Tim Peterson, Arroyo Class of 1979: Today I get to honk for the old alma mater. You see when I was at Arroyo it was the dark ages of Knight football. El Monte’s last league title was in 1979 right? Well that’s when I was walking the hallways near B.L. Bergstrom Stadium. I never put on the gear but I did write about the guys that did for the “Knights Banner”. League titles? Heck back then we were happy to win a game. But then D.J. MacKinnon took over as Head Coach in 1980 and put Arroyo football on the map. For 23 years he had the Knights in contention winning league championships and even a CIF title. Jim Singiser, formerly the DC, picked up right where MacKinnon left off in 2003 and the Knights have continued to be a model football program. So yes I’m proud to say I’m an Arroyo alum even though their success took place after I took the walk. Coincidence? Probably not. Anyway this Thursday night Arroyo is again on the verge of yet another Mission Valley League title but they have to beat El Monte first. Beat El Monte? That shouldn’t be too hard. Here are 10 reasons why.

Joe Torosian, El Monte Class of 1982: Today I get to swing the bat for my old alma mater. When I was at El Monte beating Arroyo (3 straight 1978-1980) was like clockwork. When the North El Monte wasteoids were getting high and listening to the fiddlers out in dark fields near the Rio Hondo River…We were kicking butt…While D.J. MacKinnon was stablizing things at Arroyo, EMHS went through five different head coaches before Joel Sanchez took over in 2003. Yeah, the Knights have dominated…but that’s the beauty of it…When a play breaks down in the fourth quarter on Thursday night and Brandon Martinez scrambles around before finding Memo Silva with the game winner in the end zone; the Knights Empire, all those victories—piled high like Sauron’s Tower, will come crashing down. Allow me to channel the greatest principal in EM history, Jack Barton; “GO GET’EM LIONS!”

10 Reasons Why Arroyo/El Monte Will Win

PETERSON: Steven Rivera. The four year starter simply won’t let them lose. Rivera, arguably the greatest quarterback in Arroyo history and “in the discussion” as the greatest player in MVL history isn’t about to lose the last regular season game of his prep career.

TOROSIAN: The Knights have not seen a quarterback like Brandon Martinez. This El Monte quarterback is so good, he’s currently in negotiations with film executives about starring in the next installment of the Indiana Jones series. As Sergeant Apone says: “He’s absolutely bad…!”

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PETERSON: Home Field Advantage: Yeah I know El Monte used to play at Arroyo but they don’t anymore. This is the Knights’ turf and they aren’t about to give up B.L. Bergstrom.

TOROSIAN: The game will be played at B.L. Bergstrom Stadium named after the head coach who led El Monte to the CIF title in 1930…It sure ain’t called D.J. MacKinnon Stadium. The stadium was built on the tradition and name of B.L. Bergstrom meaning: EMHS!

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PETERSON: Peter Aholoka: A Who Loka? Aholoka! While everybody talks about Riveram, Aholoka has quietly ran for 700 yards and nine touchdowns. Yes folks, the Knights do have a running game.

TOROSIAN: El Monte produced Fred Lynn and Willie Shoemaker, what does Arroyo got? Who? Who can make war against that? Just run along to Camp Snoopy, Rick Baker…We’re talking about the big boys right now.

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PETERSON: The Sefton Factor: a lot of schools have administrators and faculty show up but is anybody more intimidating as former Arroyo Principal Jim Sefton? Even though he has been retired for several years Sefton shows up on the sidelines at every game cheering his team on. In his signature baritone voice, he can constantly be heard yelling for the defense, rooting for the offense and politely asking an official about a call.

TOROSIAN: The Sefton Factor is exactly what I’m counting on as an El Monte alum…

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PETERSON: Offensive coordindator Chris MacMillan: With years of experience MacMillan does a great job of orchestrating the offense and knowing just what it takes to get the ball in the end zone. It’s come to the point where HC Singiser gives MacMillan complete control of the offense…well almost.

TOROSIAN: El Monte OC Brian Tabatabai has orchestrated an offense with six go to guys. Six guys: Abel Barrajas, Bryan Luevano, Memo Silva, Juan Ceballos, Josh Wu, and Brandon Martinez. Do the Knights have six guys who can match up with all of them on any given play? I don’t think so…put that in your pipe and smoke it.

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PETERSON: HC Jim Singiser: Singiser, now in his ninth year, has never lost to El Monte. Why would he this year? Also you have to admire a guy who allows the Mid Valley Sports Editor to refer to him as “His Arroyo Baldness.”

