El Monte QB Nathan Velasquez, shown here celebrating the Griffin Bowl win over South El Monte, and the Lions will host St. Pius X in the Division 13 First Round Friday night.
All kickoffs are at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise indicated
Thursday November 1
DIV 6
Tustin (Empire at large) at South Hills (Hacienda #1) at Covina District Field
South Hills comes in with a perfect 10-0 record. It’s been a magical season so far for Matt Bechtel’s Huskies. Tustin may be a little tougher opponent than South Hills expected in the first round. The Tillers hail from the always competitive Empire League. Tustin beat up some pretty solid opponents in Pacifica and Kennedy. That being said this is South Hills’ year. Tustin may compete early but the Huskies will eventually take over. South Hills advances.
South Hills 35 Tustin 17
Friday November 2
DIV 5
Burbank (Pacific #2) at Glendora (Palomares #1)
Maybe the best local matchup of the first round. Burbank only stumbled against Arcadia in the Pacific and finished 7-3 overall. Glendora’s biggest test may have been last week against Bonita and the Tartans passed with flying colors in a 28-7 win. Glendora is battle tested coming out of the Palomares where every week was a war. Burbank may surprise, the Bulldogs have done it before. But Glendora is solid – just a tough team in a tough league. Glendora moves on to the next round.
Glendora 34 Burbank 21
Colony (Palomares #2) at La Serna (Del Rio #1)
The much anticipated rematch is here. La Serna beat Colony 37-30 back on September 7 in Week 3 at Colony. It was a back and forth game with the Lancers holding on in the end. Colony is another team that fought every week in the Palomares and has the capability to beat anybody. La Serna critics said the Lancers weren’t as good this year. But when all was said and done they were 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the Del Rio. Expect another shootout with both teams leaving it all on the field. La Serna comes out on top…again.
La Serna 31 Colony 28
DIV 7
Crescenta Valley (Pacific #3) at Warren (San Gabriel Valley #1)
Warren raised a few eyebrows this year. The Bears beat La Serna in a non-league game and knocked off Downey in the SGV. They were just three points away from a league title falling to Paramount 24-21. Crescenta Valley looked good at times but not so good at others. The Falcons took third in the Pacific and worked Muir but hit some rough patches against Arcadia and Burbank. Warren may be too physical for CV. We know the Bears can score and have been stout on defense when necessary as well. Warren gets the nod.
Warren 41 Crescenta Valley 21
DIV 8
Temescal Canyon (Sunbelt #2) at Arroyo (MVL #2)
Arroyo looked like…well…like Arroyo all year until the Knights played El Monte. The Lions hit them with a running attack that they hadn’t seen before and they could never recover. Other than that their only misstep was a Zero Week loss to Bonita. Ernesto Camacho still can throw the ball all over the lot and when the Knights passing game is clicking they’re hard to stop. Temescal Canyon took second in the Sunbelt. The Titans have outscored their last two league opponents 67-13. However they did lose to league champ Notre Dame Riverside 37-21. With both teams finishing second it should be a tight game. The Knights find a way to win at home.
Arroyo 27 Temescal Canyon 23
JW North (Inland Valley #2) at San Dimas (Valle Vista #2)
With only losses to Bonita and Northview on the resume San Dimas is feeling pretty good entering the post season. The running game has kept the offense humming although at times the Saints have allowed big plays on the defensive side. JW North took second in the Inland Valley but finished just 5-5 overall. Just two weeks ago the Huskies got pounded by Orange Vista 56-14. They don’t have the firepower to trade touchdowns with San Dimas. If the Saints get off and running early it could get ugly. San Dimas rolls.
San Dimas 35 JW North 13
DIV 9
Segerstrom (Big 4 #2) at San Marino (Rio Hondo #1)
Both teams have a common opponent in Bell Gardens. Segerstrom, who finished 8-2 overall beat the Lancers 35-14 while San Marino took care of BG 41-29. The Titans will run Beau Hobbie until his legs fall off. Usually that’s been good enough for a victory. Segerstrom can score as well. The Jaguars scored 48 points or more in five games this season. This won’t be a defensive struggle. The last team standing may be the last team with the ball. San Marino does enough to survive.
