SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022: AYALA, WEST COVINA
Ayala could be a strong contender for a Mountain West League title; West Covina projects for a big season.
Ayala HS quarterback Bryan Wilson (Ayala HS Football)
Ayala High School
Coach: A.J Garcia
2021 Record: 9-2
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: 34.5
Last Six Year Calpreps.com Avg. Rating: 22.3
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinators: Ryan Parks & A.J. Garcia
Number of Off. Returning Players: 9
Number of OL Returning: 4
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 5
Rushing yards: 2187 (198.8 YPG, 6.0 AVG)
Passing Yards: 1413 (128.5 YPG, 14.0 AVG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Bryan Wilson, 6-0, 210, QB, 11: All CIF in 2021; ALL CIF/OFFENSIVE MVP/FLORIDA ST. & TEXAS A&M. 2021 Stats: 87-169, 1,264, 16 TDs, 5 INT
Dominic Alloway, 5-9, 155, WR, 12: 1ST TEAM ALL LEAGUE. 2021 Stats: 20 rec. 358 yards, TD, 2 Def INTs.
Lytallion Payne 6-1, 160, WR, 12: 2021 Stats: 16 rec, 274 yards.
Marquis Monroe 5-9, 150, RB, 11: 1ST TEAM ALL LEAGUE. 2021 Stats: 56 carries 418 yards. 3 Def INTs.
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Joseph Lopez 6'2 345 C, 12: 1ST TEAM ALL LEAGUE
Merrick Becerra 6'5, 319, RT, 12
Blake Harmmon 6'4 312 RG, 12: 2ND TEAM ALL LEAGUE
Nicholas Partida 6'2 235 LT, 11: 1ST TEAM ALL LEAGUE
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Andrew Cedergren
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 6
Number of DL Returning: 1
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 5
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Tommy Tucay 5'10 177 FS, 12: 2ND TEAM ALL LEAGUE. 2021 Stats: 52 tackles (27 solo)
Enrique Ybanez 5'11 165, 12, SS. 2021 Stats: 52 tackles (31 solo)
Jacob Munoz 5'10 160, OLB, 12: TWO YEAR STARTER. 2021 stats: 16 tackles (8 solo), 4 sacks, INT
Wyatt Summerford 5'11 180 LB, 11. 2021 Stats: 16 tackles (8 solo), 1.5 sacks,
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Yared Abdulkadir 6'0 195 DE, 12. 2021 Stats: 19 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack.
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
A.J. Levelles 6'0 175, CB, 12
Andrew Walker 5'10, 160, DB/WR, 12
Brandon Townsell 6'2 215 MLB, 12
Drew Amico 5'11 170 WR, 11: 2ND TEAM ALL LEAGUE
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
David Saravia 6'0 230 DL, 12
Andrew Slater 6'2 285 OL, 12: STARTED 3 GAMES LAST YEAR
Jeremy Goble 6'0 235 DL/OL, 11: PLAYED TE LAST YEAR
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Torrey Pines (6-4)
Week 1: Etiwanda (12-1)
Week 2: (Thurs.) Leuzinger (6-6)
Week 3: Monrovia (10-1)
Week 4: Chino Hills (8-6)
Week 5: Citrus Valley (8-4)
Week 6: at Glendora (11-1, Div 3 Quarterfinals)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: vs. Charter Oak (5-6, Div. 7 First Round)
Week 9: at Alta Loma (8-4, Div. 7 Quarterfinalists)
Week 10: at Bonita (9-3. Div. 4 Quarterfinalists)
CRYSTAL BALL:
Projected record: 8-2
Projected League order of finish: The Mountain West League is no joke, and the reason why is because of teams like this. 9 offensive starters returning, including a prize underclass quarterback in Bryan Wilson along with four offensive linemen are the main reason why Ayala is considered a serious contender to win the league title. Defensively, the attention will be focused on the front seven that doesn’t have a lot of experience under the Friday Night Lights. The injury bug also hit the team last year, so health will be a factor that will be closely monitored late in the year. The schedule is an interesting one and one can easily project Ayala going 4-0 into their first major test against Etiwanda. Monrovia and Glendora will provide further evidence on the genuineness of this team. The upside is undeniable - but will it be good enough to snatch a league title, stay tuned.
