Do enough people know about Minuteman linebacker Matt Hall?
Half the teams in this division are new to us and this area. So instead of listing a Top 25 today, we’ve started with all 31 and will break it down based on responses into a Top 25 for Tuesday.
In terms of weighting the teams we went 10, 5, and 3 to start with because of all the uncertainty. If you don’t like where your team is at, do something about it. Text, tweet, send us a message on Facebook, drop us an email, or a comment here. Don’t forget to vote in the poll on the right.
To bring familiarity for today we added the name of each HC and the 2011 record.
1.) Nordhoff Rangers (10): HC Tony Henney (2011: 7-5); The Rangers won’t make an appearance close by until the post season. Have you seen linebacker Koby Welch? Might want to take a peek.
2.) Bishop Diego Cardinals (10): HC Tom Crawford (2011: 11-2); Cards lose their quarterback, top running back and receiver after semifinal run. Host Valley Christian on September 8th.
3.)Whittier Christian Heralds (10): HC Sergio Gradilla (2011: 7-5); If Ryan Esslinger is successful, if he can make it happen at quarterback, the WC will make it happen in the Olympic.
4.) Torrance Tartars (10): HC Rock Hollis (2011: 8-5); Much will be expected from quarterback Jacob Kalama who had a fine junior season. Tartars open this year at Bell Gardens.
5.) Maranatha Minutemen (10): HC Pete Karavedas (2011: 8-3); We love the passing game…Andrew Elffers to anybody on the roster is a KaBoom in the offing. But don’t overlook Omar Younger.
6.) St. Bernard Vikings (10): HC Lawrence Muno (2011: 10-1); Undefeated before falling to South Torrance in the first round. Question: Does Chaun Chapman (6-5, 330 JR.), an SUV Class trenchman, have any game? Devonte Singleton sure does.
7.) Bishop Montgomery Knights (10): HC Ed Hodgkiss (2011: 6-5); Hodgkiss has Mid Valley connections from his days with the Avengers. Either way large doses of Michael Turner behind a big offensive line should send them back to the playoffs.
8.) Valley Christian Crusaders (10): HC Erick Streelman (2011: 4-7); There’s a lot of talent on this team and quarterback Patrick Avila is ready to breakout…Defensive end Clayton Granch is ready to break everything else.
9.) La Puente Warriors (10): HC Brandon Rohrer (2011: 9-2); We’ve said it often, this is a nice program that keeps building. Three year starter, Ivan Vasquez, at quarterback.
10.) Cantwell-Sacred Heart Cardinals (10): HC Kim Taylor (2011: 8-4); Return Timothy Walsh at quarterback but take a beating from graduation. Travel to Whittier Christian on 8/31.
11.) El Segundo Eagles (10): HC Steve Shevlin (2011: 6-5); Quarterback Daniel Zeman threw a lot of passes as a sophomore and Austin Brasher bashes everyhing on both sides of the ball, but they are light in the trenches.
12.) Village Christian Crusaders (10): HC Jay Schroeder (2011: 5-5); Some nice pieces return to the offensive line, a decent back, but is it Pyburn or Hancknel at quarterback.
13.) Oak Park Eagles (5): HC Terry Shorten (2011: 3-8); The Eagles have a pair of quarterbacks, they have an offensive line, and if Cameron Cohen steps up at running back. Good things.
14.) Centennial Apaches (5): Info N/A (2011: 8-4); Advanced to second round a year ago. Plays tougher non-league this fall. Host Paraclete 9/7.
15.) Duarte Falcons (5): HC Jason Martin (2011: 6-3); Talent returning, experienced coaching staff, its all there for the Falcons don’t miss your window.
16.) Santa Paula Cardinals (5): HC Teohua Sanchez (2011: 2-8); Another Tri-Valley team with decent size and experienced quarterback in Christian Garcia.
17.) Carpenteria Warriors (5): HC Ben Hallock (2011: 7-4); Keep watch (might be too far away to keep an eye on) on junior quarterback Ian Craddock.
18.) Ganesha Giants (5): HC Darrick Rice (2011: 2-8); The Giants will win five this fall…is that enough to go to the post-season? We’ll see.
19.) Verbum Dei Eagles (5): HC James A. Durk Jr. (2011: 5-6); Physically there is a lot of size on the roster, but this team with its quarterback, running back, receiver, and top defender slipped into the playoffs, lost its last three in a row and won two game over schools (La Salle & Mary Star) that went a combined 1-19. All those studs are gone.
20.) Workman Lobos (5): HC Scott Morrison (2011: 4-6); Justin Snedden is terrific, quarterback Ryan Gomez has experience, and size returning along the line of scrimmage. Could make the playoffs in 2012.
21.) Azusa Aztecs (5): HC Joe Scherf (2011: 8-4); Aztecs have won 26 consecutive Montview League games under Scherf. Cameron Blackburn will need big shoulders in 2012.
22.) Bosco Tech Tigers (5): HC Chris Shockley (2011: 7-4); A return to the playoffs might be tough for the Tigers. Not because they are bad, but because others have improved.
23.) Gladstone Gladiators (5): HC Albert Sanchez (2011: 3-7); “I’m telling you I think that Amezquita kid looks pretty good.”— Local DC watching G-Stone quarterback Kevin Amezquita throw the ball this spring.
24.) South Spartans (5): HC Chris Hyduke (2011: 6-6); The offensive line is gone, they don’t have a quarterback and their running back has graduated…Everything else is fine.
25.) Sierra Vista Dons (5): HC Don LeGro (2011: 6-5); SV always finds a way, quarterback Jonathan Mora is underrated, and you have to love Miguel Cruz.
26.) North Saxons (3): HC Todd Croce (2011: 2-8); The weak sister in the Torrance chain.
27.) Heritage Christian Knights (3): HC Terrance Johnson (2011: 2-8); School formally known as L. A. Baptist. These guys always have bodies, big bodies, not always pure athletes, this year they have a new name.
28.) Bassett Olympians (3): HC Hector Spathias (2011: 1-9); Energy is high, staff is experienced, great stadium, will be interesting to watch.
29.) Lawndale Cardinals (3): HC Rick Mathiesen (2011: 1-9); “Dude you ever been to Lawndale?” — Don’t know why we were asked that.
30.) La Salle Lancers (3): HC Russell Gordon (2011: 1-9); It is really time for a turnaround. Isn’t Tom Brady’s uncle doing something on campus these days?
31.) Mary Star of the Sea Stars (3): HC Dino Andrie (2011: 0-10); This one is tough.
The official Mid Valley Sports Top 25s will come out August 1st.
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