By Tim Peterson
You won’t see a complete preview of all 14 Divisions here or a breakdown of each and every league, I mean those things can change as fast as a quarterback decides to transfer, but you got to like Northview in the Valle Vista right?
I mean the Vikings are loaded. Quarterback James Jimenez is back, Damion and Deshon Thompson are back, and they’re coming off of a 12-1 season. They say that passing league doesn’t matter and it probably doesn’t, but the Vikes cleaned up at the SGV Shootout in June. Covina and San Dimas will have something to say about it, they always do, but Northview has to be the early frontrunner.
In the MVL is El Monte still better than Arroyo? Davon Booth is back and ready to roll, so that’s all you really need to know. But the Lions did lose some big boys up front so Booth may not find as many holes to run through. Although when you’re as quick as he is, if he gets an inch he will take the proverbial mile.
Arroyo quarterback Andrew Enriquez, who has looked pretty solid this summer, threw just seven passes last year completing five. Coach Jim Singiser has been blessed with Ernesto Camacho the last three years but will now need production from Enriquez to make things work.
After those two the MVL competition drops off. South could make some noise and Rosemead might surprise but this looks like a two horse race. Let the discussions begin.
Circle Friday September 27 on your calendar. Arroyo at Monrovia should be a good one.
Speaking of Monrovia the Rio Hondo is the Cats to lose. San Marino? Maybe. Nobody else is in the discussion. The Wildcats non-league schedule is much more compelling than their league schedule. Besides Arroyo, they also get Covina, South Hills and Los Altos.
Diamond Ranch may not only win the Hacienda League, the Panthers may have enough to win Division 5. Chino Hills, St. Paul, Glendora and Mayfair will all be looking to knock them out in the post season. While you have your calendars out also put a check mark on Friday October 25. South Hills at Diamond Ranch is a huge matchup that will likely be for the league title. The defending CIF champion Huskies are in Division 4.
If you look at the teams in Division 14 San Gabriel has a realistic chance to make some noise. Teams like Pioneer, Bassett, Azusa, La Canada, Duarte, Gabrielino and Mt. View are all teams that the Matadors can beat. The problem is they have to get to the playoffs first. Looking at the Almont, Keppel and Alhambra are winnable games for SG. But can the Mats get by Schurr, Montebello or Bell Gardens to grab that third spot? That may be too much of a hill to climb.
Who do I like in the Almont? Right now, Montebello. But that could change after the first league game. The Oilers kick off league at Bell Gardens October 4.
By the way Azusa did hire a new coach. It flew under the radar but his name is Darren Spence. Who’s Darren Spence? I don’t know but I do know this. He’s got his work cut out.
Remember Jorge Reyna? Former Downey quarterback that led the Vikings to a CIF title as a sophomore? He will be the starting quarteback for Fresno State when the Bulldogs kick off the season against USC at the Coliseum August 31. How cool is that?
Downey will host Cathedral in a scrimmage August 16 at 7:00 p.m. That’s a lot of talent on one field.
There was a message from someone called “SGV” this week that said this site – Mid Valley Sports – is dead and buried. His last line was “RIP MVS. You had a good run.” We may be down to four soldiers and we may be working for free. But sorry pal, we’re pressing on. We’re not going anywhere!
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
Surely you can see the BS in your own comment right?
Arroyo yes is usually loaded with the best the city of EM has to offer. Yes it is unfair. Yes it is the biggest reason why they’ve won so much. But its kids from the city ultimately, not Las Vegas, Paramount or Bellflower. It’s a bit different. Also, I could be wrong but I can’t remember a significant transfer you jumped ship to Arroyo for his senior season like in the case of Montoya or Reyes. At the end of the day Coach C is gonna recruit, so it’s probably gonna Force other teams to do so… if they want to compete. I’ve heard the Arroyo staff just added two guys who do exactly that … recruit! Will it be an arms race every year? Who knows, but teams like Gab, View and SEM are probably incapable of recruiting. So where does that leave the league?
You must not know where some of these El Monte residents play. Check yourself.
crying about transfers makes you look like a jealous ex GF… it happens everywhere , deal with it… prepare your boys and leave it on the feild..
it gets annoying hearing ppl cry about transfers… and its alway in the SGV… do you see OC crying ?
love what you guys do on this page, i wish it was more active but anything is better than nothing :)…
@coaching aint: You are absolutely right. Bishop Amat, Charter Oak, Northview, San Dimas would be nowhere without all those El Monte boys.
@SGV’MVLFAN….LOL illegal transfers most if not the kids who play in MVL are from the city of EL Monte. From as long as I can remember Arroyo has always gotten the best talent in el monte via transfer, no one called illegal all these years people just acknowledged that fact. But all of a sudden other team are getting these same transfers from the same city NOW people want to say illegal, what a joke SVG’ MVL FAN LOL you sound like a MVL coach who didn’t get any of those transfers, your probably a Mountain view or south el monte coach..LOL stay in YO lane
The MVL will be won by the team with most illegal transfers. PERIOD and CIF doesn’t care.
Arroyo get’s a lot of transfers also.
Anon, very insightful. Your takes are well thought out and surprisingly accurate with one glaring error of course. And the bozo line something new. I asked and you delivered. Last year they zeroed up on defense and sent all out blitzes, that will not work again. As for stopping the run game,we don’t have to stop it just stop them on critical plays. We will not lose two in row!!
Oh and Anonymous…. you absolutely suck!
