MidValleySports.Com

Tim Peterson

By Tim Peterson

Okay, what’s going on at Arcadia? This isn’t your father’s Apaches. I saw them Saturday at the SGV Shootout at Arroyo and I didn’t recognize them.

I had heard there had been some off season changes on Duarte Road but this wasn’t a change- it was an overhaul. I thought I was watching Long Beach Poly for a minute. There were athletes everywhere I looked. At receiver, running back, corner, safety, linebacker…everywhere on the field, there were big strong, quick athletes. The Apaches have struggled the last few years but this looks like a different team.

“The program is moving in a different direction,” one local coach said.

You think? It sure looks that way. It looked that way on the field as well as the Apaches advanced all the way to the semi finals before losing to Buena Park.

Look out for the Apaches in the Pacific. Don’t jump them over Crescenta Valley yet though. The Falcons, coming off of a Southeast Division title, made it to the Finals where they fell to Buena Park.

Yeah, Buena Park won the whole thing. Who else? I’m sure the Coyotes managed to tick off a few more people in the process.

Speaking of Long Beach Poly, Monrovia got a transfer in from LBP that looks legit. The Wildcats and Asaph Zamora didn’t look bad at the shootout but did manage to lose to Rosemead in four overtimes in the morning. The loss not only messed up Monrovia’s run to the championship game but also the time schedule.

Montebello receiver Sergio Cortez made the catch of the day hauling in a one-handed touchdown grab Odell Beckham Jr. style from Ryan Rivera. Okay maybe Odell Beckham Jr. is an exaggeration but it was the catch of the day. No, I didn’t get a picture.

El Monte quarterback Edward Dominguez, fresh off of an offer from Dixie State, looked solid for the Lions. El Monte, with all of the distractions going on in the off season, has missed a lot of practice time but it didn’t seem to affect them or Dominguez on Saturday. Offensively, they were sharp. Running back Roy Brarajas was making plays all day long. Plus we really like the Lions new gear.

I know you’ve heard this before, as recently as last summer, but Keppel didn’t look too bad. No I won’t predict a playoff spot or even an Almont League victory at this point. Last year I did and we all know how that turned out. But I will say that the Aztecs are moving in the right direction. They are trying. This is the third passing tournament I’ve seen them at this year.

No I didn’t see Marcos Lopez Saturday.

Heard plenty of rumors – some may be true and some not. Won’t say who gave me this but it was from a local coach. “You heard it here first. Kurt Scoby is going back to APU. Mark my words.” So if it doesn’t happen, hey, I didnt say it. If it does you read it here first.

That’s my principle.

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