All kickoffs are at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise indicated:
Thursday October 20
Bell Gardens (5-3) at San Gabriel (5-3)
Bell Gardens needs a win to maintain first place in the Almont. San Gabriel needs a win just to stay alive. The Lancers have had good wins the last two weeks over Montebello and Schurr while the Matadors fell to both of those teams before beating Keppel last week. If the Mats lose this one their playoff hopes may be over. Bell Gardens is on a roll and there is no reason to think San Gabriel can end that. BG remains unbeaten in league.
Bell Gardens 35 San Gabriel 24
Friday October 21
EL Rancho (5-3) at La Serna (7-1) (California)
You would like to think that El Rancho has a shot here. The Dons have shown that they can play with anybody but have also struggled at times – an overtime win over winless Santa Fe two weeks ago. La Serna is the King of the Del Rio and will be until somebody knocks the Lancers off. It won’t be this week. La Serna has too much.
La Serna 42 El Rancho 21
Warren (6-1) at La Mirada (4-4) (Excelsior Adult School)
Warren is coming off a big win over rival Downey while La Mirada fell to Mayfair. The Bears beat Mayfair 54-7. You kind of see where this one is going. The Matadores need a victory to stay in the hunt in the Gateway League, especially with Downey next week. But this may be too much to ask. Warren’s only loss was to powerful Serra in September. The Bears get the win and remain in control in league.
Warren 45 La Mirada 20
Arroyo (5-3) at Rosemead (3-5)
This game looked real interesting before last week. Both teams would be coming into a Week 9 showdown undefeated in the Mission Valley League. The winner would be in the driver’s seat for the league title. Then Rosemead lost to Gabrielino 10-7 last Friday night putting a new perspective on things. The Panthers are still 2-1 in league and a win would be huge but they had 4 starters out in the loss and may not be completely healthy. Meanwhile Arroyo has won five straight, 3 in the MVL, and has shut out four of those five opponents. Arroyo – Rosemead is always a war, a traditional rivalry that dates back to the eighties. The Knights have the clear advantage this year. Arroyo rolls and stays unbeaten in the Mission Valley.
Arroyo 35 Rosemead 7
Bonita (6-2) at Charter Oak (8-0)
The Chargers are riding high after a huge 32-29 win over Ayala last Friday night. With Richie Munoz at the controls and multiple weapons at his disposal such as Nathan Alvardo, Zakkarii Black, Solomon Davis and Chili Alexander the Charter Oak offense is hard to stop. Bonita has won four straight against some tough competition including a 29-3 win over Alta Loma last week. It’s another tough test for Charter Oak but the Chargers have aced every test so far. The winner will be in sole possession of first place in the Mountain West. Charter Oak remains unbeaten.
Charter Oak 27 Bonita 24
San Marino (4-4) at Monrovia (6-2)
Monrovia has been tested more than expected so far in the Rio Hondo. The Wildcats trailed South Pasadena early before eventually beating them by two touchdowns and they needed a 95-yard kickoff return from Carlos Hernandez with less than a minute left to knock off La Canada. San Marino is 2-1 in league with its only defeat coming at the hands of La Canada. The Titans would have to play a perfect game and Monrovia would have to commit several miscues for a San Marino win. It won’t happen. The Cats learned their lesson earlier with a couple of close calls. Monrovia gets going early and wins going away.
Monrovia 35 San Marino 10
El Monte (3-5) at South El Monte (3-5)
El Monte could improve to 3-1 in the MVL with a victory here while South El Monte needs a win to keep pace. If the Eagles lose they will be 1-3 in league and on the brink of elimination from the playoffs. The Lions started off slow but have won three of their last four. Head Coach Hector Spathias and staff should have El Monte ready. The Lions have an eye on the post season. El Monte gets the W.
El Monte 24 South El Monte 17
Arcadia (2-6) at Burroughs (6-2)
Burroughs has surprised a lot of people. The Bears are 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pacific including a comeback win over Muir last week. Burroughs could finish second in league with wins over Arcadia and Burbank next week. It’s been a struggle for Arcadia all year. The Apaches did lay the wood on Burbank a couple of weeks ago 54-0 but got waxed by Pasadena 51-7 last Thursday night. The also lost to Muir in the league opener. With their playoff lives at stake Arcadia will battle to the end but in the end Burroughs emerges with the win.
