Here are Steve Fryer’s picks for the first three rounds in the Southwest Division:
First round: Foothill over Pacifica; Tustin over Magnolia; Cypress over Canyon; Fullerton over Santa Ana Valley; Western over Sunny Hills; Trabuco Hills over Valencia; El Dorado over Huntington Beach; La Habra over Anaheim.
Second round: Foothill over Tustin; Fullerton over Cypress; Western over Trabuco Hills; La Habra over El Dorado.
Semifinals: Foothill over Fullerton; La Habra over Western.
More Fryer’s picks:
- Pac-5 first three rounds
- Pac-5 championship and analysis
- Southern Division first three rounds
- Southern Division championship and analysis
- Southwest Division championship and analysis
- Northeast Division first three rounds
- Northeast Division championship and analysis
- East Valley Division first three rounds
- East Valley Division championship and analysis
El Do is a two time defending champion … La Habra may have the edge … but dont count out a true champion … the guts and heart of El Do has shown with the terrible start they had and with the great finish as co-champions of league. Go El Do show La Habra the true meaning of a champion and what it takes to be one!
The moment we’ve all been waiting for…….
come on foothill over fullerton? haha the only reason you said that is coz fullerton lost to la habera, and you don’t want to put fullerton vs. lahabra as the final game, coz you think its to pridictable… but everyone knows fullerton vs la habera will be the championship game once again, just like last year…
I haven’t seen Foothill, so I could be way off base. But I look at their schedule, and I’m not impressed. I think if they played in a tougher league, or against a tougher nonleague schedule, they might be 7-3 or 6-4. I think La Habra is the class of the division, and Fullerton, Western or Cypress are the next three. I think Pacifica will give Foothill a game, but Foothill will pull it out, then it’s an easy path to the semis, where they lose to Fullerton or Cypress.
Tustin will shock everyone
Wow, why is everyone
underrating Foothill?
they are a great team…
there deffense is amazing
and there offense is coming together
trabuco over valencia?
yeah im with “matt” el dorado will show everyone wat its like to play a true champion and will go on to beat hunnington, shock la habra out of there pants beat western(cause they lost to tustin which eldo beat)
and beat foothill. thats how its realy gunna go in the playoffs! go el dorado golden hawks!!!
GO LA HABRA SHOW THEM HOW ITS DONE CLAN PRIDE!!
Thats the problem with back to back championships. The fans get their heads stuck so far up their a$$es that they can’t see the reality of high school. You see, players go to high school which means eventually they have to graduate (leave). Thats why you’re SHARING your league title, no more Laurenzi or Allen to win two more for you. That’s why there is no such thing as a dynasty in high school. teams have down years which is something you guys have forgotten about. I know its hard not having an outright league title, a # 1 seeding, or being predicted to LOOSE IN THE PLAYOFFS!! (OH MY GOD!) Sorry ElDo Reality stinks
no western is gonna pull off the upset..
sloppy cheese
your an idiot
Foothill did not even play el dorado…
Come on guys play nice. Name calling isnt cool.
Our boys will bring their “A” game, nuff said.
GO CLAN
trabuco over valencia? both seem evenly matched as neither team has played much of a schedule this year. i like the tigers in a close one at home plus i have a feeling their physical play will create some problems for trabuco.
Does anyone know if Eldo still playing on Thursday?
All of the game’s are to be played on Friday Night. Hey PETROS long time no see! I think PaCIFica got a raw deal, Anahiem should of pulled #1, but that’s OK. Football is Football both Team’s play and the better Team win’s right? Last Year’s at -large won the title in Cypress! I’m hoping for a Miracle this Year but just maybe? This new South West Divison should be a good one, I’m looking forward to reading how it play’s out! Good Luck to all the Team’s and may the “Lucky Dog” win it again!!! BOOGATY BOOGATY BOOGATY LET”S GO TO THE CIF PLAY-OFF’S BOYZ>>>Crunch Bunch 4 EVER
hey matt i hate la habra but last time i checkd they are a champion.