TOROSIAN: Joel Sanchez has more hair than Singiser!

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PETERSON: Mind Games: El Monte might have the talent to beat Arroyo but they suffer from a mental block when it comes to facing the Knights. Arroyo is in El Monte’s head. The Lions have beaten South El Monte and even Rosemead not only this year but in recent campaigns. But they can’t beat Arroyo. The Knights lead the series all-time 36-7 and they haven’t lost to El Monte since 1990.

TOROSIAN: The Knights are so afraid of the Lions that they have to notify parents before they show El Monte game films because of the disturbing effect they have. A loss to Rosemead can be understood, South El Monte will rise up and bite once in a while, but a loss to the Lions would be the end of the world…Let the heavens fall…

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PETERSON: The Father-Son Connection: Most fathers enjoy attending their son’s games whether it is to watch them play or coach, but usually they do it from the stands. Not Mr. Singiser. He is right on the sidelines, right in the mix, for every game. Sometimes you’ll see Coach Singiser signaling in a play to his defense or questioning an official’s call and Mr. Singiser is standing right there next to him. Oh and by the way he’s at all the practices too.

TOROSIAN: Arroyo fans know the pleasure of football, El Monte fans know the pain. So when the Knights play, they play not to lose the pleasure of football…The Lions play to end their pain…Victory is the only pleasure the Lions seek…That’s why they’ll win.

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PETERSON: Twist and Shout: Arroyo Assistant Randy Twist, (Arroyo class of 1977), played at Azusa Pacific and once had a tryout with the Denver Broncos. How does it relate to this game? I’m not exactly sure but it has to count for something.

TOROSIAN: Ucker, Omana, McNeil! They live!

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PETERSON: The SGV Shootout: Every July Arroyo hosts the SGV Shootout – a passing tournament that keeps getting bigger and bigger each year. Although not mandatory, it just looks a lot better when the team hosting the tournament is the league champion.

TOROSIAN: Arroyo’s Anthony Wilbur won’t be there to block any point-afters or field goals.

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History of the Game: El Monte & Arroyo

The Knights started playing varsity football in 1956, but they didn’t meet the Lions for the first time until 1962 in a non-league contest…Beginning a pattern that has continued to this day; they won.

Arroyo leads series 36-7 and have won 20 straight against El Monte.

Knights have won 11 by shutout.

Lions have won 3 by shutout.

There have been zero ties in this series.

Knights Last CIF Title: 1986

Lions Last CIF Title: 1930

Knights Last MVL Title: 2010

Lions Last MVL Title: 1979

Arroyo & El Monte Year by Year

1962: Arroyo 14 El Monte 6

1968: Arroyo 10 El Monte 6

1969: Arroyo 16 El Monte 0

1970: Arroyo 42 El Monte 14

1972: El Monte 16 Arroyo 15

1973: Arroyo 27 El Monte 0

1974: Arroyo 6 El Monte 0

1975: El Monte 7 Arroyo 0

1976: Arroyo 8 El Monte 7

1977: Arroyo 20 El Monte 3

1978: El Monte 25 Arroyo 12

1979: El Monte 27 Arroyo 0

1980: El Monte 30 Arroyo 6

1981: Arroyo 12 El Monte 10

1982: Arroyo 20 El Monte 17

1983: El Monte 21 Arroyo 7

1984: Arroyo 20 El Monte 9

1985: Arroyo 29 El Monte 7

1986: Arroyo 42 El Monte 13

1987: Arroyo 28 El Monte 7

1988: Arroyo 45 El Monte 14

1989: Arroyo 61 El Monte 0

1990: El Monte 30 Arroyo 0

1991: Arroyo 42 El Monte 18

1992: Arroyo 21 El Monte 7

1993: Arroyo 29 El Monte 24

1994: Arroyo 16 El Monte 14

1995: Arroyo 54 El Monte 0

1996: Arroyo 36 El Monte 14

1997: Arroyo 51 El Monte 0

1998: Arroyo 49 El Monte 0

1999: Arroyo 54 El Monte 13

2000: Arroyo 42 El Monte 0

2001: Arroyo 17 El Monte 0

2002: Arroyo 34 El Monte 0

2003: Arroyo 22 El Monte 21

2004: Arroyo 42 El Monte 7

2005: Arroyo 38 El Monte 8

2006: Arroyo 33 El Monte 29

2007: Arroyo 19 El Monte 14

2008: Arroyo 9 El Monte 3

2009: Arroyo 45 El Monte 0

2010: Arroyo 40 El Monte 7