Ellis McCarthy is a force for Monrovia
Projected order of finish
1. Monrovia – Coach Ryan Maddox
2. Temple City – Coach Mike McFarland
3. La Canada – Coach Dan Yoder
4. San Marino – Coach Mike Hobbie
5. South Pasadena – Coach Martin Konrad
6. Blair – Coach Gary Parks
If Monrovia doesn’t win the Rio Hondo then the apocalypse could be upon us. There is nothing more certain in the 2011 football season. All the elements are there- skill players, strength, power, special teams. Do we really need to list the players again? Probably not but we’ll go over a few anyway. Ellis McCarthy, De’Shawn Ramirez, Luke Williams, Anthony Craft, Brandon Wingenbach, Michael Harris…and on it goes. Coach Ryan Maddox, now in his fourth year, is shooting for his second straight CIF title and third straight CIF Championship appearance.
After Monrovia however, it’s wide open in the Rio. Temple City has a returning quarterback in Mikal Quintanilla, a powerful back in Chris Reed and a quick back in Jaime Dea. The Rams have a solid front line, have you seen Michael Bassette? Defensively TC has matured as well.
La Canada’s Matt Stoner will chew up yardage in the back field and the Spartans bring back some talent in receiver Franklin Cervenka and linebacker Marty Vardanian. Junior Matt Jones gets the call at quarterback.
Coach Mike Hobbie has taken over in San Marino and brings a new offense with him but does he have enough to make it work? The Titans feature returning players like running back Kwame Do, who missed nearly the entire season last year with an injury, and quarterback Garret Glazier. Receiver Manny Vargas and running back Ryan Wood are threats as well.
San Marino could finish as high as third or as low as fifth.
In South Pasadena Martin Konrad has taken the coaching reigns from Ed Smith, who stepped down after 15 years on the job. Conor Bednarski graduated but sophomore Joey Harmon appears ready to step in at quarterback. The Tigers might have trouble replacing guys like Matt Nelson and Patrick Martin.
South Pas missed the post season last year with a talented group so advancing this year might be a little too much to ask. TE/DL Justin Conford should provide some highlights for the Tigers this year.
Blair? No. Tip Sanders left after the 2007 season and the program has been in free fall ever since. Blair dropped the Varsity baseball program last year and if this continues the football team might not be far behind.
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