MidValleySports.Com

Azusa is the only team remaining from the Montview last year in a league which consisted of only three teams. Workman and Duarte are gone and Nogales, Sierra Vista, Wilson, Ontario and Pomona have all joined to form the league of six teams.

Should be interesting. Every team in the Montview has new head coaches this year. Wilson had the best record of the six teams. Last year’s head coach Daniel Morales led the Wildcats to an overall record of 9-2 (3-0 in the Mt. Baldy 4) in 2023 and into the first round of the CIF Division 12 playoffs.

Nogales went 2-8 last season playing in the Hacienda League but three of those losses were by forfeit. The Nobles were 5-5 on the field. Matt Villasenor, an assistant last year, was named head coach.

Pomona just named a new head coach at the end of July. Sierra Vista hired former Los Altos/ Cantwell head coach Travis Brown after Jesse Ceniceros stepped down and Ontario, coming off of an 0-10 year, brought in a new voice as well. The Jaguars were also in the Hacienda. Azusa went 5-5 (2-2 in the Montview) and missed the playoffs. Mike Brownstead resigned and Alfred Zamora took over.

Villasenor has a wealth of talent at Nogales. Tyler Lewis will be at quarterback and has a couple of nice targets in receivers Noah and Nathan Lopez. Faustino Lopez, an athlete, could see action at several positions. On the O-Line Ryan Gutierrez and Von Petrovich will line up to clear the path.

On defense Faustino Lopez will play wherever needed. Jordan Cook and Asa Rivers will anchor the defensive line and Aaron Mendoza and Ojanny Garcia will lead a talented linebacking corp. Steven Majin will be the key player in the secondary.

“It’s easy when you have good admin, coaches and kids. These kids have completely bought into what we are preaching. I’m excited for them to showcase it all next Thursday night vs AB Miller at Nogales. We are hoping to make the community proud,” Villasenor said.

On paper Nogales looks like the team to beat.

Sierra Vista went 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the Mt. Baldy 4. The Dons pounded the rock with Ceniceros at the helm but he stepped down and Brown took over. The question is will Brown implement a completely new offense and throw the ball around the field? The Dons were active in the summer passing leagues.

They return some talented players. Senior Gabriel Garcia was All-League last year and will play on both sides of the ball at running back and defensive back. Junior Timothy Cervantes, also a two-way player at fullback and linebacker, is a three-year varsity starter and an All-League player.

On Defense Zaaron Lindsay will man the D-Line. He’s a three-year varsity player that had D-1 size.

The Dons, barring injury should be able to bounce back from the rough patch that was last year. It will be interesting to see how the offense plays out.

Wilson, as previously mentioned, looked good last year. The Wildcats went undefeated in the Mt. Baldy. In a four-team league though you just have to win three and you’re all set. Wilson has a tough opener – the Battle for the Wheel against Los Altos. The Wildcats also get Rowland, Montclair, Garey and Workman in non-league. If they can go 3-2 or even 4-1 in non-league that could carry over into Montview League play.

Azusa, the only original Montview League team left, went 5-5 overall and 2-2 in league in ’23 but missed the playoffs. With only a three-team league the Aztecs had to play the other two Montview teams twice. Mike Brownstead stepped down after the season and was replaced by Alfred Zamora.

Here’s a look at the Aztecs personnel.

Offense – QB Juan Tapia, RB Josh Villarreal, WR Noah Zamora and Aramis De La Torre, OL Juan Garcia and Tony Rojas.

Defense – MLB Josh Villarreal and OLB Noah Zamora, DL Mikey Mendez and Mikey Ortega, DB Juan Tapia and Aramis De La Torre.

“We have a lot of key players going both ways which is normal for a smaller school like us. This season is a transition year with me and my staff taking over after Coach Brownstead left. We are young in some places but also have some experience at other places. Our LB all have over 2 or 3 years of varsity experience. New league is a lot more competitive than the Montview so I’m excited for the challenge. Azusa went 5-5 last year but those 5 wins came against teams that finished 1-49. One word we always say at practice is “compete” and that’s what I’m trying to get us to do,” Zamora said.

The Aztecs have a nice local non-league schedule facing Duarte, Ganesha, Keppel and Temple City before opening league play against Wilson on October 3. If Zamora can turn 5-5 into say, 7-3, the Aztecs should be fine.

Might be a tough year for Pomona and Ontario. Jeremi Carter was just named the new head coach at Pomona at the end of July. Here you go coach. Good luck. You have three weeks to get ready! The Red Devils went 4-6 last year overall but 0-3 in the Sierra League. They have El Monte and Garey in non-league. It doesn’t matter if Bill Belichick took over. Three weeks isn’t enough time for any head coach.

Ontario is in the same boat as Pomona but their situation is even worse. The Jaguars went 0-10 last season and there’s not a lot of help on the way. If they can win a league game that would be a major accomplishment. Two victories would be a successful season and maybe a step towards the road back. A lot of Hail Marys are in order for the Jags in 2024.

Projected Order of Finish

1. Nogales -Tyler Lewis looks legit.
2. Sierra Vista – Will the Dons run or throw?
3. Azusa – Aztecs were close last year.
4. Wilson – Can the Wildcats keep up in the Montview?
5. Pomona – Jeremi Carter has his work cut out.
6. Ontario – Hail Mary, full of grace.