Prep Football: Week 2 previews, predictions

The opening week of the high school football season resulted in a 3-1 record for local teams.

Rancho Bernardo, Poway and Maranatha Christian each picked up season-opening victories. The Broncos hope to keep it going in their home opener Friday night at 7 against El Camino. The last time Rancho Bernardo was on its home field it celebrated a state championship.

The Titans will try to move to 2-0 for the second straight year with a win over Mt. Miguel, while Del Norte looks for its first victory of the year at Fallbrook. Maranatha Christian will seek its second win under first-year coach Kyle Duggin at Calipatria. Here is a quick glance at this week’s games:

Non-League

El Camino (1-0) at No. 5 Rancho Bernardo (1-0), Friday 7 p.m.

Last week: El Camino beat Point Loma 21-8; Rancho Bernardo beat Eastlake 38-0.

Notes: Both schools opened the season with victories and are looking to keep it going Friday night. Everybody expected the Broncos offense to explode for a lot of points with nine returning starters, but the defense pitching a shutout in the first game was certainly not expected. Rancho Bernardo returned just three starters from last year’s smothering defense; yet, it picked up right where it left off with by allowing just two completed passes. Leo Wagner picked off a pass and Christian Baker recovered a fumble, as Eastlake did not even make it inside the 20-yard line. Fresno State-bound QB Mark Salazar made up for the absence of RB Milan Grice (ankle injury) with a pair of rushing TDs and another through the air. Eight different receivers caught passes for the Broncos in the win ... El Camino was led by a pair of juniors in its victory. RB Chris Brown rushed for 155 yards and two TDs, while QB Jaden Casey completed 10-of-15 passes for 146 yards. WR Wayne Steward had five catches ... Expect a bit more of a test for the Broncos in this one, but with their defense showing they are primed to be elite again they should be able to roll into Week 3 with a 2-0 record.

Prediction: Rancho Bernardo 34, El Camino 13

****

Poway (1-0) at Mount Miguel (0-1), Friday 7 p.m.

Last week: Poway beat Bonita Vista 33-14; Mount Miguel lost to Chula Vista 35-30.

Notes: The Titans are looking to start the season 2-0 for the second straight year, while Mount Miguel hopes to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2004. The Titans, playing without starting QB Tristan Hughes (finger injury), turned plenty of heads around the county last week after its young offensive line led a pounding running attack against the defending section Division III champion Barons. RB Jared Adelman had 291 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 45 carries. Backup QB Robbie Sullivan tossed three TD passes, as the Titans certainly looked like a team ready to challenge for a Division II championship ... The Matadors had a chance at the end to pull out a victory against Chula Vista, but a fumble at the 30-yard line ended those hopes. Mount Miguel runs a spread offense with talented QB Benny Valadez, who can beat you through the air or on the ground. He had a 72-yard rushing TD last week ... Expect the Titans to pound the ball with plenty of success again in this one, as Mount Miguel was torched on the ground last week.

Prediction: Poway 35, Mount Miguel 10

****

Del Norte (0-1) at Fallbrook (0-1), Friday 7 p.m.

Last week: Del Norte lost to Carlsbad 28-0; Fallbrook lost to Westview 14-0.

Notes: A pair of teams still searching for their first points of the 2016 season will collide in this one. The Nighthawks allowed seven sacks and were intercepted twice by the Lancers in last week’s loss. The defense allowed QB Isaiah Ramoa to complete 10-of-13 passes for 136 yards and a TD for Carlsbad. Del Norte, who struggled to score points last season, will look to get RB Robby Hauck and WR D’Angelo Gunter going in this one. The Nighthawks played the Warriors in the regular-season finale last year and fell 21-6 ... Fallbrook is playing its first year under coach Bob Burt. The Warriors turned in a strong defensive effort, but the offense sputtered against the Wolverines. Fallbrook saw 45 running plays last week and recovered two fumbles ... Expect this one to be a battle down to the wire, but for the Nighthawks’ defense to stand strong in the end and hold on for a victory.

Prediction: Del Norte 14, Fallbrook 7

****

Maranatha Christian (1-0) at Calipatria (0-1), Friday 7 p.m.

Last week: Maranatha beat Francis Parker 23-0; Calipatria lost to Escondido Charter 24-6.

Notes: The Eagles did not waste any time getting new coach Kyle Duggin his first victory. The former defensive coordinator for Maranatha had to be pleased after the Eagles posted their third shutout dating back to last season. James Palmer recovered a fumble for a TD and Trevor Sheng led the team with 12 tackles. Sheng also paced the offense, rushing for two TDs ... Calipatria gave up three sacks, a blocked punt and lost a fumble in its loss to Escondido Charter. The defense allowed just 153 yards rushing on 41 carries and picked off a pass, but it was not enough to overcome the costly mistakes ... Expect the Eagles to smother Calipatria and light up the scoreboard on offense behind Sheng and the running game.

Prediction: Maranatha 42, Calipatria 0