The Peterson Principle 4/23/12

Bell Gardens Coach David Ramos is looking to open up the attack this year with quarterback Tristian Escobar

Domonic Jolivette, who rushed for over 1100 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last year for San Dimas, is working hard these days in the weight room preparing to play football in the fall at Citrus College. Jolivette has been a mainstay in the San Dimas offense for the last two years. As a junior he ran for 326 yards and scored three touchdowns.

“Yeah I’m excited,” Jolivette said about going to Citrus. We’ll hear a lot more from Jolivette this Tuesday night when he appears on the Mid Valley Sports Show at 7:15.

So how do the Saints replace Jolivette’s 1100 yards? Well it won’t be easy but they do have Jake Payton (893 yards, 14 touchdowns, 9.60 yards per carry) and Andrew Espinosa (331 yards, two touchdowns, 10.68 yards per carry) coming back.

Glendale College has a lot of local talent of their own on board for this coming season. Former Alhambra DC Jacob Ochoa, and former San Gabriel HC Keith Jones are on the coaching staff. Also former San Gabriel quarterback Isaac Valdez is competing for the starting quarterback position. SG lineman Brian Lopez is there as well as Anthony Medina from Alhambra. Demetrius Russell, also formerly of Alhambra is on his way there also after he completes the track season.

Speaking of Alhambra, the Moors have a window of opportunity this year that they don’t want to let get away. They are coming off of a 9-3 season and return several key starters
including WR Frank Essien, WR/DB Oscar Gaytan, RB/DB Ezra Broadus, WR/DB Sebastian Espinosa, Center Thomas Ricketts and OL/DL Chris Caraveo. But Coach Lou Torres stepped down earlier this year and two year starting quarterback Josh Mendoza has checked out of school and is looking to transfer.

New HC Joe Kanach brings a fiery attitude and is insisting that the Moors will be good…very good… but he might have a couple of holes to fill.

Also he now has more to worry about than just San Gabriel, Schurr and Montebello. Bell Gardens has lot of size, a solid running back in Jorge Remegio (846 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2011) and more importantly a quarterback that has the arm to stretch the field. Junior Tristian Escobar, 6-0, 170, will be at the helm for the full season.

Escobar took over late in the season last year for Albert Lara who went down with an injury and Coach David Ramos really liked what he saw.

“We lost seven games last year and all of them were by seven points or less,” Ramos said. “In the first three games we lost to El Rancho and Cantwell by one point. Those are games we really should have won. So we’re excited about this year. We had some defensive issues last year and we worked those out. We really like what Tristian is doing and with him we want to stretch the field and throw the ball – kind of like we did a couple of years ago with Josh Adame.”

Adame, now at Whittier College, threw for 2126 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2010. Escobar was clearly the best quarterback on the field Saturday at the Arroyo four way toss. No, that wasn’t just my opinion. A couple of other coaches told me that as well.

Speaking of Whittier College, Arroyo’s Steven Rivera committed to play for the Poets last week, which brings me to the question of the day- why does a kid get criticized for accepting a scholarship (yes he’s getting his education paid for) to a college where he can also continue to do what he loves to do?

He’s getting his tuition paid for and he gets to play football…sounds great to me. I’m confused. What’s the downside?

That’s my principle.

Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com

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