Tim Peterson
Village Christian (6-4, Olympic at large) at Azusa (10-0, Montview #1)
This is not your typical 1 vs. 16 matchup. Make no mistake Village Christian is good. Amjed Aboul-hosn makes big plays for Village in an offense that can score points. This will be Azusa’s toughest test to date.
The Aztecs should be ready though. They didn’t just win the Montview, they dominated it. Everybody talks about Abraham Ochoa and the offense but the defense, led by Jose Nunez, has excelled as well. Village will be a challenge, but Azusa prevails.
Azusa 28 Village Christian 24
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Temple City (4-6, Rio Hondo #2) at Rosemead (7-3, MVL #2)
Last Meeting: 10/8/10 Rosemead 29-28
All-Time: Temple City 12-6
Nice local flavor for a first round playoff battle. The Rams let a big lead get away when the two squared off early last month. Temple City is playing better but so is Rosemead. They key is stopping Matt Fregoso. I don’t know if Temple City can.
Rosemead has to deal with Josh Simangunsong but if the Panthers can shut him down the Rams don’t have many other options. Rosemead advances.
Rosemead 27 Temple City 20
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Bell Gardens (7-3, Almont #2) at Whittier Christian (9-1, Olympic #1) – Whittier College
Common Opponents: Cantwell 56 Bell Gardens 46, Cantwell 35 Whittier Christian 28
Not an easy opening round matchup for Whittier Christian. Bell Gardens has a balanced offense with Josh Adame throwing and Steven Ibarra running.
Whittier Christian brings more defensively than what BG is used to seeing. The Heralds’ offense, with Stephen Anderson and Cameron Stanley, isn’t bad either.
Whittier Christian gets it done.
Whittier Christian 31 Bell Gardens 21
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La Canada (5-5, Rio Hondo at large) at Covina (9-1, Valle Vista #1) – District Field
La Canada needed a coin flip to get in so they can’t complain too much about being sent out to Covina District Field to face the Colts in the first round. LC has Scott Gray at quarterback but Covina has Billy Livingston. The Spartans have Daleep Sandhu but Covina has Gevontray Ainsworth.
For every La Canada jab Covina has a right cross. The Colts have too much.
Covina 34 La Canada 10
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San Dimas (6-4, Valle Vista at large) at Arroyo (9-1, MVL #1)
Last Meeting: 1995: Arroyo 37 San Dimas 6
All-Time: Arroyo 4-0
Common Opponents: San Dimas 55 South El Monte 0, Arroyo 42 South El Monte 0
Arroyo wins the Mission Valley League, finishes 9-1 and gets rewarded with the defending Mid-Valley Champs in the first round of the playoffs. It brings back memories of Arroyo’s first round opponent last year – Whittier Christian.
San Dimas runs the ball and does it well. The Knights could have a tough time dealing with Theo Darlington, Dillion Corona, Demarquis Lawson and company.
Steven Rivera needs to hit on a couple of big passes to open it up for Mikey Vasquez on the ground. Both teams will put up some points.
Arroyo 31 San Dimas 28
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La Puente (8-2, Montview #2) at Maranatha (7-3, Olympic #2)
Everybody on staff agrees that Maranatha is the best dark horse candidate. The Minutemen competed in the brutal Olympic all year long getting them ready for the rigors of playoffs. Andrew Elfers and Josh Johnson might be the most explosive combination in the entire Mid-Valley Division.
La Puente runs the ball well with Jose Perez but it might not be enough to stay with Maranatha. The Minutemen are also physical defensively when they have to be.
Maranatha 28 La Puente 17
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Baldwin Park (5-5, Valle Vista #2) at Schurr (6-4, Almont #1)
Common Opponents: Cantwell 49 Schurr 28, Cantwell 35 Baldwin Park 17
While Schurr has been struggling, the Braves have been playing pretty well. The Spartans won four of their five league games but they lost the finale to San Gabriel and struggled to beat Montebello by one point in the previous week.
BP has won five out of six after starting 0-4 and the offense has really come alive in the last three weeks averaging over 50 points per game. Defensively the Braves will put a lot of pressure on quarterback Aaron Cantu. Their only league loss was by eight points to Valle Vista League champ Covina.
BP takes the lead in the fourth and holds on.
Baldwin Park 24 Schurr 21
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Gladstone (5-5, Montview at large) at Monrovia (8-2, Rio Hondo #1)
The only game in the first round that one team has a clear distinct advantage. The Wildcats are cruising having rolled through the Rio Hondo nearly untouched. The Wildcats 34-10 win over La Canada in the regular season finale was the closest any team in the Rio Hondo had come to them. They outscored their opponents by, are you ready for this? 235-17.
Gladstone? Well, the Gladiators got beat by Azusa last week 42-0. They did finish 5-2 in league falling only to Montview leaders Azusa and La Puente. A win here however is too much to ask.
Monrovia 42 Gladstone 6
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