SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: End Zone to End Zone, Week 6 Edition
We give out grades to many of the teams in the area; a new divisional projection, and much more
MID-TERM GRADES
We have come to the halfway portion of the 2023 football season. There have been a few surprises, but for the most part, the expected cream has risen to the top. Let's give out some midterm grades for some of the teams in the area.
Damien’s Ayden Gutierrez scores a touchdown against La Serna on Friday night. (Photo: Taegan Maysami)
DAMIEN (Grade: A) – What can be said that hasn't been said already about this team (Calpreps #17). Even though they came out fast, we had a little bit of skepticism just because of what they did last year. Call it "The Big Tease." But they are 6-0 and enter Baseline League action with a ton of momentum. Ayden Gutierrez is the best wide receiver in the area, Isaiah Arriaza belongs on the shortlist of outstanding underclass quarterbacks in Southern California and Elijah Bechtel could be the second-best tight end in the area. The job that Matt Bechtel has turned in has been nothing short of sensational and should be the overwhelming favorite to win Coach of the Year honors. Here comes the Baseline League but, they should be just fine. They'll be a dangerous team in the playoffs in either Division 2 or 3.
Dean Herrington addresses his team after their win over Mira Costa. (Escarcega)
ST. FRANCIS (Grade: A-): Say what you want about Dean Herrington, but he is one heck of a football coach. The veteran coach loses a top-notch quarterback in Jack Jacobs (Fresno State) and he doesn't miss a beat with a new quarterback in John Sanders. All this kid continues to do is post impressive numbers each week. Preston Jernegan is another outstanding Tight End who should be on a Power Five roster somewhere. The loss to Millikan (Calpreps #27) is not a shocker as some people will lead you to believe. The Golden Knights (Calpreps #38) will be the prohibited favorite to win the Angelus League, which could vault them to the Mission League in 2024. The defense looks much more confident and productive. We'd give them an "A" grade but the loss to Millikan dropped them to an A-. Lots to like about this team.
Beau Beatty and the Bonita Football team before their annual game against San Dimas (Taegan Maysami)
BONITA (Grade: A) – The talent in the La Verne area is off the charts. We haven't seen this many athletes going to this school or to Damien. Before the season started, an area football coach had this comment about freshman quarterback Daniel Mielke II, "He's not your ordinary freshman quarterback. His body is much more mature than you would expect from a freshman, Plus he's coached by (Steve) Bogan. You know that he is getting the quarterback." Mielke has not disappointed at all as he has thrown for 1,094 yards and 11 touchdowns. When you have a quarterback like Mielke and a defensive player like Noah Mikhail (10.5 tackles per game), and throw in some key contributing players and coaching that includes Bo Beatty, Steve Bogan, and Mark Pasquarella, you can see why this team (Calpreps #50) is 5-0 and the overwhelming favorite to win the Mountain West Conference. It's not too late to buy some stock in the team and enjoy the ride.
Glendora quarterback Eric Najarro in action against Charter Oak. (Photo: Taegan Maysami)
GLENDORA (Grade: B) – We would have given this team an "A" grade had they not stubbed their toes in a Thursday night loss to Diamond Ranch last week. That took some of the air out of the balloon from their huge win over Charter Oak several weeks ago. Decker DeGraff has made the most out of his move from San Dimas to Glendora and is a matchup nightmare for anyone in the Citrus 4. The offensive line is solid and quarterback Eric Najarro should be the early favorite for area "Comeback Player of the Year." We had the Tartans (Calpreps #67) as our #1 Surprise Team of the Year and they haven't disappointed. We expect them to win the Citrus 4 and make a legitimate run in the playoffs. The rise has not caught us by surprise.
Bishop Amat’s Richie Munoz (Escarcega)
BISHOP AMAT (Grade: Incomplete) – This is the team that is the biggest mystery from all the teams in the area. The reason why we have an incomplete grade is that they have not ducked anyone and have played a brutal nonleague schedule. With maybe the exception of Damien, there is no way anyone in the area would have a winning record. I get the feeling that this team will find a way to get better (as Steve Hagerty coached teams in the past have done) and will be a legitimate contender to earn an Automatic Qualifier for the playoffs. The Lancers (Calpreps #34) have one of the elite 2-way players in Richie Munoz and one of the top underclass running backs in the area in Ryan Salcedo. Throw in the improvement in Frankie Villabazo at the QB position, with Brandyn Wetherspoon, and you know the talent is there. We're going to wait until the end of the regular season to make a judgment on this team. But we feel the ceiling is very high with the Lancers in 2023.
