By Tim Peterson
Pasadena, fresh off winning a CIF title, is looking to have another big season. The Bulldogs have several skill position players that have transferred in including quarterback Dutch Burbidge.
Burbidge, who transferred in from Glendora, can make all the throws and delivers with accuracy. Saturday at the 3rd and Long Spring League at Charter Oak Burbidge had a nice day and showed that he is ready to lead the Bulldogs into what could be another run for the title.
A quick look at the Pacific League will tell you that Muir, unbeaten in league last season, is the team to beat. But after that it’s anybody’s year. Burbank had a good season last year finishing second in the Pacific and is looking to improve and Burroughs has a new head coach after LaRon Johnson left after one season. Crescenta Valley made the playoffs last year but fell in the first round. Arcadia had a rough season going 2-5 in league finishing ahead of Hoover and Glendale. After Burbank, which was 6-1, Burroughs, Pasadena and Crescenta Valley all went 4-3. It could take just one key player to get one of those teams over the hump. Burbidge could be that guy for Pasadena.
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If you haven’t seen Cathedral quarterback Jaden Jefferson yet you might want to go check him out. Last season as a sophomore he threw for over 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns and also ran for close to 800 yards and scored four times. Saturday at Charter Oak he was slinging it and was clearly one of the most dynamic guys on the field. Jefferson may not be big in stature as he stands only 5-foot-9 but is a big threat for the Phantoms.
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Diamond Ranch should be just fine. After a tough year last season, 0-10, the Panthers are hoping to be blessed with maybe the most important thing in football this season – their health. “We just had so many injuries last year,” said Diamond Ranch head coach Chris Wiliams. “I really like where we’re at right now. Everybody is healthy and ready to go.” Williams is also pleased with the makeup of his team. “The good thing is most of these guys will be here for the next two years. We have a lot of sophomores and juniors.”
One guy Williams will be relying on to lead the way is quarterback Isaiah Salinas. He is the projected starter and should be on track to have a solid year. “He’s completely healthy now too,” Williams said. That’s the most important thing.
The biggest problem for the Panthers is the league they play in. With Northview, San Dimas, Baldwin Park and West Covina in the Valle Vista it’s a tough road to hoe. “If we can win a few of those non-league games and get in the playoffs we’ll be good,” Williams added.
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Good to see Keppel out doing work in passing League. The Aztecs hosted a passing tournament last summer and were out Saturday as well. Do they have alot to work on? Of course. But they’re on the right track. A good sign was the size of their coaching staff. There were at least four coaches (one head coach and three assistants) working with the team. That’s a good start.
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I heard through the football grapevine that I don’t show any love for Charter Oak. Not sure where that came from. We here at Mid Valley Sports have always liked covering the Chargers. At times we have fought over who covers their game. And they should be solid again this year. They have a Purdue commit in quarterback Corin Berry, a talented running back in Tory Huff and one of the best receivers in the valley in Antonio Reasby. Put it all together and there’s a good shot at a CIF playoff run.
Charter Oak has aways been a terrific program, historic really when you think of everything that the Chargers accomplished under the late great Lou Farrar.
Maybe they mistook me for somebody else…
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They’re a little bit out of our coverage area but I got a chance to see Loyola quarterback Matthew Smith Saturday. He has a cannon for an arm, and he was dropping dimes all over the place. This kid is the real deal. The only problem is the Loyola receivers need to be on point. The ball was hitting them where they least expected it…right in the hands.
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San Gabriel has hired a new head football coach. But I’ve been mandated (as usual) to not release it until it’s board appoved.
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Quick Notes:
The 3rd and Long Spring League will resume this Saturday at Baldwin Park High. BP head coach Robert Maxie is running the show. Give it a look if you get a chance. Lot of good quarterbacks.
Charter Oak hosted last Saturday but the real Charter Oak 7 on 7 tournament is Saturday May 17. Yes, I plan on being there showing more love to the Chargers.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter (X) @tspeterson40. Facebook-Tim Peterson.
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So it looks like based on most proposals for releaguing, the DRL is gone. ER most likely to the Almont, LS, SF, Cal, Whittier to the suburban super conference.
A-Town ? I don’t have much of an idea, but do you think there are lots of good and qualified coaches out there looking for a head job?
Bottom Line ‘not injured not playing correctly? What about the athletes that prepared, and then prepared more to prevent injuries;;; and they have very good fundamental technique? Ha funny
Typo correction. *There are about 50 schools*
That’s 5 schools. They help me are about 50 schools that get to vote. Not to mention those 4 schools probably don’t want to be leaguer with LS either
@fbfan all the schools in the league belong to the WUHSD, LS has enough power to keep all of them in check and keep things as is, LS itself has more power than Cal High, Whittier, Santa Fe and Pioneer combined. El Rancho is the only school in that league that is not part of the WUHSD and will be leaving the DRL soon.
