The Saints will try to circle in on the Finals when they host North Torrance Friday night.
Friday November 22
DIV 5
St. Paul (11-1) at Culver City (12-0)
St. Paul has shown it can bang with the big boys. The Swordsmen are physical on defense and offense as well when they pound the ball with Trenell Ridgley. Culver City has a prolific offense led by quarterback Zevi Eckahus who has thrown for 3,778 yards and 53 touchdowns. The Centaurs racked up 63 points last week against Chino Hills. But they haven’t faced a defense like St. Paul will bring. The Swordsmen get it done.
St. Paul 27 Culver City 24
Aquinas (10-2) at Glendora (11-1) (Citrus College)
Glendora just keeps plugging along. The Tartans only loss came against Palomares League champ Ayala in October. Aquinas stumbled twice to open the season but has been perfect since. The Tartans advantage is that they came from the Palomares where every game is like a playoff game. Glendora looks ready to make a title run. Tartans advance.
Glendora 24 Aquinas 17
DIV 6
San Jacinto (10-2) at La Serna (12-0) (California)
Everytime the feeling is that La Serna is in for a tough battle the Lancers dismantle its opponent. Last week against a talented Los Altos team the Lancers won by two touchdowns. The week before they dropped 56 on Warren. La Serna looks like a team ready to run the table. San Jacinto hails from the Mountain Pass League and last week blanked Kaiser. The question is can the Tigers control the Lancers’ offense? The answer is no. La Serna is headed to the finals.
DIV 9
North Torrance (10-2) at San Dimas (11-1)
I picked against San Dimas last week and am still hearing about it. For the Saints everything is coming together at the right time. Their defense held down a powerful Foothill team last week and their offense, with a devastating running attack led by Nick Cuda, is as explosive as its been all year. North Torrance finished second in the Pioneer League and is a formidable opponent but the Saxons didn’t face the schedule that San Dimas did. Saints take the next step.
San Dimas 31 North Torrance 28
DIV 10
Katella (11-1) at Crescenta Valley (12-0) (Glendale)
Crescenta Valley is another team looking to run the table. The Falcons really haven’t been tested all year. Their closest game was a nine point victory over Palos Verdes in the first round of the playoffs. They do it with a potent offense that last week dropped 45 on Eisenhower. Katella can score too but in the post season the Knights had to win a couple of defensive battles. If it comes down to a shootout Katella is in trouble. The Falcons have too much firepower to get outscored. CV gets the W.
Crescenta Valley 35 Katella 28
DIV 11
Muir (10-2) at Linfield Christian (9-3)
Many of the locals were hoping for a “Turkey Tussle” rematch in the Division 11 semi finals but Linfield Christian ruined that by beating Pasadena last week. Muir should have a clear path to the title. The Mustangs have more talent than Linfield and they beat Pasadena handily 33-0 while the Lions struggled to beat the Bulldogs 28-21. The long bus ride to Temecula won’t do Muir any favors but it isn’t anything the Stangs can’t overcome. Muir takes the lead early and holds on for the win.
Muir 27 Linfield Christian 21
DIV 12
Jurupa Hills (11-1) at El Monte (12-0)
Everybody was talking about El Monte-Rio Hondo Prep. That was going to be the game. The two teams were headed for a collison course in the semi finals. However Jurupa Hills said not so fast and here we are. Like El Monte Jurupa Hills has rolled over nearly all of its opponents. The Spartans did suffer one setback – a 35-27 loss to San Gorgonio in October – but other than that it’s been smooth sailing. If you wanted an RHP-EM showdown well this one might be better. You have to look it this way. Jurupa Hills beat the Kares, so the Spartans are better right? El Monte can’t take them for granted. Jesse Ceniceros will make sure that doesn’t happen. Lions to Finals.
El Monte 38 Jurupa Hills 31
DIV 13
Alhambra (12-0) at Ramona (10-2)
Alhambra has not only stunned the Almont now the Moors have the opportunity to shock the entire San Gabriel Valley. Ramona finished third in the River Valley and lost to the top 2 teams by the combined score of 85-20. The Moors meanwhile had a couple of close games in league with Montebello and Bell Gardens, but they destroyed everybody else in their path. Alhambra won’t stumble here. The Moors have their sights set on the Finals.
Alhambra 42 Ramona 14
el monte proved me wrong… I’d like to tip my hat to them and congratulate them in winning the CIF championship.
@ MaxPreps: I don’t know what you were reading; Ramona was 10-2 going into last night’s Division 13 semifinal game against Alhambra.
If you hate AHS, just be straight about it. You shouldn’t feel the need to spread misinformation in order to get your point across.
And, unfortunately for Alhambra, Ramona is now 11-2.
We are proud of our team. The Moors finished with a 12-1 record, which is the fifth-best in the 107 years that Alhambra High has fielded a varsity football team.
We’ll be back.
By the way, mighty Inglewood also lost.
Uh huh.. sure.
