MidValleySports.Com

Game Night – First Round Edition

All games start at 7pm Friday night.

Norwalk (Suburban #4) at West Covina (Hacienda #1)

Head Coach Mike Maggiore breathed a sigh of relief when Muir ended up facing Santa Fe and the Bulldogs were given the Lancers in the first round.

Jimmy Frazier, Chris Solomon and Aaron Salgado have all shared the same amount of carries during the last three games. Defensively, the Bulldogs have a front line anchored by Justin Meaders who has been placed on both sides of the line. Lonzell Barnett is the best cover-corner in the Southeast Division. Dorrin Turner is having a great year as well on defense.

Rashard Penney and Jacquise Hooper helped lead the offense for Norwalk. Penney finished the season with 748 yards and nine touchdowns. Hooper closed with 509 yards. The key to the Lancers winning is to have long drives that will keep the talented West Covina offense off the field. That will be a tough task.

WEST COVINA 35-14

Pasadena (Pacific #3) at California (Del Rio #2)

What does Jim Arnold and the Condors get for blocking a field goal and upsetting La Serna for the second spot in the Del Rio League?

The Bulldogs come in losers of two-straight games and have failed to score more than 22 points in each of its losses. Brandon Cox is a dual threat with his feet and arm. Cox has two good weapons in Marcus Green and Riian Simpson. Simpson can change game with his exceptional punt return ability.  Cleo Bates quietly had a good year with the passing attack getting most of the publicity this season.

California has played its best two games against El Rancho and La Serna. Both came at the end of the season and won. Gabriel Lozano is back to full strength and should be tough to stop. If Lozano doesn’t get the ball Aaron Garcia will and can be just as effective.  The big question is can the Condors defensive backs stay with Green and Simpson.

PASADENA 42-28

Bonita (Hacienda #3) at Arcadia (Pacific #2)

It’s been do or die for the Bearcats for nearly a month as they were backed into a corner after losses to Diamond Ranch and West Covina. After the loss to the Bulldogs, Bonita went from a passing team to a running attack with Reggie Turner and Cam Griffin. The matchup of the night should be Garrett Horine against Taylor Legace on both sides of the ball.

Dynamic is the best way to describe the Apache offense. Myles Carr has weapons with Alex McElwee, Robby Haines, and Legace to throw to. If the pass doesn’t work, Jake Medel and Rodney Arnett can run the ball with effectiveness.

ARCADIA 35-21

Crescenta Valley (Pacific #4) at La Mirada (Suburban #1)

It is possible that the Falcons can “pull something”, but they would need a perfect game from Zac Wilkerson at quarterback. No question that Matadores head coach Mike Moschetti will have nine guys in a box against Marro Lee. Wilkerson will need more than just Nick Ruiz to throw to if Crescenta Valley wants to pull the upset.

After stumbling in its Suburban League opener against Bellflower, La Mirada has cruised through the league. Kevin Dillman is getting better at quarterback and Andy Gramajo has  run well this season for the Mats.

LA MIRADA 35-14

Los Altos (Hacienda #4) vs Burroughs (Pacific #1) at Glendale HS

Both teams need its running back to win this game. With that said, its Justin Fa’ola against Zander Anding.

Without Fa’ola the Conquerors would not be in the playoffs. The same can be said for the Indians as they are 0-2 without him this season.

Scott Tibbs and Shane Virnala have never tasted the playoffs in their Los Altos career and if they win, Dale Ziola should be named Coach of the Year.

Look for Burroughs to have both Brad Hunt and Eli Peppmuller under center at some point in the game. Peppmuller is also a legitimate receiver with good hands and can make plays vertically.

BURROUGHS 35-21

La Serna (Del Rio #3) vs Mayfair (Suburban #2) at Bellflower HS

O.J. Medina led the Del Rio League in rushing and Frankie Palmer will get some much needed playoff experience against a very good defense. The Lancers have a good front line with Faris Nesheiwat anchoring it. Craig Jones has had another good season at linebacker. The key issue for La Serna is that they have four senior starters playing in the playoffs, while the remaining 18 will be back next season.

The Monsoons have two players that can change the course of game in one play. Jerry Smith and Aaron Brown have been the offense for Mayfair this season. Smith is the best punt-returner in the Southeast Division and Brown just wears defenses down with his punishing rushing ability.

MAYFAIR 28-20

Bellflower (Suburban #3) vs Diamond Ranch (Hacienda #2) at Ganesha HS

The Bucs will run all day. Travis Newberry and Ryan Hundley will be asked to carry the load on offense and keep the Panthers off the field.

Diamond Ranch couldn’t stop the running game against West Covina and now face another run first and run second offense. The worst possible scenario for the Panthers is getting behind early and having to go to the air. The running game will be the way for Diamond Ranch to go if they want to beat Bellflower.

DIAMOND RANCH 35-21

Muir (Pacific at-large) vs Santa Fe (Del Rio #1) at Pioneer HS

The Mustangs are athletic but the biggest problem is their discipline. If Muir wants to win this game, they must play mistake free football and not get flagged. Joshua Washington came to help lead the Mustangs to its win over Pasadena last week and showed poise. Kevon Seymour will cause problems for the Chief defense.

Santa Fe is two players. Christian Mahlstede and Joey Davis are the Chiefs offense. Every team has known that and still couldn’t stop them in the Del Rio. Now they face a team that can eliminate them from the game and need to have others step up. Justin Retiz is the quarterback that will need to have a big game if Santa Fe wants to continue the season.

MUIR 21-14