SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022: ARROYO, EL MONTE
Knights are favored to win the Mission Valley League again in 2022 while Hector Spathias takes over at the helm at El Monte.
Arroyo coach Chuck Leonardis (Escarcega)
Arroyo High School
Coach: Chuck Leonardis
2021 Record: 10-1
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: -12
Last Six Year Calpreps.com Avg. Rating: 3.18
Number of Returning Players: 7
Number of All-League Players Returning: 3
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Chris MacMillan
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 3
Number of OL Returning: 0
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 3
Rushing yards: 1,934 yards (175.8 YPG, 6.0)
Passing Yards: 2,017 yards (183.4 YPG, 15.4 AVG.)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Ruben Munoz; 12, 5'10, 180, WR/DB: First Team All-League
Nate Guardado; 12, 5'10, 195, LB/RB: All CIF & League MVP
Albert Lopez; 11, 5'9, 160, K: First Team All-League
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Singiser
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 4
Number of DL Returning: 1
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 3
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Nate Corona; 12, 5'9, 185, LB: First Team All-League
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Aaron Duran; 12, 6'0, 250, DL
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Adam Huizar 11 5'9 170 DB
Kurt Dominguez 11 5'7 150 WR
Naavan Nicholson 12 5'11 180 DB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Jose Dominguez 12 6'0 235 OL/DL
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES FROM CHUCK LEONARDIS:
Strengths: League MVP returns for us, Key Athletes in the skill positions, Staff continuity, big upfront
Weaknesses: Inexperienced at OL, New QB
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Kaiser (5-6, CIF-SS D-10, 1st round)
Week 1: at San Marino (3-6, 1-4)
Week 2: vs. Schurr (7-4, CIF-SS, D-10 1st Round)
Week 3: BYE
Week 4: vs. Whittier (3-7, 1-3)
Week 5: at El Segundo (5-5, 0-5)
Week 6: at Mountain View (2-7, 0-5)
Week 7: at El Monte (4-6, CIF-SS Div. 14 1st Round)
Week 8: at South El Monte (4-6, 2-3)
Week 9: at Rosemead (6-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalist)
Week 10: vs. Gabrielino (4-5, 1-4)
CRYSTAL BALL: You know what you get when the subject of Arroyo Football is on the table. Tough kids that find a way to win and accept tough coaching from one of the top staffs in the league. You can pretty much say this same thing every year - rinse and repeat. The big thing that coach Chuck Leonardis has going for him is the return of the league’s Most Valuable Player Nate Guardado. The two-way standout will be asked for everything he has (and more) this season. The staff thinks that he’s sitting on another big season. The skill positions are just fine - except for one position: Quarterback. