By Tim Peterson
For the last week or so I’ve been asked several times who looked good at the Charter Oak Tournament. Well, there was this school called Alemany. It looked really good.
Fortunately the local teams won’t have to deal with that. Who looked good? doesn’t everybody look good in shirts and shorts? It’s like spring training in baseball. Everybody is hopeful and optimistic. Everybody has a chance to win the World Series in March. Same thing in spring football. Not a bad player in the house.
I’m not ready to tell you who’s going to be a CIF champion but here’s a few observations.
Charter Oak, as is the case every year, is ready to compete. The quarterback play looked strong and the Chargers had a couple of receivers that made you take notice. They should be the favorite to win the Hacienda League. Yes, Lou Farrar is back and maybe even for a few more years. “My other grandson will be a freshman this year and he wants me to coach him,” Farrar said.
Bell Gardens is ready to make the jump in the Almont. The Lancers still have to deal with Schurr and Montebello but they were much improved last year and appear to be better this year. Margarito Beltran said his troops would be ready to contend for the league title this season and I believe him. A playoff spot and a first round victory could be in the offing.
Somebody posted on our site that they like Whittier in the Del Rio. I don’t. I like La Serna. La Serna did nothing at the Charter Oak Tournament that leads me to believe that the Lancers aren’t the best team in the league. The quarterback made all the throws and they were efficient on offense. Of course La Serna’s offense won’t be built around the passing attack. They will run you to death, like always.
Its a homecoming for Travis Brown at Los Altos. As long as the Conquerors can adjust to any new schemes that Brown and his staff put in they should be fine. Brown likes what he sees so far. They held their own at CO and were in every game. Brown has added former Arcadia/Bassett HC Chris Long to his staff.
I like Baldwin Park’s numbers and former Arroyo assistant Josh Knight, who is a BP alum, has taken over as the Braves HC, and has added a spark to the program. He has a sophomore and a junior competing for the quarterback position, so whoever wins out will have at least a couple of years under Knight’s tutelage.
Arroyo always looks good in the passing circuit. Over the years, the Knights have thrown more than anybody in the valley. As long as everybody comes back and ready to play, Jim Singiser and company will be okay.
There just wasn’t enough to see of Muir. The Mustangs were in and out of the tourney quickly and when they were playing, I only saw 8-10 players on the squad. I’m sure once the season kicks off Antyone Sims will have the Stangs ready to play but the numbers need to increase. The Muir baseball team was still in the CIF playoffs so some of their players may have still been on the diamond. We’ll see.
Then there was San Gabriel. I took some heat for heaping praise on the Matadors after the tournament but I was impressed. The Mats beat Corona Santiago (second team or not) and gave Charter Oak all it wanted in a semi final game. Their quarterback was impressive and they had tight end who was an absolute beast. (Is it still ok to use that term?) Also several coaches told me that San Gabriel is for real, or at least light years ahead of last year’s team. Matador head coach Kevin Encinas, a former Charter Oak Charger now in his second year, told me they’re just working hard and trying to get better. Well they’ve definitely done that.
Am I saying that SG wins the Almont? No. Am I saying that the Mats will beat Schurr or Montebello or even BG? No, but those three do need to be careful or they will get bit. What I am saying is that it’s good to see San Gabriel relevant again. It’s good to see them re-join the land of the living and on the field competing. It was good to hear the yell “SG! You Know!” again.
And the best thing about this upcoming season for the Matadors? They don’t have to play Alemany.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
@ Anonymous: We at Alhambra respect Bell Gardens and all the other teams we’ll be playing in 2018. We’ll play to win every week.
We actually made the playoffs in 2016 (for the first time in five years), but fell a game short last season. The Moors will be on a mission to get back to the postseason this year.
@ron Alhambra would be lucky to make playoffs, bg rebuild is ready to take off, while Alhambra who knows what there rebuilding there’s been no progress. It now looks like San Gabriel is getting back on track
@ Anonymous: The Alhambra Moors intend to compete in 2018. I’m not going to make any predictions, but returning to the playoffs is definitely a goal for us. Let’s see what happens.
Watched some of the line work at San Dimas yesterday, ER, Nogales, San Dimas and Gladstone, El Rancho’s linemen look solid, lookout!
@oilers now and forever….lost to el rancho last year 35-7. Now facing a better and complete el rancho team. Lets call it what it is. The ranch with an 8 win season minimum. Good players back on team . watch out.
