MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

I was bummed that Northview isn’t going to Vegas this year. I was actually going to make the trek in August but the Vikings weren’t able to work out the scheduling. I won’t be playing the slots at South Point on Week 0 but I may be at the Northview game.

There’s no Vegas on the docket but as usual there are a lot of other things on the Vikings schedule. Thousand Oaks (8-3 last year) in Week 0, followed by La Habra, Torrance and La Serna. A nice local game with Covina follows with teams like Bonita, Colony and Charter Oak in the second half of the season. This is arguably the best schedule in the area.

Speaking of Covina it seems like a good spot for Chris Williams. Williams has had several successful stops. He was the head coach at Baldwin Park and Monrovia and was instrumental in helping develop quarterback Steven Comstock as the offensive coordinator at Northview. Williams had a couple of challenging seasons at Diamond Ranch but Covina has the personnel that Williams can work with. He’s familiar with the Colts’ program and will get the support that is needed for success. Former head coach Joe Brown has already welcomed Williams into the fold. The Colts will be off and running right out of the game with local matchups with La Puente and Maranatha.

Ran into Charter Oak head coach Dominic Farrar at the Charter Oak – Arcadia baseball game last week. I asked him who his quarterback is going to be now that Corin Berry is off to Purdue. I didn’t get an answer but I did get a wry smile. “I can’t tell you yet.” Again, with the smile. Didn’t hear it from the coach…yet but am hearing through the football grapevine that they’re going to get somebody. A transfer? Maybe. In house? Could be. But somebody is coming. And I mean SOMEBODY.

Coaching changes (and rumors of coaching changes) are so common now that South El Monte head coach Frank Gallardo sent me a text to tell me that…wait for it…he’s staying. Social Media, our message boards, and all the buzz was that he was stepping down. It made sense. He just led the Eagles to their first ever CIF Title and he has been in coaching game for the better part of two decades. So he wanted to clear the air. He did, he’s back and the Eagles are better for it. And win or lose next year the rumors are sure to follow.

Hector Spathias at El Monte is retiring – from teaching that is. However he will be back as the head coach of the Lions for at least one more year. “I got talked into coaching,” he said.

Just when he thought he was out they pulled him back in.

Spathias also gave me some info on the releaguing process and what that will look like for the Mission Valley League. He laid it all out for me but it seems that everything is not finalized yet. It will be posted at a later date.

If anybody has the scoop on the rest of the leagues new format send it my way. I’m still trying to figure it out. Help me help you.

Big George Hernandez suggested that they want to pull Matt Koffler back in at Rosemead. I ran into former Rosemead running back Jose Samano, who is now a teacher at the school, and he said he wanted to get Koff back as well. It would be a great hire. Rosemead needs a shot in the arm. I’m already not buying it though and then Big George says his Twitter (X) account was hacked. Of course it was. Koff isn’t walking through that door anytime soon. The Panthers aren’t getting him but they do need to get somebody…and soon.

Is it still too early to post that Ayala hired a new head coach? I know who it is…I think everybody does…but we’ve been told to wait for the announcement. Well…we’re waiting!

I never would have written this five years ago but doesn’t it seem like Pioneer has become a relevant football program? Looking forward to seeing what Andre Ortega can do.

If you have doubts about Austin Montoya being the right man for the job at St. Paul just spend ten minutes talking to him. He’ll have you ready to put on the helmet and pads and run through a brick wall.

San Dimas and Cantwell are close to announcing their new head coaches. Again with the grapevine.

Look for longtime SGV assistant John Luque to jump back into the coaching game soon.

Speaking of Big George have you seen all of the Q&A’s he’s been posting with the new head coaches? Dude has been on fire. And if Koff does come back then yes he’ll be doing another one.

That’s my principle.

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