John Maffei’s picks: Cathedral Catholic-Los Al showdown highlights SoCal Regional finals

The Union-Tribune’s John Maffei previews this weekend’s Southern California Regional championship games:

CIF Southern California Regional Football Championships

Tickets: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students. Tickets available online only at gofan.co.

Friday

Division 1-AA: Cathedral Catholic (10-2) vs. Los Alamitos (12-2), 7:30 p.m.

Where: Veterans Stadium at Long Beach City College

Preview: Cathedral Catholic scored a come-from-behind 20-16 win over Carlsbad to win the San Diego Section Open Division championship. The Dons are led by Minnesota-bound quarterback Brady Palmer, who has thrown for 2,006 yards and 18 touchdowns. Honor Fa’alave-Johnson has accounted for 1,613 total yards and 19 TDs. He’s also a top defender. Josh Faraimo has stepped in as the Fa’alave’s backup at running back. Isaac Cook is the top receiver, with 42 catches for 1,029 yards and 9 TDs. Logan Jones, who is also the top kick returner and defender, has 21 catches for 285 yards and a pair of scores. The defense is led by Kevin  Clark, Samuel Samuela, San Jose State-bound Bronx Letuligasenoa and USD-bound Cade Smith. … Los Alamitos runs an up-tempo, no-huddle offense. The Griffins defeated San Clemente 33-20 last week for the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship. The offense is led by quarterback Colin Creason and running backs Kanden Tillis and Lenny Ibarra. Ibarra, who is also a defensive back, had a 65-yard punt return and 99 yards rushing against San Clemente. LB Jackson Renger had a pair of sacks.

Common opponent: Cathedral Catholic beat Granite Hills 40-30. Los Alamitos beat the Eagles 44-42.

Rankings: Cathedral Catholic is No. 14 in the state and No. 54 in the nation, according to MaxPreps.com. Los Alamitos is No. 13 in the state and No. 99 in the nation.

At stake: The winner takes on the winner of the Northern California title game between San Francisco Archbishop Riordan and Folsom.

Prediction: Cathedral Catholic 24, Los Alamitos 21

Division 5-AA: Christian (7-7) at Cerritos Valley Christian (11-3), 7:30 p.m.

Preview: Christian, the San Diego Section Division 3 champion, has won five in a row after starting the season 2-7. Kaleb Runkle has thrown for 2,625 yards and has accounted for 26 touchdowns. Kai Rosier has 70 catches for 1,046 yards. Hank Houston has 43 catches. Julian Morones is the top rusher with 62 carries for 42 yards. Chase Torgerson leads the defense with 90 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. Everick Randall has 82 tackles. … Valley Christian has won seven in a row, and beat Riverside Ramona 14-12 in the Southern Section Division 9 championship game. Graham Lunzer has thrown for 2,065 yards and 23 TDs and rushed for 519 yards and 14 scores. Cole Heffern has 502 rushing yards, and Oliver Boateng has 52 catches for 1,053 yards. Sean Bouma has 42 receptions and three interceptions.

Rankings: Christian is ranked No. 164 in the state. Valley Christian is No. 212.

At stake: The winner plays the winner of Oakland Bishop O’Dowd and Chico.

Prediction: Christian 31, Valley Christian 27

Division 6-AA: Moreno Valley Valley View (9-5) at Valley Center (7-6), 7:30 p.m.

Preview: Valley View has won four in a row, including 20-18 last week over Baldwin Park in the Southern Section Division 11 title game. Valley View is led by Jesse Vega, who has 1,570 passing yards, 1,237 rushing yards and 35 total TDs.  Alex Ramirez and Damien Randon are his favorite targets. Bronson Pulu leads the defense with 80 tackles. … Valley Center, which was 1-5 at one point in the season, beat Eatlake to win the San Diego Section Division 4 title. Braylon Mitchell has thrown for 2,770 yards and 29 TDs. Jesse Morales has 80 catches for 1,240 yards and 14 TDs. Joeisha Ryan Tirado has 1,234 rushing yards and 14 TDs as well as 38 tackles on defense. Mitchell Stehly, Brandon Revelas and Max Stehly lead the defense.

