John Maffei's picks: Expect No. 4 Helix to beat No. 3 Granite Hills; No. 2 Carlsbad should edge No. 9 LCC (2024)

All games at 7 p.m., unless noted:

No. 4 Helix (8-0, 3-0) at No. 3 Granite Hills (8-0, 3-0)

Grossmont Hills League

Preview: Last year’s game was a four-overtime classic won by Granite Hills, 46-44. Granite Hills, the defending State Division 2-A champion, has won 17 games in a row. The Eagles are led by freshman quarterback Zachary Benitez, who has thrown for 1,263 yards with 15 TDs and just two interceptions. Running back Max Turner has 697 rushing yards and 82 receiving yards with 10 total TDs, while Pablo Jackson has 556 total yards. Brenden Lewis and Josh Zander are Benitez’s favorite targets. Safety Jordan Glaze leads the defense with 57 tackles. Granite Hills has outscored its opponents 290-63, holding six teams to a touchdown or less. … Helix quarterback Ryland Jessee has thrown for 1,120 yards and 13 touchdowns and just one interception. RB Kevin Allen has 1,042 total yards and 16 TDs. WR Jackson Daniels has 8 TD catches and Brandon Arrington averages 23.3 yards per catch. Linebacker Josh Savaiinaea leads the defense with 46 tackles and eight tackles for loss. The Highlanders have outscored their opponents 357-131. … MaxPreps.com has Helix ranked No. 18 in the state, while Granite Hills is ranked No. 36. … Helix holds an 8-2 advantage over Granite Hills in the last 10 games, but Granite Hills is 2-1 in the last 3 contests.

Prediction: Helix 34, Granite Hills 31

Eastlake (3-5, 1-0) at Mater Dei Catholic (4-3, 1-0)

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.

Metro Mesa League

Preview: Eastlake has rallied from an 0-5 start to win three in a row. The Titans have scored 76 of their 109 points in the last three games. Quarterbacks Sawyer Bray and Tyler Balko and running back William Schmitz lead the offense. The team averages just 3.8 yards per carry on the ground. … Mater Dei Catholic got off to an 0-3 start, but has won four in a row, outscoring those opponents 147-40.

Prediction: Mater Dei Catholic 31, Eastlake 20

Sweetwater (3-5, 1-0) at Olympian (4-4, 1-0)

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.

Metro Mesa League

Preview: Sweetwater is a run-first team, averaging 7.5 yards per carry; Xzavier Crews, Izell Wright and Carlos Delgado carry the load. … Olympian is more balanced, with quarterback Jayden Fuentes throwing for 791 yards and running back Cody Dunn rushing for 457.

Prediction: Sweetwater 24, Olympian 20

Morse wide receiver Jonathan Smith makes a touchdown catch in front of La Jolla’s Carson Diehl during last week’s game.

(Denis Poroy)

Point Loma (5-4, 2-1) at Morse (4-4, 1-1)

Eastern League

Preview: Brady Allen is the do-everything quarterback for Point Loma, putting up 625 passing yards and 741 rushing yards while scoring 17 touchdowns. The Pointers have five players with at least 10 catches. … Morse attacks on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards a rush. Through five games, Khalif Bloome has 550 rushing yards and 111 passing yards.

Prediction: Point Loma 28, Morse 17

Westview (5-3, 3-2 Valley Center (3-5, 3-1)

Valley League

Preview: Westview’s Mason Walsh has thrown for 1,458 yards and 17 touchdownss. Brian Lloyd has 37 catches for 506 yards, and Amare Garcia has 508 rushing yards, 297 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. … Valley Center changed coaches after an 0-4 start, and Bill Dunckel has gone 3-1 in four games as coach. Braylon Mitchell has thrown for 761 yards and 8 touchdowns; Jesse Morales and Kevin Garcia are his top targets.

Prediction: Westview 31, Valley Center 28

Maranatha Christian (3-5, 2-2) at Tri-City Christian (7-1, 3-0)

Pacific League

Preview: Maranatha Christian has scored only 109 points, but quarterback Matthew Orysiek has 927 yards of total offense and 7 touchdowns. Running back Karlsen Drake has 379 yards in five games. Linebacker Aaron Tason leads the defense with 78 tackles and 6 tackles-for-loss. … After 1-9 and 4-7 seasons, Tri-City Christian is back on track. QB Joel Valverde leads the offense. The defense has allowed just 106 points.

Prediction: Tri-City Christian 31, Maranatha Christian 21

No. 8 Del Norte (7-1, 3-0) at Ramona (4-3, 2-1)

Palomar League

Preview: With an offense that averages 372.5 yards per game, Del Norte has ripped off six wins in a row. Jack Schneider has thrown for 1,442 yards and 15 touchdown. Ty Olsen has 42 catches for 771 yards and 10 TDs. RB Christopher Guzman has 543 rushing yards; the team averages 5.0 yards a carry. … Ramona stepped on its shoelaces last week, losing 27-0 to San Marcos. But the Bulldogs are dangerous, averaging 6.9 yards per carry behind Adrian Enriquez, who has 861 yards and 13 TDs. However, do-everything player Jamil Kassab is injured and out for the season.

Prediction: Del Norte 27, Ramona 21

Mount Miguel (7-1, 2-0) at El Cajon Valley (5-3, 1-1)

Grossmont Valley League

Preview: Mount Miguel has won seven games, securing its first winning season since 2013.First-year coach Verlain Betofe’s team is led by Matthew Barton, who has thrown for 2,091 yards and 26 TDs. Jeremiah Castillo has 36 catches for 746 yards and 11 TDs on offense and 27 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. The defense, led by linebackers Eric White and Hector Armenta, has allowed just 85 points all season. … El Cajon Valley’s last winning season was 2015. The Braves were 24-53 since. Darick DuBose leads the team in passing and rushing. Wide receiver Paris Dixon is also the team’s top tackler.

Prediction: Mount Miguel 35, El Cajon Valley 17

Hoover (5-3, 2-1) at Clairemont (4-4, 1-1)

Central League

Preview: High-scoring Hoover is led by Kristian Noriega, who has put up 1,624 passing yards and scored 15 TDs. Sir Autry has 1,653 rushing yards, averaging 10.2 yards a carry. Exavier Williams has 48 catches for 880 yards and 10 TDs, and has 398 yards in returns. Middle linebacker Xavier Logan leads the defense with 68 tackles. … Clairemont uses two QBs — Jackson Merrifield and Kellen Morton. Running back Tyler Allen has 831 yards, but didn’t play in last week’s game.

Prediction: Hoover 31, Clairemont 21

No. 9 La Costa Canyon (5-3, 1-2) at No. 2 Carlsbad (8-0, 3-0)

Avocado League

Preview: LCC was rolling two weeks ago, but since lost back-to-back games against Top-10 teams El Camino (24-17) and Mission Hills (28-21). The Mavericks are led by quarterback Quinn Roth and running back Andrew Maes. … Carlsbad’s Julian Sayin has thrown for 1,475 yards and 16 TDs without an interception. Running back Mason Walsh, who was slowed by an injury, is back this week; he is averaging 9.6 yards per carry.

Prediction: Carlsbad 35, La Costa Canyon 21

Last week: 9-1

Season 69-21