Ramona (7-1) vs. Rancho Bernardo (6-2): THURSDAY NIGHT

The Broncos will be without the use of one the county’s leading rushers in Tyree Range, who suffered a knee injury last week. With that said, I think that the Broncos find a way to get it down and win it.

Rancho Bernardo – 28 Ramona – 27

El Camino (5-3) vs. Carlsbad (4-4): THURSDAY NIGHT

The Wildcats have had trouble scoring over their last three games, managing 19 total points. Carlsbad gave Oceanside a good game last week, after defeating La Costa Canyon a week before. I expect the Lancers to prevail at home.

Carlsbad – 17 El Camino – 10

Madison (5-3) vs. La Jolla (4-4):

The Warhawks have been on a roll since starting the season with three losses against tough competition. La Jolla has been putting up big numbers through the air, but has had troubles on defense. I expect Madison to go on the road to get their sixth victory.

Madison – 35 La Jolla – 21

Mt. Carmel (5-3) vs. Torrey Pines (4-4):

The Falcons have won 4 of their lost 5 with the lone loss coming to Oceanside on the road. The Sun Devils have had an up and down season and sit at 1-2 in league play entering the non-league showdown against Torrey Pines. I expect the Falcons to contain QB Lucas Johnson and excel in the ground game.

Torrey Pines – 31 Mt. Carmel – 13

Oceanside (8-0) vs. La Costa Canyon (5-3):

The Maverick’s offense seems to have improved in the last two games following a five point performance at home in the loss to El Camino. Oceanside comes into the game with an average margin of victory of 19.8 this season. I expect a low scoring game with the Pirates keeping the undefeated season going.

Oceanside -20 La Costa Canyon – 10

Grossmont (4-1) vs. Helix (7-1):

The Highlanders have outscored their opponents 216-7 in five games since their loss to Cathedral. I don’t expect the streak to slow down against the Grossmont spread attack.

Helix – 49 Grossmont – 14

La Jolla Country Day (4-4) vs. Santa Fe Christian (4-4): SATURDAY AFTERNOON

The Torreys have lost two in a row following a three game winning streak. I expect Braxton Burmeister to have success against the Eagles defense, but Santa Fe Christian should move the ball effectively with their triple option attack.

Santa Fe Christian – 27 La Jolla Country Day – 20

SEASON RECORD: 12-2

Running backs Bulla Graft and AJ Britanico each ran for over 190 yards helping the Knights run loose at Santa Fe Christian on Saturday afternoon. The Knights led 14-3 at halftime before cruising to a 35-3 win. Santa Fe Christian got on the board with a 29 yard field goal from Stanford-bound Jake Bailey with late in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles reached the Knights one yard line in the 4th quarter but turned it over on downs.

La Jolla (3-4) vs. Mission Bay (3-4) @ University City HS.

The Vikings are looking to get their first win in the Western League, while Mission Bay is coming off of 50-12 win over Kearny. In a high-scoring affair, I expect the Vikings to take this one.

La Jolla – 35 Mission Bay – 31

Mira Mesa (2-5) vs. Morse (2-5)

Mira Mesa has lost three in a row, while Morse demolished San Diego High last week. The Tigers had lots of trouble scoring before putting 42 on the board last week. I expect the Marauders to break the losing streak and get a win on the road.

Mira Mesa – 24 Morse – 17

Torrey Pines (3-4) vs. El Camino (5-2)

The Falcons have split their first two league games, while El Camino won their opener against LCC and dropped a non-league game to Vista last week. I expect the Falcons to have success on the ground game and sneak out a close one.

Torrey Pines – 17 El Camino – 14

Steele Canyon (6-1) vs. El Capitan (7-0)

The Vagueros haven’t won a game by less the two touchdowns this season while outscoring their opponents 288-70, though the schedule has been a bit light. Steele Canyon will be the best team they’ve seen this season, but I expect El Capitan to prevail at home.

El Capitan – 35 Steele Canyon – 28

San Marcos (7-0) vs. Vista (4-3)

The Knights will looking to keep their undefeated season going, but haven’t defeated Vista in 39 years. Vista’s offense has come alive the last few games, but I expect San Marcos to make a few more plays to win it.

San Marcos – 28 Vista – 21

Rancho Bernardo (5-2) vs. Mt. Carmel (5-2)

The Broncos have bounced back with two big wins following losses to La Costa Canyon and Carlsbad. I expect Rancho Bernardo to have a big day running the ball during Senior Night at Mt. Carmel en route to a big victory.

Rancho Bernardo – 31 Mt. Carmel – 13

Bishops (7-0) vs. Santa Fe Christian (4-3) Saturday 2pm

The Eagles feature one of the nations best kickers in Stanford-bound Jake Bailey, but I don’t expect him to be enough to overcome the unbeaten Knights at home in a Saturday afternoon Coastal League showdown.

Bishops – 31 Santa Fe Christian – 20

La Jolla Country Day sophomore QB Braxton Burmeister got things started for the Torreys leading them to a game-opening field goal. Francis Parker took control from there. The Torreys were unable to get back on the board until late in the 3rd quarter.

Francis Parker was paced by Senior QB Khaleel Jenkins, a Cal Poly commit. The Lancers used the read-option effectively against LJCD en route to a 45-16 win, to pick up their first Coastal League win of the season.

San Marcos made things look easy early. Following a 90 yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Johnny McWilliams, the Knights were out to an early 14-0 lead.

