Crespi taking a cautious approach with Millikan

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Even though it toppled Notre Dame last week and grabbed the Serra League title, Crespi isn’t taking anything for granted in the postseason. Coach Jeremiah Ross knows the Pac-5 Division is “by far the toughest division in the state, maybe even the country,” and he’s expecting a battle against Millikan.

“They’re a good team,” Ross said. “They’ve only lost three games in the Moore League and they were all real close. They also were leading early on against [Long Beach] Poly, so we know they can play tough.”

Ross admitted the Celts haven’t really played anyone similar to Millikan. Alemany runs a spread offense sort of like Millikan’s, but that’s where the similarities end. But that shouldn’t be too much of a concern for the Celts, who have one of the best offense-defense combinations in Southern California.

QB Bryan Bennett has been a revelation in the wake of Kevin Prince’s season-ending injury in the first game of the season, and the sophomore enters his first playoff game with 1,600 yards passing and 12 TDs. It’s scary to imagine how good he’ll be in a couple years.

Crespi also has a reliable running game in RBs Austin Shanks and the UCLA-bound DB E.J. Woods, pictured. However, Ross, always mindful when it comes to showing his cards, said Shanks “possibly could be” a game-time decision likely because of an ankle injury he suffered against Notre Dame.

Still, Shanks or no Shanks, this will probably be the only postseason game the second-seeded Celts will enter as the clear favorite.

What: Millikan (7-3) vs. No. 6 Crespi (8-2) at Pierce College
When: 7:30 p.m.
My Prediction: Crespi 28, Millikan 10
Calpreps.com Prediction: Crespi 35, Millikan 8

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- (thanks!)