SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: 2023 Football Preview - West Covina, San Gabriel
Bulldogs attempt to improve with a vastly improved offensive line; San Gabirel comes off a historic season.
West Covina High School
Coach: Mike Maggiore
2022 Record: 5-6
Number of Returning Players: 26
Number of All-League Players Returning: 6
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Ybarra
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 4
Number of OL Returning: 6/1 Starter
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 7/3 Starters
Rushing yards: 2,625 Yards (238.6 Yards Per Game; 8.5 Yards Per Carry)
Passing Yards: 444 Passing Yards (40.4 Yards Per Game; 11.7 Yards Per Completion
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Chris Perez 10 6'0 150 QB started 11 games as freshmen /. much improved
Zander Requena 11 5'7 150 RB over 300 yards as soph
Robert Rodriguez 12 5'8 145 WR
Angel Murrillo 11 5'10 185 WR started at TE as soph.
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Dominic Sanchez 12 5'10 245 G/C all league / one of top 2-way linemen in area
Erik Ramos 11 6'4 270 T will be division 1 player.
Anthony Contreres 12 6'1 290 T
Iain Acevedo 12 5'10 180 G/DE
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Jason Heilman
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 4
Number of DL Returning: 7/3 starters
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 7 / 1 starter
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Miles Reid 12 6'2 190 WR/OLB all league 1st team, leading tackler, recruited.
Gage Ballum 12 5'10 158 CB started a few and played a lot.
Adrien Munoz 12 5'11 205 RB/LB
Ethan Mendez 12 5'11 185 RB/LB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Daniel Carrillo 12 6'3 240 DE all-league team/ recruited by D1-2
Edward Walker 12 6'2 235 DE all-league 1st team
Nic Moore 11 6'0 250 DT injured part of last year
Felipe Hernandez 10 5'10 240 DT played as freshmen / very strong.
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Ezra Ortega 12 6'0 195 RB/S
Phillip Rangel 12 5'11 195 RB/LB
Dario Montalvo 11 5'9 150 WR/CB
Isaiah Ruiz 11 5'9 180 RB/LB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Tyler Tuntland 11 5'10 230 G
Owen Reid 9 6'3 250 G/DT will be division 1 player.
Seth Sierra 11 5'9 175 C/DE
Josiah Joseph 10 5'10 235 DT
COMMENTS FROM COACH MAGGIORE: Excited for another season of Bulldog Football. We have had an excellent offseason and have good overall team strength and I believe we will be tough and disciplined. Our strengths are both sides of the line, a returning quarterback and one of the top kicker/punters in the area in Donovan Romero. I also like the competition we have going at many positions. I think that competition brings out the best in the right kind of athlete. We won’t know our real weaknesses for another week or so but inexperience in secondary. We have some good players there but not with much varsity experience. Our league will be a tough one. Chaffey is well coached, physical and do what they do very well. Claremont is the returning champion, and it wasn’t really close last year. Don Lugo has brought in a lot of players this year and should be better. I think it will be wide open and whoever stays healthy and hits their stride at the right time will come out on top.
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 0: vs. Alta Loma (4-6)
Week 1: at Los Altos (4-8, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Week 2: vs. Crescenta Valley (2-8) at Glendale HS
Week 3: (Sat.) vs. South Hills (3-7) at Covina District Field
Week 4: vs. Valencia/Placentia (2-8)
Week 5: at El Rancho (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 10 FIrst Round)
Week 6: (Thurs.) vs. Baldwin Park (10-3, CIF-SS Div. 10 Semifinalists)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Claremont (8-3, CIF-SS Div. 7 First Round)
Week 9: vs. Don Lugo (2-8)
Week 10: Chaffey (5-4)
CRYSTAL BALL: We were a bit disappointed with the way WestCo performed in 2022. We projected them to have a 9-1 record, but injuries and other factors held the Bulldogs back and they finished the regular season with a 5-5 record. But they did make the playoffs, so that is something for the Bulldogs to build on with this season coming up. Two big losses with Nate Maggiore and Zach Requena due to graduation. But, having seen this team during their spring game (it was a bit cold) and during their lineman competition and it appears as if the Bulldogs could be a major problem for opponents this year. One thing is clear, this will be a move the chains team on the ground. Other than South Hills, this is one of the biggest offensive lines we’ve seen this year. Ramos is not only a legit lineman, but a very promising wrestler and is more athletic than you think. He is Maggiore’s latest D-1 college project. He is mean and nasty. Sanchez and Conteres also give this team more push for their wing-t scheme. Maggiore promises to pass the ball more (Perez - soph - back for another year) but we wouldn’t mind seeing more ground and pound. This team is built for it. Defensively, this team is very solid from the LOS to the secondary. Carrillo will be a force on the DL and Reid will solidify things in the secondary. And keep the name of Owen Reid in your hip pocket. If Maggiore says he’s a D-1 player, you better believe it. The schedule appears to have a lot of wins on it. Nice test to open the season against Alta Loma. El Rancho and Baldwin Park in back-to-back weeks will test the genuineness of the team. When the league starts is when the fun begins. All four teams appear to be right on par with each other. It will be interesting to see how it all plays itself out. I like this team and project them to win the San Antonio.