Burroughs 31 Arcadia 21
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@DaRanch
“If La Serna wins they will have a taste of what we had last year against Leuzinger in the 1st Rd”
Ya, I’m pretty sure getting blown out in Division 7 by Div 7 Leuzinger (who didn’t even win their next playoff game-so no they shouldn’t have been 2 div up) tastes a whole lot different than playing in the D3/D4 big boy playoffs like La Serna.
DaRanch walks into a bar….
DaRanch says “If LS had won that semi vs St Francis last year who would they have played in the Finals”?
Me: “LB Poly”
DaRanch: “LB Poly is ok I guess. But LS got lucky because at least they didn’t have to face Div 7 Leuzinger like El Rancho did.”
Anonymous,
People did complain about Malhstede, Santa Fe and all them transfers, the 105 pipeline they used to call it. But these forums (IG, Twitter, and blogs) were in their infant stages.
I Know you are glad you missed that one!
We can complain all we want it won’t change a thing, the only thing that will change things is for us to get better, work harder, get stronger, lock down more of the pr talent. You are correct in your assessment that teams aren’t on top forever, the ranch had its moment in the spotlight in the 60s, 70s and 80s, Santa Fe had a great run in the late 90s through around 2010, from moment until now it’s been LS. Personally I don’t want LS to leave our league I want us to rise to their level and compete.
@Detached Observer
Maybe you should just learn how to read more than five words at a time.
#detachedbrain
One thing that’s crystal clear about high school football is that the kids play for the coach, not the school. A guy who has an attractive personality can walk into a horrible situation and, within no more than three years, make it competitive and promising. I don’t have the highest opinion of old man Mahlstede, but he found a way (through the force of his personality) to get the talent onto his campus. Ditto for Dusan Ancich. His brother Visko is a fine guy, but he lacks that ‘it’ factor to stock the shelves with studs.
Proof of my opinion lies in the fact that teams tend to adopt the style and personality of their head coach. I’d like to mention in this regard how Arroyo, which may not have the greatest roster known to man, is playing a physically tough brand of ball, which matches the persona of head coach Leonardis.
It’s vitally important that a head coach be somebody who the kids don’t want to let down, or who the kids want to emulate. Choosing a head coach on any other basis dooms a program right out of the gate.
Correction: The Wilson loss was adsorbed by La Puente . Garey was running clocked at home by Pomona
Oh, you could add Firebaugh and Temple City and bingo
4 automatic qualifiers
Maybe everyone can go CIF
Whew! Time to put down the Ripple Sports Man before you are Emergency Room Man. Posting at 3 and 4 am no bueno.
All this is interesting and it would be cool to get a detailed history of the ups and downs of local scene over past 20 years .
It get confusing with the jumping from school to school and run on sentences #letswriteabook
Was gonna go to the Rosemead game but after last weeks loss to Gabrielino I would rather watch paint dry. Another bad year for the Panthers
Its a pretty weak argument to make that LS will forever dominate the DRL because they won’t leave the DRL… I don’t remember LS fans complaining about Santa Fe when Malhstede was constantly bringing transfers in from Long Beach and going undefeated in league for the better part of the late 90s and early 2000s.
Every great program eventually rises and falls. Charter Oak has had its ups and downs, La Habra, La Mirada, and St. Paul as well. Maybe you guys should just focus on building something better and quit whining.
I mean honestly how lame is it to cry about a team being too good? You got some ER folk talking about the one time they beat La Serna but then act like they can never do it again because of… reasons? Maybe focus on keeping the secondary academically eligible, that would be a good start.
If one currently looks at the current Cal Preps rankings, which could change a bit after week 10. LS will remain a solid D2. Cal stay as solid D12. ER currently is on the cusp of being either a # 16 D10. or a top 5 D11. Last season, ER received a terrible draw with Leuzinger, who should have been at least 1-2 Divisions higher. When you let computers control the seedings, strange things happen
The rumor is that the Whittier Union High School District is preventing LS from leaving the DRL. They were forced to let Pioneer leave because the Titans were being buried in most sports while in the DRL, They seem to be doing much better in the 605 League. LS has no business in the DRL since they are a D2/D3 team. The rest of the DRL teams are D10-12. Unless LS parents/fans push the WUHSD to allow LS to explore other league options during the re-leaguing process, LS will only always control the DRL.
