{"id":4403,"date":"2009-11-22T17:08:52","date_gmt":"2009-11-23T00:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=4403"},"modified":"2009-11-23T22:39:28","modified_gmt":"2009-11-24T05:39:28","slug":"gamenight-southeast-divison-quarterfinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=4403","title":{"rendered":"Game Night: Southeast Playoffs – Second Round"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ricky

Ricky Johnson (3) wants to keep his senior season going with a win against Charter Oak. Photo by Anne Cypress.<\/p><\/div>\n

Friday November 27<\/p>\n

Charter Oak (10-1, Miramonte #1) at West Covina (7-4, San Antonio #2)<\/p>\n

Last Meeting:\u00a0 Charter Oak 40-21 (2007 CIF-SS Quarterfinals)<\/p>\n

The sting of 2007 still is in the back of the Bulldogs minds as they prepare for the quarterfinal game against the Chargers.<\/p>\n

The inability for Charter Oak to jump on opponents early and bury them has been well documented the last few weeks.\u00a0 It almost caused the Chargers to get upset in the first round.<\/p>\n

West Covina has begun to find its swagger after their loss to South Hills five weeks ago.\u00a0 After the loss the offensive has been on fire averaging 37 points a game in their last four games.<\/p>\n

The biggest question mark coming into last week\u2019s game against Muir was whether sophomore quarterback Travis Santiago could handle the pressure of playoff football.\u00a0 I believe the jury is still out and the big test comes this week.<\/p>\n

Adam Muema will get his yards against a Bulldogs defense that had trouble stopping Geoffrey Vaughns and at times Leonard Rhodes.<\/p>\n

A.J. Powell is one of the best players in the Southeast Division defensively and has emerged as a threat at the wide receiver position.<\/p>\n

The receiving corp is formidable with Dennis Rufus\u2019s speed and Kyle Brown\u2019s sure hands.<\/p>\n

The West Covina faithful are watching a star rise right before their eyes with sophomore running back Chris Solomon.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs will pound and pound the ball all night long.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t a secret what they will do in this game.\u00a0 Ricky Johnson has gone from featured back, to a ball player that will do anything to continue his senior season.\u00a0 Jesse Ili will get the ugly yards when asked.<\/p>\n

If the running game is on, look for quarterback George Johnson to incorporate the play-action pass and if he has no receivers to throw, will make the wise decision and tuck the ball and take off.<\/p>\n

KEYS TO THE GAME:\u00a0 For Charter Oak it\u2019s simple.\u00a0 Jump on the Bulldogs early and attempt to bury them.\u00a0 West Covina must manage the clock and keep the game manageable for George Johnson.<\/p>\n

OUTLOOK:\u00a0 The Bulldogs coaching staff still has that nasty taste in their mouth of being close but not finishing off the Chargers in 2007.\u00a0 This edition of Charter Oak football has some jinks in the armor and if West Covina can get on the board early it changes the entire complexion of the game.\u00a0 Slow start will hurt the Chargers this week.<\/p>\n

West Covina 21-17<\/p>\n

Burbank (9-2, Pacific #1) at California (8-2-1, Del Rio #1)<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs had to scrap and claw their way to a come from behind win against Alhambra.\u00a0 The Condors were absolutely impressive in their blow-out win against Rowland.<\/p>\n

Of all the seeds, California made the most noise and statement that they are ready to battle in the Southeast Division.\u00a0 They have also gone 8-0-1 in its last nine games.<\/p>\n

Burbank is led by the one-two punch of Leo Rodas and Ulises Ochoa in the back field.<\/p>\n

If a defense keys on those two backs, then quarterback Adam Colman can pass to his two talented receivers in Sam Bethany and Cole Hazelwood.\u00a0 Colman can also throw if asked with his pin-point accuracy.<\/p>\n

California has the best running back in the Southeast Division in Terris Jones who has 1,588 yards this season and is very explosive once he gets out into the open field.<\/p>\n

When Jones isn\u2019t running the ball, look for Travis Alexander to spell him for a rest.<\/p>\n

Condor quarterback Adam Contreras was perfect last week with the play-action as he went four of four with three touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Prior to last week, California had not allowed opponent to score more than 20 points in eight straight games.<\/p>\n

KEYS TO THE GAME:\u00a0 Burbank needs to stop the run.\u00a0 They had trouble containing a Pasadena offense in their only loss in league.\u00a0 California needs to have the defense that was suffocating the in nine of their 11 games.<\/p>\n