What has happened to Alhambra in the almont? They are an after that now
Pete is a Good Coach and a good Man Period. He does The best He can. Prop’s to him for scheduling Tougher Opponents.
@Absurd?
Yes you are Absurd. lol. We need a new coach? Let’s see again. We have won 4 or the last 5 League Championships. During those 5 years, Montebello has made the playoffs all 5 years. 1 first round, 3 quarterfinals, and Semi-Final? yes time for a new coach. lol. 2015 Montebello finished regular season 9-1 only loss was to Paraclete, 2016 finished the regular season 9-1 with their only loss to St Paul 7-6. Last season btw they beat Div 5 St. Paul in the regular season. Yes time for a new coach. In the last 5 years or so Montebello has beaten Whittier, Cantwell, So El Monte, El Monte, St Paul, Pioneer, Bell Gardens, Schurr, Rosemead, Northview, Covina, Arroyo, Azusa and now are playing La Serna. I’m one that is happy that Montebello is trying to play local teams (have not beat El Rancho and did lose to Garfield last season) My parents went to Garfield so I did hear about this all year long. Lol. Thanks again coach you have our support not Absurd people nonsense.
I was out at the 7on7 against Cantwin this past week and MHS is going to struggle this year. The talent level is just not there at just about all positions. I sure hope they have some transfers coming in like previous years otherwise it’s going to be a long year. The least amount of talent by far in this HC’s tenure. And let us pray the rumors about playing CV and LS are not true.
Both La Serna and Crescenta Valley will beat Montebello by at least 2 touchdowns. Probably closer to 4 touchdowns.
Scheduling CV and LS is an attempt to send the message that Montebello is ready for the big time. Truth is, Montebello is merely ready for a new coach.
@ Really??
If Montebello really did add Crescenta Valley and La Serna to their schedule, maybe they told that D11 team no out of respect for them
Montebello has a pretty loaded schedule tbh. They will get relief when they go into league play.
Montebello added Crescenta Valley and La Serna. Exactly how are they dodging a Div. 11 school when you add these guys to the schedule. The rumors and inside edition stuff is so misdirected here sometimes
Montebello is going to have a rough season. I know a certain division 11 school that Montebello should ROLL tried to schedule them and was told “No”. Out of respect for the that shared that with me I won’t name names. Montebello lost a LOT of talent – too much to replace and be successful.
Does San Gabriel walk into the football field, wearing red, with a bull following closely behind?
SG does not do anything but lose
Does SG still do the “Matador Walk” entering through the crowd?
@Coaching
According to you, The Alemany Coach should be removed by CIF. Really. Why should CIF be involved in any school coaching decisions? They don’t have mandatory coaching clinics, training, psychological evaluations, etc. They should just do what they are suppose to do. Maybe you should raise a piglet with chickens. It makes no sense!
Btw the only team to beat Alemany was La Serna! When they get up for a game they are difficult to beat.
@BG – Good to see your loyalty to your team, but relax a little. Until BG beats Schurr or Montebello, then you can talk a little smack.
@Anonymous – Good one. Schurr All-Stars! Sad that they have recruited like crazy. And yes, things look very fishy. But if CIF gives them an all clear, MOVE ON!
@BG, Montebello & Schurr Fans – Stop with all the BS about who will win league champs! Win a CIF title already! We are in Division 12 or 13. If we can’t win a CIF championship in these divisions, I hate to say it, we ain’t crap!
Top 3 in the Almont should be BGHS, MHS and SHS! Either team needs to win CIF! I don’t care which of the three! It would be nice to see MHS or BGHS win their first CIF championship! MHS is over 100 years old, BGHS is over 60 years old. Like Elvis once said “It’s now or never!”
At this point La Serna is still the favorite because the system just keeps humming along and they seem to continue to get the best kind of kids in the league. Santa Fe lost virtually everyone and don’t appear to be getting any big time kids in this year, they do have Owens though and that kid is an absolute stud. Cal Hi returns their QB which had a pretty good season. I keep hearing that Whittier is this and that and I don’t see it, they typically do well at the lower levels and they flop at the varsity level, have they made the playoffs more than 2 times this decade? They have a pretty good young RB however he played Frosh football all year, until he performs at the varsity level let’s stop annointing him a D-1 kid, if he’s that good he’s wasting his time at Whittier high school. El Rancho is supposed to have a solid line and a very athletic QB and WR combo plus their coaching staff is rather solid. I would still put LS #1 and then any of the other 4 teams have a legit shot at being 2nd place which will be crucial since a 3rd place no longer guarantees a CIF playoff berth.
