Game Night: CIF Playoffs – Semi Finals

Roman Rojas and the El Rancho Dons host unbeaten Eisenhower in the Division 10 Semi Finals. (Photo by Duane Barker.)

All kickoffs are at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 

Friday November 16 

DIV 3  

Sierra Canyon (Gold Coast #1) at Citrus Hill (Mountain Pass #1) 

Sierra Canyon has scored 166 points in its last three games – an average of just over 55 points per game. They can sling it with Chayden Peery (2,515 yards passing) or run it with EJ Gable, who rushed for over 1000 yards and 19 touchdowns. Citrus Hill survived last week in a 35-28 win over Downey and is working on a perfect season at 12-0. The Trailblazers are something different though. They’ll bring things to the table that Citrus Hill just isn’t used to seeing. Sierra Canyon advances to the Finals.

Sierra Canyon 35 Citrus Hills 24    

 

DIV 5 

Palos Verdes (Bay #1) at Glendora (Palomares #1) at Citrus College 

Last week Palos Verdes beat a tough Aquinas team 12-7 in a defensive struggle. Glendora meanwhile has been racking up points. The Tartans scored 48 last week against Apple Valley and 56 in the opening round of the playoffs against Burbank. Points might be a little harder to come by for Glendora against a team like Palos Verdes but the Tartans should have enough in the end. A tie game turns on a big offensive play in the fourth quarter. Brandon Roher takes the Tartans to the CIF Finals in his first year.

Glendora 21 Palos Verdes 17

 

DIV 6 

Pacifica (Oxnard) (Pacific View #2) at South Hills (Hacienda #1) at Covina District Field 

South Hills is another team that is still without a blemish heading into the semis. While the offense has been effective, its been the defense that has been making headlines. The most points in a game that the Huskies have given up all year was 21 to Diamond Ranch October 11 and they have allowed just 23 points so far in the first two playoff games. Pacifica can score. The Tritons scored 58 against Fullerton two weeks ago and 31 in an overtime win over Mayfair last week. Producing like that against South Hills though might be a different story. The Huskies are big and physical and just keep on coming. Huskies advance.

South Hills 24 Pacifica 10    

 

DIV 7

Northview (Valle Vista #1) at Culver City (Ocean #2)

Culver City is always a difficult place to play. Just ask Covina which traveled out to the West side last year in the Division 11 Semi Finals. The Colts did manage to come away with a 57-56 win in overtime in a game that had more offense than an Arena Football League contest. We might get the same thing this year. Northview and Culver City can both light it up. And the Vikings and the Centaurs both have plenty of weapons to strike quickly. The difference is the Northview defense. The Vikes have pitched four shutouts this year and have allowed just 14 points total in the first two playoff games. Culver City will score but Northview will match them punch for punch. In the end the Vikings will make one more stop. Northview gets the W.

Northview 38 Culver City 31            

 

DIV 8

Arcadia (Pacific #1) at Alta Loma (Palomares #At Large) 

Arcadia has way too many weapons. The Apaches have been lighting it up all year and this week will be no different. Alta Loma gave up 50 points to Bonita and 45 to Glendora, both solid teams that are still alive but with offenses that aren’t as explosive as Arcadia’s. Alta Loma just doesn’t have the horses to keep up. Apaches are headed for the Finals.

Arcadia 38 Alta Loma 17  

 

DIV 10 

Highland (Golden #1) at Bonita (Palomares #2T) at Damien H.S  

Tough matchup for Bonita facing a Highland team that hasn’t lost a game all year. But the Bulldogs haven’t played a team like the Bearcats all year either. In the Palomares League every week was like a playoff game. Bonita’s only two losses (on the field) came in league play. Steve Bogan’s first year at Bonita has been a major success. A trip to the Finals would be the exclamation point. Last week Bonita held off Hillcrest in a shootout 45-40. Highland was tested once all year – a two point win over Knight back in October. If Bonita gets a lead, will Highland be able to play from behind? A couple of quick early strikes by the Bearcats could be enough to spark the victory. Bogan leads Bonita to the CIF Finals in his first year.

