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Rio Hondo League

1.) Monrovia Wildcats

Head Coach: Ryan Maddox

Staff: Ted Clarke DC, Mike Minter, Craig Schuster, Fil Lujan, Randy Bell, Kevin Robinson, Donald Davis, Tommy Cardine, Brian Dixon, Richard Gretebek.

Last Year: 13-1

Last 5 Years: 43-19 overall, 21-4 league

Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 CIF Mid-Valley Finals: Lost San Dimas 12-7

1^st Down: It’s the Wildcats league to lose. The Cats return nearly every key player from last year’s team that advanced to the CIF Finals. Sound on both sides.

2^nd Down: Obviously quarterback Nick Bueno is the biggest component but the Cats have so much around him- Derrick Johnson, Luke Williams, Ellis McCarthy, Jay Henderson…the list goes on.

3^rd Down: We saw sophomore George Frazier line up at quarterback in the summer with Bueno split wide. Will Maddox use it in the regular season? Probably not but it’s a nice card to have in the deck.

4^th Down: Does Monrovia have a weakness? On paper it doesn’t look like it. Over confidence? No. Not with Maddox in charge.

Game Plan: Don’t forget. Bueno can sling it too. Expect the Cats to mix it up effectively. The biggest question is can the Wildcats break through in the CIF Finals? They’re 0-9 in championship games.

Non League Schedule: at Glendora (Citrus College), Arcadia, at San Dimas, at South Hills (Covina District Field), Paramount.

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2.) La Canada Spartans

Head Coach: Dan Yoder

Staff: Brent Pattison DC, Jonathan Klish, Casey Matthews, Jerry Regan, Brian Rodriguez, Johnny May, Adam Monte

Last Year: 5-5

Last 5 Years: 25-25-3 overall, 12-11-2 league

Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 First Round: Lost Valley Christian 45-0

1^st Down: A league title is probably out of the question in the year of Monrovia. But the Spartans have enough to slide into second. Rocky Moore graduated but Scott Gray, who was the back up QB last year, has made the transition easy.

2^nd Down: Daleep Sandhu is a 1,000-yard back. He rushed for close to 700 last year and is bigger and stronger.

3^rd Down: Jay Kolina will be a big part of La Canada’s success. He will line up at tight end and in Yoder’s offense will get plenty of touches. He’ll play defense as well. Gray to Matt Allegria will be a common theme at LC as well.

4^th Down: Luke Sanborn is big in the trenches. Look for him to be the Spartans main run stopper.

Game Plan: If Sandhu can run for big gainers it will open the door for Gray to throw the ball. That big loss to Valley Christian in last year’s playoffs still stings.

Non League Schedule: Alhambra, Glendale, at Crescenta Valley, Maranatha, at Arroyo.

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3.) San Marino Titans

Head Coach: Mike Mooney

Staff: Marty Valdez DC, Tim Loya, Mike Cable, Art Carrington

Last Year: 9-3

Last 5 Years: 28-23-2 overall, 9-15-1

Last Playoff Appearance: 2009 Second Round: Lost Azusa 27-24

1^st Down: The quarterback position still isn’t settled. Garrett Glazier appears to be the front runner but he is being pushed by Kody Gerrick and Chris Faulkenberry. Glazier was the JV quarterback last year and Gerrick transferred in from Arcadia. Mooney was leaning Glazier earlier in the summer but it could come down to a game time decision.

2^nd Down: Kwame Do will get the bulk of the work at running back. Do, the brother of former Temple City linebacker Williams Do, will share time with Morgan Myers.

3^rd Down: Defensively, the Titans lost a lot with guys like Stevie Yortsos and Ben Harwich graduating, but they are looking for big things from David Gelt, Alan Felix and Dylan Stevens.

4^th Down: Mooney always gets the most out of his players. Can he coach the Titans into second place finish in the Rio? That’s what it might take for playoffs.

