(Peterson and Torosian suspend pleasantries and fight for their alma maters)
 |
 |
| Peterson, Circa 1979 | Torosian, Circa 1982 |
Tim Peterson, Arroyo Class of 1979: Today I get to honk for the old alma mater. You see when I was at Arroyo it was the dark ages of Knight football. El Monte’s last league title was in 1979 right? Well that’s when I was walking the hallways near B.L. Bergstrom Stadium. I never put on the gear but I did write about the guys that did for the “Knights Banner”. League titles? Heck back then we were happy to win a game. But then D.J. MacKinnon took over as Head Coach in 1980 and put Arroyo football on the map. For 23 years he had the Knights in contention winning league championships and even a CIF title. Jim Singiser, formerly the DC, picked up right where MacKinnon left off in 2003 and the Knights have continued to be a model football program. So yes I’m proud to say I’m an Arroyo alum even though their success took place after I took the walk. Coincidence? Probably not. Anyway this Friday night Arroyo has to beat El Monte. Beat El Monte? That shouldn’t be too hard.
Joe Torosian, El Monte Class of 1982: Today I get to swing the bat for my old alma mater. When I was at El Monte beating Arroyo (3 straight 1978-1980) was like clockwork. When the North El Monte wasteoids were getting high and listening to the fiddlers out in dark fields near the Rio Hondo River…We were kicking butt…Yeah, the Knights have dominated…but that’s the beauty of it…When a play breaks down in the fourth quarter Friday night and Brandon Martinez scrambles around before finding Abel Barajas with the game winner in the end zone; the Knights Empire, all those victories—piled high like Sauron’s Tower, will come crashing down. Allow me to channel the greatest principal in EM history, Jack Barton; “GO GET’EM LIONS!”
| THE SHOOTOUT |
| PETERSON: The Ghost of Steven Rivera. The four year starter might be at Whittier College now, but his spirit remains in the minds of the El Monte players. To the Lions he is “Sinister”! |
| TOROSIAN: What are the Knights going to do that no one else has been able to? How are they going to stop Brandon Martinez? This guy is so cool he freezes himself. |
| PETERSON: Home Field Advantage: Arroyo has never lost at El Monte. |
| TOROSIAN: Welcome to the Jungle! The atmosphere at Lions Stadium grows not by the game, but by the quarter. Daniel in the lions den stood a better chance than the Knights do tonight. |
| PETERSON: Peter Aholoka! While everybody talks about how great the El Monte offense is, watch Peter Aholoka drive through its defense. Before the evening is over they will be so tired of him running wide that they will beg him to go up the middle. |
| TOROSIAN: What does Arroyo got? Who? Who can make war against the Lions offense? Just run along to Camp Snoopy Arroyo fans…Martinez to Abel Barajas is not for the weak of heart. |
| PETERSON: The Sefton Factor: a lot of schools have administrators and faculty show up but is anybody more intimidating as former Arroyo Principal Jim Sefton? Even though he has been retired for several years Sefton shows up on the sidelines at every game cheering his team on. In his signature baritone voice, he can constantly be heard yelling for the defense, rooting for the offense and politely asking an official about a call. |
| TOROSIAN: The Sefton Factor is exactly what I’m counting on as an El Monte alum… |
| PETERSON: Note to Offensive coordindator Chris MacMillan: Chill Singiser out and always go for it on fourth and one. |
