John Maffei’s picks: Expect Lincoln to edge Cathedral Catholic as rivalry resumes

The Union-Tribune’s John Maffei picks 10 of Friday’s biggest high school football games. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted:

Avocado West League

No. 4 La Costa Canyon (7-1,1-1) at No. 2 Carlsbad (8-0, 2-0)

Preview: La Costa Canyon bounced back from a one-point loss to Mission Hills with wins over San Marcos and El Camino.  Quinn Roth has thrown for 1,635 yards with 24 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Versatile Coby Herman has 1,524 yards of total offense, while Jackson Maggiore has 689 receiving yards and 243 yards in returns. In five games, Lennox Marcucci has 286 receiving yards. Ryan Scully, Henry Mallory, Ford Mitchell and Ian Dunford lead a defense that has allowed just 102 points. … Carlsbad’s Eli MacNeal, who has committed to Cornell, has thrown for 1,786 yards and 24 TDs with no interceptions. Led by Kai Brown and Ian Wall, the Lancers average 8.3 yards on 176 rushes. MacNeal has two top targets in Travis Jeffery, who has 25 catches, and Ethan Meyerhoff, who has 28. The defense is led by Chase Harris, Dylan Sims, Rocky Cummings and Ashawn Cranford. … There are three common opponents. LCC has wins over San Marcos and El Camino, but lost to Mission Hills. Carlsbad has beaten all three. … Carlsbad is ranked No. 14 in the state, while LCC is 18th. … Carlsbad had beaten LCC five times in a row before the Mavericks won 20-11 last season.

Prediction: Carlsbad 31, La Costa Canyon 28

Eastern League

No. 4 La Jolla (5-3, 2-1) vs. St. Augustine (3-5, 2-1)

Where: Mesa College

Preview: La Jolla bounced back from a big loss to No. 1 Lincoln with a 36-33 win over San Diego. The Vikings use two QBs, with Emerson Rota getting the start last week. Carson Diehl, who has committed to San Diego State, has 793 total yards with nine TDs. He also has four interceptions. The defense has 18 sacks, led by Nicolas Bardaro’s seven. … St. Augustine’s Vincent Smith, who has committed to USD, has thrown for 799 yards. Pai Polamalu does everything with 777 rushing yards and 10 TDs on offense and 69 tackles and four of the team’s seven interceptions on defense.

Prediction: La Jolla 31, St. Augustine 21

Coastal League

Bishop’s (7-1, 1-1) at Army-Navy (6-1, 1-1)

Preview: Cash Herrera leads Bishop’s with 1,817 passing yards and 21 TDs against five interceptions. He has committed to play at Indiana. Dane Larson is his top receiver with 38 catches for 753 yards and eight TDs. The defense, which has three straight shutouts, is led by Ethan Sonson Santiguel, Lukas Manasian and Khai Agbayani, who has six of the team’s 18 interceptions. … Judah Bogard leads Army-Navy with 1,198 passing yards and 16 TDs. Versatile players Landon Schrom and Jacob Eastley are leaders. Schrom has 553 yards and seven TDs on offense and 30 tackles on defense. Eastley has 550 yards on offense and three interceptions. … There are two common opponents. Army-Navy has beaten La Jolla Country Day and Escondido Charter. Bishop’s beat Charter, but was upset by LJCD.

Prediction: Bishop’s 35, Army-Navy 31

Metro Mesa League

Sweetwater (4-5, 1-1) at Mater Dei Catholic (5-3, 2-0)

When: 6:30 p.m.

Preview: Sweetwater’s Jonathan Figueroa has 1,055 passing yards and 12 TDs. Abdulikhadir Osman has a team-high 40 catches, while Zane Willis and Christian Campos lead a strong ground game. Sean Carlos has 118  tackles. … Mater Dei Catholic has used three quarterbacks, with freshman Jayden Blondin starting the last game.  Jordan Dumaran has 903 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Noah Cook has five of the team’s nine sacks. … There are two common opponents. Sweetwater has beaten Chula Vista, but lost to Otay Ranch. Mater Dei Catholic has beaten both teams.

Prediction: Mater Dei Catholic 31, Sweetwater 24

Eastern League

No. 7 Point Loma (8-0, 3-0) vs. Christian (2-6, 0-3)

Where: Granite Hills High School

Preview: Point Loma has rushed for just 694 yards this season, but Henry Heuser and Ryder Watson have combined to throw for 1,819 yards and 25 TDs. Romeo Carter, who has committed to Boise State, has 44 catches for 781 yards and 16 TDs this season, with six of those TDs coming last week against Madison. … Christian’s Kaleb Runkle has 1,599 passing yards and 14 TDs, while Kai Rosier has 46 catches for 776 yards. But the Patriots have only 744 rushing yards. … There are two common opponents. Christian has beaten Scripps Ranch, but lost to La Jolla. Point Loma has beaten both teams.

