Quarterback Cole Doyle leads Crescenta Valley into Arcadia in a battle for the Pacific. (Photo by Doug Brown.)
All kickoffs are at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise indicated:
Thursday 10/26
Palomares
Bonita (8-1, 7-2 Forfeit) at Glendora (8-1) at Citrus College
This one is for the Palomares League title. Bonita’s only league loss was to Ayala two weeks ago while Glendora comes in perfect in the Palomares. Both teams can score although Bonita did mange only 11 against Ayala while the Tartans put up 45 on the Bulldogs. It could come down to who makes a play on defense. Glendora comes up big late and gets the win in a close call.
Glendora 30 Bonita 27
Friday 10/27
Almont
Schurr (4-5) at Bell Gardens (5-4)
Bell Gardens has done what it needed to do in the Almont except for one slip up against Montebello. The same can be said of Schurr who lost to the Oilers in the last 29 seconds. The winner here is guaranteed at least a second place finish and a spot in the playoffs. Another game that is expected to go right down to the wire. The Lancers look like they’re on the verge of breaking through. Lancers pull it out late.
Bell Gardens 31 Schurr 28
Del Rio
La Serna (8-1) at El Rancho (7-2)
The Del Rio League championship is on the line as both teams come in at 3-0. It’s been a great season for El Rancho. At 7-2 overall it looks like Adrian Medrano has the Dons on the rise. As long as Medrano stays El Rancho should be contenders. But La Serna isn’t dead yet. The Lancers are still the champs and will be until someone knocks them off. El Rancho is a playoff contender, the Dons aren’t league champs. Not yet. La Serna takes the Del Rio.
La Serna 35 El Rancho 28
Gold Coast
Paraclete (4-5) at Sierra Canyon (6-3) at Pierce College
Always a great matchup when these two get together. Two powerhouse programs trading paint for the league championship. They both have played schedules that resemble murderers row. Paraclete had a big win over St. Francis on the road while Sierra Canyon has knocked off the likes of Calabasas and Valencia. Like most of their battles it will be decided in the fourth quarter. A key interception or fumble will be huge late. The ball bounces Sierra Canyon’s way late. Why? Just a hunch.
Sierra Canyon 28 Paraclete 24
Mission Valley
South El Monte (4-4) at El Monte (7-1)
South El Monte has turned it around after a rough non-league start. The Eagles have won three of their last four with the only hiccup being a seven point loss to Arroyo. El Monte however is on a different level right now. The Lions have run over everything in their path and South will be no exception. El Monte has scored over 50 points on five different occasions and over 60 once. Davon Booth and company will roll in the Griffin Bowl. Lions…big.
El Monte 41 South El Monte 13
Pacific
Crescenta Valley (8-1) at Arcadia (7-2)
Arcadia was impressive in a 41-14 rout of Muir last week. The Apaches can beat you in so many different ways. Defensively they have a secondary that can beat you to the ball and they have the power up front to get to the quarterback. That being said Crescenta Valley will be the toughest Pacific League opponent they have faced. The Falcons are well coached and always have an efficient offense that can light it up. It should be a shootout, with both teams making big plays. In the end the Apaches will have too much firepower. Arcadia goes undefeated in league.
Arcadia 38 Crescenta Valley 35
Rio Hondo
San Marino (7-1) at Monrovia (5-4)
The game that both teams have been waiting for. After wading though the rest of the Rio Hondo the Titans and the Wildcats can finally get down to business and settle the league. San Marino’s only loss was to Northview back in August. Monrovia had a tough schedule early and lost four non-league games. The scoreboard operator will definitely be busy. Both teams have been scoring in bunches. With both teams residing in Division 9, they could meet again in the post season. San Marino makes all the right moves in this one. Plus the Titans have Beau Hobbie. That could be just enough.
San Marino 37 Monrovia 31
Valle Vista
Northview (9-0) at San Dimas (8-1)
San Dimas stumbled once – in the Smudgepot vs. Bonita while Northview is still eyeing a perfect season. Both teams have rolled through the Valle Vista. The Vikings haven’t been tested since the San Marino game. Both offenses are prolific. San Dimas’ running attack is devastating at times while Northview can strike quickly with several quick fast players at the skill positions. The difference will be Northview’s defense. The Vikes have pitched four shutouts this year and the most points they have allowed all year was 14 to El Rancho back in Zero Week. The Saints will score but Northview will make enough stops to get the W. The Vikings wrap up a perfect regular season run.
Northview 31 San Dimas 21
Yup got them ready alright lol Typical Ramos and Sanchez and don’t forget Clifford lol
Coming into this game I knew this was going to be a monumental task. La Serna was a D3 team for a reason. A program with the depth and coaching of La Serna can simply take it to another level when it needs to, in this case they utilized their passing game to hurt us which has been our Achilles heel all season. It didn’t help us that 4 starters were hurt, but I hate making excuses even with them we wouldn’t have won tonight. I wish LS all the luck in the world on their D5 run, Hope y’all smack the snobs in Santa Fe springs in the coming weeks.
