The Union-Tribune’s John Maffei picks all of this weekend’s high school football playoff games. Despite heavy rain in the forecast, all games will be played as scheduled. Kickoff is 7 p.m., unless noted:
Open Division
Semifinals
(4) Cathedral Catholic (8-2) at (1) Mission Hills (9-1)
Preview: Cathedral Catholic, the Western League champion, is led by Cal-bound Brady Palmer, who has thrown for 1,656 yards and 16 touchdowns in seven games. Honor Fa’alave-Johnson has 1,206 yards rushing and receiving and has scored 18 total TDs. Willie Flores has rushed for 654 yards and Isaac Cook has 32 catches for 833 yards and 7 TDs. Defensively, the Dons have 18 sacks and 6 interceptions. … Mission Hills is led by QB Troy Huhn. His targets are Myzael Quackenbush, Brayden Roberson, Josh Gonzalez and Perrin Blankenship. … Cathedral Catholic is ranked No. 13 in the state, while Mission Hills is ninth. … There is one common opponent. Cathedral Catholic beat Granite Hills 40-30, while Mission Hills beat Granite Hills 31-21.
Prediction: Cathedral Catholic 27, Mission Hills 24
(3) Carlsbad (9-1) at (2) La Costa Canyon (9-1)
Preview: Carlsbad is led by Cornell-bound Eli MacNeal, who has thrown for 1,737 yards and 28 touchdowns. Travis Jeffery and Ethan Meyerhoff are his favorite targets. Kai Brown has rushed for 753 yards. The defense has 25 sacks and five interceptions. Ashawn Cranford has 10 1/2 sacks. … La Costa Canyon’s Quinn Roth has thrown for 2,007 yards and 27 TDs. Coby Herman has 1,896 yards rushing and receiving with 23 TDs. The defense is led by Ryan Scully and Ford Mitchell. … Carlsbad is ranked No. 11 in the state. LCC is ranked No. 10. … The teams played each other in an Avocado West League game, with LCC winning 50-22.
Prediction: La Costa Canyon 35, Carlsbad 28
Division 1
Quarterfinals
(9) Poway (5-6) at (1) Lincoln (8-2)
Preview: Poway beat Torrey Pines 27-24 in a first-round game last week. The Titans are led by quarterback Norah Schuback and 1,500-yard rusher Luke Jorgensen … Lincoln QBs Jordan Roa and Kainan Manna have combined for 1,923 yards and 26 TDs. Running backs Rashad Robinson and Junior Curtis have combined for 1,803 yards and 26 TDs. Courtney Miller-Thompson has 51 receptions. The defense, led by Prince Tavion, has 21 sacks and 10 interceptions. … Poway is ranked No. 53 in the state, Lincoln is No. 28.
Prediction: Lincoln 35, Poway 21
(5) Point Loma (11-0) at (4) San Marcos (6-4)
Preview: Point Loma beat Mater Dei Catholic 41-7 last week to advance. … San Marcos is led by Zamar Reese, who has 2,198 yards rushing, receiving and on returns. … Point Loma is ranked No. 27 in the state. San Marcos 24th.
Prediction: San Marcos 28, Point Loma 27
(6) Oceanside (7-4) at (3) Mount Miguel (7-3)
Preview: Oceanside raced past Holtville 35-14 last week to advance. Anthony Barquinero has thrown for 1,898 yards and 18 touchdowns. EZ Tokio is the key to the defense. … Mount Miguel’s Jeremiah Loper has thrown for 2,094 yards and 22 TDs. … The teams played earlier this season, with Oceansde winning 26-25. … Oceanside is ranked No. 35 in the state. Mount Miguel is 33rd.
Prediction: Oceanside 28, Mount Miguel 27
(7) Rancho Bernardo (9-2) at (2) Granite Hills (7-3)
Preview: Rancho Bernardo beat Del Norte 49-15 last week to advance. Gaige Weddle has 2,730 yards passing and rushing. … Granite Hills’ Zac Benitez has thrown for 2,969 yards and 30 TDs. … RB is ranked No. 42 in the state. Granite Hills is 21st. …Both teams lost to Mission Hills, RB by the score of 56-0 and Granite Hills 31-21.
Prediction: Granite Hills 35, Rancho Bernardo 28
Division 2
(8) St. Augustine (5-6) vs. (1) Santa Fe Christian (10-0)
Where: Torrey Pines High School
Preview: St. Augustine, led on offense and defense by Pai Polamalu, beat Grossmont 45-20 last week to advance. … Santa Fe Christian is led by Dax Labrum, who has thrown for 2,168 yards and 25 TDs. … The teams played in the season opener, with SFC winning 30-20.
Prediction: Santa Fe Christian 35, St. Augustine 24
(12) Scripps Ranch (6-5) at (4) El Camino (1-9)
Preview: Scripps Ranch stunned La Jolla 42-0 last week to advance. … El Camino has lost six in a row and has been outscored 282-138.
Prediction: Scripps Ranch 26, El Camino 21
(11) San Diego (6-5) at (3) Mission Bay (10-0)
Preview: San Diego, led by QB Jayden Harris, beat Imperial 24-14 last week to advance. … Mission Bay’s Trey Arnold has thrown for 3,090 yards and 45 TDs.
