MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

“The show must go on, let’s rock!” Damien quarterback Isaiah Arriaza posted on X. “Unfinished business!” Damien linebacker Caden Arellano added, also on the social media site X. These two players may have just saved the season for the Spartans. What could have turned into a train wreck now could be a pleasure cruise.

When Damien head coach Matt Bechtel suddenly resigned last week it could have set the program back several years. Whatever the reasons for the resignation, and the rumors have been flying, it could have been a disaster. Especially with opening night just a few weeks away. We’ve seen it happen before. Head Coach leaves and 15 players follow him out the door. But with their offensive leader Arriaza and their defensive standout Arellano vowing to stay the Spartans have stayed on track. The players that may have been considering leaving now will stay following the example of these two, who are arguably the best players on the team.

When a coach steps down, especially unexpectedly, the sharks begin to circle. You can bet that as soon as the announcement came that Bechtel was out, other coaches were in – the players DMs that is. Everybody from here to San Diego was likely blowing up their phones. But these two didn’t budge and the crisis was averted. Speaking of San Diego the Spartans did lose one player – to San Marcos High School in San Diego County. Wide receiver Elijah Bechtel is transferring to San Marcos. But considering that he’s the coach’s son, that’s to be expected.

James Stewart, who was the DC last year, has taken over as the Interim head coach. He knows the program, the players and is a solid coach. It should be a smooth transition. With him, Arraiza and Arellano, everything should be A-OK. I hope so. I have Damien ranked number 2 in my Preseason Top 12.

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I knew about Charter Oak’s Corin Berry and Legend Lyons (cool name). I knew Marquis Bradley came back from Ontario Christian and of course I know all about LaVar Arrington II. Everybody does. All of these guys are D1 commits. But now, in the summer passing circuit, receiver Antonio Reasby is showing out as well. Reasby, a junior, made all of the plays last week as the Chargers won the Surf City Tournament in Huntington Beach. Charter Oak has turned a few heads lately with their run through May, June and July in t-shirts and shorts.

I’m hearing from a few skeptics that this will change when the helmets and pads come on. Will the Chargers be able to match up physically along the lines against bigger opponents? We’ll see but they check all of the boxes in the skill position category. I got them at 7. Is that too low?

The Chargers will be tested especially in their own league. With CO facing off against Glendora, Bonita, Colony and Los Osos, the Sierra League is a death march.

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Who’s going to win the Mission Valley? That’s the question that keeps popping up this summer. Is this the year Arroyo comes back to the pack? They have a new head coach in Pete Moye after Johnny Argo left after just one year. The Knights went 1-4 at their own Tournament – the SGV Shootout – but lost a couple of pool play games by just one point and fell to Santa Fe who was the Silver Bracket runner up. The Knights did go 5-1 at the Mt. View Tournament earlier this month. One former MVL assistant, who shall remain anonymous, told me that this is the year Arroyo could lose to Mt. View. I won’t go that far. The Vikings may surprise some people but I don’t see them beating Arroyo. If I had to pick somebody right now to win the league it would be South El Monte.

The Eagles, if everybody stays healthy, should finish ahead of Arroyo and yes…Mt. View. On the bright side though for the View and Arroyo, their new stadiums look great.

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I still say Warren-Downey is the best high school football rivalry in So Cal. The atmosphere is always electric whether the game is at Downey, a nine iron away at Warren or at SoFi Stadium where it was played last year. This year will be no different with both teams featuring Division 1 quarterbacks. Downey’s Oscar Rios and Madden Iamaleava of Warren can both throw darts. Iamaleava is the brother of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava who also played at Warren. Circle October 25 on your calendar. This year it’s at Warren. Word to the wise – get there early.

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Pasadena is set to make the biggest turnaround in the history of high school football. Ok that’s hyperbole. How about this? The Bulldogs will be much better than last year. Pasadena was 0-10 last season. This was an example of all of the players following the head coach out the door. Ron Jones, who was an assistant at Pasadena two years ago under Dejuan Shamburger, and the DC at Burroughs last year, is back at Pasadena as head coach. Shamburger, who had stepped down as HC is back as well as an assistant on Jones’ staff. And the players came back too. Quarterback Hype Grand (another cool name) has had a great summer and has several targets to throw to. The Bulldogs made it to the finals of the SGV Shootout and appear to be on their way back.

Muir is the team to beat in the Pacific and Crescenta Valley has looked good as well. Defending League champion Burroughs lost some players but will still be in the mix. If Pasadena can jump up and bite somebody a fourth place or even third place finish is within its grasp. Arcadia will be in the hunt as well.

Pacific note: Pasadena (Jones), Arcadia (Eric Elias), Burroughs (LaRon Johnson) and Burbank (Hector Valencia) all have new head coaches.

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Speaking of new head coaches did you know Pomona still hasn’t named one? An announcement is expected by the end of July.

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No I don’t think San Dimas will run the spread as HC Mark Holman told me at the Charter Oak Tournament when the Saints went on a run. That being said with guys like Julian Vigil and Brandon Meredith you’re going to see a lot more than three yards and a cloud of dust. They’ll be fun to watch. I think they’re ready to crack my Top 12.

Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter (X) @tspeterson40 or Facebook – Tim Peterson