Any Team can Win any given thursday/friday/saturday
Don’t get fooled by the whole that team lost to this team nonsense
This is a good competitive division
Teams that come out and play hard will win that night
Good luck to every playoff team
so these fanatic Eldo fans think … (oh sorry, they can’t think!) more like a$$uMe that all Eldo needs to do is just showing up on this thurs nite and automatically advances to play laHabra next week, huh? sweet dreams, baby! HB may not have a team this year that can win the whole thing, but on a given nite they can surprise some people. just ask the golden west league champions Westminster…
Cypress is going all the way. they have the best defense lead buy the best linebacker in the league #31 vincent perry.
Well put ahs football alumni….Canyon never gets any credit to being a competitive team and are always predicted to lose first round…Canyon has had a solid season, and could surprise a lot of people Friday night.
Like ahs says: “Any Team can Win any given thursday/friday/saturday”
If La Habra doesn’t win it all I am going to laugh my ass off. All year long that’s all we’ve heard. How great they are. And ya know what? If they do win my hats off and congratulations will go to them. But, as I said earlier in the season, this is the best team Foothill has had in 5 years. I understand the lack of Sea View league respect this year. It was a bad league except for us and Trabuco. But, we have a good offense and a good defense and a good QB. It isn’t going to be a cake walk for anyone. To early to crown a champion. Gotta play the games. Go Knights!
Don’t say nothing. Fryer picked us to loose and you know that’s a good thing. We have dodged the kiss of death.
Hey ComanchePop…what number is your son?
dont forget who the CIF champs are… Go Cypress
ComanchePop — you owe me one!
cypress could beat canyon but sorry, no chance for them after the 1st round
La Habra seems to be the clear pick……Dont count out Anaheim’s tradition
yo canyon is gonna bring it 2 all u haters out there. there offense is way too intense for the first couple defenses that they could see in the first couple rounds and i believe no one will stop them. and as for there defense it is amazing with about 8 starters coming back and count on everyplay seeing 11 men to the ball
hey anthony how can you say there cant be dynasties in hs football havent you ever heard of a little school up north by the name of DE LA SALLE??? last time i checked they had a pretty good oh i dont know DECADE long dynasty going. granted they eventually lost but point proven there can be dynasties.
hey joe from cypress,best in league is not the same as best in division,so dont sale your guys short. if you make it far enough youwill see the very best in the clans ,casey,peppard,and pedilla.just get ready to have your world come crashing down
cypress is my pick there team really came together this year and la habra is right there either of these teams
Highlanders - show ‘em how it’s done one game at a time -
La Habra CHAMPIONSHIP Football. I feel a STORM coming!
What about the santa ana valley falcons team?Nobody ever gives them any credit?They have a good QB and RB.Darius Nacoste,Carlos Acevedo,and Joe Garcia will have to lead the team once again.C’mon its only fullerton.Any team can win on any given thursday/friday/saturday.
LeTs Go FaLcOnS!!!!
El do is the favor but la habra is the spoiller ps go HIGHLANDERS
Oh c’mon Fryer, no upsets ?
regarding falcon.
“C’mon its only fullerton” R u seriouse??? what makes you think that you have a chance with fullerton??? were gonna outscored you, not only that i truly believe that this game is gonna be over by the end of the second quater…. What makes you falcon think that you could win this friday… lest be realistic, you couldnt do nothing against WESTERN which is a team we beat already in what possibly way you think you have a chance??? BIG difference between your league and our league… we have 3 teams facing from each league facing each other… were gonna show you the power of the FREEWAY LEAGUE that has over the ORANGE LEAGUE
1. match La habra vs. anaheim… la habra is gonna smoke anaheim
2.FULLERTON vs. S. ana Valley… PREDICTION by the end of the second quarter the game is over…
3.western vs. Sunny Hills… i wouldnt be surprise if Sunny Hills pulls an UPSET…..
CIF FINALS ONCE AGAIN FULLERTON vs. LA HABRA
BUT THE OUTCOME IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
100 yrs of FOOTBALL!!!!!!
Have seen most of these teams play, (except Foothill). Magnolia has Cruz and just might upset Tustin, (Tustin fades in 4th quarter). La Habra should not underestimate El Dorado, they have more than a chance to prevail. Fullerton played a good game against La Habra better than the score would indicate. Fullerton just might get past Foothill. In short, Southwest Div. is the most exciting of them all.
