{"id":2015,"date":"2009-07-26T21:57:19","date_gmt":"2009-07-27T04:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=2015"},"modified":"2009-07-27T11:15:16","modified_gmt":"2009-07-27T18:15:16","slug":"whos-ahead-at-the-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=2015","title":{"rendered":"Who’s Ahead at the Dead?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sgv<\/a>\u00a0By Tim Peterson<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We\u2019ve entered the dead period. No it isn\u2019t the \u201cDead Zone\u201d as depicted in the Stephen King novel and it has nothing to do with a Grateful Dead comeback. The dead period is that three week span, usually the first three weeks of August, in which the high school football players get a break before coming back for three weeks of practice and then begin the real season in September. If they have a good year they won\u2019t take off the pads until December.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 They\u2019ve already spent countless hours in the weight room, ran drills in spring practice and participated in numerous passing league competitions in June and July. So what do we know so far? What do we know before they have even strapped on the helmet and pads?<\/p>\n

\"sgv<\/a>\u00a0Well we know Arroyo is really good. We knew the Knights would be, but with their performances at the Bonita Tournament and their own SGV shootout, Arroyo could be the class of the Mid Valley Division. Quarterback Steven Rivera has shown poise rarely seen in a sophomore and Chris Rodriguez and Jeff Salazar have proven to be nice targets. Mike Chavez looks like a beast on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 Rosemead has a new quarterback in Matt Macias but the same tight end in Luis Diaz. Greg Parham and Conrado Simpson have been impressive so far this summer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 El Monte has numbers and quarterback Quang Phong. Coach Joel Sanchez feels he has a team that can build on last year\u2019s playoff squad.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We know South El Monte has a new coach in Ray Hernandez and has lost a lot to graduation. But we\u2019ve learned to not doubt the South so we won\u2019t start now.<\/p>\n

\"sgv<\/a>\u00a0 We know Monrovia has signal caller Nick Bueno back and he has been working hard all summer. Josh Lowden and DJ Cole have the Wildcats thinking Rio Hondo League title.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 There is a buzz in Temple City. After Coach Randy Backus was unceremoniously dumped and there was no immediate replacement, things looked dim for the green and gold. But Anthony White took over and the players have come out in droves. \u201cMad\u201d Max Ruckle will be running the ball behind a capable offensive line.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 In San Marino, the Titans will be looking to get the ball to Stevie Yortsos as much as possible. Joe Forgatch is the quarterback and Mike Mooney is the full time offensive coordinator. We\u2019re hearing rumblings of Yortsos in a ghost package. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We know about Conor Bednarski in South Pasadena but we don\u2019t know if the Tigers have enough.<\/p>\n

\"sgv<\/a>\u00a0 Baldwin Park looks good in the Valle Vista. James Heggins has lot of guys \u201cworking their butts off\u201d and the Braves should make a push. Keep an eye on Mario Rodriguez- according to Heggins there\u2019s nothing he can\u2019t do. Manny Salcedo has replaced Andy Salcido at quarterback and Heggins informed us that Christian Lazaro could be a D-1 kid.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 Gladstone seems to be the darlings in the Montview. Quarterback Paul Flores is six foot four and full of muscle. We know that Tip Sanders is a good coach but we also know that Duarte needs players. Azusa is looking to retain its title and the rest of the league is anybody\u2019s guess.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We know Covina and San Dimas will be in the mix according to coaches Daryl Thomas and Bill Zernickow. Jim Arellanes has some holes to fill at Northview but he does have running back Kamaron Germany and Frank Martinez returning. Northview had some moments at the SGV Shootout.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"sgv<\/a> In the Southeast we know it\u2019s a Charter Oak world and everybody else is just living in it. Isn\u2019t it always? With Adam Muema, A.J. Powell and Bandon Golden all returning the offense will be a juggernaut. Golden recently submitted a verbal offer to Washington State. Josiah Thropay leads a three way battle for the starting quarterback position. In other words the Chargers aren\u2019t too bad.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 The Almont is wide open. We\u2019ve liked what we\u2019ve seen at Alhambra and San Gabriel. Mitchell Crockom, Brandon Wilson, Vai Peko and Darrian Cazarin make the Moors a force to be reckoned with.\u00a0 Three year starting quarterbacks are always nice to have. Just ask Keith Jones as he prepares to go to battle with Isaac Valdez.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We don\u2019t know enough about Schurr but we do know the Spartans will be prepared to defend their title. They always are.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"sgv<\/a> Look for Arcadia\u2019s Garrett Tuck and Taylor Legace to have big years for Arcadia. Muir is always reloading and with Crescenta Valley, Burbank and Burroughs it will be a Pacific dogfight. First year Coach Mike McFarland likes his pack of Bulldogs in Pasadena as well.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We know South Hills is good- nooooooo kidding!!!\u00a0 But with Miles Bevel, Andrew Roddy, Geoffrey Vaughns and Dakota Behr all returning the Huskies might be great.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 We liked what we saw out of George Johnson and Ricky Johnson from West Covina at the Shootout and Craig Snyder likes his quarterback Michael Ball and his Rowland Raiders. Walnut with Leonard Rhodes and Milan King running the ball could be the most improved team in the San Antonio. Expect a quarterback battle between Austin Cooper and Thomas Peralta to run all the way up to the opening night kickoff.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 That\u2019s what we know so far. Is it set in stone? Can you take it to the bank? Of course not. But as we head into the dead, \"sgv<\/a>that\u2019s what we know.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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