OCVarsity’s previews and predictions for the second round of the football playoffs.
Garden Grove (9-2) vs. Santa Ana Valley (5-5-1)
Where, when: Santa Ana Valley High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Garden Grove, the defending division champion, rolled to a resounding 56-6 victory over El Dorado last week. Jordan Antunez rushed for 228 yards and scored four touchdowns. The Argonauts also got a touchdown pass from Joseph Camarillo. The Argonauts defense held the Golden Hawks to 194 yards. Santa Ana Valley recovered three fumbles and limited Santa Ana to 125 total yards in the Falcons’ 35-6 victory in the first round. Quarterback Jason Wilkinson completed his first eight passes and finished 13 of 16 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. The key to this game comes down to whether the Falcons can slow Antunez. If not, look for the Argonauts to march into the semifinals.
Prediction: Garden Grove
Godinez (7-4) vs. Brea Olinda (6-5)
Where, when: Segerstrom High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Godinez earned its first playoff victory last week, knocking off Westminster, 49-48, in overtime. Quarterback Bryan Ibarra turned in one of the best performances of the season rushing for 401 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also completed seven of eight passes for 126 yards. Brea Olinda leaned heavily on Noah Rivera last week in a 40-11 victory over Anaheim. The wide receiver scored three touchdowns and gained more than 200 all-purpose yards in the first half. The Wildcats defense was led by Jason Allen (13 tackles) and Zach Arnold (12). That duo will have their hands full with Ibarra, but they should be up to the task.
Prediction: Brea Olinda
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
