The Peterson Principle: 9/1/14

Tim Peterson

Tim Peterson

Looking at the Pacific right now everybody turns into a Burbank fan. A win over Ayala on the road is huge and with guys like Ryan Meredith and James “Boobie” Williams on the roster and the Bulldogs seem to be the team to beat.

Muir’s loss to Salesian was ugly and although the Mustangs were banged up, it still wasn’t the start they had hoped for. Crescenta Valley and Burroughs were idle and Arcadia rolled over Alhambra. But that seems to happen frequently to Alhambra these days.

What’s going on in Pasadena? 50-7 over South El Monte? Really a 50 bomb?

I know they have Jorge Reyna and a nice running back named Joseph Thomas. Tyrek Adams can make plays at wide receiver but he didn’t even play. Do they have enough other than that to compete? All the reports I was receiving out of South El Monte were good. I spoke to South El Monte HC Ibis Aguilar and by all accounts he was pumped for the season. He was excited about his junior quarterback Jaime Michel and his team in general. So yes, 50-7 was unexpected.

Can one player, Reyna, make that much of a difference? For now give Pasadena credit. Dropping 50 on anybody is a big deal especially on opening night. I’m just not ready to say Pasadena has the horses to make the playoffs. We’ll find out right away. The Bulldogs get La Salle this week.

We may have overlooked El Monte. The Lions gave Baldwin Park all they could handle and the Braves coming into the game were considered by some to be a top five team in the Mid-Valley. El Monte running back Roy Barrajas is a special player. At times the Braves knew what was coming but still had trouble slowing down Barrajas as he rumbled for 238 yards and four touchdowns.

Ultimately Raymen Barraza and BP got it done but it wasn’t easy. Every team in the Mission Valley League lost (Mt. View and Gabrielino were idle) and right now El Monte has as good as a shot as anybody to win it.

Five turnovers killed the Lions but it’s something that can be fixed. El Monte has reason to be encouraged not discouraged by that defeat.

La Mirada beat Tesoro? Really? I dare you to find somebody, other than Mike Moschetti, that picked the Matadores. I dare ya! I guess we shouldn’t just hand the Suburban over to Norwalk after all huh?

I wonder if South Hills running back Jesse Garcia was feeling it on Sunday morning? Who carries the ball 38 times anymore? Well he does and the Huskies needed them all to beat Covina Saturday night. Is there a better word than workhorse? It’s kind of overused. Beast? Not again. Monster? No. How about he’s a really good football player?

Does San Dimas’ loss to Monrovia change anything about the Saints’ chances in the Mid-Valley? If anything I’m more convinced now that they are the favorites.

That’s my principle.

Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40

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