Press-Telegram football previews of the top local games

Previews of this week’s apical section precocious schoolhouse shot games.

THURSDAY

Del Rey League

St. Anthony (5-3) astatine Salesian (4-3), 7 p.m.

Raul Lara won 12 Moore League championships successful 13 seasons arsenic Long Beach Poly’s caput manager — none, alas, portion rebuilding Warren’s programme implicit 5 years — and helium tin assertion a stock of his archetypal with the Saints with a triumph here. St. Anthony, No. 10 successful the Press-Telegram rankings, has won 5 successful a row, and Sone Aupiu, who ran for astir 1,000 yards successful the archetypal four, comes successful crisp aft taking past week off. RB/LB Anakin Aupiu, his cousin, could beryllium retired with injury. Salesian, which amazed defending champion Harvard-Westlake past week to acceptable this arsenic a showdown encounter, is averaging 217 yards connected the crushed and 221 done the aerial down QB Marcus Martin.

Moore League

Lakewood (2-5) vs. Wilson (1-6) astatine Veterans Stadium, 7 p.m.

The Lancers’ grounds mightiness not beryllium what Justin Utupo envisioned successful his archetypal play successful complaint of his alma mater, but wins present and adjacent week against Compton volition nonstop them to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The Tarbabes and Jordan are inactive successful the equation, too, but Lakewood’s comeback triumph implicit the Panthers 3 weeks agone gives them the vantage heading into the last 3 regular-season games. Junior QB Brayden Downen, a Wilson transfer, is evolving into an businesslike QB for Lakewood, completing 52 percent of his throws for 208 yards a game.

FRIDAY

Suburban League

La Mirada (3-4) astatine Norwalk (6-2), 7 p.m.

The No. 8 Matadores past week were connected the doorstep of their archetypal triumph successful 5 years implicit Mayfair — and perchance their archetypal Suburban League rubric — but were taken down successful a last-minute goal-line stand. They travel successful arsenic large favorites present with 2nd spot connected the line, a large woody due to the fact that 3rd spot isn’t guaranteed a playoff berth. Norwalk is connected the emergence nether first-year caput manager Ruben Guerrero. The Lancers’ double-wing onslaught is rolling down RBs David Herrera (1,176 yards, 19 TDs) and Jonathan Goodloe (1,088, 12).

San Gabriel Valley League

Dominguez (6-1) astatine Downey (6-1), 7 p.m.

The No. 5 Vikings are immense favorites successful this conflict of one-loss teams, but they’re searching for an violative individuality pursuing prima QB Aidan Chiles’ season-ending injury. Keion Andrew’s emergence astatine RB and QB Noah Paez’s betterment during past week’s rout of Paramount bodes well, and the defence is solid. No. 9 Dominguez, down QB Jordan Ford and S Takhari Carr, is disconnected to its stake commencement since 2010, but the Dons person played lone 1 beardown program, Warren, and it wasn’t close. This mightiness could service arsenic bully mentation for Dominguez going into adjacent week’s clash with Paramount, which volition determine the SGVL’s 3rd guaranteed playoff berth.

Trinity League

St. John Bosco (6-1) vs. Orange Lutheran (5-2) astatine Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.

The Braves regrouped, arsenic expected, aft their nonaccomplishment to Mater Dei and easy rolled past week to a 44-7 triumph implicit JSerra. Senior Rayshon Luke scored a rushing touchdown and finished with 71 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving. Alternating QBs Katin Houser and Pierce Clarkson person combined for 1,916 yards and 17 scores. Orange Lutheran is ranked No. 13 successful the authorities by Calpreps, but has mislaid Trinity League games to Servite, 56-12, and Mater Dei, 55-16, and is apt to person a akin result against Bosco. QB Logan Gonzalez has thrown for 1,568 yards and 18 TDs.

St. John Bosco moving backmost Rayshon Luke runs the shot aft a handoff from QB Katin Houser successful Bellflower connected Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)

SATURDAY

Express League

Avalon (3-1) vs. Downey Calvary Chapel (3-2) astatine Downey HS, noon

The area’s 8-man teams unfastened their Express League campaigns. Calvary Chapel, led by moving backmost Eliab Carrera (646 yards, 13 TDs), is looking for its archetypal triumph implicit Avalon. The Lancers are paced by QB Juan Hernandez (562 full yards, 10 TDs) .