@Anonymous,
If that were to happen then they would have to play as independent. Each school in the league placemat area votes on the releaguing process. I suggest taking a look at Robledo’s extensive coverage on releaguing
@fbfan it’s as simple as the district saying no we don’t want to make the move and it’s nixed.
They have been fighting that move for years, it would’ve happened years ago but they have enough influence to put the brakes on it.
@Anonymous,
La Serna does have a say but so does everyone else. I’m not saying La Serna doesn’t want to join the Gateway, but if even if they didn’t, there are about 30-40 other schools/principals who think they should.
If La Serna has any say in it there will be no merging with the gateway, they are to comfy where they are at now.
When there’s a talent gap, the last thing you want to do is create 1 on 1 match ups because you’re going to lose them! Teams with low talent are better off running some version of a double wing, wing-t, or military style triple option. There’s a reason why you don’t see the lower level college teams running air raid, run and gun type offenses.
Woe ……I mean wow
SG already made the hire of the former Alhambra dc and I believe current girls flag football coach at Ramona Convent. They had the chance to hire some big time coaches but couldn’t or didn’t want to do it
Were do we see the proposed new league alignment
I believe keppel can be successful but you have to get creative scheme wise because of talent by spreading everyone out and creating one on one match ups is what they need to do also keep it simple everyone just caught up in playing traditional football
How do you build a mega conference with the Pacific League, Rio Hondo, Almont, and Mission Valley?
Keppel like Tennessee ? You have to have dudes lol…and dont expect rocket science from that Sierra Vista tree , based on recruiting best players . Rosemead made the mistake of hiring from that tree 3 years ago and full downward spiral has ensued….. can’t believe they are going to run back that regime for another year .
Please SG, NO!!! Don’t hire from Alhambra.
@RHL,
Word is that the RHL and the Pacific will combine to make a super conference. Now you’ll have Monrovia and Muir finally playing each other which only makes sense. And then TC and Blair can play schools like Hoover and Glendale. Makes sense. Other leagues combining are the MVL and Almont. The Del Rio, 605, Mid Cities, and Gateway all are going to combine for a crazy conference close to 20 teams.
Poly has left Rio Hondo league and joined Gold Coast league with Rio Brentwood and
Viewpoint . Rio and Brentwood very solid at top of the league, so playoffs still look out of reach for next few years .
RHL is weakened with Blair in the mix , but everyone gets a win and a chance to play the 2s and 3s
It’s too bad about D-Ranch’s injury problem of last season, but like I’ve always said, if you’re not getting injured, you’re not playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I don’t like those who use injuries as an excuse, and I know Williams is not doing that, but the fact that football causes more strains and breaks than any other sport means you’ve got to have depth. Having depth also gives your guys breathers, and that helps win games. Easier said than done, particularly in today’s sports environment, but getting participation is KEY.
@ Tim Peterson, any more news on the changes happening in the Rio Hondo League? Did Pasadena Poly leave the league with the news that Blair was intending to field a 11 man Varsity team in the Fall? Do you have any info if Blair is still going to try and field a full team?
From T. Peterson: Blair said they were ready to field an 11-man team in the fall but then wanted it to be a JV team. But apparently CIF has a rule that if you’re only going to have one team it has to be a varsity team. So as of now it’s not confirmed. It looks like they won’t be joining the Rio Hondo yet. As for Poly yes they are leaving the Rio Hondo. It looks like they will be joining Rio Hondo Prep, Viewpoint and Brentwood in the Gold Coast League. They are out even if Blair doesn’t return.
@ Tim: Perhaps they confused you with Fred Robledo Jr., who has pretty much set the standard for snarkiness among sports journalists in the San Gabriel Valley.
Rumor has it’s the former DC at Alhambra who got hired at SG I would say a disappointing hire
Is the Mid gonna cover Banana Baseball? Banana Football would be great too. Catching and throwing while on 10 foot stilts, great optics.
Comparing MK to Tennessee. Who’s throwing the ball? Who’s catching the ball? Who’s holding a block for 3 seconds? Double tight and run the ball run the clock and try to wear out the other team as much as you can.
Isn’t the keppel coach a former Matty V assistant from sierra vista ? Comes down to if they have lineman or not. If I was keppel I would spread out the field like a Tennessee does and basically a make it a man on man game
No update on SG coaching search
From. T. Peterson: San Gabriel hired a head coach. It should be announced April 29th.