By Tim Peterson
If you would have told me a couple of weeks ago that Alhambra would lose two of its last three games and still make the playoffs I would have asked you what you were drinking. But that’s exactly what has happened.
The Moors lost to San Gabriel 21-13 in overtime Friday night. They also lost to Schurr two weeks ago and went 2-3 in the Almont League. But San Gabriel and Montebello also went 2-3 in league creating a three-way tie for third place. The Moors beat Montebello with a furious rally but the Oilers beat San Gabriel. All three teams were beating each other The only teams they couldn’t beat were Bell Gardens and Schurr who finished one-two in the Almont.
After a series of coin flips Alhambra came out on top and secured the playoff berth. Now we wait until Sunday to see what division the Moors are placed in. With an overall record of 4-6 it won’t be very high.
The Rio Hondo League had a similar scenario. Monrovia won the league going 5-0 but after that it was a crapshoot. South Pasadena, San Marino and La Canada all finished 3-2 in a dead heat for second place. The Rio Hondo doesn’t determine winners by coinflips but instead the tie is decided by the use of a scoring differential between the three teams involved. This established San Marino as the league’s second place team. The third-place finish was determined by head-to-head competition, which resulted in South Pasadena being declared as the third-place finisher.
La Canada, which battled Monrovia down to the final seconds before falling by a touchdown, is left in fourth place. The Spartans undoing was a 41-35 loss to South Pasadena two weeks ago, the week after the 42-35 loss to Monrovia. That’s a tough pill to swallow for LC. That being said, with the CIF format, the Spartans could still get in the post season.
In the Mission Valley League all we know is that Arroyo and El Monte are in as 1 and 2. South El Monte, Gabrielino and Rosemead all finished 2-3. We’ll have to wait to see how that plays out. Rosemead lost its last three games.
Speaking of El Monte credit to Hector Spathias and staff for guiding the Lions to the playoffs in their first year on the job.
**
If there’s a tougher player in the area than El Rancho’s Angel Diaz I haven’t seen him. This kid was bloodied, battered and bruised Thursday night in the win over Cal and he just kept coming. He played running back and grinded out yards, he played linebacker and delivered bone jarring tackles. He also was sick with the flu the day of the game but he never left the field and did everything that his coaches asked and then some. Not sure if there was any truth to the rumor that Diaz was seen directing traffic in the parking lot after the game.
**
Regardless of where they are placed Northview is going to be a problem. The Vikings absolutely dismantled San Dimas Friday night. With a solid offensive/ defensive line, a returning quarterback and a pair of explosive running backs to go with a talented receiving corp, Northview is going to be a problem. Angel Barraza is one of the best two-way players in the area.
**
Charter Oak went 30-0 as a program this year. The Varsity, JV and Freshman teams all went 10-0. I’m not one to project what division every team will land in the playoffs but with an undefeated record in a competitive league like the Mountain West the Chargers could be as high as four. They have plenty of weapons and even in an upper division the Chargers could make a run.
One matchup I’d like to see is Charter Oak-Pasadena. A couple weeks ago the Twitter warriors argued who would win between the two. I ran a Twitter poll and with 302 votes cast Pasadena got the nod 55% to 45%. I agree. If they matched up I’d go Pasadena close – 31-28, something like that. But nobody is blowing anybody out. This one would be fun to watch. It probably won’t happen but cool to think about.
Pasadena outscored its Pacific League opponents 248-28. So there is that.
**
Speaking of coaching successes Sierra Vista went 0-8 last year and just finished 7-3 and in second place in the Mt. Baldy League under first year head coach Jesse Ceniceros. Haven’t we seen this before from Ceniceros? The Dons, depending on where they land, could make a significant run in the playoffs.
**
Gladstone, in its last game ever against Azusa, beat the Aztecs 12-6 Friday night. What a curtain call. The Gladiators and the Aztecs fittingly finished tied for first place at 5-1 in the Montview.
**
Angel Diaz just made another tackle.
Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40. Facebook-Tim Peterson.
@ Anonymous, Truth & Pairings: All of you are right. My philosophy has always been that teams with losing records should not be in the playoffs, and certainly not teams which have losing records in league play. CIF Southern Section’s new format doesn’t reward excellence, but instead penalizes it at times. This system clearly rewards mediocrity or worse.
At least Alhambra earned a playoff berth last season with a 3-2 Almont League record. (And, we finished in second place because of a three-way tie and coin flips.) But now that we’re in the playoffs (with a losing record) this year, I hope that we win. If they give you an opportunity, take advantage of it.
However, this system, from the creation of playoff divisions after the end of the regular season to the playoff seedings, should be trashed as soon as the post-season ends.
Great point!!!!
Having compromising pictures of CIF commissioners paid off! SD got a 6th seed, a home game and possible home game in the second round with an at large berth. I’m not complaining but very surprised. I guess the key to get good seedlings is to lose to Los Altos!
@TimPeterson. Got to agree that kid Angel Barraza is a great player. That’s all I heard on the PA during the game. We were a little banded up with our running back out. But we got a chance to beat WC.
EM staff did their thing finishing second in league and making the playoffs. But the old Mtn View coach that never made the playoffs there made it at EM without #44 he also did it on a shorten off season because of covid. Also this team isn’t the early 2010s EM they have a winning mindset after the last three years being pretty successful.
I agree with your comments applauding the kids , but let’s dig deeper. Division 14 is dominated by SGV teams Bassett and league champ Garey both D14…….understand this means you are in the 7th percentile of high school teams …. this is not good. Releaguing and grouping all bad teams together with playoff format allows administrators to wait until July to hire coach and think that is acceptable… “ We made the playoffs”
I’d be happy to coach anywhere , but not if they hire me in July
This is why SGV teams dominate D14 , Rosemead in D14 with home game vs -50 Silver Valley ????
It’s competitive equity ; they have stated that their goal is to have close games . And not announcing divisions prior to pairings allows for gerrymandering that cannot be questioned. It’s a new world all around
There’s a Rascals a little further down the street with better pregame offerings, at least let them eat well before the pasting !
congrats to Bassett for making playoffs. When people were putting them down and out cuz Spathais left for El Monte. They made a good run in league. Not saying they will win division just saying the coaches and players should be proud of themselves after a late start in June.
Congrats to Spathais and El Monte job well done!!!
CIF has the absolute worst playoff format ever! What are those morons doing, the fact that they keep rewarding teams that can’t even win league games by giving them home games and high seeds in lower divisions. No rhyme or reason, seems like major favors going on down there….
No team with a losing record should ever make the playoffs… that’s bs.
In division 13, CIF has arranged for Alhambra to be swatted out of its misery by playing fellow Almont combatant San Gabriel. Also in division 13, Pioneer will travel to Torrance to play the division’s top team, Bishop Montgomery. Note to the Titans: there is a Wendy’s restaurant right next to BMHS, and I recommend stopping there for a last meal before the execution.
A great deal has been said about CIF’s new playoff system, but allow me to offer that teams with a losing record, or with a negative Calpreps power rating should never be considered for the postseason. Inclusion of these types of programs disparages the idea of a championship tournament.
Thats fine with me. Low level games are often the best games.
The greatest possible matchup in division 14 would be Alhambra vs Pioneer for all the marbles…and I do mean marbles, because both teams would do better in that activity than in football.