OCVarsity’s previews and predictions for Friday’s semifinals:
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Garden Grove (10-2) vs. Brea Olinda (7-5)
Where, when: Garden Grove High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: These teams met in the second round of the playoffs last year with the Argonauts winning, 21-18. Garden Grove is coming off of a 24-19 victory over Santa Ana Valley. It was another big game from Jordan Antunez. The senior running back rushed for 376 yards on 38 carries, scoring a pair of touchdowns. Brea Olinda took care of Godinez, 49-28, in the second round. Andrew Chammas and Noah Rivera combined for 276 rushing yards and six touchdowns. They filled in for injured starter Michael Martinson and backup Nick McCann. If Brea Olinda is able to slow down Antunez, the Wildcats’ chances of advancing greatly improve. If Antunez continues to feast, then look for the defending champions to go to their fourth consecutive final.
Prediction: Garden Grove
Canyon (7-5) vs. El Modena (8-4)
Where, when: El Modena High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The North Hills rivals meet for the second time this season. Both teams advanced to the semifinals last year. In their game Oct. 22, El Modena edged Canyon, 21-20. Canyon led 20-7 at halftime, but El Modena scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half (22-yard pass from A.J. Esperanza to Garrett Gramm and a 1-yard run from Dillon Keefe) to pull out the victory. Canyon’s offense has been exceptional through the first two rounds, averaging 57.5 points. Quarterback Jason Harman has eight touchdown passes in the first two rounds. El Modena’s Kenneth Lamb rushed for 136 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a kickoff, in last week’s 47-27 victory over Segerstrom. Lamb leads the Vanguards in rushing with 1,105 yards. This game will likely come down to the fourth quarter again. A stat to keep in mind regarding El Modena: The Vanguards have forced seven turnovers in the playoffs, while committing only one.
Prediction: Canyon
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