Guess the defense showed you BG you know
“The champs are here”
With tonight’s 45-7 destruction of Schurr, Margarito Beltran has completed the job of bringing his winning machine to Bell Gardens. It will be a cold day in hell before this man and this team loses another league game.
45-7 BG running clock lol Ramos
Love reading about all the down play of La Serna! You guys are right (especially Philly B) ER should make this a great upset! *Looks at scoreboard, 42-0 at half*
…well there is always next year…
El Monte “running” it up 45 -7 at the half
Wow
Should of coached you up better
When I’m wrong. I’m wrong!
Northview is passing all over San Dimas and up 14-0.
I thought NV would win, but it would be close. If San Dimas fumbles again it’s gonna get ugly.
Off to find that crow and some salt.
In lieu of a CIF championship plaque, the Moors can always make a glossy, framed enlargement of that CIF poll showing the team ranked #1. It might inspire, or it might verify the old adage about fooling some of the people some of the time.
Softy,
Really Thompson,
You’re the one crying about Booth getting 27 carries over 3 games and getting 300 yards rushing per game. If you don’t like it, get off your ass, and join one of these coaching staffs and do you best to stop EM. But you won’t because you’re a fake tough guy who has never coached a day in your life and won’t because you might break a sweat. Go get your parents to bake you a Hot Pocket while you play online bad-ass on Mid Valley Sports…
Last year yes lots of penalties, this year it’s been cleaned up a lot.
@ ER Pops
well said, dropping FACTS! dayum even i didnt realize LS only has won league twice in 5 years…
DROP THE MIC!
El Monte will have 300+ yards of offense on that defense
Camacho had more rushing yards than your running back LOL
To Grimm aka TC Rams, this post is for guys like you who are only looking at the upsides of SM and not the reality of what’s really going on. Although I posted this on another MV blog you should read this carefully and think twice on your game by game analysis.
The fact that Monrovia has added another MAJOR element to its game since game 4 should leave teams very worried in the Div. 9 playoff picture. Imagine adding a QB that has thrown for more than 1678 yards in 5.5 games and has only thrown 1 int. with 20 TDs verses the first 4 games with the numbers at 300+ yards and only 2 TDs, yes it makes a BIG DIFFERENCE when you ad those states to an already tight running game. Its funny how sports writers don’t really pick up on those stats. Monrovia vs. say El Monte this year would probably be no different than Monrovia vs any other RHL team with the exception of SM We will be the team most teams don’t want to see early in the playoffs. I’m certainly am not going to predict any kind of blowout but if Monrovia gets in gear at home this Friday like I believe they will, Wildcat will win going away. If San Marino doesn’t have a passing game they willl be in BIG trouble. This factor in itself could resulted in Monrovia being 9-0 or 8-1 this season coming into this game. The Monrovia running game is already on par with a high powered offense that can utilize all of its weapons in a game. All I can say is that Coach Williams discovered greatness right in his own back yard. It should be one of the greater high school games this week.
I couldn’t of agree more
Okay so then explain how Whittier a team so many divisions below LS got close to beating them?
Marco Montoya is going to run all over the lions defense I got south El Monte winning by a touchdown
There is a real chance the ER-LS game could be a classic. I said a chance!. ER is playing physical ball with no trickery that coach Medrano has veered away from. LS has the size and speed advantage and a huge QB advantage but somehow coach George has had trouble putting all the pieces together of late. Because of the excitement of playing for a league title and in front of a home crowd discipline will be a problem. ER collects personal fouls like text messages, non stop. If they reign that in especially in the 4th then that quarter might be special.
@? Just because you play 5 Divisions higher should everyone act like La Serna is world beaters and we shouldn’t play the game? Stop pounding your chest like everyone should be afraid or intimidated by your squad. Our boys will go in with nothing but respect for our opponent but don’t get it twisted they’re going in there to win this game. Only an area team like La Habra with their consecutive league championships or the early 2000’s when Santa Fe ran off nearly 40 consecutive league victories can be so cocky. Now that’s domination. Oh and who was the team that ended that streak….Yup those hard working boys from Pico. You can bring up all your stats from this year. The schedule is the schedule. I don’t think when La Serna put T Oaks on their schedule they imagined they would be 0-9 or Troy with just 3 wins but it happens. ER knows what it’s up against and vice versa. If the Dons pull out the victory tomorrow night it would be their 2nd league title in the last 5 years…the same as you guessed it La Serna and Santa Fe w the other. I just wanted to give you some stats to help you out w your comment. In 24 hours it will all b settled on the field, as it should be. Good luck to both teams. Tomorrow is a great night of local high school football w some great games throughout the valley….league titles being settled on the final week of the season. That’s just awesome!
