By Tim Peterson
We’ve entered the dead period. No it isn’t the “Dead Zone” as depicted in the Stephen King novel and it has nothing to do with a Grateful Dead comeback. The dead period is that three week span, usually the first three weeks of August, in which the high school football players get a break before coming back for three weeks of practice and then begin the real season in September. If they have a good year they won’t take off the pads until December.
They’ve already spent countless hours in the weight room, ran drills in spring practice and participated in numerous passing league competitions in June and July. So what do we know so far? What do we know before they have even strapped on the helmet and pads?
Well we know Arroyo is really good. We knew the Knights would be, but with their performances at the Bonita Tournament and their own SGV shootout, Arroyo could be the class of the Mid Valley Division. Quarterback Steven Rivera has shown poise rarely seen in a sophomore and Chris Rodriguez and Jeff Salazar have proven to be nice targets. Mike Chavez looks like a beast on both sides of the ball.
Rosemead has a new quarterback in Matt Macias but the same tight end in Luis Diaz. Greg Parham and Conrado Simpson have been impressive so far this summer.
El Monte has numbers and quarterback Quang Phong. Coach Joel Sanchez feels he has a team that can build on last year’s playoff squad.
We know South El Monte has a new coach in Ray Hernandez and has lost a lot to graduation. But we’ve learned to not doubt the South so we won’t start now.
We know Monrovia has signal caller Nick Bueno back and he has been working hard all summer. Josh Lowden and DJ Cole have the Wildcats thinking Rio Hondo League title.
There is a buzz in Temple City. After Coach Randy Backus was unceremoniously dumped and there was no immediate replacement, things looked dim for the green and gold. But Anthony White took over and the players have come out in droves. “Mad” Max Ruckle will be running the ball behind a capable offensive line.
In San Marino, the Titans will be looking to get the ball to Stevie Yortsos as much as possible. Joe Forgatch is the quarterback and Mike Mooney is the full time offensive coordinator. We’re hearing rumblings of Yortsos in a ghost package.
We know about Conor Bednarski in South Pasadena but we don’t know if the Tigers have enough.
Baldwin Park looks good in the Valle Vista. James Heggins has lot of guys “working their butts off” and the Braves should make a push. Keep an eye on Mario Rodriguez- according to Heggins there’s nothing he can’t do. Manny Salcedo has replaced Andy Salcido at quarterback and Heggins informed us that Christian Lazaro could be a D-1 kid.
Gladstone seems to be the darlings in the Montview. Quarterback Paul Flores is six foot four and full of muscle. We know that Tip Sanders is a good coach but we also know that Duarte needs players. Azusa is looking to retain its title and the rest of the league is anybody’s guess.
We know Covina and San Dimas will be in the mix according to coaches Daryl Thomas and Bill Zernickow. Jim Arellanes has some holes to fill at Northview but he does have running back Kamaron Germany and Frank Martinez returning. Northview had some moments at the SGV Shootout.
In the Southeast we know it’s a Charter Oak world and everybody else is just living in it. Isn’t it always? With Adam Muema, A.J. Powell and Bandon Golden all returning the offense will be a juggernaut. Golden recently submitted a verbal offer to Washington State. Josiah Thropay leads a three way battle for the starting quarterback position. In other words the Chargers aren’t too bad.
The Almont is wide open. We’ve liked what we’ve seen at Alhambra and San Gabriel. Mitchell Crockom, Brandon Wilson, Vai Peko and Darrian Cazarin make the Moors a force to be reckoned with. Three year starting quarterbacks are always nice to have. Just ask Keith Jones as he prepares to go to battle with Isaac Valdez.
We don’t know enough about Schurr but we do know the Spartans will be prepared to defend their title. They always are.
Look for Arcadia’s Garrett Tuck and Taylor Legace to have big years for Arcadia. Muir is always reloading and with Crescenta Valley, Burbank and Burroughs it will be a Pacific dogfight. First year Coach Mike McFarland likes his pack of Bulldogs in Pasadena as well.
We know South Hills is good- nooooooo kidding!!! But with Miles Bevel, Andrew Roddy, Geoffrey Vaughns and Dakota Behr all returning the Huskies might be great.
We liked what we saw out of George Johnson and Ricky Johnson from West Covina at the Shootout and Craig Snyder likes his quarterback Michael Ball and his Rowland Raiders. Walnut with Leonard Rhodes and Milan King running the ball could be the most improved team in the San Antonio. Expect a quarterback battle between Austin Cooper and Thomas Peralta to run all the way up to the opening night kickoff.
That’s what we know so far. Is it set in stone? Can you take it to the bank? Of course not. But as we head into the dead, 
that’s what we know.
Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com
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