MidValleySports.Com

 

All game times are 7:00 PM unless otherwise indicated

Friday September 30

Azusa (0-3) at Sierra Vista (1-2)

Last Year: Azusa 41-7

The Aztecs are primed to get their first victory of the season. The Dons only victory was over Keppel while they lost to Mt. View and were crushed by Salesian 49-0. When November rolls around Azusa will be battling La Puente for the Montview crown.

Azusa 35 Sierra Vista 7

Covina (3-1) at Pomona (2-2)

Last Year: Covina 21-14

We finally get to see what Pomona is all about. No Red Devil fans we won’t beat you up for getting blasted by Chino Hills. Pomona has athletes, we know that. But can they match up with guys like Gevontray Ainsworth, Vinny Venegas and Justin Mason?

Billy Livingston injured his throwing shoulder last week in the Walnut game but is expected to play. Even if he can’t go, Daniel Sifuentes is a capable backup. Livingston or no, Covina gets the W.

Covina 24 Pomona 14

Northview (0-4) at Baldwin Park (2-2)

Last Year: Baldwin Park 45-28

The Braves are firmly back on track with two consecutive wins. Giovanni Resendez is running wild. Northview has lost four games but the Vikes hung with LP in a shootout and lost their first two games by three points each.

It will be close but again it will be Northview on the short end.

Baldwin Park 20 Northview 17

La Canada (1-2) at Maranatha (4-0)

Last Year: Maranatha 43-21 

The Minutemen hung 43 on the Spartans last year and it could be worse in this one. Maranatha is on a roll with Andrew Elffers, Darrien McGee and company putting on a show every week.

LC needs to slow the game down and pound the ball but that’s much easier said than done. Minutemen big.

Maranatha 45 La Canada 17

Rosemead (1-2) at San Gabriel (1-3)

Last Year: San Gabriel 48-20

The Panthers finally picked up their first win with a good defensive effort against San Marino. Matt Eddy took care of the offensive side of things with a huge game on the ground.

Other than a win over South Pas, the Mats have had their problems. They lost in a close call to Baldwin Park last week but were routed by Muir and San Dimas. SG needs to get some momentum before Almont League play starts. It won’t be this week. The Panthers D will be up to the task. Eddy chews up yardage.

Rosemead 21 San Gabriel 17

San Marino (2-1) at Bell Gardens (0-3)

Last Year: Bell Gardens 35-12

Bell Gardens is always a tough place to play especially when you’re facing a hungry Lancer team that is 0-3 with their last two losses by a combined two points. Cantwell and El Rancho both stung BG by a point.

The Titans have a solid running back in Kwame Do. It takes more than one man to bring him down as Rosemead found out last week. But if Bell Gardens can contain him it should be enough. BG wins at home.

Bell Gardens 24 San Marino 20

South El Monte (3-0) at Temple City (0-3)

Last Year: Temple City 27-6

At first glance it looks like two teams heading in opposite directions but it deserves a closer look. Temple City’s opponents have a record of 9-2 including 2-1 Arcadia who just might be the best team in the Southeast Division. South El Monte’s opponents are 5-5 and include Ganesha and Workman.

South is improved, no doubt about that. But the Rams have a big front line and this might be a team they are able to push around. TC needs to establish the ground game to set something up for quarterback Mikal Quintanilla.

It could come down to a big play in the fourth quarter. TC gets its first.

Temple City 28 South El Monte 24

South Hills (1-2) at Monrovia (1-2)

Last Year: Monrovia 28-25

With a break here or there South Hills could be 3-0. The Huskies missed an extra point at the end of the fourth quarter in a 30-29 loss to Colony in the opening game. They put on a furious rally against West Covina two weeks ago and lost by two.

Monrovia? They are a legitimate 1-2. The Wildcats have lost two straight and were dominated last week by San Dimas. They have had their struggles on both sides of the ball. Last year Monrovia beat South Hills and never lost the rest of the year on the way to the CIF Mid-Valley title. It will be close again- maybe even a classic. South Hills gets a little payback.

South Hills 31 Monrovia 28

South Pasadena (2-1) at Alhambra (4-0) Moor Field

Last Year: Alhambra 27-14

Is Alhambra considered the “surprising” Moors or is this what everybody expected? Well. It’s a little of both. We knew the Moors would be good with talent like Josh Mendoza, Ezra Broadus, Chris Caraveo, Luis Herrera and Demetrius Russell returning. But they haven’t just been good, they’ve been dominant.

Alhambra has won its four games by an average of over 23 points per game. The Moors did what they had to do against Mt. View routing them by 40. They also took care of Temple City, La Canada and LA Wilson handily. Yeah, they’re for real.

As for this game? Moors win going away.

Alhambra 34 South Pasadena 13

Whittier Christian (2-2) at Salesian (3-1)

Last Year: Whittier Christian 21-14

This is a good test for both schools. Last week Salesian battled another Olympic League team down to the wire before losing to Maranatha 38-35. Up and down Whittier Christian is coming off a three touchdown win over St. Maragaret’s. 

The Heralds can score but can they score more than Jihad Vercher and Salesian? That might be too tough of a hill to climb.

Saleisian 38 Whittier Christian 28

Quick Hits

Thursday September 29

Ganesha (1-2) at Gladstone (0-3) Citrus College – Gladstone

Friday September 30

Duarte (2-0) at Bassett (1-2) – Duarte

Workman (2-1) at La Puente (3-0) – La Puente

Wilson (0-4) at Nogales (2-2) – Wilson

California (2-1) at Schurr (0-3) – California

Village Christian (2-2) at Rosamond (1-2) – Village Christian

Fulton (0-3) at Keppel (1-3) – Keppel