I can’t believe it Fryer didn’t over look cypress!!!!!!Maybe their is hope for himmmmm….pacif/going too pull an upset over footh/ they have a good team and you’ll see frid/ CYPRESS ALL THE WAY
Some teams are clearly going 2 take it.
But dont count out the upsets!!!!!!
Its going to be the finals that are going to be the JAW DROPPER.
if allian is hurt thats it for fullerton la habra stuck him real bad and he dropped to the ground on the sidelines in the 4th quarter so is he playing or not
western vs. cypress c.i.f
angels stadium western 34 cypress 35
SORRY EMPIRE LEAGUE. YOU STAND NO CHANCE IN THESE PLAYOFFS. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR.
man all you guys are so worried about foothill and la habra. but the team that is going to take it all is WESTERN. western has the hardest hitting defense in any league, our D line are monsters, and our backs fill the holes so fast you cant even see them coming. plus our o line is rock solid . and our running backs oh man dont even get me started. point is we’re taking it. “DO OR DIE” now
As someone on the inside all I can say is we all hoped that were not on the same bracket side as La Habra. Clearly anyone who knows anything about football knows that they are the team to beat. Having said that you play the games for a reason. With three defending cif champions from different divisions last year this is by FAR the most competitive and balanced division.
Sorry 61, for the record I love coach Howell and wish him nothing but the best, but if you look at your record against La Habra, (which is who you would play in the semis) its not even close, they own you. Your offense was great back in the 60’s. Enjoy you annual league champion patches because thats all thats going on your lettermens jackets this year.
What!!?
#61 is on something!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t understand why u have to tackle below the knees if you have an outstanding Defense? (Western)
I mean if you are so good why not hit people head on?
I hope La Habra eats crow, and chokes on the feathers everone is La La La Habra fans let play it in the trenches.
Hahaha, here’s my prediction, Fullerton 60 - Valley 3.
Don’t waste your time on a dumb game in any other Division. This is going to be the best games, in the tightest division in the southland. Many shocking scores will be made.
hey chata, i hope your coaches dont have their heads buryed in the sand like all you tribesters.i was at the western /valley game and other than a tipped pass intersetion and a fake field goal it was pretty much toe to toe.and valley had to contend with 2!!! good backs out of the double wing, not one beat up back who shined against 3 bad freeway teams. cant wait to see what your midget corners do against a 6′1 good receiver like valleys, can you deal with that!!!!!!!
For what its worth here are the QB Ratings for all of the QB’s particpating in the SW playoffs:
1. Jason Mayer - Trabuco Hills - 110.27 (172 Pass Attempts 8 games)
2. Randall Nygren - La Habra - 109.87 (149 Pass Attempts)
3. Zach Griffith - Foothill - 106.18 ( 224 Pass Attempts)
4. Chris Ledesma - Santa Ana - 104.35 (162 Pass Attempts
5. Raymond Huizar - Pacifica - 101.73 (109 Pass Attempts)
6. Kane Wilson - El Dorado - 99.29 (180 Pass Attempts 9 games)
7. Sean Guite - Huntington Bch - 83.64 (320 Pass Attempts)
8. Derek Orman - Western - 81.83 ( 60 Pass Attempts)
9. David Pina - Valencia - 74.13 (113 Pass Attempts)
10. Luis Reyna- Anaheim - 67.67 (120 Pass Attempts)
11. Taylor Richardson - Tustin - 66.72 (35 Pass Attempts)
12. Max Reza - Cypress - 65.37 (113 Pass Attempts)
13. Elijah Laulu - Magnolia - 65.27 (77 Pass Attempts)
14. Nick Mercurio - Canyon - 63.10 (148 Pass Attempts)
15. Johnny Nguyen - Sunny Hills-60.50 (141 Pass Attempts)
16. Dominic Ficociello-Fullerton- 57.30 ( 105 Pass Attempts)
The teams who generally have high QB ratings tend to have a more balanced offense. But this can be deceiving so you need to look at the overall pass attempts. (Obviously Tustin, Western and Magnolia like to run the ball). The teams with low QB ratings obviously are adept at running the ball or have strong defenses or they wouldn’t be here with their one dimensional offenses. Comments?
hey chata…The rumor has it about half of the Fullerton football team has chicken pox. How are you going to beat anyone by 60 when half of your team can’t even take the field. Actually the score now might be the other way around in Santa Ana’s favor.
