SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE: 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - SOUTH PASADENA, TEMPLE CITY
Tigers appear to be the main challengers to Monrovia for RHL title; Temple City looking to improve in 2023.
South Pasadena High School
Coach: Jeff Chi
2022 Record: 10-3
2022 Calpreps.com Rating: -7.5
Last Six Year Calpreps.com Avg. Rating: -12.48
Number of Returning Players: 18
Number of All-League Players Returning: 6
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Jason Barnes
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 8
Number of OL Returning: 2
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 6
Rushing yards: 2,456 (188.9 Yards Per Game, 6.2 Yards Per Carry)
Passing Yards: 2,126 (163.5 Yards Per Game, 16.0 Yards Per Completion)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Jason Hong 12 RB All League & CIF (256 carries, 1,584 yards, 26 TDs)
James Dowd 11 TE All League/Oregon St, Colorado St (16 rec. 202 yards, 2 TDs)
Sawyer Fox 12 WR All League
Elijah Garcia 12 WR
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Thomas Carter 12 G
Vicente Ortega 12 G
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: John Morant
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 6
Number of DL Returning: 2
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 4
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Luke Riffle 12 CB All League
Harrison Farley 12 FS
Isaiah Hyun 12 CB
Gio Cruz 12 LB All League
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
James Dowd 11 DE All League
Sawyer Fox 12 DE All League
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
David Ortega 11 LB
Jordan Rodgers 11 LB
David Eisenberg 11 WR
Zachary Lee 11 QB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Johnny Sam 12 DT
Zade Marrujo 11 T
DJ Ebner 11 C
COMMENTS FROM COACH CHI: “Our team is very cohesive and works well with each other. Our goal is to have a balance attack on offense, and on defense. Our strength is our conditioning and strength, added with good skill players. Our weakness will be the newcomers, they have not been battle tested, so our pre-season will be an opportunity for them to get better and be ready for the league. Rio Hondo has been dominated by Monrovia in the past, so our goal is to challenge them for the league title. But I know that San Marino and La Canada will be a tough match every year. Our pre-season key matchup will be against Schurr, Baldwin Park and Alhambra.”
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 0: vs. Schurr (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round)
Week 1: vs. Maywood CES (2-9, CIF-LA City Section Div. III First Round)
Week 2: at Baldwin Park (10-3, CIF-SS Div. 10 Semifinals)
Week 3: at Hoover (7-3)
Week 4: vs. Alhambra at Moor Field (4-7, CIF-SS Div. 13 First Round)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: vs. San Marino (5-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 First Round) (League)
Week 7: at Monrovia (8-3, CIF-SS Div. 8 First Round) (League)
Week 8: at Temple City (2-8) (League)
Week 9: vs. La Canada (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round) (League)
Week 10: vs. Pasadena Poly at San Marino HS (1-8) (League)
CRYSTAL BALL: It’s been a nice run for Jeff Chi and those involved with South Pasadena High School football. Despite not winning a Rio Hondo League title, the Tigers have made significant runs in the CIF playoffs. And they are playing an exciting brand of football that puts fans in the stands. Now that Monrovia looks to be a bit vulnerable, this program becomes one of the trendy picks to overtake the Wildcats and snatch the RHL title. It’s always comforting for a coach to have a talented running back returning and South Pas has that in Hong (1,200+ yards and 28 TDs). The big question comes in the passing game as QB Jackson Freking (1,997 yards 17 TDS) and Richard Conti (1,045 yards, 10 TDs) have departed due to graduation. All signs point to Zachary Lee being QB1 for the Tigers (threw only one pass in 2022). TE Dowd looks to improve on his numbers for 2022 and has garnered some looks from a few D-1 programs. Riffle and Cruz are two returning All-League defensive backs that will hold down the fort in the secondary. Dowd and Fox are as good defensive linemen as you will find in the league. Clearly, it’s the defense that has fewer questions than the offense. As for the schedule, it’s your typical South Pas schedule. The obvious game where questions will be answered will be the Baldwin Park game. And the annual game against Alhambra at Moor Field should be an exciting contest. Look for South Pasadena to easily make the playoffs in 2023.
