. However, the Vikings have looked strong ever since they tied Hart and I think QB Graham Gilbert will be just a tad too much for the defending Division I state bowl champions.
My Prediction: Valencia 20, Canyon 17
Calpreps.com: Valencia 24, Canyon 21
Chaminade (6-3, 1-1) at Alemany (6-3, 1-1), 7:30 p.m. -- A shot at the Mission League title and a postseason berth will be at stake and I think Chaminade has the edge with WR Tim Rowley (concussion) back in the lineup to help QB Ryan Griffin. But the Warriors have built a reputation as spoiler -- just ask St. Paul -- and it wouldn’t be a total shocker if they beat the Eagles for the first time in more than six years.
My prediction: Chaminade 21, Alemany 19
Calpreps.com: Alemany 28, Chaminade 27
Atascadero (7-2, 3-1) vs. Paso Robles (8-1, 4-0) at Flamson MS, 7:30 p.m. -- A victory would give Paso Robles the Pac-7 League title outright, but Atascadero is looking forward to getting the bad taste out of its mouth after the loss to Righetti a couple weeks back. The Greyhounds were the preseason favorite to repeat as league champions and I think 1,000 plus-yard RB Nick Tenhaeff will be the difference in this one.
My prediction: Atascadero 28, Paso Robles 21
Calpreps.com: Atascadero 30, Paso Robles 28
And to cap off things, here’s some Chaminade highlights from earlier this season against El Camino Real courtesy of YouTube:
-- Austin Knoblauch
-- Image courtesy of Brian MacGregor (thanks!)