To bad for the boys, I was sorry to here this about the team, we know a few of the boys, but the game must go on.
Without a doubt this will be the most exciting CIF division in football. The talent is spread pretty evenly across the board. I have seen nearly every team in this division play at least once. Here are some general thoughts:
Foothill - a good team but over rated … They lost to Dana, a legit team, beat Tustin, without its top player, beat SM, a quality team that is having a down year, Canyon, might have been their best win of the year, and Trabuco Hills, another team that took a while to find its identity. Don’t expect the Knights to get past their second round jinx because someone will upset them in the playoffs. My money is on Tustin.
La Habra - A serious contender that has only lost to quality teams (and even those games were close). Maybe more people would like them if their fans weren’t so annoying. The Highlanders tough non-league schedule will have them primed for a deep playoff run. But they shouldn’t under estimate El Dorado.
Cypress - A defensive team that lacks enough playmakers on offense to make a serious run at a title. Simple fact is Cypress needs to be able to put points up on the board against tough defense the deeper they get into the playoffs. That’s why I don’t see them winning a title, if they do it will be on the back of that defense. Still as the old saying goes, “defense wins championship.”
Tustin - A run the ball down your throat team that has a HUGE defensive line, but a big hole in their secondary defense. A good passing team can pick this team apart (Foothill’s receivers are too small to really give them problems). Wilkerson is a special player that looks fully recovered from his knee injury, just ask El Dorado.
Fullerton - A quality team that has an easy path to semifinals. They have a great running back at their disposal, but lack more offensive weapons around him to compete with the elite teams in this division. A one dimensional team will always struggle. This is also another team that has annoying fans, just shut up and play ball - no one wants to hear excuses.
Western - An offense that has learned to play without it’s star player, who has missed a few games with a knee injury and discipline issues. The defense isn’t bad either. Western seems to have the right blend and more importantly they have a nice path to the semifinals.
Trabuco Hills - Took a while to establish their identity, but this teams appears to be peaking at the right time. They could surprise a few people this year, but it will be hard to win their second round match-up on the road.
El Dorado - Might have the most annoying PA announcer in this division, he’s just another cheerleader with a microphone. But this team is as blue collared as they come. Kayne Wilson is an impressive QB that will kill you with slant passes all day. The defense isn’t special, more like solid. I would be worried if I were La Habra, I guarantee the winner of this game will be playing for the CIF title.
These are the teams that are most likely to make some noise in this division because I see all of them advancing to the second round.
The only school I can see pulling off an upset in the first round is Canyon and that’s because of its dynamic offense. But they will have to win a shootout because the defense is horrible. Magnolia is a good team, but also one dimensional (you need to be able to pass the ball in order to beat Tustin).
Here are my predictions:
First round: Foothill over Pacifica; Tustin over Magnolia; Cypress over Canyon (strong possibility for an upset); Fullerton over Santa Ana Valley; Western over Sunny Hills; Trabuco Hills over Valencia; El Dorado over Huntington Beach; La Habra over Anaheim.
Second round: Tustin over Foothill; Cypress over Fullerton (upset alert); Western over Trabuco Hills; La Habra over El Dorado (strong possibility for an upset).
Semifinals: Tustin over Cypress; La Habra over Western.
Finals: La Habra over Tustin.
I’ve seen Foothill a couple of times and they are not too impressive. They do have a big NG and DT but they weren’t too impressive. What was impressive was their LB #32. He is the real deal. Other than that their offense is not impressive at all. They have a good QB but he doesn’t have any WR to throw to. The QB got hit hard quite a few times in the games I saw. So the O Line is not too strong either. For being seeded number 1 in the division was a surprise to me. La Habra should of been number 1 all season long. My prediction for the Finals……La Habra vs. Fullerton……………..winner……..we will have to see.
