This could be one of those special Friday nights in the high school football season — excellent weather, great games, exciting matchups.
Read more Dan Albano’s under-the-radar storylines for Friday’s football games
That’s why the Southern California News Group will have reporters covering more than 30 games tonight, ready to report on everything that happens.
Before the games start, check out what high school football analyst Michael Huntley has put together — his list of the “players to watch” and his predictions for some of the top games on the Week 3 schedule.
PREDICTIONS: HUNTLEY’S SIX PICKS
Chaminade vs. Beaumont: Chaminade got its offense rolling in its last game with sophomore Jeremy Mellalieu throwing four touchdown passes against Valencia. Beaumont throws the ball well too with Brandon Cuellar, who averages 241 yards per game. The pick: Chaminade
Bonita vs. San Dimas: Bonita has outscored its last two opponents by a combined score of 89-7. Joseph Lara is a dominant two-way player for the Bearcats with four rushing touchdowns and he leads the team in tackles. San Dimas shut out Colony last week and had six tackles for a loss. The pick: Bonita
Torrance vs. Cypress: Cypress allows fewer than 10 points per game with a defense led by Wyoming commit Garrison Manzanarez. Torrance has a well-balanced offense with quarterback Gibson Turner and running back Vaughn Reinert. The pick: Torrance
Los Alamitos vs. Downey: Downey won its first game against Millikan last week and New Mexico commit Damani Porras had three touchdown catches. Los Alamitos got its offense going in a loss to Serra last week and seemed to have picked a quarterback in Elijah McDaniel. The pick: Downey
Aquinas vs. Cajon: Cajon suffered a thrilling loss to Murrieta Valley last week and quarterback Marcus Washington ran for four touchdowns. Aquinas is coming off a bye after playing two tough opponents and is led by running back Champ Brown. The pick: Cajon
El Toro vs. Trabuco Hills: This is sneakily one of the best rivalries in Orange County. El Toro dominated this game last season and Matt Arroyo had two touchdown receptions. Trabuco Hills will likely try to establish the run with Luke Hoffman in this game. The pick: El Toro
HUNTLEY’S PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chase Martin, WR, Charter Oak: Martin, a sophomore, is Charter Oak’s leading receiver and has a favorable matchup against a Tesoro team that has allowed 238 passing yards per game and 13 touchdowns. The sophomore is averaging 135 receiving yards per game with four touchdowns through two games.
Cash Klein, LB, La Canada: La Canada plays a South Pasadena team that runs the ball on nearly 70 percent of its snaps. Klein leads La Canada in tackles with 18 and will have plenty of opportunities to stop the run.
Read more 15-year-old rescued after clinging to capsized boat for days in Alaska’s Bering Sea
Hudson Gerhardt, QB, Village Christian: Gerhardt has thrown four touchdown passes with zero interceptions and leads the Crusaders in rushing with four touchdowns. Village Christian tonight will play Shadow Hills, which struggled against a dual-threat quarterback at Yucaipa last week.
Maximus Echanique, LB, Quartz Hill: Echanique led Quartz Hill in tackles in its win over Rio Hondo Prep last week, an outcome that some considered an upset. Quartz Hill plays a Silverado team this week that runs the ball on 66 percent of its plays.
Jalen Flowers, DB/WR, Palos Verdes: Flowers is one of the best junior defensive backs in the state and he faces an Edison team that threw four interceptions last week. He is also Palos Verdes’ leading receiver with 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Dakota Traylor, DB, North Torrance: Traylor leads North Torrance in tackles from the safety position and faces a Banning of Wilmington team that averages 279 yards per game through the air. North Torrance has only one interception this season and could use a turnover this week.
Donnie Johnson, QB, Compton: Johnson completes less than 50 percent of his passes but averages 153 passing yards per game with four touchdowns. Compton plays a struggling Gardena defense tonight that allowed 259 passing yards with three touchdowns in a loss to King/Drew last week.
Jeromy Powell, RB, Mayfair: Powell ran for 254 yards with four touchdowns last week in a high-scoring win over Marquez. Mayfair’s opponent tonight, Lakewood, allowed 171 rushing yards with two touchdowns in a loss to Ventura last week. Powell will need to have a big game for Mayfair to avenge last season’s 35-7 loss to Lakewood.
Miles Schirmer, DE, Centennial: Schirmer blocked Mater Dei’s potential game-winning field goal in the Division 1 semifinals last season and had two sacks against Mater Dei in two games. Mater Dei played three quarterbacks last week and Centennial will benefit from Schirmer putting pressure on them.
Van Burton, OL, Yucaipa: Yucaipa ran for 256 yards with five touchdowns last season when it beat Palm Desert. Burton leads Yucaipa’s offensive line that should open up some big running lanes for the Thunderbird running backs.
Danny Lang, DB, Mater Dei: Mater Dei faced a receiver committed to Notre Dame last week and often had Lang shadowing him in man coverage. The Monarchs will likely have Lang doing that again this week against Centennial receiver Quentin Hale, Lang’s future teammate at USC.
Seamus Hoffman, RB, Irvine: Hoffman ran for 103 yards with two touchdowns when Irvine beat Laguna Hills last season. Laguna Hills hasn’t been tested by a good running opponent this season and Hoffman will need to have another big game for the Vaqueros to beat Laguna Hills.
Read more GOP and Democratic officials in Nashville unite over renaming airport for Dolly Parton
High school football: Scores from Thursday’s games, Sept. 10