San Marino 45 Segerstrom 38
DIV 13
St. Pius X/St. Matthias (Santa Fe #2) at El Monte (MVL #1)
Maybe if St. Pius X can get an early score…or maybe if the Victorians force a turnover and get a couple of stops early they can…man, who am I kidding? El Monte rolls. In fact the Lions may just roll all the way the Division 13 title. The ground game is devastating and no matter how many Hail Marys St. Pius X says this won’t be close. It will be over by halftime. You can go to the game and still make dinner plans.
El Monte 56 St. Pius X/St. Matthias 7
El Monte wins 67-17
El rancho is up 21-6 on moreno valley
Monrovia is only trailing by 4 to palm desert the No.1 seed in the division, And the biggest surprise the last score update was 20-0 PHS over Santa Paula. Glad our local teams are Representing!
We beat Arroyo, We beat South EM we beat OV and y’all still doubting the lions ? It’s going to be OV and EM in the finals and EM wins it…. To remind you EM took a 3 hour ride to Perris where they faced OV and took a 20-0 lead EARLY… only reason El Monte didn’t keep scoring was because of injuries… Would’ve been 50-14 Final score LOL
Haha
@Lion Roar
MONTE!!!
#VEGASEXPRESS
#LONGVERGALION
Got to win where you’re put. Are we supposed to ask to be put higher just cause we’re beating ppl up? Trust me it’s not gonna be as easy as you think either, we got at least 4 teams aiming for us on our way to our goal a CIF title. Go check out teams like StBernard, Orange Vista and Adelanto, but of course I think we’re better as long as we do what we do.
EM doesn’t have an easy title at all! Adelanto is the REAL DEAL!!! By far the best athletes in the division l!!!
I am going to regard an El Monte CIF championship not so much as a division 13 thing, but as recognition of what coach Cineceros, his staff and team did in becoming so good, so fast. It has been an amazing transformation.
Yes, EM is obliterating everything in its path lately, but when it’s all said and done, if EM captures the D13 title, it will be commendable, and not a cake walk. I will definitely give them credit. EM has two tough tasks remaining if they are to be CIF Champions. How is it that no one can see the road ahead for EM? The Semifinal will not be easy, and the Final will be even tougher. Trust me, the EM staff and players know exactly what I’m talking about.
@ King Lion: If you don’t see that El Monte is light-years better than any D13 team, there’s no use discussing this. I’m a big fan of what has gone on at EM, but I also know there’s no glory in essentially taking candy from a baby, which is figuratively what the Lions are about to do in CIF’s lowest division.
@AF: Add to that 70 mile drive it is on Friday evening rush hour. Best take Friday off and get a motel 6 Thursday night.
Burbank has upset a top-5 team on the road the last 2 seasons.. something tells me the bulldogs will get it done again. Pacific league goes 2-2 in the first round.
@My point
Whats bad about the current situation in D13??
@ Mypoint
El Monte has at least 5 losses in 12 of the past 15 years. How many divisions higher should they be?
El Monte will do what they should do, play the next game and hope to advance.
Maybe on the next realignment, El Monte will move up.
What ever happens they wont complain. In the words of former princapal, Jack Barton,”GO GET’EM LIONS!”
LigmasPoint
Any predictions on the Agoura vs Arcadia matchup on Friday?
I’m happy for Jesse Cineceros and crew, but I’ve got to ask: how would you feel as a coach or player of the OTHER D13 playoff teams? Is this “victory with honor”, as CIF likes to say? There can be no greater indictment of the current system than this D13 situation.
S0me food for thought, the average distance that will be traveled in the D10 playoff games is 62 miles. When CIF questions attendance at games there’s the answer, of course I will be making the 70 mile drive to support my alma mater.