MidValleySports.Com

All game times are 7: 00 PM unless otherwise indicated.

Thursday November 5

La Serna (2-6, 2-1) vs El Rancho  (4-4, 1-2) at California HS

Last year:  La Serna 35-12 (Have won the last five meetings)

Lancers started out looking as though it would be a long season losing five-straight contests in pre-season.  The Dons began the season looking as though they would challenge in the Del Rio, but have put themselves in a corner and now face a must-win.

La Serna is led by Andrew Buenostro who has passed for 906 yards this season.  Lancers have a sure-handed receiver in Andrew Rosales who has 22 catches.  Problem with this team is they have no ground attack.

El Rancho is led by running back Art Castro and the emergence of sophomore running back Ronnel Lone.  The Dons must establish a running game early and pound the ball against a La Serna defense that has given up 28 points per game during the Del Rio league.

Key to the game is whether the Lancers can jump in front early and make the El Rancho offense throw the ball.  The Dons need to keep it close and run the ball often if they want a victory.

With El Rancho heading in the wrong direction, don’t see that changing.  Lancers get into the playoffs with win.

La Serna 35-28

Burbank (7-1, 5-0) at Pasadena (4-4, 3-2)

Last Year: Burbank 35-14 (Burbank has a two game winning streak)

Burbank were tested against Arcadia last week in their win to stay undefeated in the Pacific League. Pasadena had a golden opportunity to be in the catbird seat heading into the final two weeks of the season for a playoff spot.

Burbank have some play makers in Ulises Ochoa and Leo Rodas at running back.  If they don’t beat you, quarterback Adam Colman will find wide receiver Sam Bethany for some receptions and scores.  The Bulldogs don’t beat themselves with mistakes and are well coached.

Coach Mike McFarland has Pasadena competing at a high level and believing they can compete every week.  With the new offense, Nick Escoe, Aaron Simpson, Charles Hendricks and Cleo Bates need to take care of the football as their achilles heal is fumbling.

With rivalry week for both clubs next week, they must stay focused at the task at hand.  Burbank needs to continue to win for a good seed in the playoffs and a Pasadena win can vault them to a playoff spot.
For Pasadena to win they must keep Burbank off the field and milk every possession they have.  Burbank has a quick strike offense and a quick lead may give Pasadena doubt.

Burbank takes care of the ball, which will be the difference in the game.

Burbank 30-21

Friday October 30

Bell Gardens (6-2, 2-1) at Alhambra (4-3, 1-2)

Last year: Bell Gardens 24-20

The Lancers win and they are in.  Plain and simple.  The Moors begin the playoffs on Friday as they need to win out to get into the playoffs.

Bell Gardens were able to cruise last week with an easy victory over Keppel, while Alhambra had the worse game of their year with a blow-out loss to San Gabriel.

What you will get in this game is a playoff atmosphere with both teams knowing what is at stake.  The Lancers will run all night and the Moors will pass.

Alhambra needs get a huge late early and make Bell Gardens throw the ball.  If this doesn’t happen it will be a long night as the Lancer defense can sit back and wait for Moor quarterback Darrin Cazarin to make a mistake.

On the flip side, the Lancers get out early and Alhambra will begin to press and make mistakes.

Alhambra 28-24

Keppel (1-7, 0-3) at Montebello (2-6, 0-3)

Last Year: Montebello 34-16

Both teams are finishing up the season.  Look for an upset.

Keppel 21-14

Schurr (6-1-1, 3-0) at San Gabriel (5-3, 3-0)

Last Year: Schurr 14-7

The game of the week for the Southeast Division as one team will be crowned as Almont League champ.

The last two meetings have been decided by seven points or less as both teams have split those games.

Spartans have shown that they are just filthy-good on defense as they have given up 40 points in three games.  Their offense isn’t bad either as they have averaged 30 points-per-game.

After a slow-start San Gabriel has put together two-straight impressive performances against Bell Gardens and Alhambra.

Schurr has weapons on offense with Aaron Cantu throwing and Nicholas Castillo running the ball.  Throw in Carlos Arredondo and it is a recipe for a high scoring offense.

With Alex Lopez back, the Matadors have been clicking on all cylinders and the protection for Isaac Valdez has improved.

San Gabriel will need to keep the game close and not allow Aaron Cantu to get too comfortable in the pocket or he will pick the defense apart.  They also must protect Valdez from a ball-hawking defense.

The Spartans will be looking to make life difficult on Valdez and establish a good running game against a defense that has shown holes against a good rusher.

Spartans win this close.

Schurr 21-17

Pioneer (3-5, 1-2) at Whittier (2-6, 0-3)  at California HS

Last Year:  Whittier 41-32

Pioneer and Steven Del Villar should have a big day.

Pioneer 40-20

California (5-2-1, 3-0) vs Santa Fe (6-2, 2-1) at Pioneer HS

Last Year: Santa Fe 21-20

California has been here in this same situation last year.  The Condors were undefeated in the Del Rio League in 2008 and lost a heart breaker to the Chiefs last year.

Santa Fe knows what is at stake and a win will get them a share of the DRL lead heading to the last game of the season.  They also know a win would give them an outside shot at winning the league out right with whatever occurs next week.

