10 Reasons why Charter Oak will Win

A.J. Powell leads Charter Oak's quest for a fifth school title

A.J. Powell leads Charter Oak's quest for a fifth school title

1.) Adam Muema: The prolific CO back has gone over the century mark rushing 22 times in his career and has scored 64 touchdowns. Terris Jones gets a lot of love, but Muema is playing for another ring.

1A.) A.J. Powell: This will be the third title game in Powell’s four years. He made first varsity appearance as a freshman.

2.) The Farrars: Can anything ever take place on a football field that would be new to them? They’ve seen at all and won’t be distracted by a bad call, obnoxious official, or some new wrinkle put in at the last minute.

2A.) A.J. Powell: He plays defense.

3.) Defense: This is the best Charter Oak defense in terms of surrendering points since 2001…When by the way, they were CIF Champs.

3A.) A.J. Powell: DR’s Elijah Henley is an excellent ball player, but he is not Powell. Not close.

4.) Unbeatable: No matter what anyone says, sooner or later it wears on the mind when you haven’t beaten a rival. Diamond Ranch has been around 12 years playing varsity football and has zero wins against CO, the Chargers, and the Farrars.

4A.) A.J. Powell: He plays offense.

5.) Experience on the Field: Keith Smith (second consecutive 100-plus tackle season), Leon Youngblood, Dennis Rufus, and Brandon Golden are all very experienced in the big game.

5A.) A.J. Powell: He returns punts.

6.) Who Gets Rattled First?: Will it be sophomore Travis Santiago, or D-Ranch quarterback Gus Viramontes. Viramontes, who has been exceptional this post-season, was clearly frustrated by the Chargers in the title game a year ago. Plus in the October 23rd meeting, CO won 12-0, Viramontes was sacked three times and picked off…

6A.) A.J. Powell: …by A.J. Powell.

7.) Long Time: The last time the Chargers lost to Miramonte League team was 21-14 to Bonita…October 21, 2005. Over four years ago!

7A.) A.J. Powell: In regards to the suddenly in-vogue “field position” question, Lou Farrar himself he has seen no one like Powell in 43-years of coaching who could change field position at the drop of a hat.

8.) Never Go Against the Family: As Mid Valley sports editor Joe Torosian is fond of saying; Lou Farrar is the Don of local coaches. While other powers have faded from the bright lights of the 1990’s and early 2000’s Charter Oak is the only one that has remained. Los Altos, Bishop Amat, Wilson was a comet in the 90’s, and even South Hills has proven mortal since 2005. Don Lou Farrar and the Family have kept Charter Oak a perennial.

8A.) A.J. Powell: There are “Get Back” coaches who are mostly unofficial. Powell is the unofficial “Get Down” coach for CO on the field. He says ‘get down, get into it’ to his teammates or ‘get out’.

9.) They Got the Power: This is the second year in a row Diamond Ranch has come into the championship game 7-6, riding a six game winning streak. No doubt a great run, by a great team, with great players, and a great coach. But that’s like running a marathon the day before lining up for a sprint. It showed in the second half of last year’s final. CO will wear them down.

9A.) A.J. Powell: He gets a lot of help from his friends: Keith Smith, Dennis Rufus, Leon Youngblood, Patrick Dallen, Dillon Howes, Charlie Avila, and Curtis Ortega.

10.) They Are CO: They are the Colossus. There was only one David and there was only one Goliath. That rock has been slung. The only thing that will stop the Chargers, will be the Chargers.

10A.) A.J. Powell: He’s been chiseled out of a granite football. If they could capture an image of him appropriate enough…he could be the logo for CIF.

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