• Games to watch this weekend

  • By Greg Biggins | September 2, 2011 12:48:29 PM PDT
There are several interesting matchups this weekend highlighted by two great inter-sectional games in the Mission Viejo Classic. Here's a preview of some of this weekend's top games.

Orange (Calif.) Orange Lutheran vs. South Jordan (Utah) Bingham

Bingham is riding a 26-game winning streak and has won back-to-back state titles. Orange Lutheran missed the playoffs for the first time last season but has 16 starters returning this year.Players to watch: The Lancers are led by three players committed to BCS schools. Tight End Christo Kourtzidis, one of the most heavily recruited players at his position, is headed to Florida State, defensive back Darien Washington has committed to Washington and linebacker Deion Williams is headed to Duke. Bingham is led by one of the nation's top linebacker prospects in Jared Afalava and junior defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei is an ESPNU 150 Watch List member.

Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian vs. Bellevue (Wash.)

Bellevue is ranked No. 36 in the nation in the Fab 50 and has won three straight state titles and eight in the last 10 years. Oaks Christian has won the CIF Southern Section title seven of the last eight years.Players to watch: The Wolverines' top player is defensive back/quarterback Tyler Hasty, who leads the team's vaunted Wing-T attack. Offensive lineman Jake Eldrenkamp is one of the top linemen in the NW region and fellow OL Michael Knelp is an FBS prospect as well. The Lions are led by two-way star Ishmael Adams, who will carry the load at running back and is a lock down corner as well. Wideout Jordan Payton is one of the state's best and junior quarterback Lucas Falk is on the ESPNU 150 Watch List.

Long Beach Poly (Calif.) vs. Sacramento (Calif.) Grant

This is a rematch of the Division I state championship game three years ago that saw Grant shock the Jackrabbits in a stunning upset.Players to watch: Poly could have 10 players sign next February and already has five players committed, all to Arizona State. Wideouts Richard Smith and Josiah Blandin, corner Randall Goforth and linebackers Salamo Fiso and Matthew Rowe are all elite players. For Grant, everything starts and ends with Shaq Thompson, arguably the top skill player in the West region. Thompson will play both safety and running back for the Pacers.

Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame vs. Gardena (Calif.) Serra

Notre Dame is a tradition state power that was down last season but returns a strong team. Serra has won back-to-back CIF titles and although hit hard by graduation, is still loaded.Players to watch: The Knights top two players could both be juniors. Running back Khalfani Muhammad is one of the nation's top sprinters and has offers from UCLA and Washington. Fellow junior Kelly Hilinski has been talked about since he was in the eighth grade and could emerge as one of the state's top quarterbacks. For Serra, corner Raymond Ford has committed to UCLA, linebacker Thomas Brown is one of the best in the region and junior running back Antonio Bateman is on the ESPNU 150 Watch List.

Compton (Calif.) Dominguez vs. Encino (Calif.) Crespi

No team in the region has more Division I talent than Dominguez, but Crespi is loaded as well.Players to watch: Two of the Dons top players, offensive lineman Lacy Westbrook and defensive back Alphonso Marsh will likely miss this one due to injuries. Corner Brandon Beaver, defensive end Damion Turpin and offensive lineman Dejon Allen, an ASU commit will lead the charge. For the Celts, offensive lineman Jordan Simmons is a man among boys at the high school level, receiver Chris Harper is a major talent and junior safety Tyler Foreman will be a national recruit next fall.Banner lines up first three tripsOffensive lineman Zach Banner (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) is close to coming out with his final five schools but you can put four schools on that list right now. The big tackle has set his first three visits and knows where visit No. 4 will be as well."I'm going to Michigan (Sept. 9), Oklahoma (Sept. 24) and Notre Dame (Oct. 21)," Banner said. "I love all these schools and they're definitely in my final five. I'm not ready to release it yet but these three schools have great programs, great coaching staffs and great football tradition."USC is in there too and I'll be visiting there in January. I just talked to Coach [James] Cregg [Thursday] and I'm really feeling USC a lot right now. That last trip is open and I'm still trying to figure that one out. I'm still looking at Washington, Cal, Oregon, Alabama, LSU and Florida State."Payton sets first visitsWideout Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) has official visits set with Michigan for (Sept. 9) and Penn State (Nov. 11). Look for Cal, the likely leader at this point, to get an official visits as well. Payton was an early commit to USC before both party's decided to mutually part ways.

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