Bellflower quarterback Swain Williams
(Bellflower) – Sixteen schools on Saturday participated in the Buccaneers Passing Classic at Bellflower High School.
The tournament, put together and operated by Bellflower offensive coordinator Derek Bedell, was won by Serra. The Cavaliers beat St. John Bosco in the finals and taking a four point victory over Alhambra in a competitie semi final.
Five teams in the Mid Valley Sports coverage zone were involved in the toss. The Moors and Bell Gardens from the Mid-Valley Division, Torrance from the Northwest, and Lynwood, along with Bellflower, from the Southeast.
Lynwood Vikings
BG is continuing its good long look at southpaw Tristian Escobar.
“Tristian has been up and down at times, he’s still learning. But the truth is our running back Jorge Remigio is the guy,” said Bell Gardens coach David Ramos. “We’re going to play good physical defense and pound the ball. That’s what we do best. When we had Josh Adame a couple of years ago, we figured it out. When he threw the ball more than 16 times we lost. So yes we’re going to run the ball. That’s what we do best.”
BG Super Soph Jerry Coronel is expected to shine at wide receiver in 2012.
For Alhambra every rep, let alone passing league competition, is important in the development of new quarterback Mando Amaya and key receivers Essien Frank and Sebastian Espinoza.
Alhambra quarterback Armando Amaya
Sebastian Espinoza looked very good at safety.
Expectations are for Alhambra's Sebastian Espinoza to be great offensively, but watch him on defense. A difference maker.
“It is coming together,” said Moors HC Joe Kanach. “We’re doing real well and just getting better everyday.”
Bellflower, who won the Surburban League title last year (They were 5-1 along with La Mirada and Mayfair) has even higher expectations in 2012.
Buccaneers HC Derek Brown
“We think we can be even better,” said Bellflower HC Derrick Brown. “We have a quarterback returning in Swain (Swain Williams) who will have much more experience and a great running back coming back as well in Ryan Hunley.”
Hunley rushed for 1308 yards and 11 touchdowns last year as a junior.
Bellflower tailback Ryan Hunley
“He went to the USC camp earlier this year and was the fastest player at the camp. He’s definitely getting looks,” Brown said.
The Buccaneers also return WR/DB Andrew Gose and LB Noah Hernandez. Gose, who is special as a DB, also hauled in 16 catches and 162 yards.
“Gose is a specimen and Hernandez is a stud at linebacker. We’ll be counting on both of those kids,” Brown added.
Torrance returns quarterback Jacob Kalama (6-4, 220.) The Tartars, led by Coach Rock Hollis, tied for first in the Pioneer League last year with El Segundo at 4-1 and went 8-5 overall. They lost in the CIF Semi Finals to Nordhoff 34-33.
Torrance quarterback Jacob Kalama
Kalama threw for 806 yards and 17 touchdowns a year ago.
Notes From Around The MID:
Next Saturday, July 7th, is the SGV Shootout at Arroyo which was moved up a week from a year ago. The Santa Fe and Claremont tournaments will be held on July 14th….Alhambra will take its dead period after playing in the Claremont tourney…Whittier Christian receiver Cody Bronkar is out of action for a few weeks with a leg injury…Mt. View linebacker Jason Villagrana is most likely done for the season with a knee injury…Alhambra running back Ezra Broadus had been nursing a tender hamstring the last few weeks but he was on the field at Bellflower. “Ezra has an offensive mindset, and he’s going to stay on offense but he is a lockdown cornerback. Stud.”…Six weeks ago Moors linebacker Nathan Quinones was gone to Colony…Three weeks ago he was back playing linebacker for Kanach…This week he is gone back to Colony. A family move and effort to get the talented Quinones to practice everyday have created the hiccup…The situation remains fluid, but as of the moment he is not with the team…Bellflower name to remember going forward? Johnathan Turner, Hunley’s back up. Dude is a jet.
The Moors Ezra Broadus...dude looks like a star.
“I BLANKING subscribe to your paper and you don’t BLANKING cover us?” One coach shared with us his feelings on the lack of coverage his program receives from the Long Beach Press Telegram after being told they were in that coverage zone.
Joe Torosian contributed to this story
Alhambra wide receiver Essien Frank
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