Temple City High School
Coach: Riley Saxon
2022 Record: 2-8
Number of Returning Players: 27
Number of All-League Players Returning: 1
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Riley Saxon
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 5
Number of OL Returning: 10
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 17
Rushing yards: 850 yards (85.0 Yards Per Game, 6.2 Avg Per Carry)
Passing Yards: 2,066 yards (206 Yards Per Game, 17.1 Avg. Per Completion)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Jake Jones 12 6'2" 170 QB 2049 Yards Passing; 17 TDs
Gregory Hidalgo 12 5'10" 140 WR 13.6 Yards per catch; 2 TDs
Joseph Barbara 12 5'7" 140 WR
Michael Piaz 12 5'10" 150 RB 34.5 Yards per catch
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Nevin Rao 12 5'9" 180 G
Shabd Hundal 11 6'2" 180 T
Azien Ramirez 10 5'9" 190 C
Jake Wodke 11 6'2" 185 T
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Marti Valdez
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 5
Number of DL Returning: 10
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 5
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Judah Douglas 11 5'9" 165 DB
Gregory Hidalgo 12 5'10" 140 DB
Joseph Bababra 12 5'7" 140 DB
Aaron Wang 12 5'10" 165 DB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Nevin Rao 12 5'9" 180 T
Shabd Hundal 11 6'2" 180 DE
Azien Ramirez 10 5'9" 190 T
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Angel Serreno (transfer back to TC) 12 5'8" 185 G /MLB
Zane Pinedo (new player from TCHS) 12 6'3" 175 WR / OLB Won Soccer State Championship as Goalie at TCHS (2022)
Sam Bird (new player from TCHS) 12 6'1" 170 RB / LB
Noah Fry (new player from TCHS) 11 5'11" 150 WR / DB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Steve Garcia (new player from TCHS) 12 5'8" 160 OL / DE
Steve Suarez (new player from TCHS) 11 5'7" 165 G / DL
Daniel Madrigal (new player from TCHS) 11 6'0" 150 DE
COMMENTS FROM COACH RILEY: Strengths: have picked up the new O and D quickly; senior leadership has been strong - they lead by example so well; Skill players are experienced, and several have seen varsity action for two years already; amazing coaching staff, including getting Matt Lopez and Marti Valdez back at TCHS; New players will have an impact Teams will overlook us; running a full JV season. Weakness: OL is inexperienced; depth is still being worked on working on changing the culture and mindset of the team/program true change takes time, so need patience and persistence
2023 Schedule (with 2022 season records)
Week 0: BYE
Week 1: at Gabrielino (3-5)
Week 2: vs. Alhambra at Moor Field (4-7, CIF-SS Div. 13 First Round)
Week 3: vs. Mountain View (3-7)
Week 4: vs. Pasadena Poly (1-8)
Week 5: at San Gabriel (11-4, CIF-SS Div. 13 Champions)
Week 6: vs Monrovia (8-3, CIF-SS Div. 8 First Round) (League)
Week 7: vs. Hoover
Week 8: vs. South Pasadena (10-3, CIF-SS Div. 13 Semifinalists) (League)
Week 9: at San Marino (5-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 First Round) (League)
Week 10: at La Canada La Canada (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round) (League)
CRYSTAL BALL: You almost want to give Riley Saxon a free pass after deciding to take the TC job at the last minute. Talk about taking one for the home team. Last year we had the Rams pegged at 2-8 and that’s exactly what happened. The great thing is that it looks as if Saxon decided to hit the recruiting trail… inside the hallowed halls of Temple City. And it appears as if it has paid off as he has quite a few new faces on the roster for the 2023 season. Mix that with some nice veteran faces returning, which includes Jake Jones (2.,000+) yards and you get the feeling that this team will win more than two games. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish 5-5 and try to get into the playoffs as an At-Large team. The last two games of the season will determine the fate of the Rams in 2023… we’ll buy a little stock in this team.
Projected record: 4-6