MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

Bonita not only won the Serra League but the Bearcats won their first 11 games before falling in the playoffs to Edison. Charter Oak took second and Glendora finished third. Colony had to forfeit games due to sanctions and ended up 0-10 on paper, but is ready to go this year. Claremont brought in some transfers and had a good summer while Los Osos will need to get another win or two in league to break through.

Projected order of finish:

Bonita: Last Year 11-1 (5-0, 1st in Sierra) Head Coach Steve Bogan

Bonita lost a couple of Division 1 players last year to graduation in Dylan Robinson and Noah Mikhail but the Bearcats should have enough coming back to repeat. Quarterback Travis Lippert is back after throwing for 2,129 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. Joseph Lara, who can do some damage running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, returns as well. He ran for 858 yards and six scores. And he plays defense also where he had 53 total tackles last year at linebacker.

Jacob Maddox, son of former Monrovia head coach Ryan Maddox, will be at free safety. Last season he had 61 tackles and two interceptions. Defensive end Isaiah Lazarus, 50 tackles and 8 sacks last year, is a force up front and Parker Alexander is looking to have a big year in the secondary.

With the skill guys intact and a solid defense the Bearcats will be the team to reckon with in the Sierra.

Charter Oak: Last Year 8-3 (4-1, 2nd in Sierra) Head Coach Dominic Farrar

It seems like quarterback Corin Berry has been at Charter Oak for about eight years now. He broke on to the scene as a sophomore, had a break out year as a junior and now is heading into his senior year. Then came the Division 1 offers and now he is committed to Purdue. Last year Berry threw for 3,034 yards and 33 touchdowns. Running back Torry Huff rushed for 508 yards and six touchdowns last season and he’s back also. Antonio Reasby was on the receiving end of Berry’s tosses to the tune of 806 yards and five scores.

Defensively JD Sanchez will be at linebacker where last season he piled up 93 total tackles. Jacob Martinez will join Sanchez in the linebacking corp. Last season he racked up 79 tackles.

The Chargers have a majority of their core players returning. A playoff spot looks like a given. The real test for Charter Oak will be the date with Bonita. The winner of that game should win the league.

Colony: Last Year 0-10 (0-5, 6th in Sierra) Head Coach Brian Zavala

Colony, coming off a season that was derailed by CIF sanctions, is looking to get back on track. They have the talent to do it. The Titans don’t rebuild they reload. They have a big offensive line to plow the road in Maurice Doucette and Julian Trujillo. They will be protecting Jordan Juarez who will be in his first year at quarterback after playing safety last year. Running back Justin Merrin will be carrying the rock.

Defensively Rahmeer Henderson will be at outside linebacker and Frank Williams, a San Diego State commit, will be on the defensive line. Daylan Sumler, son of former Rosemead running back Deon Sumler, is slated to start at defensive back.

Colony is looking to make amends for last season. A playoff spot would be big. A league title would be huge.

Claremont: Last Year 4-6 (1-4, 5th in Sierra) Head Coach Jake Caron

Claremont has loaded up this summer. Quarterback Brandon Coronado transferred in from Glendora and is projected to be the starter. Tight end Max Leeper, a Dvision1 recruit, transferred back to Claremont from Rancho Cucamonga. Leeper was at Claremont as a freshman. Both players are expected to make big impacts. Gabriel Alvarado, who rushed for 287 yards last year and also had 271 yards receiving, returns to bolster the offensive attack. Doug Yegge will also be at receiver after racking up 494 yards and a couple of touchdowns last year.

Claremont has the goods to finish in the middle of the pack but could also knock off one of the top three teams to move into the Sierra League elite. The Wolfpack has made some upgrades. We’ll see if it pays off in the standings.

Glendora: Last Year 9-5 (3-2, 3rd in Sierra) Head Coach Ryan Lawrence. Lost in CIF Division 6 Finals to Murrieta Mesa

Glendora finished third in league a year ago was placed into Division 6 and then made a run all the way to the Finals before falling to Murrieta Mesa. Head Coach Brandon Roher stepped down after the season and was replaced by Ryan Lawrence. Lawrence’s son Sebastian Lawrence will be at quarterback after sharing time last year with Brandon Coronado. Coronado transferred to Claremont and now Lawrence is clearly number one. Nazir McGlothen ran for 268 yards last year and returns at running back. He will also play corner where he had 57 tackles last year.

Aidan Yamazaki and Aspen Suprenant will anchor the defense. Last season they combined for over 200 tackles with Yamazaki being credited with 149. Supremant also had 145 yards receiving.

The Tartans may have trouble cracking the top three but if they can secure a playoff spot another extended playoff run could follow.

Los Osos: Last Year 7-4 (2-3, 4th in Sierra) Head Coach Rudy Berumen

Los Osos has two key skill players coming back in quarterback Isaiah Guerrero and running back Evan Abein. Guerrero had over 500 yards passing last season while Abein ran for 550 yards and seven touchdowns. Kaidyn Garrota is also back to carry the ball. He rushed for 438 yards and five touchdowns last year. He’s a two-way player and racked up 71 total tackles last year.

Jacob Castro will play a key role on defense as well. Last year he had 51 tackles.

Los Osos’ biggest challenge is playing in the Pacific League where every team is going to bring it. The Grizzlies may have a tough time winning enough league games to grab a playoff spot.