Rankings: Valley View is ranked No. 328 in the state, while Valley Center is No. 297.

At stake: The winner plays the winner of Gridley and San Jose.

Prediction: Valley Center 27, Valley View 21

Saturday’s games

Division 1-A: Oxnard Pacific (14-0) at Granite Hills (10-3), 7 p.m.

Preview: Pacifica, the Southern Section Division 3 champion, has outscored its opponents 578-239 with a pair of 50-point games. Taylor Lee has thrown for 3,557 yards and 49 TDs. Anthony Jacobs has 50 catches for 1,118 yards and 14 TDs. Isaiah Phelps and Angel Sepulveda have rushed for more than 600 yards. Alijah Royster has 802 yards and 12 TDs receiving and 303 yards rushing. Deville Warner has 117 tackles, Pee Wee Wilson has 124 and Jojo Henandez 102. … Granite Hills won its fourth straight San Diego Section championship with a win over Lincoln last week in the Division 1 title game. Zac Benitez has thrown for 3,674 yards and 39 TDs. Noah Walker, who has 65 catches for 1,231 yards and 15 TDs, is the go-to receiver. Zhedan Smith has 52 catches for 590 yards and Tristan Diaz has 65 receptions for 558 yards. Davion Williams is the leading rusher with 451 yards, but he hasn’t played the last three games. So Gage Spalding, Anthony Mattar and Seth Rodriguez have stepped in. The defense has 67 tackles for losses, 25 sacks and 16 interceptions. Linebackers Brayden Wells and Cayden Phillips and defensive lineman Hunter Hamilton lead the defense.

Rankings: Pacifica is ranked No. 25 in the state. Granite Hills is ranked No. 15.

At stake: The winner plays the San Mateo Serra-Stockton St. Mary’s winner.

Prediction: Granite Hills 35, Pacifica 28

Division 2-A: Arcadia Rio Honda Prep (14-0) vs. Santa Fe Christian (13-0), 6 p.m. 

Where: Carlsbad High School

Preview: Rio Hondo Prep, the Southern Section Division 5 champion, has outscored its opponents 562-205. The defense has a pair of shutouts and held four other teams under 10 points. Yanik Diaz has thrown for 1,020 yards and 17 TDs. The Kares have rushed for 3,981 yards and 57 TDs as a team; Noah Penunuri leads the way with 109 carries for 1,206 yards and 22 TDs. The defense has 19 sacks and 19 interceptions. … Santa Fe Christian edged Steele Canyon to capture the San Diego Section Division 2 championship. Dax Labrum has thrown for 2,873 yards and 34 TDs. Eight SFC players have more than 100 receiving yards, led by Chase Woolley, Jarius Bolden and Lincoln Mundis. The Eagles have 61 sacks and 15 interceptions as a team. Cole Hajjar has 108 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks.

Rankings: Rio Hondo Prep is No. 60 in the state. SFC is No. 84.

At stake: The winner plays the Roseville Woodcreek-Sonora winner.

Prediction: Santa Fe Christian 30, Rio Hondo Prep 28

Division 6-A: Morse (9-4) vs. Simi Valley Grace (11-3), 6 p.m. 

Where: Moorpark College

Preview: Morse, the San Diego Section Division 5 champion, has won four in a row. The Tigers are led by Superior Garror, who has 2,738 yards of total offense and 95 tackles and six interceptions on defense. Ethan Esmailian has thrown for 1,590 yards and 15 TDs. Ivan Scarville leads the defense with 109 tackles, LB Gael Diaz has 91 and DB Trayshawn McNair 72.

Rankings: Morse is No. 403 in the state, while Grace is No. 381.

At stake: The winner plays the winner of Winters and O’Neals Minarets.

Prediction: Grace 31. Morse 28

Last week: 4-2

Season: 133-46