COVINA (Grade A) – In retrospect, we shouldn't be surprised with the fast start (4-1) that the Colts have accomplished. In high school football, it's all about the quarterback position and Covina (Calpreps #102) has a good one in junior Jake Duronslet. He is outstanding and is being handled by one of the top offensive minds in the area in Joe Brown. It's all about speed for this team. They have literally run teams out of the stadium with their ability to score quickly at any point. Their only loss is to Northview (37-35) and that is no shame at all. They'll be the big favorites to win the Sierra League and make a deep run in the playoffs. Here is another team that you jump on board the bandwagon and still have a pretty good seat. Legitimate playoff finalist contender.
NORTHVIEW (Grade: A) – Consistency is the current hallmark of this team and some people are taking it for granted. We aren't one of them and are big fans of Marcel Perez. He is one heck of a football coach and has learned his lessons well from hanging out with the state's perennial power which is the school's wrestling program. QB Erik Jimenez (1,162 yards) has a QB rating of 137.5 which is outstanding. The two-back running duo of Keanu Tauvao and Angel Barraza has been nothing more than stunningly productive time and again. Deontrey Thompson is a speed receiver who will be a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators. The Vikings (Calpreps #68) will be the favorites to win the Valle Vista League title, but they'll have to earn it as the league looks to have reached the apex of the competition cycle. It is truly outstanding.
St. Paul players celebrate their season-opening win over Newport Harbor (Escarcega)
ST. PAUL (Grade: B-): That was a terrific win in the season opener against Newport Harbor that kicked started the Mike Moschetti era at the school. After a tough loss to Bishop Amat, the Swordsmen (Calpreps #49) suffered a brutal blow to their league championship aspirations when quarterback Andrew Maushardt suffered a leg injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season. This is a shame because it would have made the Angelus League championship race that much more enticing.
LA SERNA (GRADE: B+): Andy George is not afraid to get his team out of their comfort zone when it comes to the nonleague portion of the schedule and that was the case in 2023 with games against Warren, Damien, Tesoro, and Los Alamitos. Again, except for Amat and Damien, I defy someone to tell me of a team that would have a winning record with a schedule like that. It is clear that George is not worried about having a winning record (2-3) and just wants his team to be battle-tested for the playoffs. After two Del Rio League games against Whittier and Santa Fe, La Serna is on the road for a very interesting game against Newbury Park and superstar quarterback Brady Smigiel. The Lancers (Calpreps #45) are a cinch to win the Del Rio and with a favorite divisional slot, a team that should be able to make a deep run in the playoffs. Quality and consistency are the best words to describe this team.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (Grade: B) – Love the trajectory of this program and despite the loss to Temple City several weeks ago, the Vikings (Calpreps #334) should be on a collision course to take on South El Monte with the league title at stake in week 10. Ground and pound are the best words to describe the Vikings' double-wing offense this year as they have amassed 1,438 yards (287.6 yards per game) with Ricky Guerrero leading the way with nine touchdowns. We had a feeling that this would happen and made them one of our "Surprise Teams" of the 2023 season. They haven't let us down. I see an 8–9-win season for the Vikings and I've saved a few first-class seats for you to join me on the MV bandwagon. Jump on board before all seats are taken.
BALDWIN PARK (Grade: D+): Let's not beat around the bush, we expected a lot more from the Braves this year. Maybe the signs were on the wall early in the season when unexpectedly lost to a Montebello team that couldn't have looked any worse in their loss to Santa Fe. I know that this is Robert Maxie's first year as head coach, but the talent is there for them not to have a better record. The great thing is that I still think that this team will get its act together and win the Mt. Baldy League title. That makes the Braves (Calpreps #275) a dangerous contender in the playoffs. For that to happen, they need to start hitting the ground running. No more excuses – it's time to deliver the goods!