| TOROSIAN: Note to El Monte OC Brian Tabatabai: I want that 21 game Arroyo winning streak dead! I want it burned to the ground!! I want to go to the cemetary and spit on its ashes!!!…Oh and good sportsmanship, a friendly game, and pursuit of the Olympian Ideal. |
| PETERSON: Arroyo HC Jim Singiser collects MVL titles like Jay Leno collects cars. |
| TOROSIAN: Joel Sanchez STILL has more hair than Singiser! |
| PETERSON: Mind Games: El Monte might have the talent to beat Arroyo but they suffer from a mental block when it comes to facing the Knights. Arroyo is always, always, always in El Monte’s head. They can’t beat Arroyo. There really are people who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. EM can play football, but they can’t beat the Knights! |
| TOROSIAN: Who are you people? Where are you Arroyo people from? Temple City? Arcadia? Norwood Village? The End of the Santa Fe Trail comes through the heart of downtown El Monte, not some fluffy delicate spot north of Lower Azusa…And the parking at Flames sucks! |
| PETERSON: Omana and McNeil have been gone for over thirty years, they ain’t coming back. But Aholoka is staring at you from right across the line of scrimmage. This house of cards is going to fall! |
| TOROSIAN: Arroyo fans know the pleasure of football, El Monte fans know the pain. So when the Knights play, they play not to lose the pleasure of football…The Lions play to end their pain…Victory is the only pleasure the Lions seek…That’s why they’ll win. |
| PETERSON: We’re going to fracture you guys tonight! We’re going to fracture your defense! Were going to fracture your offense! And wipe that stupid, dumb-butt smile, off that stupid dumb-butt Lion we always have to hear about! |
| TOROSIAN: We’re doing it for B.J.!!! |
| PETERSON: At least we’ve got Flames! How’s the food at Tastee Freeze these days? Oh yeah, that’s right… |
| TOROSIAN: Hey Spicolli, I think you got a customer. |
History of the Game: El Monte & Arroyo
The Knights started playing varsity football in 1956, but they didn’t meet the Lions for the first time until 1962 in a non-league contest…Beginning a pattern that has continued to this day; they won.
Arroyo leads series 37-7 and have won 21 straight against El Monte.
Knights have won 11 by shutout.
Lions have won 3 by shutout.
There have been zero ties in this series.
Knights Last CIF Title: 1986
Lions Last CIF Title: 1930
Knights Last MVL Title: 2011
Lions Last MVL Title: 1979
Arroyo & El Monte Year by Year
1962: Arroyo 14 El Monte 6
1968: Arroyo 10 El Monte 6
1969: Arroyo 16 El Monte 0
1970: Arroyo 42 El Monte 14
1972: El Monte 16 Arroyo 15
1973: Arroyo 27 El Monte 0
1974: Arroyo 6 El Monte 0
1975: El Monte 7 Arroyo 0
1976: Arroyo 8 El Monte 7
1977: Arroyo 20 El Monte 3
1978: El Monte 25 Arroyo 12
1979: El Monte 27 Arroyo 0
1980: El Monte 30 Arroyo 6
1981: Arroyo 12 El Monte 10
1982: Arroyo 20 El Monte 17
1983: El Monte 21 Arroyo 7
1984: Arroyo 20 El Monte 9
1985: Arroyo 29 El Monte 7
1986: Arroyo 42 El Monte 13
1987: Arroyo 28 El Monte 7
1988: Arroyo 45 El Monte 14
1989: Arroyo 61 El Monte 0
1990: El Monte 30 Arroyo 0
1991: Arroyo 42 El Monte 18
1992: Arroyo 21 El Monte 7
1993: Arroyo 29 El Monte 24
1994: Arroyo 16 El Monte 14
1995: Arroyo 54 El Monte 0
1996: Arroyo 36 El Monte 14
1997: Arroyo 51 El Monte 0
1998: Arroyo 49 El Monte 0
1999: Arroyo 54 El Monte 13
2000: Arroyo 42 El Monte 0
2001: Arroyo 17 El Monte 0
2002: Arroyo 34 El Monte 0
2003: Arroyo 22 El Monte 21
2004: Arroyo 42 El Monte 7
2005: Arroyo 38 El Monte 8
2006: Arroyo 33 El Monte 29
2007: Arroyo 19 El Monte 14
2008: Arroyo 9 El Monte 3
2009: Arroyo 45 El Monte 0
2010: Arroyo 40 El Monte 7
2011: Arroyo 35 El Monte 20
Leave a Reply