SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: Football Preview 2024: Maranatha, Whittier Christian (FREE PREVIEW)
Both teams enter the Mesquite League in 2024.
Maranatha coach Rand Holdren. (X)
Maranatha High School
Coach: Rand Holdren
League: Mesquite
2023 Record: 9-2, CIFSS Div. 11 First Round
2023 CalPreps Rating: -11.9
2024 Calpreps Preseason Rating: -21 (second best in league)
Number of Returning Players: 11
Number of All-League Players Returning: 5
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Rand Holdren
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 8
Number of OL Returning: 4
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 4
Rushing yards: 1,755 yards (9.2 Yards Per Carry, 159.5 YPG)
Passing Yards: 1,740 Yards (17.1 yards Per Completion, 158.2 YPG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Luke McNulty SR. QB MVP All CIF
Miles O'Malley SR. RB MVP, All Cif
Nico Vergara JR. WR All-League last year.
Bradley Loiciano JR WR All-League as a Freshman and Sophomore.
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Nico Lareau JR C 6'2 260
Matthew Rhee JR T All league 6'4 265
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Greg Pierce. Was at Eagle Rock for a lot of years. Huge part of their Championship runs.
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 3
Number of DL Returning: 1
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 2
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Nico Vergara JR LB All League
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Chris Morey JR 6'4 295
COMMENTS FROM COACH HOLDREN: “We finally get out of the Cottonwood league which is great. Moving into the Mesquite which is where we should have been to start. As was the last few years, we will score many points, but the question will remain the same...Can we stop power and physical football. I already have faith in Coach Pierce and what he has brought to the table this spring and summer. He coached with my brother (Dare Holdren was also an All-Southern Section LB at San Marcos in 1992) at San Marcos in Santa Barbara many years ago so I know what he is about. A super sharp football mind who understands the game on a high level.
”In terms of schedule, we have our toughest pre-season schedule since I have been here with trying to get some local games. Rio Hondo, La Canada, Arroyo. Our schedule has 7 of 10 opponents that we have never seen before so it will be interesting. The league is new to us except for Whittier Christian and Arrowhead Christian who we played 3 years ago.”
2024 Schedule (with 2023 season records)
Week 0: vs. Lakeside (0-10)
This is the back end of a home-and-home series. Maranatha won last year’s game 24-10.
Week 1: vs. Fullerton (3-7)
This is the first time that both teams are playing each other. Maranatha has been 80-25-1 in home games since 2004.
Week 2: vs. Rio Hondo Prep at Kare Park (13-2, CIFSS Div. 9 Champions)
This is the first time these teams have faced each other since 2008. Maranatha has a two-game winning streak against the Kares, having won their last encounter 14-7.
Week 3: vs. Arroyo (6-5, CIFSS Div. 12 First Round)
This is the first time that both teams are playing each other. In nonleague games, the Minutemen are 70-37-2 since 2004.
Week 4: at La Canada (4-6)
The Minuteman are 2-0 against the Spartans which includes a 41-10 win in 2011.
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: vs. Linfield Christian (8-4, CIFSS Div. 11 Quarterfinalists)
Thanks to competitive equity, this is the first time both teams have played each other since 2016. Maranatha won the last matchup, 29-27.
Week 7: at Western Christian (7-5, CIFSS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Since 2004, Maranatha has won all three games in the series, including a 58-33 win in 2023.
Week 8: at Arrowhead Christian (9-3, CIFSS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Maranatha has lost the last two matchups against AC, including a 48-14 loss in 2021.
Week 9: vs. Big Bear (2-8)
This is the first time that Maranatha will play Big Bear since 2011. The Minuteman have won 2 of the last 3 matchups including a 41-12 win in 2011.
Week 10: vs. Whittier Christian (7-5, CIFSS Div. 14 Quarterfinalists)
Maranatha has a 10-7 record against WC since 2004 and has won the last two games in the series.