Bonita 35 Highland 31  

 

Eisenhower (San Andreas #1) at El Rancho (Del Rio #2)

Eisenhower isn’t the power it was in the early nineties when they were in Division 1 but the Eagles did roll to a 12-0 record while winning the San Andreas League. Eisenhower hasn’t allowed a point in the playoffs shutting out their two opponents by a combined score of 67-0. If you throw in the last game of the regular season, the Eagles have outscored their last three opponents 122-8. No that’s not a typo. El Rancho has been racking up points as well scoring 106 points in their last two wild playoff games. Last week they had to overcome a big halftime deficit to rally to a dramatic 56-52 win over Knight. The Dons have scored 50 or more points on six different occasions this year. It will depend on who makes the most stops. If El Rancho was going to lose it would have been last week after falling behind. The Dons look like a team headed for the Finals. ER wins at home.

El Rancho 33 Eisenhower 28        

 

DIV 13

Adelanto (Desert Sky #2) at El Monte (Mission Valley #1) 

By far El Monte’s biggest test in the playoffs so far. Adelanto, like El Monte comes in with a record of 10-1. The Saints dropped 60 on Savanna last week. Earlier in the year they lit up Cerritos for 79. So we know they can score. But so can El Monte and the question is can Adelanto make a stop? They’ll make a couple, at times, but not enough to derail the El Monte Express. Lions are on a fast track to the Finals.

El Monte 42 Adelanto 35   

20 Comments to "Game Night: CIF Playoffs – Semi Finals"

  1. Elrancho's Gravatar Elrancho
    November 16, 2018 - 11:51 pm | Permalink

    Truer words have never been spoken.

  2. Just an 'ol has been's Gravatar Just an 'ol has been
    November 16, 2018 - 10:39 pm | Permalink

    A friend of mine sent me a screenshot of a St. Paul coach’s twitter page. It simply referenced a bible verse: MATTHEW 10:34

    Well “Coach”, here’s a bible verse for you to reflect on:
    Coincidentally it’s A Letter from St. Paul to the Romans 16:18
    “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

    Congrats to all who have won tonight and advance to the finals in their respective divisions.

    “Pursue Victory with Honor”

  3. Maverick's Gravatar Maverick
    November 16, 2018 - 9:31 pm | Permalink

    I want to clarify my support for LS football, as I’m born and raised in Pico. My wife is from Whittier and I purchase my first of three homes in Whittier and still live their to this day. I don’t live in a huge house on the hill, I’m very humble and live in a modest home in East Whittier. Like I said before all my kids played and went to La Serna.
    I have been to plenty if ER game and support the Dons to the fullest, I am happy the program is vastly improving. My support the these programs will always be in my heart.
    Don’s and Lancer’s for life.

  4. BoHiDadERalumni's Gravatar BoHiDadERalumni
    November 16, 2018 - 6:00 pm | Permalink

    @bohifan my son was on that freshman squad and is now in his final year and third year playing varsity. I agree with you as long as they keep it together and the d line plays smart and don’t give away yards, they should be able to bring it. Also as an ER alumni myself, it would be a sweet match up for me to see if both teams move on to the final round.

  5. BohiFan's Gravatar BohiFan
    November 16, 2018 - 4:27 pm | Permalink

    Great run this year Bearcats. You boys are erasing the last 3 years of indignity from Bubbs tearing apart Bonita’s sports programs. Bogan was clearly the right hire at the right time. Bonita is playing the top seed but with the athletes Bonita has they can beat anyone on a given day. This team is the freshmen team that went undefeated and out scored its opponents like 550-12. The Bearcats will show up.

  6. Just an 'ol has been's Gravatar Just an 'ol has been
    November 15, 2018 - 7:33 pm | Permalink

    @ The Ranch: I too am a “DON” from the 70’s. My brothers are “DONS”. My cousins are “DONS”. I’ve also coached “DONS”. I’ve played and coached in the City of Pico Rivera. My roots are dug deep there…..but because I move out of the city, sent my kids to other schools or coached elsewhere, it doesn’t mean that I’m less of a fan or less of a “DON”. We can still cheer for the DONS. I have a few friends coaching there. Just kindly accept his well wish and move along.
    @ Maverick: I wish I would have been at the game last week. I hear you guys had the better team. The team with much more discipline and class as opposed to the host school. But I also heard their “athletes” came up with big plays at the right times. I was also told “The PIT” was just that, “A PIT”!! Such a disappointment. They spend that kind of money on a new scoreboard but the facilities were still from the 1960’s.

    To All ER DONS (past, present and future): I wish them all well. BEAT IKE!!!!

  7. ?'s Gravatar ?
    November 15, 2018 - 7:23 pm | Permalink

    OK’I’ll bite. What players are out because of grades for ER? Give # or position if not the name. Or else shut up.