Projected record: 7-3
San Gabriel High School
Coach: Marcus Galan (1st Year)
2022 Record: 12-4 (CIF-SS Div. 13 Champions)
Number of Returning Players: 16
Number of All-League Players Returning: 3
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Marcus Galan
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 2
Number of OL Returning: 1
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 6
Rushing yards: 2,063 Rushing Yards (128.9 Yards Per Game; 7.1 Yards Per Carry)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Adam Mascorro 10th 5'6 130 RB/WR
Daniel Lopez 12th 6'0 200 TE All League - All CIF
Efren Torres 11th 6'1 175 WR/QB
Giovanni Molina 12th 5'7 165 WR
KEY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN RETURNING
Gabriel Can 12th 6'2 240 RT All League - All CIF
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Marcus Galan
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 5
Number of DL Returning: 1
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 7
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Xavier Salido 12th 5'8 165 LB All League - All CIF
Adam Mascorro 10th 5'6 130 CB
Daniel Lopez 12th 6'0 200 LB All League - All CIF
Louie Navarro 10th 5'9 165 LB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Gabriel Can 12th 6'2 240 DE All League - All CIF
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Aedin Powell 10th 5'9 145 WR/DB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Robert Garcia 9th 5'9 240 OL/DL
Andrew Palomares 10th 6'2 220 OL/DL
COMMENTS FROM COACH GALAN: “Strengths - Have the right players returning from last season’s Championship team. Defense is going to be our strength, returning 4 LBs (2 Time First Team Players). Expect Big things on Offense from Sophomore RB Adam Mascorro, Giovanni Molina and Daniel Lopez. Weaknesses - Lost majority of starting OL to Graduation. League is going to be tough as always, Schurr, Montebello, Bell Gardens.”
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 1: vs. Rosemead (4-8, CIF-SS, Div. 14 Quarterfinalists)
Week 2: (Thurs) at LA Franklin (CIF-LA City Section, 10-1)
Week 3: at Cantwell Sacred Heart (9-2, CIF-SS Div. 10 First Round)
Week 4: vs. Whittier (4-6)
Week 6: vs. Temple City (2-8)
Week 6: vs. Schurr (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round) (League)
Week 7: at Montebello (6-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists) (League)
Week 8: at Keppel (0-10) (League)
Week 9: at Bell Gardens (7-4, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round) (League)
Week 10: vs. Alhambra (4-7, CIF-SS Div. 13 First League) (League)
CRYSTAL BALL: What a year it was for the Matadors. Despite a 6-4 overall record, they got into the playoffs in the right division at the right time and came away making school history with their first-ever sectional championship. So, you would think that it would be a quiet offseason and full speed ahead in 2023 — WRONG! Kevin Encinas steps down as coach and assistant coach Galan is elevated to the head coaching position. He’ll be handling all the duties as the OC and DC and will have some work to do. Gone are Muniz, Daley, and Lucero due to graduation. Another huge question mark is the offensive line where only one two-way lineman (Can) returns. It will definitely be a work in progress. The defense looks fine, but will they get a break during key moments in the big games will be something to watch out for in 2023. As for the schedule, it’s not too tough with the Cantwell Sacred Heart game the key nonleague game to check for genuineness. This is one of my mystery teams of the year. I don’t have a feel for how this season will go, it should be interesting.
Projected record: 4-6