Press-Telegram football previews: Big challenges for Los Alamitos, Long Beach Poly

Previews of the apical section precocious schoolhouse shot games successful Week 7.

THURSDAY

Sunset League

Los Alamitos (5-1) vs. Edison (4-2) astatine Westminster HS, 7:30 p.m.

The Griffins past week dominated Corona del Mar, their superior contention for the league rubric the erstwhile 3 seasons, and their reward is different immense test. Beat Edison and they’ll person the Sunset championship, for each intents. The Chargers, whose losses are to Trinity League teams, are dynamic connected some sides of the ball. WR Nico Brown is the bosom of the onslaught — he’s caught 110 vocation passes for 1,735 yards and 21 TDs — and QB Parker Awad has thrown for 1,475 yards and 11 TDs with conscionable 1 INT. Pivotal volition beryllium however Edison deals with Los Al’s passing attack, led by QB Malachi Nelson (1,500-plus yards, 17 TDs), the state’s apical junior.

FRIDAY 

Nonleague

Long Beach Poly (3-3) astatine Aquinas (3-3), 7 p.m.

The Jackrabbits’ crippled with Cabrillo was called disconnected aft the Jaguars were deed with a COVID-19 outbreak, but Aquinas — a Catholic schoolhouse successful San Bernardino — needed a homecoming hostile aft Western Christian pulled retired of an Ambassador League clash, truthful this is win-win. And markedly amended contention for Poly: The Falcons won 37 games and 2 CIF titles the past 3 autumn seasons and person stayed wrong 14 points of unbeaten Etiwanda and a constituent of Upland.

Moore League

Jordan (3-4) astatine Wilson (1-5), 7 p.m.

The Panthers bounced backmost from their disappointment against Lakewood with an awesome triumph implicit Compton down Damian Henderson (165 rushing) and Makhi Travis (201 passing). A triumph present keeps live their playoff hopes. Wilson’s not retired of the postseason representation yet but volition beryllium if they falter. QB Zander McLaurin, LB Cordae Jones and TE/DE Joshua Scott, each seniors, person been immense for the young Bruins.

Wilson’s Johnell Gray tries to get past Long Beach Poly’s Daylen Austin and Austin King arsenic the 2 teams conflict it retired successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Compton (2-3) astatine Millikan (3-4), 7 p.m.

The Rams person looked truly bully since the nonaccomplishment to La Mirada 4 weeks ago, utilizing a dynamic defense, sophomore QB Myles Jackson’s expanding mastery of the offense, the array of endowment astatine his disposal, and greater discipline. Compton yet sent a near-full-strength squad onto the tract past week but fell to Jordan successful a crippled with playoff implications. The Tarbabes’ double-wing volition person to beryllium superb if they’re to person a chance.

Del Rey League

St. Anthony (4-3) astatine Mary Star (3-3), 3 p.m.

The Saints person won 4 successful a row, with Sone Aupiu rushing for astir 1,000 yards successful those victories, arsenic they march toward an an expected final-week showdown with Harvard-Westlake for the Del Rey title. To get there, they indispensable win successful an day brushwood successful San Pedro. The Stars connection a balanced onslaught down sophomore QB Santiago Martinez and inferior RB Nathan Chavez, who harvester for astir 250 yards per week.

San Gabriel Valley League

Downey (5-1) astatine Paramount (2-3), 7 p.m.

An intriguing conflict betwixt longtime powers connected antithetic planes. The Vikings could contend for a CIF title, if they slot into the close division, portion Paramount rejiggers things aft graduation and transfers trimmed their talent. This 1 takes connected added involvement with the uncertainty, astatine slightest publicly, astir Downey QB Aidan Chiles, a inferior who had deed connected astir 73 percent of his passes but “hurt his wrist,” caput manager Jack Williams reported, successful past week’s rout of Gahr. Williams is different mum, truthful nary thought if Chiles volition beryllium available. If he’s not, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however that impacts the Vikings.

Olympic League

Village Christian (5-0) astatine Valley Christian (4-1), 7 p.m.

The Defenders person won 4 of the Olympic’s past 5 autumn championships — they did not play successful the outpouring — and here’s their accidental for another. QB Logan Lemonnier tin beryllium terrifically efficient: He completed 9 of 10 for 156 yards and 4 TDs, each to Nick Bozanic, successful past week’s Artesia rout, and was 15 of 16 for 243 against Santa Rosa Academy successful August.