Prediction: Point Loma 38, Christian 20

Central League

Clairemont (1-8, 0-2) at Kearny (4-4, 0-1)

Preview: Clairemont has had a tough season, losing five in a row since a win over Vincent Memorial. The Chieftains have given up 320 points this season. .. Kearny snapped a two-game losing streak with a 41-7 win over Rock Academy last week.

Prediction: Kearny 21, Clairemont 12

Metro South Bay League

Olympian (7-1, 1-0) at Mar Vista (3-5, 0-1)

When: 6:30 p.m.

Preview: Jayden Fuentes has thrown for 1,776 yards and has 22 TDs. Jorgani Estrada has caught six of those TD passes. The defense has allowed just 111 points. Defensive end Josiah Estrada has 92 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and has intercepted four passes. Defensive end Josiah Rivera has 7 1/2 sacks. … Mar Vista has just 1,368 yards total offense, but its defense has allowed only 148 points. Cole Margetts has six of the team”s nine interceptions. … There are two common opponents: Olympian has beaten Eastlake and Chula Vista while Mar Vista has lost to both.

Prediction: Olympian 27, Mar Vista 12

Palomar League

San Pasqual (5-3, 1-1) at Mt. Carmel (4-5, 1-2)

Preview: San Pasqual’s Robert Renteria has thrown for 1,711 yards and 18 touchdowns against just two interceptions. The Eagles have four receivers with more than 200 yards, led by Marcus Rocha’s 591 and Jared Brecht’s 496. Cooper Marquez is the leading rusher with 350 yards on 50 carries. Linebacker Landon Lockwood anchors the defense with 50 tackles and four interceptions. … Mt. Carmel’s Trevor Taumoepeau has played in just six games, but has 1,506 passing yards and 14 TDs. The Sundevils have six receivers with more than 100 yards. Calen McNickle leads the defense with 94 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 2 1/2 sacks. … There are four common opponents. Mt. Carmel has beaten Westview and Fallbrook, but lost to Ramona and Valley Center. San Pasqual beat Westview, Ramona and Valley Center, but lost to Ramona.

Prediction: San Pasqual 34, Mt. Carmel 27

Nonleague

No. 10 Rancho Bernardo (7-1) at No. 3 Mission Hills (7-1)

When: 7:15 p.m.

Preview: Rancho Bernardo suffered the season’s first loss last week, falling 24-21 to Oceanside. Gaige Weddle is the Broncos’ leader with 1,496 passing yards and 12 TDs, 572 rushing yards and eight scores. Hugo Gonzalez is the leading receiver with 35 catches, while Cristiaan Gonzalez has 20. Linebacker Gavin Valencia leads the defense with 104 tackles and Brody Cella has a pair of interceptions. … Mission Hills is led by QB Troy Huhn and RB Patrick Fleming. There are two common opponents: Rancho Bernardo beat Torrey Pines, but lost to Oceanside. Mission Hills outscored those teams 78-6 in two wins. … Rancho Bernardo is ranked No. 94 in the state. Mission Hills is 13th.

Prediction: Mission Hills 31, Rancho Bernardo 21

Western League

No. 5 Cathedral Catholic (6-2, 1-0) at No. 1 Lincoln (7-1, 1-0)

Preview: Cathedral Catholic has been without injured Cal-bound QB Brady Palmer for the last two weeks. The Dons lost to Point Loma two weeks ago without him, but Josh Faraimo filled in capably in last week’s 41-0 win over Scripps Ranch. Honor Fa’alave-Johnson sat out the Point Loma game with an injury, but returned last week. He has 950 yards and 11 TDs in addition to being a top-flight defender. Willie Flores has 122 carries for 641 yards. Isaac Cook is the top receiver with 23 catches for 636 yards. The Dons’ defense has 14 sacks, six interceptions and has allowed just 116 points all season. … Lincoln uses two QBs — Jordan Roa and Kainan Manna. Roa has thrown for 779 yards and nine TDs, while Manna has 807 yards and 10 TDs. Running back Rashad Robinson has 747 yards and 11 TDs. Courtney Miller-Thompson is the top receiver with 43 catches for 610 yards. The defense has six players with 50 or more tackles, led by Seth Fanua’s 66. The Hornets’ defense has 19 sacks, led by Jayden Lewis’ seven, and 10 interceptions. … Cathedral Catholic is ranked No. 17 in the state and No. 156 in the nation. Lincoln is ranked eighth in California and 36th in the nation. … Lincoln has won the last three games in this rivalry, outscoring the Dons 98-34. The teams played twice last season. Lincoln won 27-7 in league play, then beat the Dons 31-13 in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship game.

Prediction: Lincoln 27, Cathedral Catholic 24

Last week: 7-3

Season: 73-17