SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: 2023 Football Preview: Cantwell Sacred Heart, San Marino
Both teams looking to make another appearance in the CIF Southern Section Playoffs.
Cantwell’s Kehven Portillo. (Escarcega)
Cantwell Sacred Heart High School
Coach: Eddie Ficklin Jr.
2022 Record: 9-2
Number of Returning Players: 15
Number of All-League Players Returning: 6
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Eric Elias
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 8
Number of OL Returning: 4
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 3
Rushing yards: 1863 Yards (169.4 Yards Per Game)
Passing Yards: 1,285 Yards (116.8 Yards Per Game, 14.6 Yards Per Completion)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Angel Cevallos 12 5'9 180 RB
Kehven Portillo 12 6'4 185 WR
Robert Ceballos 12 5'11 205 RB
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Manuel Ortiz 12 5'11 220 OT
Brandon Contreras 10 6'3 280 OG Matthew Aguayo 10 5'11 170 C
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Eddie Ficklin Jr.
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 7
Number of DL Returning: 3
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 3
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Kehven Portillo 12 6'4 185 DB
Saul Alvarado 12 5'8 175 DB
Jordon Williams 12 6'0 220 LB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Nathan Tavra 12 5'8 175 DE
Rashid Macias 11 6'0 185 DE
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Roy Vazquez 10 5'10 165 QB
Francisco Meza 9 5'9 165 WR/DB
Jaiden Cote 9 6'0 180 WR/DB
Kian Hendricks 9 5'11 150 WR/DB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
William Galbraith Jr. 11 5'9 255 DE
COMMENTS FROM COACH FICKLIN: “This is a great group of guys lead by our senior class. Our strengths are, we have a 'lot of returners who played a 'lot of football and was a part of winning league last year. We added a few key pieces offensively that will make an impact this season. On Defense We have been really good all summer with our chemistry and understanding how the defense work. Our weakness is depth, just like every small school the drop off is huge if one player goes down.”
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 0: vs. Village Christian (8-3, CIF-SS Div. 8 First Round) at Glendale City College
Week 1: vs. Montebello (6-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Week 2: vs. La Canada (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round)
Week 3: vs. San Gabriel (11-4, CIF-SS Div. 13 Champions)
Week 4: vs. Bosco Tech (0-9)
Week 5: vs. Verbum Dei (3-6) at Los Angeles Southwest College (League)
Week 6: at Bishop Montgomery (10-3-1, CIF-SS Div. 13 Finalists) (League)
Week 7: at Salesian (10-4, CIF-SS Div. 10 Finalists) (League)
Week 8: vs. Mary Star of the Sea (5-5) (League)
Week 9: vs. St. Monica (7-6, CIF-SS, CIF-SS Div. 14 Semifinalists)
Week 10: BYE
CRYSTAL BALL: It was quite an exciting season for the Cardinals last year as they won a league title and made it to the playoffs. The great thing is that there appears to be stability within the program with Flicklin Jr as coach. We had a chance to watch them in person at the Baldwin Park tournament and we liked what we saw. La Habra transfer Roy Vasquez looks like a promising talent for Flicklin and company. The player that area fans should spend their money on to watch is Kehven Portillo. He is all 6-4, 185 and will be a big part of the offensive scheme. In most games, he’ll be a mismatch on virtually every play. The group that will be under close scrutiny will be the offensive and defensive lines. Not a lot of guys with size, so they’ll be under the spotlight when they play teams that successfully run the ball. As is always the case with CSHM, depth comes into play as well. As for the schedule, it’s a challenging one. 8 of the 10 teams on the schedule made the playoffs last year (with two of the making the final and one winning a sectional title). The league appears to have gotten strong but we still like CHSM earning another league title.
Projected record: 7-3
San Marino High School
Coach: Nate Turner (First Year)
2022 Record: 5-6
Number of Returning Players: 21
Number of All-League Players Returning: 3
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Nate Turner
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 11
Number of OL Returning: 7
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 5
Rushing yards: 1,443 yards (131.2 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry)
Passing Yards: 2,108 yards (191.6 yards per game, 12.5 yards per completion)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Mikey Yessian, 12, 5-8, 165 WR
Coleman Morning 12, 6-0, 195, RB
Ryan Park 12, 5-11, 150, WR
Sid Danenhauer 12, 5-10, 155 WR
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Mitch Mooney, 11, 6-2, 225, T
Gannon Gill 12, 6-3, 220, T
Felix Steinberger 12, 5-9, 195, G
Nathan Yarahmadi, 12 6-1, 200, G
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Richard Nila
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 10
Number of DL Returning: 6
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 5
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Nick Escamilla, 12, 5-10, 160, CB/S
Sid Danenhauer, 12, 5-10, 155, S
Ryan Park 5-11, 150, CB
Mikey Yessaian 5-8, 165, CB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Mitch Mooney, 11, 6-2, 225, DT
Felix Steinberger 12, 5-9, 195, NT
Gannon Gill 12, 6-3, 220, DT
Liam Van Foassan, 12, 5-8, 170, DT
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
COMMENTS FROM COACH TURNER: “Strengths, Senior Class
Continuity and camaraderie
Familiarity with the league”
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 0: vs. Arcadia (2-8)
Week 1: vs. Arroyo (9-4, CIF-SS Div. 12 Semifinalists)
Week 2: at Rosemead (4-8, CIF-SS Div. 14 Quarterfinalists)
Week 3: at Crescenta Valley (2-8)
Week 4: at LA Wilson (7-6, CIF-LA City Section Semifinalists)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: at South Pasadena (10-3, CIF-SS Div. 11 Semifinalists)
Week 7: vs. La Canada (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round)
Week 8: vs. Pasadena Poly (1-8) at South Pasadena HS
Week 9: vs. Temple City (2-8)
Week 10: vs. Monrovia (8-3, CIF-SS Div 8 First Round)
CRYSTAL BALL: It’s a new era at San Marino as Nate Turner takes over as the new coach at San Marino. He brings in a nice resume to the school and takes over a program that has some nice parts to it. Yessaian is one of the top wide receivers in the area and Mitch Mooney brings the toughness that his dad demanded as coach to the OL/DL group. He’s on his way to becoming one of the best on the west side. The QB1 position appears to be a position in question and that will be watched closely as the nonleague season works itself out. The schedule is an interesting one. If they can defeat Arcadia, the rest for the nonleague slate looks just fine (keep an eye out for Arroyo game). Once the Rio Hondo begins - all bets are off. South Pasadena is a nice early test and the Monrovia game could be for a playoff spot. I like the Titans to finish in the money (top three in league) and make another appearance in the playoffs.
Projected record: 7-3.