MidValleySports.Com

T-Minus-110 Days until “The Mid Valley Classic”

Good Afternoon!

Good Question: Is high school football, at least locally, entering a new golden age?

Today in May, was a huge passing tournament in the Jewel City, featuring food, fans, media and buzz. Football has become an intoxicant for so many.

I’m gonna go with the Magic tonight…Call it a HUNCH!

Oh, I’ve always been a fan of Josue Blanco…the former Mt. View lineman took good care of me today.

Then I made the mistake of mentioning how the 2005 team, his senior season, was only one game away from making the playoffs and he gave a painful smile.

Last Add Josue Blanco: In Week Ten of 2005 Mt. View was 2-2, a victory over its final opponent would put them in the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The opponent was Arroyo. The final score was 42-0 Knights. Dominic Salmon fired five touchdown passes, Sergio Leon caught three of them.

Note to Self: Just keep your mouth shut when you remember the past…It doesn’t always make people feel good.

The question put to Muir OC Antyone Sims was this:

The Mid: So Coach, how often do you think about the two point conversion against Charter Oak?

Sims: Every day. All the time. On a play like that you’ve got to go with Jarron (Williams).

The game in question was last year’s first round CIF match between the two schools at Charter Oak, where the Mustangs rallied to make it 20-19 with six seconds remaining. With the kicking game struggling, the decision was to put it in Jarron Williams’ hands and the team’s best player came up inches short of the season’s biggest upset.

No one could put a glove on the Chargers the rest of the way as they rolled over their next three opponents (West Covina, California, Diamond Ranch) with 25, 28, and 21 point margins.

“We had a lot of young guys last year, but we’re feeling good right now,” said Sims as Muir beat Arcadia and advanced to the semifinals of today’s Glendale/Crescenta Valley Passing Tournament.

The new quarterback will be Jeff Davis and covering his blind side will be the highly touted Cameron Palmer at left tackle. Also figuring into the mix is the very large, very gifted, and very personable Shawn Wilcox.

Add the newly arrived Dai Dai McFadden, who can carry, catch, and defend, and Mustang optimism is understandable.

During the course of the afternoon Mustang HC Ken Howard donned something akin to an urban sombrero and relaxed in a beach chair.

“He’s big timing me,” said Sims smiling. “What’s up with that?”

“This has the feel of a mid-July tournament,” said Arcadia assistant Randy Backus of the gathering of schools at Glendale High School. “Ever since CIF got rid of the association rule, you have to answer the question on Saturday mornings: ‘You’re going where?’”

While football may be starting early these days, it’s clear the Apaches are headed in the right direction. Myles Carr looks solid at quarterback and should only get better.

“Taylor Lagace looks positively Desmond Reed-like,” said an area coach familiar with the San Gabriel Valley.

“Lagace is looking really good,” confirmed Arcadia HC Jon Dimalante.

(Dimalante will be a guest on “The Mid Valley Sports Show” June 8th)

On the defensive side of the ball everyone is feeling good about the return of linebacker A.J. Rail, who missed all of 2009 with a knee injury.

Interesting note concerning Arcadia is where they will be playing Monrovia this season. Last year’s game scheduled for Salter Stadium was moved to the heart of darkness…Fullerton High School…because of the air quality due to the late summer fires.

This season they are scheduled to meet at Monrovia on September 17th, Week Two. Except both schools are in the process of re-constructing its stadiums.

Dimalante said he expected to spend the first month of the season on the road and his schedule reflects it. The Apaches first home game will be on October 8th against Muir.

Outside of the Arcadia contest, Monrovia will spend the first part of the 2010 season on the road as well and won’t play at home until October 8th against Paramount. If construction rolls, no problem…If it doesn’t…Where would they go? What day would they play it on?

New HC Paul Schilling unveiled the 2010 model of the Crescenta Valley Falcons or at least a preview of. Zac Wilkerson looked good at quarterback. The junior-to-be showed a solid arm. Also returning and looking bigger than an oak tree is linebacker Bryan Luna, who was the team’s second leading tackler in 2009. He also recorded eight quarterback sacks.

Last Add Housing: Arcadia is going through construction. Burroughs and Burbank are going through construction. Hoover, Glendale, and CV all share a stadium. I think I even saw a few things being moved around Muir’s campus… You’re going to need good tires to work the Pacific League this season.

Baldwin Park HC James Heggins will be live in studio this Tuesday night on “The Mid Valley Sports Show”…

Far be it from me to tell Burroughs HC Keith Knoop what to do, but they need to go linear more often with Lucas Yanez this fall. Yanez, going into his third season as the starter, made some excellent throws downfield against Hart Saturday morning.

“I don’t know,” said one assistant after three players collided on a pass play. “I think if we end up having to wear the padded head gear during the passing leagues it might just end up making it even more physical.”

When in Glendale get the Triple Rueben at Billy’s Delicatessen. It features pastrami, corn beef, and turkey… Makes me hungry just thinking about it…

Skip the sauerkraut though…

Okay, skip that whole hunch thing about the Magic.

Stay thirsty my friends…

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