CRYSTAL BALL: This is the fourth year of Holdren taking over the program from Lavar Arrington and it’s the evidence is clear that he is doing a great job. He led the team to the semifinals in 2022 and got eliminated in the playoffs early in 2023 by juggernaut Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary. Offensively, Holdren welcomes back former Amat QB McNulty for another year with eye-popping post-season credentials in 2023. And he’ll have his favorite target back in the speedy O’Malley, who is a major chess piece on Holdren’s board. Don’t ignore Vergara and underclass talent Loiciano. The OL will be just fine with Lareau and Rhee returning. The big question will be on defense where DC Pierce is going to have to find a way to keep teams from scoring players that have little Friday Night Lights Experience. Morey is a big dude that will be counted on heavily. As for the schedule - it works well for Maranatha. The obvious big game will be Rio Hondo Prep where they will be the prohibited underdogs. However, most of my computer models have them going 4-1 in nonleague action. With the move to the Mesquite League, they’ll have to deal with Linfield Christian for league supremacy. After that, this team should be just fine. One computer model as this team 9-1, another one 7-3, but most of my models have this team at 8-2 - and that’s what I am projecting this season.
Projected Record: 8-2
Whittier Christian High School
Coach: Walter Fletcher
League: Mesquite
2023 Record: 7-5, CIFSS Div. 14 Quarterfinalists
2023 CalPreps Rating: -35.4
2024 Calpreps Preseason Rating: -49.1, sixth best in league
Number of Returning Players: 23
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Walter Fletcher
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 8
Rushing yards: 2,076 Yards (7.4 Yards Per Carry, 173.0 YPG)
Passing Yards: 1,109 Yards (12.6 yards Per Completion, 92.4 YPG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Adrian Hernandez, Senior, Wide Receiver
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Chase Johnson, Senior, Center, 1st Team Cottonwood, All-CIF
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Walter Fletcher
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 9
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Isai Iturburo, Junior, Linebacker, 1st Team Cottonwood, All CIF, 78 Total Tackles, 10 Tackles for Loss, 2 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 1 Defensive Touchdown
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Jacob Halbert, Junior, Defensive End, 2nd Team Cottonwood, 52 Total Tackles, 10.5 Tackles for Loss
COMMENTS FROM COACH FLETCHER: “Offensive and Defensive Line Experience. Inexperienced skill players.
Moving from the Cottonwood to the Mesquite League.”
2024 Schedule (with 2023 season records)
All home games are played at Whittier College
Week 0: vs. San Gabriel (6-5, CIFSS Div. 13 First Round)
This is the first time that both teams will be playing each other. Whittier Christian is 35-29 at Whittier College since 2004.
Week 1: vs. Webb (7-2)
This is also the first time that both teams are playing each other. In nonleague games since 2004, WC has a 62-53 record.
Week 2: at Banning (1-9)
Another opponent that WC will be playing for the first time. WC has a road record of 47-47.
Week 3: vs. St. Monica at Santa Monica College (11-4, CIFSS Div. 13 Champions)
The only time that both teams have played was in 2-2 and WC won the matchup, 37-28.
Week 4: at Riverside Prep (3-7)
Both teams will be playing each other for the first time.
Week 5: vs. Big Bear (2-8)
Thanks to competitive equity, this will be the first time that both teams will face off. WC is 38-44 in league games since 2004.
Week 6: at Arrowhead Christian (9-3, CIFSS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
Both teams have played each other 8 times since 2004 with each team winning four times. WC has a 3G losing streak in the series.
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: vs. Western Christian (7-5, CIFSS Div. 12 Quarterfinalists)
LY, the series was renewed with Whittier Christian suffering a 34-16 loss.
Week 9: at Linfield Christian (8-4, CIFSS Div. 11 Quarterfinalists)
This will be the first time that both teams will be playing each other.
Week 10: vs. Maranatha (9-2, CIFSS. Div. 11 First Round)
WC has a 7-10 record against the Minuteman and has lost six out of the last 7 games. The only win came in 2021, 22-14.
CRYSTAL BALL: Here is the other team that moved from the Cottonwood to the Mesquite League. Whittier Christian is one of those outlier teams where they are very solid up front, but have a bunch of new faces at the skills positions. And that might create a bit of a bumpy right for Heralds fans when you consider the schedule that they have. Adrian Hernandez gives WC some experience at the WR position, but a lot of inexperience all over the field. Halbert makes a return back at the DE position, but the back seven is going to be a work in progress. As for the schedule, it’s not an easy one. St. Monica, San Gabriel, and Webb are the three nonleague games that jump off the page. Throw in a new league with the types of Linfield Christian, Maranatha, and Western Christian, and finding wins becomes a challenging task. Our computer models indicated a three-win season. But I’ll look at the glass half full and give them an extra win.
Projected Record: 4-6
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