? especially when Administration are not necessarily wanting quality football program. Okay! very good coach before Patricio; then Patricio very good coach , yet no motivator. Then Dusan Ancich ( 100 x better than brother) , who got great transfer mid season from St Paul. They win league and CIF Final Four and lost La Habra! Dusan got terrible removal , I believe ( based on league knowledge and ??? Superintendent was ex Santa Fe Principal , very close ties with Mahlsted. NO never insult Mahlsted because if using scientific data , he was great coach. He did earn several Norwalk players transfer before NCLB and state testing results clarified school academic success. But Cal and Dusan were fortunate to get Grigsby and his quality ( good line too), in this league , D1 made Cal very good . Then , I believe , with no claiming full correctness, Mahlsted finally had to play against another team who had great transfer. Fine when Santa Fe had this advantage, but Cal cannot. Dusan fired so turned Villa park into semi power. Arnold takes over and not close to quality of D Ancich. I am not claiming know everything , but live in area and know high school . football. Cal again wins league under Arnold , after Grigsby’s half brother TJ Jones arrives. Again one great quality back both ways dominated Del Rio League , beat Burbank quarter finals ( Cal had great linemen this season) before losing to Charter oak
Anonymous! CalHi improved very much under new Coach who left for Lompoc Parochial school. He head coached Cal ?? what 2 or 3 or so years. Great athletes underclass players , such as Brett LeVier and his peers. Then Patricio, who I respect very much as Defensive greatness. Patricio won league with LeVier, Gonzales at QB and several other super talented and competitive players in ?2000 , I think. Lost to Los Altos with future USC and Cleveland Browns player. LA also well coached. I watched Cal down 28 to 0 after 3 quarters. They got hot and with almost no time left in fourth quarter the score was 28 -27. Cal missed extra point.
bottom line! La Habra days began with new coaches Mazotto , or something like this, and DC Porter. immediately turn 2 and 8 every year program into league competitor . Shortly thereafter league champions and CIF champs guided with great direction. They deserved transfers as ‘build it they will come’ , especially surrounded Sonora , Brea,( although brea excellent years) , Calhi , La Serna under LaVigne and Manzo. New head coach , forgot name but Hispanic guy, smart enough hire best possible staff. He leaves on some class problem, and his staff makes LS even better. They deserve getting some very good transfers as much as other very good teams. LM? Muschetti got them going and won state championship before taking break with family and kids. La Mirada had some great athletes in 06 and 07, but Defensive Coordinator Coach Rush hired was uninspiring , JV coaching championships league and thought coaching against jv coaches was similar to coaching against Varsity coaches like Fitch at Mayfair and even very mediocre Bellflower . When excellent head coach returned at Artesia , they improved and DC just not qualified.
LS is not a D2 football team, they’re a D4 or D3 at best. Although LS played Warren and only lost by 6 points, I would love to have a rematch with the Bears and quiet down that Pearson transfer team. Now Warren is a D2 along with Long Beach Poly, Mission Viejo, Chaminade and maybe you can put Corona Centennial in the mix because they can’t win in D1.
ER trying to stay relevant with crap comments and outdated “hit by the ranch” slogan lol
This year we won’t win, my other son was told the same thing before and he whooped La Sernas DELETED that year, the qb was running for his life.
Hmmm…… first someone says they won’t brag about Miramonte league “accomplishments “ , then someone else takes it seriously.
Let’s put in perspective . This is one of the weak leagues where they can’t find enough suitably weak teams for preseason so they decide to fill schedule by playing each other twice !!!
This league was 2-14 in preseason .
The two wins were against Workman ( has been mercied in virtually every game last two years ) and Angelou an undermanned City section cellar dweller. . Garey the presumptive front runner was running clocked by 1-7 Wilson lol
So when you get to league , someone has to win …:12 wins to some team …:
This is the type of league that should be limited to one automatic qualifier . Or better idea invite Workman and Mountain View into your league so you can have 3 automatic qualifiers 🤪
I remember a few years back when El Rancho scored a TD against LS and an ER parent on the FB page thought they were closing the gap. Well, the Gap is still big and not closing. Keep dreaming losers. One day you might win but all of us will be old and won’t care.