  8. Area Dad's Gravatar Area Dad
    November 15, 2018 - 6:38 pm | Permalink

    No key players just back ups. Still it’s a shame

  9. Recruiting Is A Band-aid's Gravatar Recruiting Is A Band-aid
    November 15, 2018 - 6:12 pm | Permalink

    El Rancho needs to recruit. They need to recruit kids that go to ERHS that might not play football. They need to recruit Pico kids who might be tempted away to La Serna or Downey or St Paul. What they absolutely do not need to do is go looking for kids elsewhere. Keep your own kids, coach them well, and you’ll be fine.

  10. JBs's Gravatar JBs
    November 15, 2018 - 5:38 pm | Permalink

    PR its more like 3 or 4 kids and all are starters.

  11. PR's Gravatar PR
    November 15, 2018 - 5:04 pm | Permalink

    Yup more like 1 key kid, big let down but we gotta play with what we got.

  12. JBs's Gravatar JBs
    November 15, 2018 - 4:15 pm | Permalink

    El Rancho lost some key players to grades! Don’t be surprised if certain players are not dressed.

  13. Unk's Gravatar Unk
    November 15, 2018 - 4:12 pm | Permalink

    Coach Medrano doesn’t need to recruit kids, we just need the ones in the city of Pico Rivera to see that The Ranch is a legit program with great coaches, I think this season should be a wake up call for those in the area that quality football is played at ERHS, not 1 kid was recruited, not one kid plays on a 7 on 7 team, hardly any college interest for anyone, but here we stand about to play in the semi finals and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it. @theranch you are clueless and have been clueless for a very long time, stop commenting.

  14. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    November 15, 2018 - 3:53 pm | Permalink

    – to my friends at the ranch! This team, this group has been playing together for a while and it’s a special group! Best of luck to “Thee El Rancho Dons” . represent the del rio, play hard and have fun with it! Know this…people are gonna hate you for whatever you do…but people always hate up? Don’t pay attention to the critics on the sideline and play the game I know you guys can play. The Ranch can win and best Eisenhower!

  15. Del Rio watcher's Gravatar Del Rio watcher
    November 15, 2018 - 1:52 pm | Permalink

    @ The Ranch
    Yeah you’re right!!! this semis appearance with home grown kids is a lucky run huh, its a fluke! they should be disappointed in their lack of effort.
    go recruit!! so you can loose in the the first round when CIF pulls us u 3 divisions!
    Moron!

  16. In the Know's Gravatar In the Know
    November 15, 2018 - 12:36 pm | Permalink

    If you want a high school coach that goes out and recruits you got the WRONG boy. This one will accept players that want to enroll at ER to be coached up by him but he will NEVER go out and scour the weeds begging for players. Just not him. He came back to ER because he knew at their core ER plays with heart. He wanted to help them find it again. Stay at Ls Serna Maverick and The Ranch!!

  17. The Ranch's Gravatar The Ranch
    November 15, 2018 - 9:40 am | Permalink

    @Maverick,

    We appreciate your support but it’s too bad that there are way too many guys out there that are like you. They support from afar but didn’t send their kids to ER for whatever reason.
    Lots of times it’s because the parents think there are better opportunities for them elsewhere when there is a great school in your own backyard. Other times it’s because the parent wants to keep up with everyone else and it looks better for them if they “got out of Pico.” I’m not saying this is your story but it’s the story for a lot of people.
    This is something that needs to change and Medrano needs to go out and RECRUIT! I don’t care how great of a coach he is or how cool his plays are or how different his practices are or how much film he watches. They won’t be successful unless he flat out goes to houses and RECRUITS!

  18. Maverick's Gravatar Maverick
    November 15, 2018 - 1:55 am | Permalink

    *Once a Pico Boy always a Pico Boy.
    GO DONS!!!

  19. Maverick's Gravatar Maverick
    November 15, 2018 - 12:55 am | Permalink

    As some of you may not know I’m a big La Serna fan, all my kids played and went to school at LS.
    My Alma Mater is El Rancho and I wore the Big ER on my chest. I will be at the game Friday and thinking about taking my old Varsity jacket, just don’t know if it will fit. Lol…
    Once a Pico Boy always at Pico Boy.
    Go Dons!!!

  20. ER's Gravatar ER
    November 14, 2018 - 10:35 pm | Permalink

    Looks like the midvalleysports did some good homework and didn’t just look at the 12-0 record. It’s gonna be a tough contest, but gotta take care of business.

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