#61 I don’t care how good you think Western is point is they run about 6 plays and all you have to do is put 8 in the box and tackle. NO DISCIPLINE = NO CHAMPIONSHIP. Thats why you got embarassed on your home field by Cypress a couple years ago. Cypress outclassed you guys. You take care of the inches and the yards will follow.
southwest guru we have the loudest fans in high school football butt the way you said it your on the side of fullerton if what i hear rings true that allain is hurt you guys are done thanks to the rough play against the run by the LA HABRA HIGHLANDERS yeah be true to BLUE CLAN PRIDE
Read it again, cause I’m not on Fullerton’s side.
I think their fans can be annoying as well, I guess some people just don’t know how to win with class… I like La Habra’s team, but not their fans (way to keep it classy).
That is one lesson everyone could learn from OLu, although they tend to play a little dirty.
Western better lay their opponents out cause they have size!!!!!!!!
“a good D”
If they keep going below the knees…..U will have no RESPECT from anyone what so ever!!!!!!!!
SW Guru…
Cypress averaged 33 pts/game in league, and had a RB go for 256 & 5 TD along w/ a WR who had a 70 yd TD in the championship game v. Pacifica last week. That’s not explosive enough?
Foothill has a great defense. Their linebackers are way legit. Their offense always lays it down with the exception of their first game due to injuries, but other than that they are definitely going to make it to the finals.
will everyone has made their mines up!!!!And said there say,,are you ready for some football????????
Hey Fryer….keep picking the other guys, and if it takes us to the finals, I’ll buy you a nice steak, that is unless you’re vegan. =)
I see CYPRESS getting by Fullerton in round two. CYPRESS is solide and is playing great ball. Lets play it in the trenches, Go EMPIRE league make us proud.
Wow! That’s pretty interesting about Jason Mayer. He’s very accurate and very smart. I think Trabuco can make it to the Semi’s this year, beyond that it’s anybody guess. Don’t forget about Shane DeCillo he’s rushed for over 1200 yds this year. The key for Trabuco’s success is their defense, if they start making plays, they could be CHAMPIONS this year!
fullerton I heard ALLIAN IS HURT THAT WOULD kill your chances for advancing in the playoffs thanks for the defence of LA HABRAS HIGHLANDERS YEAH
cypress needs to be put in their place! that city has some sick obsession with football and they are all so stuck up! lets go canyon! take it to em! Line Six Football? I don’t think so Coach Selbe! And Coach Fenton is just a Selbe Junior, they are both arrogant!
Typical Cypress. Are you snobs goin to pay off the refs this year too?!
BLAH BLAH, BLAH BLAH, BLAH BLAH.
ou812, all you do is bring up old news. You kind of obsess over Mr. Allain. Obviously, you got nothing positive or informative to say!
BTW, ol’ Guru of the Southwest, nice overview. Too bad you don’t know any real Fullerton or La Habra fans. Quite a nice bunch of people. NOt the juveniles that consistantly and constantly embarrass themselves or those who suck up to the writers.
The “one dimensional” comments are getting real old… did the Indians not win last week against the darlings (ie. demi-tech gods) of the FUHSD, sans Mr. Allain? Seems like they have just as many ’stars’ as the rest of the Southwest post-season teams.
Good Luck to all!
Lots of angst in West GG. Nice moniker CS - try an anger management class.
Good balance should be fun ! Less mistakes will win always. La Habra is the class of the field, Cypress would need Masceranas and Samoodi to pull this off, (Thanks Cyp pop warner)Cypress will not be so lucky this year Western learned their lesson and should of onside kick 2 years ago.Foothill 1 year away. Pacifica has a balaned attack if Huizar is healthy. Western too run oriented Valencia may be the dark horse here!
WESTER IS GOIN TO BEAT LA HABRA WATCH
thats what you said about anaheim that they were goin beat us.s.w guru your wrong again
Kudos to the Mariners for their big win. Good luck the rest of the way.
[hey says]that is what this is all about[FOOTBALL]-D–A–