HAHA Hit by Pillows. ER is weak. Walk in the park Friday night for La Serna
@football fan, oh shut up. Abandoned? They had all spring and summer to find a coach. No fault of the current coach or player that the admin dragged their feet as usual. Good for the kids, period!
La Serna is a legit D2 team that could make a run in that monster of a division. They are solid and head to head better at every position than El Rancho. Plus they have the depth that matches D2 Teams.
The two brothers on the cover are very good and the only chance the Dons have is if those two decide not to pass.run and catch or forget to tackle and intercept and thats not going to happen. El Rancho on the other hand has some nice pieces but not enough. To many guys are undisciplined and that has lead to keeping them out of games where they had a chance but ended up losing big. It is as if they forgot their strong suit of past teams which has been discipline and preparedness. Refs better bring some spare laundry because they might wear them out. I see this game as La Serna 42 El Rancho 0……at the half.
I dont see anyone write about coach C lately. Did the honey moon end for C and Peterson! With no state titles and no cif rings the coaching staff at BP smashed C and his crew up! El Monte up and getting better while SV is down to the last strike!
you can make a difference by having you start by appreaciating what you have first… before running your gap!
DaRanch,
IF LS wins?! This isn’t Any Given Thursday/Friday!
Bassett will beat LP Friday!! Making 3 in a row and possibly make the playoffs not bad for a team abandoned by its previous coaching staff.
You must have been on those crappy Arroyo teams. Good thing you didn’t play when I played. You would have got cut. Just saying! Hahaha
I have been holding back the post but….. LETS GOOOO! you havent been hit until youve been HIT BY THE RANCH…best part about this is if LS wins theyll have a taste of what we had a year ago playing Leuzinger first round…not the fairest of match ups. make sure all the boys make it home after that first round exit in Division 2
The Griffin Bowl is gonna be a great contest. Both teams should be evenly matched. May the best team win. Go SEM Eagles.
@annymous A.K.A Al Bundy how sad you are bringing up teams from the 90s, you lost bro, you didn’t make it in the 90s let it go. Stop trying to live your dreams on here…lol go back to doing laundry
Chino Hills schools need the money 🤣🤣🤣
Arroyo has benefited most from the new format. They won CIF in football, baseball and wrestling. McKinnon’s better teams would have mopped the floor with Singisers better teams. Any and I mean ANY Arroyo baseball team from the 80’s and 90’s would have beat the CIF champ team 20-0. Wrestling….honestly I couldn’t say. I don’t follow wrestling.
The failure of Santa Fe and Cal has a direct arrow pointing to retiring good head coaches. Trying to replace them is hard. ER got lucky with Medrano. Surprised he left Bonita.
@Rapid Rise
20 years? Maybe the last 13 but before then it was Santa Fe and Cal that were dominating the Del Rio. Get your facts right. Your whole open enrollment argument is falling flat
Big Game! GO DONS!!!
That CO/Bonita projected score must include the 200 yards in penalties the Chargers usually rack up.
If CO could clean it up, more like 35-21. Either way, this contest is usually worth the price of admission.
PS: CO doesn’t charge $10 to park like Ayala and Chino Hills. What’s up with that? Shameful.
No doubt . Current system designed to eliminate all that ; RHP great example , traditional D12 or 13 finalist had one of their better teams bumped up to D7 last year wasnt able to sustain after upsetting Charter Oak , would have won D12
You’ll notice that La Habra, the “got rings?” gang, has seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. The new system no longer has any provision for dominating a garbage division year in and year out. On the other end of the spectrum, I loathe the inclusion of those god-awful programs of divisions 11-14. I applaud the idea behind competitive equity, but come on…those lower-end groups can hardly be described as competitive. Those double-digit divisions are there to make CIF appear charitable, and to empty fans’ wallets.
I can’t help but wonder how some of the more successful teams in recent SGV history would fare in this modern playoff system. Ryan Maddox’s Monrovia teams, the Wesco teams that ran the table with Solomon, all of the Gano and Bogan SH and LA teams and especially the mini dynasty CO had going on. I’m sure at least some of those teams would have been bumped up some divisions and would not have been able to have the championships they have now.
La Serna has needed a new league assignment for the last twenty years, exactly when the open enrollment situation was activated. Maybe if Pioneer were reinstated, the rising ones would give the Lancers a real challenge…the challenge of staying awake while they steamrolled the Titans.
BG vs SG is on Thursday