SOUTH PASADENA (Grade: A-): You know about Jason Hong and his 17 touchdowns (we'll profile him next week), but there is so much more to the Tigers. David Ortega has been a force on defense and Zachery Lee has done an admirable job as the quarterback. Jeff Chi has built this team to become a legitimate power in the West SGV and they should be the favorites to win the Rio Hondo League. The game of the year could be next week as South Pasadena (Calpreps #151) travels to Monrovia for what could be called "The Rio Hondo League Championship Game." This team is built for success.
TEMPLE CITY (Grade: B-): Had this feature taken place two weeks ago, we would have given the Rams a better grade. One thing that has become obvious, Riley Saxon is one heck of a football coach. He has once again taken a program that was on its final heartbeats and returned it to prominence in the area. It helps when you have a quarterback like Jake Jones, who can be best called a "gunslinger." The recent stumbles to Pasadena Poly and San Gabriel have us a bit of a concern, especially when Temple City (Calpreps #292) opens Rio Hondo League play this week as they host Monrovia. But no one said it would be easy to bring this program back to life and that is exactly what Saxon has done.
SCHURR (Grade: B) – The Spartans (Calpreps #176) are running the veer and have thrown in some passing concepts, which makes them very dangerous in the Almont League championship race. Christian Breazeale has done a nice job at quarterback since coming over from California HS. Fabian Escamilla-Sanchez has been productive at the running back position and the defense seems to be getting better each week. We are still a little stumped at what happened in their narrow win over Franklin (21-20). But Spartan fans are beginning to trust coach Dave Ramos a lot more these days and that is important. Let's circle the Spartans as the team to beat in the Almont League title chase.
SANTA FE (Grade: C) – If you are a Chiefs (3-2) fan and are disappointed with this grade, hey – it's a lot better than getting an "F" grade. Coach Ryan Bateman has brought the toughness back to a Santa Fe program that was once renowned for their toughness. We watched their win over Montebello several weeks ago with a keen eye and loved the way they fought back to earn the win. It's the type of win that Bateman and use to show positive development within the program. Santa Fe (Calpreps #249) just needs 2 more wins to file a bid for an At-League bid for the playoffs. And just making the playoffs would be a huge accomplishment for a team that was winless in 2022. Love the program.
EL RANCHO (Grade: C-) – After a fast start to the season with wins over Don Lugo and Bell Gardens, it has all gone south for the winter for the Dons (Calpreps #234) as they are on a four-game losing streak. We know that three of those losses were against Monrovia, Mayfair, and West Covina. It makes Friday night's game against visiting Cal even more important. A win would be a nice remedy heading into their bye week. The part that has us encouraged is that they pushed West Covina last week before suffering a tough 28-27 loss.
CHARTER OAK (Grade: C) – Yes, we know that the Chargers (Calpreps #103) are young, and yes we know that they are a work in progress. However, the way they lost to Glendora, Damien, and Upland is more than a bit concerning. The talent is there, but the signs were on there when coach Dom Farrar filled out our preseason questionnaire and said that this was one of the youngest teams the program has presented in years. And it doesn't get any better when they start Mountain West League play in two weeks. However, when you have "Moose" Evans running the offense and an outstanding coaching staff, there is no reason why this team can't catch lightning in a bottle and be in a good spot for the playoffs. Follow closely.
WEST COVINA (Grade: B) – Outstanding start to the season as they are 4-1 with key wins over Alta Loma, West Covina, and El Rancho. Zander Requena has rushed for a team-high 582 yards and this team is only going to get better because you know that Mike Maggiore knows how to push the right buttons at the right time (and I say this from previous experience… trust me). Want to know why the Bulldogs (Calpreps #136) will be the favorites to win the San Antonio League title? The record of the other teams in the league in nonleague action is a paltry 2-14. Yikes. See you in the playoffs Bulldogs.
LOS ALTOS (Grade: B+) – The Conquerors are not only winning games, but they are crushing their opponents. Wilson (53-16) West Covina (35-19), Walnut (37-14), and California (41-21) all looked very ordinary to a team that looked tremendous over the summer. Coach Dale Ziola had a big smile on his face in July when we caught up at the West Covina Lineman competition. His culture was being fully implemented and they have become a legitimate contender to the Valle Vista League title. They can throw the ball, run the ball, and play high-level defense. Don't be surprised if they are Valle Vista #1 at the end of the season. Stock rising.