Every Chief will be keying in on California’s Terris Jones who is leading the Condors on offense and defense.  Jones only needs 13 yards to reach 1,000 for the season and is second on the team in tackles.

After missing last week, Alex Flores may return to a offense that has Andrew Jackson to throw to.  Andrew Rincon stepped in and filled Flores shoes last week at quarterback.  Chiefs also have running back William Bomer who is being used quite sparingly as they go to the air the last few weeks.

This game will come down to how much pressure the California defense can put on either Flores or Rincon and keep them uncomfortable.  On the Santa Fe side, they must contain Jones and not let him explode for a big gain.

California 28-27

Wilson (2-6, 1-1) at Bonita (2-6, 1-2)

Last Year:  Bonita 54-14

It will be a long night for the Wildcats.

Bonita 38-10

Arcadia (1-6-1, 1-4) vs Hoover at Glendale HS (1-7, 0-5)

Last Year:  Arcadia 40-8

Apaches get a win.

Arcadia 28-10

Crescenta Valley (6-2, 4-1) at Burroughs (6-2, 5-0)

Last Year: Crescenta Valley 34-32

This maybe one of those games they talk about for years to come.  Both schools are heading to the playoffs and a win by the Falcons will give them an outside shot at sharing a Pacific league title.

Both teams mirror each other as they both establish the run to get the passing game going.  Crescenta Valley has quarterback Kyle Cota and his rocket arm, while Burroughs has the feet of Lucas Yanez who is underrated as a passer.

The Falcons have Harold Pessy running the ball and is a punishing back.  If they need a receiver then Dai Dai McFadden and Mike Bako can be threats to go vertical.

The Indians counter with Kohl Adams-Hurd and Alexander Fleming as wide receivers.  The running game is anchored by Dalton Williams who is close to amassing over 1,000 yards on the ground.

Both teams will put up points in the game, the key who will blink first on offense.  Burroughs linebacker Charlie Hosea maybe the difference maker as he has made some big plays this season to keep the Indians undefeated in the Pacific league.

Burroughs 35-28

Glendale (1-7, 0-5) at Muir (2-6, 2-3)

Last Year: Muir 18-3

Muir gives themselves some life after falling into a huge hole in the Pacific to start the league.  Should win easily.

Muir 28-7

Burroughs (5-2, 4-0) @ Glendale (1-6, 0-4)

Last Year: Burroughs 54-13

Indians are on a roll and win gets them one step closer to the playoffs.  Glendale is just playing out the season.

Too much Dalton Williams in this one.

Burroughs 45-0

Crescenta Valley (5-1, 3-1) @ Pasadena (4-3, 3-1)

Last Year: Crescenta Valley 35-6

Playoff implications and some breathing room to the winner.

Bulldogs used a new offensive formation to run for over 400 yards on the ground against a over matched Glendale.  The Falcons jumped out to a 21 point lead against Muir and held them off last week.

Pasadena must continue to run the ball against Crescenta Valley and hope they don’t fall behind early as they don’t have a quarterback that can lead them back.  The Falcons have Harold Pessy running the ball and Kyle Cota can throw the ball when asked.  He can also scramble.

This game will be close, but Crescenta Valley has been in this position before.

Crescenta Valley 28-27

Rowland (7-1, 1-1) at Nogales (2-6, 0-2)

Last Year:  Rowland 28-7

The Raiders should win easily.  They were brought back to reality last week against West Covina.

Rowland 35-7

South Hills  (6-2, 2-0) vs Walnut (6-2, 1-2) at Covina District Stadium

Last Year: South Hills 47-17

The Huskies are heading to another San Antonio Championship and must not overlook the Mustangs this week.  Walnut needs to win and hope that Rowland doesn’t win the rest of the way out to get into the playoffs.

South Hills has a ton of weapons with Geoffrey Vaughns running the ball and Ify Umodu catching.  Jacob Shirley is a mature quarterback that makes good decisions when he gets into trouble.

The Mustangs need a big game from Leonard Rhodes and Milan King on the ground to control the time of possession.  Quarterback Austin Copper needs to limit mistakes and find Aubrey Coleman as often as possible.

Don’t think that Huskies coach Steve Bogan will allow his team to look ahead to Rowland next week, so they will be making sure they are focused at the task at hand.

South Hills 35-0

Saturday November 7

Los Altos (3-5, 1-1) vs Diamond Ranch (2-6, 1-1) at Ganesha HS

Last Year: Diamond Ranch 35-13

Depending on which Los Altos team shows up, Diamond Ranch will either have it easy or been in some trouble.

Conquerors have Justin Zamano at quarterback and will be having to find Ryan Longoria most of the evening to be successful.  On the ground look for Randy Rodriguez to run the ball as much as possible.
Panthers were lucky to get out with a win last week in Bonita, but having a veteran quarterback in Gus Viramontes showed as he ran and throw all night long.  Ryan Gibson is a play-maker at wide receiver and a nice compliment to possession receiver Brandon Taylor.  Armani Staten can run at will and is patient in waiting for holes to open up.

Diamond Ranch was in this position last year needing to win their remaining games.  Experience counts.

Diamond Ranch 28-21