OCVarsity’s previews and predictions for Friday’s semifinals:
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
La Habra (11-1) vs. Villa Park (12-0)
Where, when: La Habra High, 7 p.m.
Live coverage: CASportsZone online radio (www.casportszone.com)
Outlook: Villa Park remained perfect on the season with its win over Valencia a week ago, slowing down the Tigers’ two-headed rushing attack defensively, and letting Nick Sipe sling the ball to Brennan Corbin and company on offense. La Habra will be the best team the Spartans have seen to this point, however. The top-seeded Highlanders eased past Laguna Hills behind the play of quarterback Eric Barriere and running back Cortlin Taylor, as both players rushed for triple digits in the second round. Taylor in particular has been unstoppable of late, averaging 17.25 yards a carry over the last four games (40 rushes for 690 yards). Villa Park’s defense will inevitably make that average dip, but it’s hard to imagine anyone stopping La Habra right now the way they’ve been clicking.
Prediction: La Habra
Buena Park (10-2) vs. San Clemente (10-2)
Where, when: San Clemente High, 7:30 p.m.
Live coverage: Foxsports.com Prep Zone
Outlook: Another week, another Freeway League squad standing in front of San Clemente. The Tritons knocked off Sunny Hills and Sonora in the first two rounds of the postseason, and junior quarterback Jack Sears wasnothing short of magnificent in those outings. Sears has tossed more touchdowns (7) than he has incompletions (6) to this point as San Clemente has racked up 52 points in consecutive weeks. If the Tritons hope to make it back to the Southwest championship game, though, their defense will have to perform much better than it did last week when it allowed 45 points. Zach Taylor and Buena Park’s offense have the weapons to score with San Clemente, especially if they can get Elijah Bynum and Jeremiah Hawkins into space. With Sears, Vlad Dzhabiyev and Brandon Reaves each carrying the ball 10 times last week, the Tritons’ rushing attack could prove to be their best defense, keeping the Coyotes’ offense on the sideline.
Prediction: San Clemente
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