Game Plan: Mooney is a big believer in the running attack and he’ll need a big year out of Kwame Do. If he can get that and find a quarterback the wins should follow.

Non League Schedule: at Gabrielino, at La Salle, Rosemead, Bell Gardens, Golden Valley.

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4.) Temple City Rams

Head Coach Mike McFarland

Staff: Joe Federico, Al Hamichart, Bryan Bolster, Mike Greep, Brian Knowles, Joe Baduro, Josh Orozco, Mark Russell.

Last Year: 5-4-1

Last 5 Years: 35-22-1 overall, 19-5-1

Last Playoff Appearance: 2008 Semi Finals: Lost Paraclete 27-6

1^st Down: McFarland did a great job at Pasadena last year but he didn’t come in until late May and a playoff spot might be too much to ask.

2nd: Down: Sophomore Mike Quintanilla has looked good at quarterback and appears to have the edge heading into the season. Senior Bruce Pasillio is in the mix as well. “I might not decide until the last week,” McFarland said.

3^rd Down: Who’s going to run the ball? Carlos Mota and Josh Simongunsong will share the duties. With a first year quarterback the ground game will be a big part of the Ram offense.

4^th Down: McFarland is the third head coach for Temple City in the last five years- fourth if you count Tim Loya who took over for Backus in 2008. The Rams need stability in the program and given a chance McFarland could provide that.

Game Plan: The Rams need good defense, a consistent offense and a few good breaks to crack the top three. Keep an eye on offensive lineman Michael Bassette- he’s a good one.

Non League Schedule: Arroyo, Alhambra, Arcadia, at South El Monte, Rosemead.

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5.) South Pasadena Tigers

Head Coach: Ed Smith

Staff: Jeff Chi, CB Richards, Jason Lucas, Juan Salcido, Tom Holland

Last Year: 2-8

Last 5 Years: 19-31 overall, 7-18 league

Last Playoff Appearance: 2003 First Round: Lost Serra 55-0

1^st Down: When you talk South Pasadena you talk Conor Bednarski but where do you go from there? Bednarski threw for over 1000 yards last year and ran for close to 200 more as the focal point of the offense.

2^nd Down: If receivers Matthew Nelson and Max Schexnayder on the other side can find some space Bednarski will have a couple of targets. Running back Patrick Martin returns as well.

3^rd Down: The Tigers have four starters returning on defense including lineman Michael Lind. There’s room for improvement though as the Tigers allowed over 28 points per game.

4^th Down: It’s been awhile (2003) since South Pas had a sniff of the playoffs. Bednarski, Nelson and the rest will need to have flawless years for the Tigers to break through this year. Even then it might not be enough.

Game Plan: At least they can relax during the Thanksgiving holidays.

Non League Schedule: at San Gabriel, Hoover, Glendale, Alhambra, Cathedral.

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6.) Blair Vikings

Head Coach: Gary Parks

Last Year: 1-9

Last 5 Years: 13-36 overall, 5-20 league

Last Playoff Appearance: 2007 Second Round: Lost Valley Christian 34-24

1^st Down: Blair has a D-1 prospect. OL/DL Donell Wilson has already received an offer from Kansas. Wilson stands 6’4” and checks in at about 290. What do the Vikings have after that? That’s when it gets a little dicey.

2^nd Down: Nothing against Gary Parks but I still can’t understand why the administration let alum Tip Sanders walk after he turned the program around in 2007. Word is they wouldn’t even accommodate him with an on campus practice field during construction.

3^rd Down: If you’re from Pasadena and you play football in junior high, you’re going to either Pasadena or Muir. But when Tip was there…well never mind.

4^th Down: Keep an eye on linebacker Anthony Robles and wide receiver Jamal Weaver.

Game Plan: Run behind Wilson as much as possible. When he graduates after this year, bring Tip back.

Non League Schedule: Fulton, Duarte, Verbum Dei, St. Monica, at Brawley.