Prediction: Mission Bay 38, San Diego 21
(7) Helix (5-6) at (2) Steele Canyon (7-3)
Preview: Helix beat San Pasqual 49-27 last week to advance and beat Steele Canyon 39-34 the week before. … Steele Canyon’s Gavin Caha has thrown for 1,828 yards and 19 TDs.
Prediction: Steele Canyon 31, Helix 27
Division 3
(8) Bishop’s (8-3) at (1) Central Union (8-2)
Preview: Bishop’s, which attacks behind 2,500-yard QB Cash Herrera, beat Montgomery 41-0 last week to advance. … Central Union has lost to Imperial (10-7) and Holtville (32-27).
Prediction: Bishop’s 28, Central Union 24
(5) Madison (4-7) at (4) University City (5-5)
Preview: Led by 1,000-yard RB Adrian Sola, Madison beat Otay Ranch 27-0 last week to advance. … UC is led by Quentyn DeMara, who has thrown for 2,231 yards and 16 TDs. … University City beat Madison 49-35 earlier this season.
Prediction: Madison 31, University City 28
(6) Christian (4-7) at (3) Ramona (5-5)
Preview: Attacking behind QB Kaleb Runkle, Christian beat Brawley 37-16 last week to advance. … Ramona loar to Valley Center in its regular-season finale.
Prediction: Christian 28, Ramona 24
(10) Patrick Henry (6-5) at (2) Army-Navy (8-1)
Preview: Henry beat Olympian 40-21 last week to advance. … Army-Navy, led by QB Judah Bogard, has won three in a row.
Prediction: Army-Navy 35, Patrick Henry 28
Division 4
(8) Hilltop (8-3) at (1) Westview (6-4)
Preview: Hilltop has won six in a row, including 28-7 over Coastal Academy last week to advance. …. Westview’s Matthew Guimond has thrown for 2,408 yards and 25 TDs. … Westview beat Hilltop 31-21 earlier this season.
Prediction: Westview 27, Hilltop 24
(5) Eastlake (5-6) at (4) Mt. Carmel (4-6)
Preview: Eastlake beat West Hills 35-0 last week to advance. … Mt. Carmel’s Trevor Taumopeau has thrown for 2,117 yards.
Prediction: Mt. Carmel 24, Eastlake 21
(11) Mira Mesa (5-6) at (3) Valley Center (4-6)
Preview: Mira Mesa beat Rancho Buena Vista 21-19 last week to move on … Valley Center is led by Braylon Mitchell, who has thrown for 2,185 yards and 22 TDs.
Prediction: Valley Center 27, Mira Mesa 24
(10) La Jolla Country Day (5-6) at (2) El Capitan (4-6)
Preview: Behind QB Jett Astephen, LJCD beat Coronado 35-14 last week to advance. … El Capitan has lost four in a row.
Prediction: La Jolla Country Day 28, El Capitan 20
Division 5
(9) Hoover (5-6) at (1) Sweetwater (4-6)
Preview: Hoover, behind 2,100-yard QB Hezekian Manuel, beat Escondido 30-28 last week to advance. … Sweetwater has been outscored 213-202 this season.
Prediction: Sweetwater 24, Hoover 20
(5) Chula Vista (3-8) at (4) Canyon Hills (6-4)
Preview: Chula Vista scored 44 points last week in a win over Mar Vista. … Canyon Hills, attacking behind RB Ma’kahi Fields-Cook, captured a share of the Central League championship.
Prediction: Canyon Hills 21, Chula Vista 18
(6) Fallbrook (4-7) at (3) Monte Vista (5-5)
Preview: Fallbrook beat Valhalla 35-28 last week to advance. …Monte Vista gave up 56 points to Grossmont in its last game.
Prediction: Fallbrook 24, Monte Vista 20
(7) Santana (6-5) at (2) Morse (6-4)
Preview: Santana beat Bonita Vista 11-10 last week to advance. … Morse beat Canyon Hills 37-36 in overtime in its last game.
Prediction: Morse 24, Santana 21
Division 5-AA
Semifinals
(5) Clairemont (2-9) at (1) Maranatha Christian (10-1)
Preview: Led by running back Tyler Allen, Clairemont beat Calipatria 34-26 last week to advance. … Maranatha has ripped off 10 wins in a row, including 44-6 last week against The Rock Academy.
Prediction: Maranatha Christian 31, Clairemont 21
(3) Mountain Empire (9-2) at (2) Palo Verde Valley (7-4)
Preview: Mountain Empire beat Victory Christian 44-37 to advance. ….Palo Verde Valley beat O’Farrell Charter 52-0 last week to advance.
Prediction: Palo Verde Valley 35, Mountain Empire 21
8-man
Semifinals
(4) Francis Parker (5-4) vs. (1) St. Joseph Academy (8-1)
Where: Escondido High School
Preview: Francis Parker beat Horizon Prep 38-3 last week to advance. … St. Joseph has won six in a row. … St. Joseph beat Parker 60-8 earlier this season.
Prediction: St. Joseph Academy 45, Francis Parker 14
(3) Julian (7-3) at (2) Borrego Springs (8-1)
Preview: Julian beat West Shores 58-52 last week to advance. …Borrego Springs’ Christopher Alacaraz has thrown 24 TD passes; the team beat Julian 48-0 earlier this season.
Prediction: Borrego Springs 42, Julian 15
Last week: 18-8
Season: 103-33