My predicted CIF divisions for the DRL teams:
LS – D3
SF – D10
Cal- Dropped to D11 for lack of playoff appearances the last 2 years.
Whittier- D10
ER – D9
Those kids getting moved to special teams should transfer out to a team that plays Schurr
@ Coaching, what an idiot. Nuf said.
Every time someone says something on here the Schurr, BG and Montebello start up again. This never ending dialog about how and who is going to get what done to them this coming season. I guess it is kinda cool to have such rabid fans. But man, you guys make me shake my head. Oh well.
Because that is where it starts the culture, buying into the system knowing they can beat those schools. Plus the other two schools are bring up alot of those lower level players cause they lost many players to graduation.
I said we will compete for league and BG is good this year seniors understand Beltrans 3rd yr Jr’s all they know is Beltrans system this is the year they reap from all that knowledge from him and his staff. Will be shocked of BG lays down this year.
Middle son LiAngelo Ball worked out for the Lakers today, going through what the team calls the ‘Laker Mentality’ drill, which tests long-range accuracy and stamina. I wonder if team officials checked the trophy cases and equipment areas to see if anything went missing.
You have to feel for the seniors who been loyal and working there butts off for three years at Schurr , just to get moved to special teams to make way for the transfer.
Lol slow yes keep that mind set just ask Alemany how slow BG is only lost by one score. But yes BG is slow
Until you win Montebello or Schurr in a VARSITY game, then you can make comments. Until then please have a winning record. You should have your attention to Alhambra maybe you’ll get third place.
@BG, unless those seniors were playing freshmen or JV, how will lower level success translate on the varsity level?
Los Altos: I predicted earlier LA would only win at most 3 games this upcoming season. But after reading that Brown had added Chris Long, I am changing my prediction to 2 games.
The Almont is Schurr’s to lose, they are the defending Almont League Champs and are the favorite until someone in league knocks them off. Schurr has done a good job selling their program to the surrounding area, if CIF deems the transfers eligible then everyone needs to move on. Montebello is the question mark, they lost a lot and have not replaced them with much. Montebello has a good coaching staff and has scheduled a pretty tough preseason schedule to prepare them for league. Bell Gardens should be interesting, the third year is always the year for a new coach. Does Beltran have the athletes he had at La Serna? of course not, but he isn’t competing in Division 3 or 4 either. I am pretty sure Bell Gardens will compete for a Almont League championship with the two previous schools. As for San Gabriel, my concern is what do they have in the trenches? San Gabriel couldn’t stop anyone last year, if they have that same problem they will have the same record.
Peterson is correct. No one in the DRL is ready to compete with LS but WHS is much improved. They were at Arroyo last week and in what was a very physical match up WHS more than held their own VS Arroyo holding the varsity to no scores. It will be interesting to see what happens this summer. Cal has size and speed which exposed Montebello a couple weeks back and SF somehow always has guys.
@Bg Lower level scores ?? Really…….
The reason BG won’t beat Schurr nor Montebello is because your players aren’t fast enough.
@almont Spec
Schurr should be the favorite with the combination of three school on the roster.
Cantwel QB and Line
Buena Park Receivers
Montebello RB
Good Luck to the Schurr All Stars
Let’s see Montebello and Shurr had a senior heavy team BG had a very young team. BG blew out both Montebellos and Shurrs JV and freshmen teams. Explain how we won’t be competing for league. Especially with the coaching staff we have.
BGs expectations are so low. They will make the playoffs by placing third place. Perhaps win a playoff game. Montebello or Schurr will win the Almont…. Mark my words
If it’s true that Encinas is poised to make noise at SG, then the only question I have is: why did it take so long to hire a decent coach? If CIF is going to be good for anything, it should mandate the removal of any sports coach who has a losing record over the previous five years. Sure, there’s no guarantee the replacement will be any better, but if a guy’s been losing for five straight years, it’s hard to do much worse.
Well Brown inherited all the hard work that Spathias and his staff put together. I still haven’t seen him put something together on his own. This year is no exception.
Yeah, all three of Muir’s QBs are on the baseball team as well as a couple of others. Their TE/DE was playing QB. They were also missing two LBs and two other WRs who aren’t on the baseball team. A good 9-10 kids were missing.