Mission Valley League
No time to waste for the Knights.
1.) Arroyo Knights
Head Coach: Jim Singiser
Staff: Chris McMillan OC, Randy Twist, Oscar Lopez, David Pasos, Kenny Andrew, Rosie Penaloza.
Last Year: 8-3
Last 5 Years: 30-26 overall, 18-7 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 First Round: Lost Whittier Christian 27-24
1st Down: Is this the year Arroyo has been looking to? Several starters are back including quarterback Steven Rivera, running back Mikey Vasquez and receiver Anthony Miller. The Knights have been busy all summer throwing in at least three passing leagues per week. The defense should be okay as well with returners Sam “Red” Torres and Mike Amaya.
2nd Down: Rivera is the key. If he can stay healthy and equal last year’s performance, the Knights will be fine. With Hunter Duran and Robert Thome joining Miller, the offense is scary.
3rd Down: The loss to Whittier Christian last year will serve as motivation entering the 2010 post season. A first round playoff loss won’t wash in 2010.
4th Down: Do the Knights have enough along the offensive line? Torres will play tight end and be joined by Chris Gumaer, Omar Partida and Ruben Ruiz but the loss of Matt Phillip and Javier Lozano will hurt.
Game Plan: McMillan will open up the playbook for Rivera. His left arm could carry the Knights on a long ride.
Non League Schedule:. Montebello, at Temple City, at Montebello, Hart, La Canada
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2.) Rosemead Panthers
Head Coach: Matt Koffler
Staff: Marc Paramo DC, Pat Ahhing, Stephen Barela, Alex Oviedo, Jesse Preciado, Larry Flores, Gabe Arellano.
Last Year: 5-6
Last 5 Years: 39-18 overall, 21 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 First Round: Lost San Marino 42-20
1st Down: Despite a below .500 season a year ago, Matt Fregoso was a nice surprise stepping in for the injured Joey Diaz. Fregoso is back and so is the running game. With Koffler, it’s really no secret- pound the ball and play good defense and it’s all good. Expect the same in 2010.
2nd Down: Matt Macias will only get better behind center. In Koffler’s offense he won’t have to have to throw it a lot but when he does he’ll need to make them count.
3rd Down: Andrew Gibson, a transfer from Temple City, will play a big role offensively and defensively. Gibson will play linebacker and spell Fregoso. Matt Eddy will join Gibson on the line backing corp.
4th Down: Line play shouldn’t be a problem. The Panthers have some size in Luis Garcia, Mike Lopez and Angelo Felipe. Koffler is still waiting on the final word but construction on the field track could force Rosemead to play all of its games on the road.
Game Plan: Pound Fregoso and Gibson and get the big play out of Macias. The Panthers will need to win some 10-7 and 14-6 games. Kicker Chris Cancino could be an important piece.
Non League Schedule: Montebello, at Rowland, at San Marino, San Gabriel, at Temple City.
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3.) El Monte Lions
Head Coach: Joel Sanchez
Staff: Brian Tabatabai OC, Miguel Zarate, Davis Gasca, Amilcar Archila, Gilbert Garcia, Gabe Bencomo.
Last Year: 1-9
Last 5 years: 18-33 overall, 8-17 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 2008 First Round: Lost Monrovia 34-7
1st Down: From the coaching staff to the players, El Monte is looking to forget about 2009. A 1-9 season left a bad taste in their mouths and the Lions need redemption. After a playoff appearance in 2008, that was the last thing they expected.
2nd Down: Offense looks set with quarterback Manuel Santa Cruz, running back Michael Jimenez and receivers Memo Silva and Conor Salazar. El Monte will score some points.
3rd Down: The Lions need to improve defensively. Sanchez has a lot of players that are only going one way so that should help avoid injury and fatigue. Look for big years from Michael Bustillos and Kevin Avila on the D-line and Justin Viescas at linebacker.
