Game of the Week: Elsinore vs. Santiago
THE DETAILS:
Elsinore vs. Santiago
CIF-Southern Section – Week 11
Division 8 Playoffs – 1st Round
At Corona (Calif.) Santiago High School
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 6
ELSINORE (5-5 overall, 3-1 Mountain Pass League) really turned on the offense in the last two weeks with 86 combined points but how much of that is going to carry into the playoffs? A 33-26 nonleague loss to Santiago in Week 5 looms large over this matchup, as does the Tigers’ five turnovers from that game. If junior QB Brayden Prior can play mistake-free football then this team has a shot behind a perpetually distinguished rushing attack. Senior RB Xavier Stankevich might be the legit ‘x-factor.’
HEAD COACH: Randy Kirschman
ROSTER – QB: #12-Brayden Prior, Jr. (6-foot-1, 190 pounds); RB/SS: #24-Lataevious Hernandez, Sr. (5-9, 185); RB/FS: #21-Xavier Stankevich, Sr. (5-9, 170); WR: #4-Ledgend Johnson, Jr. (6-3, 175); TE/OLB: MLB/TE: #84-Billy O’Connell, Sr. (6-2, 225); DB/RB: #26-Leelan Nededog, Jr. (5-11, 170); K/P: #11-Andrew Herrera, Sr., (5-11, 145)
SANTIAGO (6-4 overall, 1-4 Big West South) fell backwards into the playoffs after back-to-back losses to end the regular season. The Sharks are probably a little lucky to qualify for the postseason after scoring just three points over their final two games and only a not-so-convincing 14-0 league win over Corona in Week 8 to their credit. Senior QB Jake Wilson produced only three passing touchdowns against Big West South opponents, while the team as a while struggled on offense after a 5-0 start.
HEAD COACH: Scott Morrison
ROSTER – QB: #10-Jake Wilson, Sr. (5-foot-10, 150 pounds); RB: #22-Christian Harvey, Sr. (5-10, 175); WR/DB: #12-Carter Ward, Jr. (5-11, 180); WR: #0-Drake Zimolzak, Sr. (5-10, 160); WR/DB: #1-Isaiah Hughes, Jr. (5-10, 170); DL: #18-Max Eldridge, Sr. (6-3, 230); DB: #17-Khalil Page, Sr. (5-10, 175); K/P: #82 Landry Alkire, Jr. (5-10, 150)
THE DIFFERENCE:
Elsinore is a proven playoff team with a bruise-inducing running game that can control the clock. Can Santiago QB Jake Wilson pick apart the Tigers secondary early enough for it to matter?
THE FINAL SCORE (PROJECTED):
Elsinore 27, Santiago 24