OUTLOOK:\u00a0 Defense wins games and Terris Jones is going to be difficult to contain.\u00a0 The Bulldogs will see pressure they haven\u2019t seen all season.<\/p>\n

California 21-14<\/p>\n

Schurr (9-1-1, Almont #1) at Diamond Ranch (5-7, Miramonte #2)<\/p>\n

Spartans had a scare at home in the first round against El Rancho.\u00a0 The Panthers were very good in dispatching Burroughs in the opening round.<\/p>\n

Of all the teams that played in last week, Schurr came away as the biggest enigma with their lackluster performance over the Dons.<\/p>\n

Aaron Cantu needs to settle his nerves and just play catch with his two big-play receivers in Carlos Arredondo and Angel Sanchez.<\/p>\n

Running back Nicholas Castillo needs to have a big game against a stingy defense.<\/p>\n

The only question that was answered last week was that the Spartan defense is tough to score against.<\/p>\n

Diamond Ranch can flat out play on both sides of the ball.\u00a0 They have a very physical offensive line and the defense will punish anyone.<\/p>\n

Amari Staten has rushed for over 200 yards in two straight games and can play defense as a safety.<\/p>\n

Quarterback Gus Viramontes is a year older and wiser.\u00a0 He can beat you in the air or tuck and run for a first down.<\/p>\n

Ryan Gibson is the go to guy for Viramontes in the air.<\/p>\n

KEY TO THE GAME:\u00a0 Schurr needs to stay close and let their defense hold Staten to less than 100 yards on the ground.\u00a0 Also, having a spy on Viramontes will limit his mobility.\u00a0 Think San Gabriel, just more weapons.\u00a0\u00a0 Diamond Ranch will need to wear down the Spartan defense.\u00a0 Viramontes needs to make smart plays.<\/p>\n

OUTLOOK:\u00a0\u00a0 Schurr should have buried El Rancho and didn\u2019t.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the Dons and if the Panthers are allowed to stay close it won\u2019t be to the benefit of the Spartans.\u00a0 Diamond Ranch is battle tested in the playoffs the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

Diamond Ranch 21-20<\/p>\n

South Hills (8-3, San Antonio #1) at Crescenta Valley (8-3, Pacific #3)<\/p>\n

The Huskies looked impressive going up 21-0 before\u00a0 holding off the Bearcats 28-21 (Thanks to Bonita Alum for correction)<\/span>.\u00a0 The Falcons were in a battle against Santa Fe and found a way to win.<\/p>\n

South Hills needs to play a complete game if they want to advance against Crescenta Valley it is that simple.<\/p>\n

Huskies quarterback Jacob Shirley is a complete leader with all the tools to help this team win.\u00a0 Shirley has wide receiver Ify Umodu who can out jump any defender that the Falcons have.<\/p>\n

The running game will be important as Geoffrey Vaughns has grown into the role at running back nicely and will shred a defense apart with that offensive line.<\/p>\n

Crescenta Valley showed some mettle on the road against a good DRL team in Santa Fe.<\/p>\n

The Falcons will run the ball all night if they can.\u00a0 Harold Pessy is a big running back who is deceptively fast.\u00a0 Quarterback Kyle Cota also is a threat to run the ball in their spread-run offense.<\/p>\n

If Cota does need to throw the ball he will need to find wide receivers Dai Dai McFadden and Mike Bako.<\/p>\n

KEY TO THE GAME:\u00a0 Huskies need to play four quarters and physically take it to the Falcons.\u00a0 Shirley will find time to throw the ball and Vaughns will get his yards.\u00a0\u00a0 Crescenta Valley needs to play ball control and keep the South Hills offense off the field as much as possible.<\/p>\n

OUTLOOK:\u00a0 Are the Huskies better then South Hills?\u00a0 If the answer is yes, it will be a long night for the Falcons who stayed with the Knights at the beginning of the season.\u00a0 If it is no, Crescenta Valley has a puncher\u2019s chance.\u00a0 It will be close but South Hills is that good.<\/p>\n

South Hills 28-20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday November 27 Charter Oak (10-1, Miramonte #1) at West Covina (7-4, San Antonio #2) Last Meeting:\u00a0 Charter Oak 40-21 (2007 CIF-SS Quarterfinals) The sting of 2007 still is in the back of the Bulldogs minds as they prepare for the quarterfinal game against the Chargers. The inability for Charter Oak to jump on opponents […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fanview","category-high-school-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4403"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4426,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4403\/revisions\/4426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}