Del Norte worked its way back by effectively using their read-option game and mixing in some deep passes. A Parker Lappin 30 yard TD scramble evened things at 14, before Tyler Nix got loose for the Knights and went in from 69 yards out. Del Norte answered right back finding Quenton Meeks in the end zone from 36 yards out when he snatched the ball from two defenders.

The Nighthawks had evened it at 21 as the way-too-long halftime show began.

The San Marcos offensive line led by Wisconsin commit Kevin Estes, made a statement on the ground allowing running back Samaj Wren to have a big night on the Knights Homecoming.

Del Norte held a 31-21 lead heading into the 4th quarter, but their offense began to sputter and the Knights found success through the air and on the ground en route to three unanswered touchdowns leading to a 42-31 victory.

Lincoln (4-2) @ Cathedral Catholic (6-1): The Dons boast one of the best section’s best defenses and have played the county’s toughest schedule to date. The Hornets have won three straight games, but I expect the Dons offense to come alive and take down the Hornets at home.

Cathedral Catholic-28 Lincoln-3

Mira Mesa (2-4) @ St. Augustine (2-4): Mira Mesa has yet to find a rhythm so far this season, while also having a hard time getting the ball to star wideout Steffon McKnight. The Saints have lost two in a row, while not living up to expectations so far this season. I think they’ll get things back in order against the Marauders on Homecoming.

St. Augustine-28 Mira Mesa-7

La Jolla (3-3) @ Point Loma (6-1): The Vikings come in having scored 37 points per game this season, but have yet to score in the 4th quarter of any game. The Pointers started the season with a win over El Camino and their lone loss came in a 7-6 game vs. Ramona. I expect Point Loma to get their seventh win of the season in a high-scoring game.

Point Loma-42 La Jolla-30

Grossmont (3-3) @ Steele Canyon (5-1): The Foothillers, who like to the toss the ball around, have had three players throw at least four touchdowns on the season. Steele Canyon will look to rebound at home after falling to Helix 41-0 last week.

Steele Canyon-34 Grossmont-21

La Costa Canyon (4-2) @ Carlsbad (3-3): The Mavericks offense will look to get back on track following their five point showing last week against El Camino. The Lancers started off their league schedule with a loss as well and will look to be ready to go at home.

La Costa Canyon-14 Carlsbad-13

Madison (3-3) @ Olympian (3-3): The Warhawks seem to be hitting their stride on their current 3-game winning streak after starting the season with a very challenging schedule. Olympian has had an up and down season so far, and I expect the Warhawks to glide through the Eagles en route to a large victory.

Madison-42 Olympian-10

Vista (3-3) @ El Camino (5-1): Vista comes in with one of the best defenses in the county, allowing only 13 points per game. El Camino has gotten stronger as the season has progressed and has allowed only 18 points over their last 3 games. I think El Camino comes up with enough offense to hold off the Panthers.

El Camino-13 Vista-7

*DISCLAIMER: No, I don’t hate your team. If I pick against you, don’t take it personally. It’s purely a prediction.

• 2015 St. Augustine DB Frank Buncom cut UCLA, Oklahoma, and Duke from his list. Three schools remain on his list– Stanford, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt. He took an official to Notre Dame last week and plans to visit Stanford officially after the season.
• 2015 Del Norte ATH Quenton Meeks will be officially visiting Cal on October 18th, and will visit Vanderbilt in two weeks. Stanford is also in consideration for a visit.
• 2015 Rancho Bernardo RB Tyree Range remains committed to Montana, but is having a huge senior season. He recently picked up an offer from Colorado State and visited Arizona for the USC game.
• 2016 St. Augustine DE Francoise Sims has been playing running back for the Saints the last few weeks since Elijah Preston went down with an ankle injury. He took an unofficial visit to Arizona for the USC game.
• 2016 Granite Hills DE Jake Burton visited Notre Dame for the game vs. North Carolina. He lists an offer from San Diego State.
• 2015 Del Norte DE Montrice Johns picked up his first offer earlier in the week from Alabama State.
• 2015 Oceanside OT Christian Cronk and DE Tommy Woo both told me that despite their commitments to Hawaii, they are considering other schools and plan to take some visits after the season.

Oceanside QB Matt Romero had a game to forget against Mission Hills in the regular season last year, turning it over five times. What a big difference a year makes. Romero spread the ball around on Friday night connecting for four touchdown passes in the Pirates 42-16 win over Mission Hills.

The Pirates defense led by Jordan Miller and Tommy Woo left Dakota Miller uncomfortable in the pocket and unable to get set for most of the game.

The Pirates new uptempo style clearly caught the Grizzlies off guard and gave them fits on several series.

Oceanside had the ground game working led by senior offensive tackle Christian Cronk, a Hawaii commit.

Madison got things started quickly on Friday night with a 55 yard touchdown run from Isaiah Osborne on the opening play from scrimmage. After a fumble return for a touchdown, two touchdown passes from Kareem Coles, and a 7 yard touchdown run from Darius Jackson, it was 35-0 after 1 quarter. Isaiah Osborne added a second score less than a minute into the 2nd quarter and the decision was made to keep the clock running for the remainder.

The bright spot for the Marauders came late in the 2nd half when quarterback Tristan Hughes scrambled around and found Steffon McKnight on a vertical route. McKnight caught it in stride and pulled away from the defender in a hurry showing that he is the top 2016 football prospect in San Diego.