Press-Telegram football previews: Big showdowns in Sunset, Moore leagues

Previews for immoderate of the apical section precocious schoolhouse shot games connected Thursday and Friday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

THURSDAY GAME

Sunset League

Los Alamitos (4-1) vs. Corona del Mar (5-0) astatine Westminster HS, 7 p.m.

There mightiness beryllium nary amended rubric contention successful the CIF Southern Section this twelvemonth than here, wherever these 2 teams and Edison (3-2) — each tightly grouped among Calpreps’ apical 26 successful the authorities — fig to combat it out. The Griffins (18th, 52.2 rating) get the Sea Kings (26th, 47.7) and Chargers (20th, 51.3) back-to-back. All 3 defeats among the trio are to Trinity League teams, with Los Al coming disconnected a 42-21 decision 2 weeks agone to Santa Margarita aft starring by 14 astatine halftime.

“They accidental you larn much from a nonaccomplishment than you ever bash from a win, and I’ve recovered that to beryllium precise true,” said Griffins manager Ray Fenton, whose squad is headlined by QB Malachi Nelson and WRs Mateo Lemon and DeAndre Moore Jr., each Oklahoma-bound juniors. “That nonaccomplishment gave america an accidental to determination forward, due to the fact that we were stagnant. We weren’t getting amended astatine signifier oregon successful games, and present I deliberation we person a caller purpose.”

Los Alamitos caput manager Ray Fenton during a nonleague crippled against Lincoln of San Diego astatine Westminster High School Friday, August 27, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

CdM, which shared the rubric with Los Al successful 2018, won it successful 2019 and finished 2nd to the Griffins successful the spring, returned 7 antiaircraft starters, is acceptable to debut LB Brady Sarkisian, a Mater Dei transfer, and has an businesslike discourtesy led by inferior QB David Rasor and elder WRs Max Lane and John Tipton.

FRIDAY GAMES

Moore League

Long Beach Poly (2-3) vs. Wilson (1-4) astatine Veterans Stadium, 7 p.m.

The Jackrabbits’ on-field league winning streak is astatine 57 pursuing past week’s triumph implicit Millikan successful the de facto rubric showdown, and they ought to beryllium stronger this week, with transfers becoming eligible. Sophomore DB/RB Timberland Tuiagamoa (Los Alamitos), elder DB/WR Marcell Lineberger (Lakewood) and inferior DL Dominic Lolesio (Mayfair) are expected to marque large impacts. Wilson, successful dense rebuild mode, routed Cabrillo past week for its archetypal triumph nether Scott Meyer. This volition beryllium the teams’ archetypal gathering since the 2019 season. Their rivalry goes backmost to 1932, and past twelvemonth was the archetypal clip they haven’t met. Their crippled during the abbreviated outpouring play was canceled due to the fact that of COVID-19 vulnerability successful the Poly program.

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

There volition beryllium a conflict successful the Moore League this twelvemonth implicit who volition drawback the league’s 3rd playoff berth, and this matchup volition person thing to accidental astir that. The Panthers mislaid a precocious pb past week against Lakewood, and they get Compton, which is coming disconnected an unexpected bye (COVID-19 outbreak astatine Narbonne) and adjacent to afloat spot for the archetypal clip this season. Compton is getting respective players backmost — including stud OL duo Jonah Laulusa and Elijah Martinez, cardinal to their double-wing onslaught — and volition debut Jordan transportation Kingston Moa, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound DE/TE that has manager Calvin Bryant giddy.

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

The Rams person captured the Hamilton Trophy conscionable doubly since 2001, pulling retired 3- and 4-point victories during Justin Utupo’s 2 seasons successful complaint (2017-18). They’re favored this time, down a dynamic passing onslaught led by sophomore QB Myles Jackson (1,200 yards, 14 TDs vs. 2 interceptions) and a speedy defence starring DB Tacario Davis. Utupo, successful his archetypal twelvemonth astatine his alma mater, has Lakewood atop the league standings astatine 2-0, and its triumph 2 years agone pushed the Lancers’ vantage to 37-24-1 successful the series, which dates to 1957.

Millikan’s Angelo Miranda (8) trips into the extremity portion for a touchdown during the 2nd fractional of a Moore League prep shot crippled astatine Veterans Memorial Stadium successful Long Beach, Calif. connected Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Long Beach Poly defeated Millikan 42-28. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

Del Rey League

St. Anthony (3-3) vs. La Salle (0-4) astatine St. Paul HS, 7 p.m.

The Saints march into league play connected a three-game winning streak, the merchandise of Sone Aupiu’s big-play runs and a defence led by Aupiu, his relative Anakin Aupiu and lineman Eric Sam Suluai. They’re No. 1 successful the Del Rey League, according to Calpreps’ scale (which the Southern Section volition usage to find playoff divisions and seedings), but Harvard-Westlake isn’t acold behind. La Salle is amended than its grounds and led by QB Richie Muñoz (1,050 yards, 12 TDs) and WR Mauricio Pavon (28 catches, 419 yards, 4 TDs).