SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022: LA CANADA, WILSON
Spartans could be the major contender to Monrovia for the Rio Hondo League title; Daniel Zarzosa will a player to follow for Wilson in 2022.
Photo: La Canada HS Football
La Canada High School
Coach: Dave Avramovich
2021 Record: 6-4
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: -13.1
Last Six Year Calpreps.com Avg. Rating: -20.13
Number of Returning Players: 4
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Dave Avramovich
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 5
Number of OL Returning: 3
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 2
Rushing yards: 1,192 yards (119.2 YPG, 5.0 AVG.)
Passing Yards: 1,937 yards (193.7 YPG, 14.6 AVG.)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Corey Cheung 12 5'11" 180 RB 2021 stats: 141 carries, 808 yards, 14 TDs; 45 rec. 689 yards, 7 TDs
Matt Plocher 11 5'11" 165 QB 2021 stats: 124-229, 1841 yds, 21 TDs, 5 INT
Anthony Venneri 12 5'8" 155 WR 2021 stats: 5 rec. 115 yds, TD
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Max Russakow 12 6'1" 180 C
Jake Adkins 12 6'2" 260 LG
Brandon Goldsby 11 6'1" 270 RG
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: N/A
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 4
Number of DL Returning: 2
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 2
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Anthony Venneri 12 5'8" 155 S
Corey Cheung 12 5'11" 180 OLB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Andrew Gevorgian 12 5'9" 200 DE 2021 stats: 20 tackles (12 solo)
Jake Adkins 12 6'2" 260 DT 2021 stats: 16 tackles (9 solo)
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Trent Carey 12 6'2" 170 WR
Hayden Dancsecs 11 5'10" 160 WR
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Tyler Breckheimer 10 6'3" 225 RT/DE
COMMENTS FROM DAVE AVRAMOVICH: “We're a growing program with a lot of inexperienced talent. We have 80+ kids in the program from 31 in 2019. Only 12 seniors in the program. New offense after the departure of Steve Pinkston. Consistency at all levels with the defensive system. Great QB & RB combo. Looking for MLB to fill MVP Shepherd hole. RHL: Monrovia has the best talent in the league. Best team. Chris Schmoke leaving Poly is a big deal. He's a great coach. Riley Saxon back at Temple City is a huge win for their program. Jeff Chi does a great job at SP. Same with Ray Torres at SM. San Marino enrollment is going way down…interesting. Any team, besides TC, could probably finish second.”
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Rosemead (6-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinals)
Week 1: at Norwalk (6-5 (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 12 1st Round)
Week 2: vs Franklin - CIFLACITY (8-3, 4-1)
Week 3: at Santa Paula (4-6, 1-3)
Week 4: vs. Crescenta Valley (2-7, 1-4)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: vs. San Marino (3-6, 1-4)
Week 7: at Monrovia (10-1, CIF-SS Div. 4 1st Round)
Week 8: vs. South Pasadena (7-6, CIF-SS Div. 13 Semifinalists)
Week 9: at Temple City (0-10, 0-5)
Week 10: vs. Pasadena Poly (7-4, CIF-SS Div. 12 1st Rd.)
CRYSTAL BALL: Of all the questionnaires that we received; this was one of the more fascinating responses we got. I’m not saying that this team is going to beat Monrovia and win the Rio Hondo League, but I think it’s very realistic for this team to make the playoffs in Div. 10-14 and make a serious run at the playoffs. They have a returning quarterback in junior Matt Plocher, who could sling with anybody in the West SGV, and has his favorite skill player back in running back Corey Cheung. Anthony Venneri will be featured in Dave Avramovich’s offense attack, and the Spartans return three offensive linemen. Scoring points shouldn’t be a problem. The issue becomes the other side of the ball on defense. The depth of personnel on defense is an issue and will be watched closely throughout the year. If the Spartans can play any type of defense, they’ll finish in the top-3 in the RHL and make the playoffs. Love the season opener against Rosemead, we’ll get some answers about this team right away. The great part of the schedule is that it’s tough but not brutal. I’m projecting the Spartans to finish in the top-3 in the Rio Hondo and punch their ticket into the playoffs.
Projected record: 6-4
(Photo: Wilson HS Football)
Wilson High School
Coach: Daniel Morales
2021 Record: 3-7
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: -35.7
Number of Returning Players: 18
Number of All-League Players Returning: 1
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Daniel Morales
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 3
Number of OL Returning: 7
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 7
Rushing yards: 1,719 Yards (171.9 YPG, 7.1 AVG.)
Passing Yards: 920 Yards (92 YPG, 7.0 AVG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Daniel Zarzosa 12 6'2" 245 RB All League RB, Team MVP, 1160 yards/7 ypc
Albert Torres 12 6'0" 170 WR 10 Rec, 160 yards
Johnny Houang 12 5'11 170 WR
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Charles Lewis
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 4
Number of DL Returning: 7
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 8
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Daniel Zarzosa 12 6'2" 245 RB League MVP Defense, Team MVP
Albert Torres 12 6'0" 170 DB 3 INT
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Luis Espinoza 11 5'10 165
WR/DB/K Chris Handford 11 5'9" 175 RB/DB
Gabriel Cunanan 11 5'9 165 RB
Jeremiah Ortiz 11 6'1 175 QB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Dominic Ezeyone 10 6'0" 240 DL/TE
Zair Garcia 11 6'2" 265 OT/DL
Miguel Hernandez 11 5'11" 220 OL/DL
Ryan Monzon 11 6'1" 240 OG/DL
COMMENTS FROM DANIEL MORALES: “1. Daniel Zarzosa is the returning League Defensive MVP and All League RB 2. Frosh-Soph was 7-3 last season 3. We like our depth at RB, Daniel Zarzosa, Chris Handford, and Gabriel Cunanan 4. We will have a new QB this season 5. League is going to be tough. BP has a ton of good returners. SV will do well with their new offense and new HC, he's done great everywhere he's been. Montclair has a returning QB and some good skill players coming off a championship game appearance. 6. Love coaching this team, young and a little undersized but they play hard. Daniel is special and he'll carry us.”
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Los Altos (2-8. 1-2)
Week 1: at La Puente (2-7, 1-4)
Week 2: vs. Rowland (3-7, 1-2)
Week 3: vs. Nogales (3-7, 0-3)
Week 4: at Diamond Bar (5-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 1st Round)
Week 5: vs. Ontario (4-6, 1-2)
Week 6: Walnut (8-4, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Montclair (9-5, CIF-SS Div. 13 Finalists)
Week 9: Baldwin Park (10-1 CIF-SS Div. 11 First Round)
Week 10: at Sierra Vista (0-8, 0-4)
CRYSTAL BALL: There is no mistake about the fact that this team will go as far as Daniel Zarzosa. He may be one of the better athletes in the area that you have no idea about. On any other team, he would be getting headlines and probably some helmet stickers from yours truly. He rushed for over 1,100 yards and was the league MVP on defense. That says a lot for a team that tallied three wins last year. The big question will be the offensive and defensive lines. They’ll have to be at their best when Mt. Baldy 4 League hits. You can tell the enthusiasm that Morales has for the program. He understands that winning the league title is going to be very tough but getting five wins on the season and getting a wild-card spot into the playoffs is very achievable. Even though I project the Wildcats to win three games this year, I can easily see them getting 5-6 wins. However, a win over Los Altos in the season opener would certainly open my eyes in a big way.”
Projected record: 3-7