Commenter DRL is right: Pioneer’s natural place in in the Del Rio, giving everyone a guaranteed win. Sort of like the role of San Gabriel and Keppel in their conference. Speaking of the Almont, Whittier is good enough to be undisputed league champs in that pitiful group.
It won’t be close, LS 42 JR Midget Pico Dons 7 is my prediction
Going to be a great game Spartans have been through ups and downs but there ready to play this Friday Ramos knows how to get the kids ready they know what it’s stake we know the Lancers are tough but Schurr will give it there all Go Spartans play like champions!!
SEM D LINE wins the trench war we ain’t diving at you’re knees lmao 💪🏽 We gonna bring it !! Same old story ! Hahaha
Maybe it’s the fact that just 3 weeks ago ER put up 52 on Whittier meanwhile LS struggled to beat Whittier..
@ Trick or Treat: Happy Halloween, dude. I’ll throw in Dia de los Muertos for good measure.
I’ll take an 8-2 record any time, regardless of how the playoff situation turns out.
It is a damn shame that Whittier will miss the playoffs from a top heavy DRL and that playoff spot is wasted on pioneer who started a new league and still can’t place. Shame on Pioneer and anyone involved.
Hater? You’re a softy! Man this South El Monte versus El Monte! Eagles vs lions! A city divided, this the Griffin Bowl these two teams do not like each other at all never have never will. A little trash talking has got you bothered? Hey man go watch golf or something. This is football and it’s week 10 it has play off implications and genuine dislike for each other. Knitting classes are open over at the senior center theyre taking applications.
Wait we have multiple weapons of course Velasquez, buyt what about Jesse Sandoval and Art Sanchez at RB, Jeremy Loiza at WR we can run or throw the ball. The rest of the team has to step up and BG will be more than Ok this Friday.
La Serna ranked 6th in a very tough division 5. El Rancho was not ranked in the top 16 in division 10 till this week. Now they cracked a 10 spot. So seeing as La Serna plays 5 divisions higher and El Rancho as no signature wins how come so many people rate this game very close or even favor El Rancho? Seems a bit LaLa land to me. Unless the field always tilts downhill for El Rancho and uphill for La Serna I got La Serna by 24 points. La Serna played tough teams all pre-league and El Rancho played teams pre-league that had ratings so bad its laughable. I guess the heart wants what the heart wants but I’am surprised MVS bought into this fantasy.
@BG
Calm down! Our defense needs a lot of work! We have allowed too many points!
Agustin is awesome, but he can’t do it alone. If we keep dropping short passes and our line doesn’t protect him, we are in trouble!
Ramos doesn’t have our number. We have always struggled against Schurr. Even when Ramos was our coach, he only beat Schurr High School 1 time in 10 years. It’s all mental. If our kids don’t believe that we can beat Schur, we never will.
Man up Lancers! Schurr is beatable, but they are not going to lay down for us!
Let’s go Gurka Football!
Over in the city section, Taft football has cancelled its season for safety reasons. The team is 0-10, but came in 16th out of 19 teams, so they were invited to the playoffs. Obviously, there will be no postseason for these guys.
This begs the question: will Sacramento succeed in killing football? My answer is NO, the national and state economy will die before football does, and then we’ll have a rebirth of the sport in the form of private schools sponsoring all the action.
So we utter a eulogy for Taft football, but reserve a few graveside words for when the bureaucrats get tossed into that deep hole too.
Adelanto is tiny and the qb is not that great either
The GrimReaper
Missed reading your insightful comments for real. And with everything you said, you have me question my confidence in a sure victory for my Wildcats. But you’re right, let’s let it play out. Btw the score doesn’t show but Burbank struggled well into the 3rd vs. PHS.
But still all in all… based on history. I expect monrovia to come out victorious tomorrow night. I’m more intrigued of El Rancho vs. La serna. No one outside of pico have given that team a chance and week in and week out they’ve been winning big as of late. And they’re the underdogs. I wanna see them pull off this upset
Right on Cue…
Coach Thompson and his El Monte hate. Stop sipping the Haterade, man. What happened, did Coach Ceniceros’ Norwalk teams smack you up a couple of times during your time in high school; or did he yell at your kid for not being very good and they quit his team? Either way, get over it and find a hobby other than jumping on this website to talk trash all the time.
Observations on the SM v Monrovia game.