Other grades:
San Dimas (B-): We know they'll be there at the end of the season.
La Puente (B-): Nice start to the season for coach Leron Johnson.
San Marino (C+): The road gets a lot tougher, but there's nothing wrong with having Mitch Mooney on the team.
PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS
Here is an updated look at Divisions 1-4 with a 12-team D1 bracket projected.
Division 1
#1 Mater Dei Bye
#2 St. John Bosco Bye
#3 Sierra Canyon vs. #12 Mission Viejo
#4 Corona Centennial vs. #11 JSerra
#5 Long Beach Poly vs. #10 Rancho Cucamonga
#6 Orange Lutheran vs. #9 Oaks Christian
#7 Santa Margarita vs. #8 Serra
Division 2
#1 San Clemente vs. #16 Beaumont
#2 Los Alamitos vs. #15 Millikan
#3 Palos Verdes vs. #14 Oxnard Pacifica
#4 Servite vs. #13 Leuzinger
#5 Damien vs. #12 San Juan Hills
#6 Murrieta Valley vs. #11 Chaparral
#7 Villa Park vs. #10 Valencia/Valencia
#8 Etiwanda vs. #9 Upland
Division 3
#1 St. Bonaventure vs. #16 Downey
#2 Chaminade vs. #15 Tustin
#3 Edison vs. #14 Capistrano Valley
#4 Corona del Mar vs. #13 Warren
#5 Oak Hills vs. #12 Eastvale Roosevelt
#6 Bishop Amat vs. #11 Inglewood
#7 Vista Murrieta vs. #10 St. Francis
#8 San Bernardino Cajon vs. #9 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
Division 4
#1 La Serna vs. #16 Notre Vista
#2 Apple Valley vs. #15 Santa Barbara
#3 Western vs. #14 Newbury Park
#4 * St. Paul vs. #13 Citrus Valley
#5 Bonita vs. #12 Ayala
#6 *Loyola vs.#11 Moorpark
#7 Tesoro vs. #10 Yorba Linda
#8 Paraclete vs. #9 Norco
*Loyola and St. Paul are the teams that are on the bubble right now. If you eliminate those two teams with a sub .500 record and no Automatic Qualifier, then Chino Hills and Trabuco Hills move up from D5 to D4.
BOOK REVIEW
The start of the high school sports calendar also marks the start of the book-reading season. There are many new books that hit the bookshelves of your nearby bookstores, or on your Amazon Kindle account or on Audible, that are tremendous resources for administrators, coaches, and/or student-athletes,
With that in mind, we'll highlight several books that we have read that are more than worth your time to dive in and read.
This week, we bring to your attention a terrific book written by Greg Harden, who is one of the top sports psychologists in the game (who has worked with athletes such as Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Desmond Howard, and others at the University of Michigan, called "Staying Sane in an Insane World."
Harden beautifully lays out his blueprint for getting the most out of the student-athletes that he has come across over the years. The reader gets a great message from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brady who remembers Harden telling him in a visit he had during his first year of Michigan "Quit focusing on all the things that you can't control. Focus on being the best version of yourself. Work as hard as you can. If you're only going to get one rep, do it perfectly. I don't give a shit about what's "fair." Go out there, embrace your teammates, be a leader, and do the best you can!"
It is a powerful message that more than wakes you up as start reading the book. Harden takes it from there and hits you between the eyes in his author's note when he says, "One of the most important things that I emphasize and teach is that if your life is going to work, it will be because of your decision-making, your ability to have healthy relationships, and your ability to recognize and take total control over those things you can control."
And just getting better and better starting in chapter one where he tells readers a very compelling sentence, "If you don't believe in yourself, why should I believe in you?... You'll also hear me talk about how important it is for you to learn to control the controllables. Because there are so many things in life you can't control, things that other people do, or ways that they try to make you feel – and just a few important things that you can control, most importantly your own actions, reactions, and feelings."
And it only gets better with each chapter in which Harden lays out a blueprint on how to get the most out of yourself, whether you are on the playing field, in the business field, or in any other workplace where you are currently employed.
The book is available in both hardcover print editions, on Kindle, and on Audible if audiobooks are up your alley.
We'll give this book a 4.5-star rating (out of five). It is well worth the investment
Have a great week!