4th Down: With El Monte it’s not the talent. It’s the attitude. If the Lions believe they can win, they will. A few losses early could snowball and ruin the year.
Game Plan: With the new Mid-Valley configuration, every game is important. The Lions could go 8-2 (3-2 in league) and miss the playoffs. They need to beat either Arroyo or Rosemead. The way to do that is play good defense.
Non League Schedule: La Puente, Covina, at Gladstone, at Wilson, Chino
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4.) South El Monte Eagles
Head Coach: Ray Hernandez
Staff: Efren Graban OC, Gabriel Ortiz, Sam Macias, Junior Hernandez, Anthony Chuan.
Last Year: 3-8
Last 5 Years: 30-27 overall, 18-7 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 First Round: Lost Monrovia 40-7
1st Down: Because of a rocky start, everybody forgets the Eagles made the playoffs last year. However an eight loss season isn’t what Coach Ray Hernandez had in mind.
2nd Down: Defense is a concern. South allowed over 40 points five times including once over 60. They’ll have to turn that around.
3rd Down: Dominic Munoz will get the bulk of the carries but Billy Valencia will see time as well. Anthony Jimenez is a capable quarterback.
4th Down: The O-Line led by Franke Vinegas and Jimmy Martinez is known as the “Beast Squad”.
Game Plan: There are no home run hitters like Tommy Cogburn or Lee Aguirre. The defense will have to make plays. Venegas and Valencia will go both ways.
Non League Schedule: San Dimas, Workman, at Nogales, Temple City, Bell Gardens.
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5.) Mt. View Vikings
Head Coach: James Wilson
Staff: Warren Ortloff OC, Jorge Felix DC, Miguel Soza, Jerry Rivas, Angel Cortez, Robert Robles, Frank Trejo.
Last Year: 0-10
Last 5 Years: 10-39 overall, 3-22 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 1997 First Round: Lost Montebello 37-26
1st Down: The Vikes have decent numbers. Depth has always been a problem for View.
2nd Down: Wilson is breaking in a new offense with Jason Cordero at quarterback running a double wing T. Jerry Ponce and Alonzo Mora will get a lot of carries.
3rd Down: Can the Vikes learn a brand new offense quickly? When you go 0-10 change is necessary.
4th Down: The Vikes should be much improved. Big George Hernandez says they’ll win five games. That’s pretty ambitious but even a three win year would be a nice start.
Game Plan: Run the double wing T to perfection and hope to surprise some people. Non league is important for the Vikes. Losing four games early could derail the season.
Non League Schedule: at Bassett, at Sierra Vista, Hoover, Keppel, at Bell-Jeff.
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6.) Gabrielino Eagles
Head Coach: Harold Sanin
Staff: Ben Macias DC, Jaime Peters, Jesus Moreno, David Rubalcava, Michael Humphreys
Last Year: 3-7
Last 5 Years: 12-36-1 overall, 7-18 league
Last Playoff Appearance: 2004 First Round: Lost South Hills 35-7
1st Down: The Eagles have a new stadium but it hasn’t translated to wins and losses. They haven’t been smiling at Gabrielino since the home games were played at East LA College and Vince Lopez was at the helm.
2nd Down: Quarterback Isaac Garcia is being asked to jumpstart an offense that averaged just over 10 points per contest a year ago. Ernie Figueroa and Erik Rosales will be needed to man the trenches.
3rd Down: Defense hasn’t been much better. Once a staple in the Tongva Nation, the Eagles gave up over 25 points per game last year including three games in which they allowed over 30.
4th Down: It used to be that the San Gabriel football player gravitated towards Gabrielino. No more. With a wide open offense and recent success, SG is now the place to go.
Game Plan: If the Eagles can beat South and View they might have a shot at third. But that’s provided they get by El Monte.
Non League Schedule: at Cerritos (Gahr), San Marino, Keppel, at Azusa (Citrus College), at Roybal.
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