Quarterback-middle linebacker (how is that for a combination two way assignment) Wentz has been out for several weeks, having just returned from a shoulder injury suffered in the Bell Gardens game. He has had one game at TC so he will be back in form. Other linemen are back thus the team will not be the depleted team that faced Newport Harbor for the tie. So the SM Newport game is of little use for this discussion unless you want to compare the SM second string (no Hobbie no Wentz no line) to Monrovia’s second string. Other than to say SM’s second string can tie a team with a 6 Cal Preps rating (monrovia = 3.9)
Note the Northview SM game was in doubt well into the second half, Northview turns out to be a very good team with a #1 division 7 rank. El Monte 7-1 in Div 8 play was eviscerated by SM. So there were two highly ranked opponents
Monrovia fans will want to hang their hats on the Alta Loma 23-21 loss as AL had a 18 Cal Preps rating. SM has a 19 rating. (for those pushing a tight game with a turnover or ? making a Monrovia win)
SM will want to push the Monrovia loss to Burbank 45-12, a Burbank team that beat PHS 52-14, SM beat PHS 42-7
The Don Lugo game with Monrovia is of little use as Monrovia played them to a 7 pt loss but Don Lugo was rendered by Northview 35-0. Note Don Lugo is a 6.8 cal preps rating team .. suggesting that Monrovia at 3.9 played to its cal preps number in a loss to Don Lugo.
RHL games with SM and M common opponents of SP, LC and TC are not very instructive due to running clocks in 2nd halves. Other than SM had a 34 point better margin against those common opponents . that adds up to 11 more point differential per game.
Having looked as deep into it as I could, and taking into account the fact that SM has such superior coaching that will be retiring, I think win one for the gipper might be in play big time for SM. Add it all up and I think we have a game that will be an SM victory by 10 points. (assuming no key player injuries on either side or significant differences in turnovers) .. But anytime you are attempting to predict outcomes involving under 18 yr old humans the variables are too many and too unknown, so let them play the game and in a few hours we will know the score and time will tell if my analysis is good, bad or ugly.
In any event lets hope for a fair contest with no injuries of consequence.
Good luck to coach Vic and the lancers! Diet Coke on me after the win!
Schurr has owned Bell Gardens for the last 20 years, its going to take a lot to get past those demons!
Adelanto is looking good to beat them. Those guys are great athletes
@ Coach Thompson your predictions are BOGUS…
GO LIONS…
Beltran gots to make it passed the DL and LB first to get to Booth don’t think that’s gonna happen. Plus Booth is one of the best tacklers on the team.
3 points is a joke. BG will win by at least two TDs. Our defense is too good and will stop Schurr WR Hartfield. Then on offense Schurr will not have an answer for Agustin. He is going to run all over them and throw all over them. Can not stop the us! Ramos will finally get his when he doesn’t have his super team
Sorry South fan the transfer express runs all over your eagles. It’ll be over by halftime. You guys simply don’t have the horses. EM is looking forward to a deep playoff run. For them it’s CIF or bust. I wonder if there is a D13 that can stop the transfer express? Time will tell.
Monrovia and El Rancho both win at home!!!!
Monrovia will have to crack the rankings after blowing san Marino out the water. They just have too much talent year in and year out. And they played a much tougher non-league schedule. I dont care what calpreps says. Let SM play that non-league schedule that monrovia had.
And El rancho offense has scored more vs. Common league opponents I believe which makes me question LS defense. I’ve seen ER O-line push through and get to the 2nd level making great blocks. ER’s big uglies come up big and get the upset Win over La Serna
You have not seen a team near the power and speed of El Monte. Those 30 points vs 49 given up in league isn’t really anything when offense has a much bigger gap between 201 to 116 with most of the points for El Monte coming in the first half of those games. South is going to play tough and might be close at kickoff but that’s it.
Falcons cruise to a upset victory over the Apaches!
I still can’t get over how EARLY this thing is wrapping-up. Most people haven’t even bought their Halloween candy yet! Heck, we’re still wearing shorts while Vrooman is making his yearly consolation comments.
What a great week of football. This what it’s all about. Good luck to all teams on Friday May fortune and health be bestowed onto you. I’ll give my predictions for what it’s worth.
Northview will be too much for San Dimas. Nview defense is just as good as SD offense and views offense is next level. 38-14 Vikings
San Marino will squeak by Monrovia 28-27
Schurr pulls the upset if it’s an upset. This game will be one of the best. 31-28 Spartans win.
Arcadia struggles early, then explodes. Apaches 42-24
Glendora shows Bonita who’s boss 48-21
El Rancho starts strong but fades late La Serna wins 35-21
Griffin Bowl produces an upset. The lions come in with an impressive resume, a big line and the probable league MVP in Booth. But this EM VS SEM and the records always get thrown out of the window. The Eagles defense is the best in MVL and once Gaspar Beltran runs through Booth at 100 mph he will run very different. SEM note to self: Get Beltran the football!!!! The trophy stays at the swamp in an upset. 24-22