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Talking points: Southern Division
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Talking points: Southern Division
November 27, 2007 3:00 AM
OCVarsity.com
AM: We saw this game a month ago and it wasn’t very good.
SF: I thought it was.
AM: And it wasn’t all Tyler Ortiz. The Mariners were just better.
SF: That was a good game for Pacifica quarterback Raymond Huizar, who hooked up with brother Raphael Huizar on a couple of big plays. Kennedy did not concentrate on him that much. Having a reliable second, or third, receiver really gives a team an edge in high school football, especially in those mid-divisions.
AM: At the same time, Kennedy has been a different team since then. It hasn’t allowed a point.
SF: Santiago and University did not challenge Kennedy’s defense like Pacifica’s will. Defense has been a Kennedy strength all year. And back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs is impressive, even for Kennedy. I projected a Pacifica-Kennedy semifinal, so I am not surprised.
AM: Valencia was able to beat Pacifica with a balanced offense. It wasn’t just Wes Fletcher. Do you think Kennedy has that?
SF: Yes. Kennedy quarterback Zach Emde has been reliable, so Kennedy can play catch-up ball if it has to, and passing sets up the running game in high school football.
AM: I really like the experience of the Fighting Irish, but I don’t know that they have the playmakers of a year ago when they won this division.
SF: Right. Ed Pleasant was a special guy. But the running back, Corey Smith, is good enough. He has some moves and jukes when he gets into the secondary.
AM: So who do you got?
SF: I picked Pacifica to win the division before the playoffs started. But I had Pacifica beating Laguna Hills in the finals. However, in that playoff predictions column, I wrote: “Cypress just might pull of an upset in that first round.” And that’s what happened when Cypress beat Laguna Hills.
SF: I thought it was.
AM: And it wasn’t all Tyler Ortiz. The Mariners were just better.
SF: That was a good game for Pacifica quarterback Raymond Huizar, who hooked up with brother Raphael Huizar on a couple of big plays. Kennedy did not concentrate on him that much. Having a reliable second, or third, receiver really gives a team an edge in high school football, especially in those mid-divisions.
AM: At the same time, Kennedy has been a different team since then. It hasn’t allowed a point.
SF: Santiago and University did not challenge Kennedy’s defense like Pacifica’s will. Defense has been a Kennedy strength all year. And back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs is impressive, even for Kennedy. I projected a Pacifica-Kennedy semifinal, so I am not surprised.
AM: Valencia was able to beat Pacifica with a balanced offense. It wasn’t just Wes Fletcher. Do you think Kennedy has that?
SF: Yes. Kennedy quarterback Zach Emde has been reliable, so Kennedy can play catch-up ball if it has to, and passing sets up the running game in high school football.
AM: I really like the experience of the Fighting Irish, but I don’t know that they have the playmakers of a year ago when they won this division.
SF: Right. Ed Pleasant was a special guy. But the running back, Corey Smith, is good enough. He has some moves and jukes when he gets into the secondary.
AM: So who do you got?
SF: I picked Pacifica to win the division before the playoffs started. But I had Pacifica beating Laguna Hills in the finals. However, in that playoff predictions column, I wrote: “Cypress just might pull of an upset in that first round.” And that’s what happened when Cypress beat Laguna Hills.
Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com
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