Game of the Week
No. 2 Helix (4-0) at No. 9 Mount Miguel (5-0) Friday 7 p.m.
League foes until this season, Helix and Mount Miguel square off to see who can stay unbeaten. The Highlanders’ defense has been straight dominant this season, pitching two shutouts and allowing only 17 points the entire year. When Helix has the ball, quarterback Brandon Lewis directs a spread attack that put up 101 points the first two weeks of the season. The Matadors opened their season with a pair of one-point wins and their last three wins have been by an average of 27 points. Mount Miguel trots out a balanced attack led by running back Derrick Dunn (538 yards, 10 touchdowns) that is scoring 28 points per game. The teams have split the last two meetings, with the road team prevailing each time.
Best of the Rest
No. 10 Mission Hills (3-1) at No. 6 Oceanside (2-2) Friday 7 p.m.
After waiting all summer and having to move their first scheduled home game, Oceanside will finally break in their new stadium. The Pirates will need that energy against Mission Hills to bounce back from a tough loss against Vista last week. After losing their first game of the season, the Grizzlies have won three straight, doing enough to sneak into the top 10. The play of quarterbacks Tofi Pao Pao (Oceanside) and Hunter Moore (Mission Hills) will go a long way in determining this one.
Santana (4-0-1) vs Madison (3-1) Friday 6:30 p.m. at Mira Mesa High
Of the nine unbeatens left in the section Santana is the biggest unknown. The Sultans also might be the least tested, with their first five opponents sporting a combined winning percentage of .273. Santana will no doubt be tested against Madison, who was undefeated until falling to fellow Division IV contender Olympian last week. With both teams in the same division and the game being played at a neutral site, this has a bit of a playoff feel to it. Santana won’t need much motivation against Madison – the Warhawks have won meetings in each of the past three seasons.
Mt. Carmel (2-2) at Rancho Bernardo (4-1) Friday 7 p.m.
Mt. Carmel and Rancho Bernardo reside just across I-15 one another, separated by only six miles. Both teams come into this rivalry game trying to bounce back from losses last week, with Mt. Carmel falling 36-32 to Poway and Rancho Bernardo losing 21-18 at Mission Hills. The Sundevils and Broncos have split the last two seasons, with Rancho Bernardo winning 21-14 last season.
No. 3 Eastlake (5-0) at Montgomery (3-1) Friday 7 p.m.
Eastlake currently holds section’s longest winning streak, with 16 wins in a row dating back to last season. Each of the Titans’ last two wins have come in dramatic fashion, including a 24-22 win at Cathedral Catholic last week. Eastlake heads southwest to face Montgomery, who is off to their best start since 2006. This could be a shootout – the Titans are averaging 28.8 points per game while the Aztecs are putting up an average of 37.5 points per game.
In the Red Zone
Coronado (2-2) at Kearny (1-4) Friday 2:30 p.m.
Palo Verde Valley (3-1) at Santa Fe Christian (3-2) Saturday 2 p.m.
Game of the Week
No. 2 Helix (4-0) at No. 9 Mount Miguel (5-0) Friday 7 p.m.
League foes until this season, Helix and Mount Miguel square off to see who can stay unbeaten. The Highlanders’ defense has been straight dominant this season, pitching two shutouts and allowing only 17 points the entire year. When Helix has the ball, quarterback Brandon Lewis directs a spread attack that put up 101 points the first two weeks of the season. The Matadors opened their season with a pair of one-point wins and their last three wins have been by an average of 27 points. Mount Miguel trots out a balanced attack led by running back Derrick Dunn (538 yards, 10 touchdowns) that is scoring 28 points per game. The teams have split the last two meetings, with the road team prevailing each time.
Best of the Rest
No. 10 Mission Hills (3-1) at No. 6 Oceanside (2-2) Friday 7 p.m.
After waiting all summer and having to move their first scheduled home game, Oceanside will finally break in their new stadium. The Pirates will need that energy against Mission Hills to bounce back from a tough loss against Vista last week. After losing their first game of the season, the Grizzlies have won three straight, doing enough to sneak into the top 10. The play of quarterbacks Tofi Pao Pao (Oceanside) and Hunter Moore (Mission Hills) will go a long way in determining this one.
Santana (4-0-1) vs Madison (3-1) Friday 6:30 p.m. at Mira Mesa High
Of the nine unbeatens left in the section Santana is the biggest unknown. The Sultans also might be the least tested, with their first five opponents sporting a combined winning percentage of .273. Santana will no doubt be tested against Madison, who was undefeated until falling to fellow Division IV contender Olympian last week. With both teams in the same division and the game being played at a neutral site, this has a bit of a playoff feel to it. Santana won’t need much motivation against Madison – the Warhawks have won meetings in each of the past three seasons.
Mt. Carmel (2-2) at Rancho Bernardo (4-1) Friday 7 p.m.
Mt. Carmel and Rancho Bernardo reside just across I-15 one another, separated by only six miles. Both teams come into this rivalry game trying to bounce back from losses last week, with Mt. Carmel falling 36-32 to Poway and Rancho Bernardo losing 21-18 at Mission Hills. The Sundevils and Broncos have split the last two seasons, with Rancho Bernardo winning 21-14 last season.
No. 3 Eastlake (5-0) at Montgomery (3-1) Friday 7 p.m.
Eastlake currently holds section’s longest winning streak, with 16 wins in a row dating back to last season. Each of the Titans’ last two wins have come in dramatic fashion, including a 24-22 win at Cathedral Catholic last week. Eastlake heads southwest to face Montgomery, who is off to their best start since 2006. This could be a shootout – the Titans are averaging 28.8 points per game while the Aztecs are putting up an average of 37.5 points per game.
In the Red Zone
Coronado (2-2) at Kearny (1-4) Friday 2:30 p.m.
Palo Verde Valley (3-1) at Santa Fe Christian (3-2) Saturday 2 p.m.