Fun Fact Check for y’all in gauging the La Serna vs San Jacinto game. Both teams faced a common opponent in Murrieta Mesa during the preseason.
La Serna 49 – Murrieta Mesa 19
San Jacinto 39 – Murrieta Mesa 27
I guess we’ll all know soon enough.
La Serna has a good chance of snagging a title this year, as the only team rated higher than them is Pacifica Oxnard, with a national/state ranking of 353/36…(La Serna comes in at 446/45). Alhambra, by comparison, gets to beat-up on Ramona tonight, a team that comes in with a pathetic 2-8 overall record and a Maxpreps rating of 7590/524….(Alhambra ranks at 3437/258) The Moors need to enjoy tonight’s charity win, because they will meet their maker in the title game, and that maker’s name is Inglewood, currently ranked 1291-110.
@wtf cancel yeah I’ve heard of SOP transfer yet Eric never sat out 5 games this year
Keep that same energy when time comes.
I have had three kids go through EMHS with one currently attending, also me and my wife graduating late 80s. Me and two of my boys played football there and this is the most proud I’ve heard alumni, staff, community and kids talk. It just sucks That there’s people talking bad on a kid that never played high school ball till he got her and was good. His guardian and pretty much brother come here what is he supposed to do? He loves the game wanted to play and got a opportunity. I read the article about him. And with other guys coming in from other schools what are the coaches supposed to do tell them no? As long and everything is done and they sit out or get cleared why complain? There’s NFL guys on our sidelines and Mexican adults cheering a African American kid they don’t know in El Monte stuff you you didn’t see just 10 years ago. If you’re other coaches or parents bad mouthing these kids and program, I feel sorry for you and your kids. Because this community is very proud of what EMHS football has been doing win it all or not we’ll remember team.
From T. Peterson: Well said.
Chuck Willig Pioneer HC was let go today. Jim Singheiser and Jude Oliva are duking it out for the job. Stay tuned.
From T. Peterson: What happened? Was he fired? I got it. He stepped down. Thanks
You could have had Norm Chow as your OC
and the results would have been the same.
GO LS!!
Los Altos is a joke the AD is the worst he only helps coaches, players, and parents he likes. My son told me they have the #1 ranked wrestler in California and the AD didn’t hire a coach so now LA has no wrestling team. A lot of boys wanted to join after football. Pathetic
Every school has illegal transfers, they just need a AD that looks the other way. NO SCHOOL does home visits.
If Los Altos had an OC they would be playing this week. All that talent did not get utilized well.
My words were “legal illegal.” I know they are approved by CIF but there’s still plenty of loopholes. Say I’m bitter or a hater all you want but don’t act like it’s not the truth.
Mead guy right? Two whole seasons get over it, obviously nothing illegal. Team is ready for whoever they put on the field. Going to be a good one.
Great point. You might be right OV was huge. It’s different playing against an offense like the DW you can’t rep it in practice.
He didn’t sit out. It’s all on the CIF website. EM can’t complain. They got “legal illegal” transfers too.
I give El Monte credit… great team. I think they go down this week. Just like last year, they go down in the semis from a team far east. 42-21 jurupa
where are all the great critics? no insults to Los Altos?
@goldbricke
I think the game against orange vista is a good gauge of the outcome of this game, OV was bigger n faster then El Monte but they beat them so we know they’ve faced a team like this
You’ve probably never heard of a SOP transfer.
@RHPdad Eric played with my son at La Serna his freshman year but transferred out
@Mr.Goldbricker Jurupa should be disqualified their QB is a illegal transfer, he still lives in haciend heights his uncle is head coach at Jurupa so hes using a address.
After doing some digging, Got the word on JH. Very athletic and good size. This is the type of team that could pose a threat. EM doesn’t have many weaknesses if I had to find one it would be the lack of big bodies but the bodies they do have get them job done. So, JH might be bigger but I truly doubt they’ve played a team like EM and the DW offense. You can’t cheat to stop Booth and if you do Cuevas is more than capable of keeping you honest. To beat EM, you probably have to jump out to big lead early get them out of the comfort of what they line to do. Also you can’t make mistakes I just don’t see JH playing a perfect game. EM wins this game and punches its ticket to the finals. 44-28
I say Alhambra makes it to the final. Then they gotta beat an Inglewood team that’s averaging 50pts a game and allowing only 7 a game. The dream season will end at 13-1. But might be wrong Inglewood might now make it. Lol.
You’re right two tough teams, but EM is tougher and my physical in my eyes. EM by 14+.
Em just barely beat the knights and RHP dismantled the knightS and Jurupa hills beat RHP. So if my math is correct JH beats EM 35-30. Two tough teams but someone has to lose. ……..
Actually, Alhambra had to come from 21 points behind in the second quarter to beat Montebello, 55-48. That was the closest we’ve come to losing so far this season.
Both the Montebello Oilers and the Bell Gardens Lancers were worthy opponents who gave us a serious test.
From T. Peterson: Yeah, got it.