West Covina’s Nate Maggiore (Photo: Twitter)
West Covina High School
Coach: Mike Maggiore
2021 Record: 6-5
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: 1.1
Last Six Year Calpreps.com Avg. Rating: 2.88
Number of All-League Players Returning: 3
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Ybarra
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 4
Number of OL Returning: 4
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 4
Rushing yards: 2,733 (273.3, 8.5 AVG)
Passing Yards: 671 (67.1 YPG, 19.2 AVG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Zach Requena 5'7, 160, RB, 12: 2021 Stats: 1400 yards / 12 touchdowns / 9.6 per carry
Dario (10) and Diego (12) Montalvo: Brothers that are competing for the starting quarterback job.
Youseef Salama, 6-1, 160, WR, 12
Nate Maggiore, 6-4, 205, TE, 12:
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Rey Valenzuela 6-0, 250, G, 12: Returning League Lineman MVP
Nicholas Dovalina, 5-9, 190, G, 12
Nathan Mendoza, 6-0, 255, T, 12
Dominic Sanchez, 5-11, 245, C, 11
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Jason Heilman
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 3
Number of DL Returning: 6
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 6
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Thomas White, 6-1, 220, LB, 12: all league / Arizona Chrisitan / 80 tackles
Daniel Chavez 5-9, 185, LB, 12: 25 tackles
Jayden Ortiz, 5-9, 160, CB, 12: 21 tackles, INT
Antonio Zendjas 5-9, 155, S, 12: 34 tackles
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Nate Maggiore, 6-4, 205, DE, 12: Montana Tech/ACU, 4 sacks, 30 tackles
Daniel Carrilo, 6-4, 250, DT, 12: “will be Divison 1” according to Maggiore.
Edward Walker 6-1, 235, DE, 12:
Jon Morales, 5-11, 245, DT, 11:
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Greg Ballum 5-10, 160, CB, 11: from JV, 7INT’s last year, will start
Zander Requena 5-6, 145, RB, 10: From frosh, 1000 plus yards
Chris Perez, 5-11, 155, QB, 9: Freshman competing for varsity job
Adrien Munoz, 5-11, 190, LB/RB, 11: plays LB/DE/RB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Baltimore Wagner 5-11, 245, DT, 12: from JV
Nicholas Moore, 5-11, 235, DT, 10: from frosh team
Max Vargas, 6-0, 250, OT, 12: from JV will start
Eric Vargas 6-0, 245, OT, 10: from frosh team
COMMENTS FROM MIKE MAGGIORE: “Getting stronger in the weight room should help us to play a more physical style of football. Don't have a lot of "stars" but a good number of solid players and competition at most positions. We will be tougher and more disciplined this season.”
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Alta Loma (8-4, Div. 7 Quarterfinalists)
Week 1: vs. Los Altos (2-8, 1-2)
Week 2: vs. Crescenta Valley (2-7, 1-4)
Week 3: (Sat.) vs. South Hills (0-10, 0-3)
Week 4: (Thurs.) Placentia Valencia (2-8, 2-3)
Week 5: vs. Charter Oak (5-6, Div. 7 First Round)
Week 6: at Baldwin Park (10-1, 3-0, Div. 11 First Round)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Don Lugo (1-9, 0-3)
Week 9: at Chaffey (2-8, 1-2)
Week 10: vs. Claremont (7-6, Div. 9 Semifinalists)
CRYSTAL BALL: This is your typical Mike Maggiore football team. A bunch of unsung, under the radar players that will quietly get better as the season progresses and before you know it, they’ll be making a deep playoff run. The biggest concern is who is going to play the quarterback position. It’s a three-person race and it’s going to be interesting as to who gets the nod. Requena gives Bulldog fans that “traditional” running back that they love watch (1,400-yard rusher) and the Nate Maggiore headlines an outstanding group up front. Defensively, the back 7 will be under the microscope, but should get some help from a defensive line unit that projects to be very productive and stout. The schedule is quite interesting. One can easily see West Covina go 6-1 before San Antonio League action commences. The obvious big game is the regular season finale against Claremont. It appears that all the stars are aligning for West Covina to win another league title and making a deep run in the playoffs.
Projected record: 9-1.
Projected League order of finish: 1. West Covina, 2. Claremont, 3. Chaffey, 4. Don Lugo.