Saints gearing up for opening night
San Dimas is solid in the Mid-Valley Division. Thank you Captain Obvious. San Dimas is always solid in the Mid-Valley. But the feeling among some is that with Monrovia being shipped to the Central all the Saints have to do is show up and they can cruise to their second straight Mid-Valley title.
Running back Manny Elizalde
San Marino, another former Mid-Valley contender, also goes with the Rio Hondo and you have to search the division to find a team that can beat the Saints. Paraclete? San Dimas beat the Spirits last year. Arroyo? The Saints dropped sixty on the Knights in the playoffs. The Pomona Red Devils ? New league but San Dimas never had a problem with them before. Azusa in the Montview? Anybody in the Almont? I like Montebello but could the Oilers stay with San Dimas?
Predictions usually die in previews. That’s true. And the Saints look great on paper but as we know the game isn’t played on paper. But the truth is San Dimas won it last year, and in a somewhat weaker division Bill Zernickow’s crew are the favorites to win it again.
I’m Bobby Rios and you’re not
Andrew Avila steps in at quarterback and will do what a San Dimas quarterback always does – manage the game, hand the ball off and make the occasional big throw. Manny Elizalde returns at running back and is lightning to the thunder of his backfield partner Bobby Rios. Rios put a hit on a Diamond Ranch defender in a scrimmage Friday night that could be heard down at the Pomona Fairgrounds. Rios will play defensive line as well.
Speaking of lightning keep an eye on receiver Chris Rufus. Don’t blink though or you’ll miss him. Rufus will also line up at cornerback.
Had to catch Chris Rufus (#2) while he was standing still
Defensively Youssef Hannah (6-2, 260) anchors a front that is poised to do some damage. Matthew Sotelo, OL/DL is 6-5, 290. Josiah Erickson will patrol the middle of the field at linebacker and Chris Salcido and Erik Ware (safety) will join Rufus in the secondary.
Can the Saints be beat? Of course anybody can be but it will be no easy task. And chasing the goal of a repeat makes San Dimas that much hungrier.
We’ll find out how good the Saints are right away. Monrovia is coming to town next week.
San Dimas 2014 Schedule: Monrovia, Los Altos, Diamond Bar, at Rosemead, at Bonita (Citrus College), Northview, at Nogales, Covina, Rowland, at Wilson.
Andrew Avila will lead the offense
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