MVS: Not very equitable in deleting my entire comment but parsing a sentence that suits you. My entire comment was not meant to be as negative as your editing of it does but to remind folks to jump in the water.. Doing what you did makes your opinion “Fake News”. BTW you just mentioning a few of my worked and your welcome.
From T. Peterson: Thanks for the clicks!
The few, the proud, the Mid-Valley Sports staff! No obstacle is too great to overcome.
The key question in the EM/A matchup is…#1 Can Arroyo stop The Transfer Express? They showed last year that they couldn’t but that was last year. What changes this year? EM lost some hogs up front but Booth is a year older. #2 Can EM stop Arroyo from scoring? Yes last year they dominated up front and put pressure on Camacho all game. But that was last year. New players, new schemes.
There’s not really much to figure out. Arroyo coaches know they have to stop Booth and bang up front. If EM can push them around again then Booth runs wild.
I think Arroyo plays really well but in the end Booth won’t take no for an answer. They 35-28 with EM getting a big stop late in the game.
Get Back Coach…you’re still a bozo.
With all due respect Friday Night Lights have you even really seen Reyes at RB before. He can run, make defenders miss and he can score. From what heard he was supposed to be our starting RB/CB here at Los Altos. The coach here at Los Altos converted him to a CB mid sophomore year cause hes very athletic and physical. Sad to see him leave but excited to see him decide to play again and to see what he does this season. Dont underestimate this kid
Go Phzntoms. I’ve seen cathedral and they are loaded.
Wow SGV, you must have been in a the Philippines on Nov 22, 1963 reporting that JFK was assassinated a full day before it actually happened in Dallas. I guess you forgot that you crossed the international dateline before you reported that tragedy I mean coup. Give my best to J. Edgar Hoover and Jon Cohen, maybe you can join them with your own red dress, playing dress up in hell.
Lol!
I got your back Peterson!
I enjoy your site very much and appreciate the insight on the local high school football scene. Hopefully, Cantwell will give you a little something to write about this season. Our numbers are up from the 20 or so that we played with last season. We will have more play-makers and Coach Martinez had a full year to prepare for this season. Not predicting championships but I do believe that we will be better this season. Thanks,
It would be nice to see somebody mix up the Almont standings.
It is very sad to see the MVL the original black and blue league become a two team race. It used to be week in and week out you’d see battles. Montoya leaving SEM for EM probably kept this from at least a 2.5 team race. These teams hiring and firing coaches just creates stagnation in programs. Now it’s always Arroyo and someone else. This time it EM, used to be SEM before them it was Rosemead. Hopefully those other programs can build and at least become competitive. This is pretty weak to see Arroyo and EM winning by 40 and the game over by halftime.
My prediction for Arroyo vs El Monte, it’s gonna be decided by big plays. Cuevas is more of a horse than Booth but Booth has TD on his mind every touch. Arroyo has an impressive passing game always does. But I am hearing the run game will be legit this year. So, I’m predicting a close game but in the end Booth runs a 65 yarder in for the score or Arroyo beats broken coverage on a 55 yard TD pass. I’m gonna guess 44-34
I believe this country (and by extension the world) is experiencing economic contraction, which is presently being papered-over by financial gimmicks. This has led to the seldom-discussed issue of everybody having a lot less money to spend on discretionary things, like SPORTS. This situation, more than the possibility of concussions, is the primary reason fewer kids are playing football. Following on the heels of this decline, this site is showing a marked decline in the number of comments posted. Luckily for those of us who are diehard fans of prep sports, Tim and company have kept their overhead low enough to continue this fine internet offering.
“RIP MVS”? Really?! I like this place. For me it’s filled the void the SGV-T blogs left behind when their superiors had the um…bright idea to revamp print.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware that digital information is harmful (in terms of the Dunning-Kruger Effect) as well as contributory to depressive or anxious states (prolonged LED exposure, social media, etc.). However, things being what they are, I like coming here. You guys do a bang-up job of covering local teams, and for the love of doing it, no less.
Carry on Tim
The MVL is a two team race no doubt. But you already these mercenaries talking about Booth and Reyes show??? It’s Booth and Cuevas! Reyes isn’t better than him so Reyes can probably get some mop up duty and with that sorry pre season schedule he might do ok. But here we it’s starting already. Which one of the transfers are the odd man out? Reyes or Montoya? Or if you go four man rotation do you sit Booth? Probably not so you think Cuevas wants to share his senior year with two guys who transferred in? Hell no! In Montoya’s case he actually wore SEM eagles gear! Aren’t they bitter rivals? Griffin bowl and all that? Or with Reyes who started at Arroyo then to Mt View then to Los Altos now to EM. If I’m Cuevas I’m saying hell no I ain’t taking a back seat to these two hired guns.
SEM is way down! I said it before Gallardo will never recover from firing his best coach M.M! But SEM has a qb that didn’t want to be there. So how are you supposed to lead your team? Hmmm….
Rosemead will get an opinion when they step up!
Season coming in things are starting to heat up!!
Arroyo is gonna surprise everyone and beat this supposed juggernaut of EM.
This coaching staff is gonna be special!
This Knight team will regain that title! Remember the names Calvillo and Leonardis!
34-27 mark it down!!!!
MVS keep up the great work so long as you guys are here I’ll be here too!!!
SGV- Personally, I eat to much to be dead…let alone buried. Keep dreaming, sir.
Affectionately yours,
Soldier #3.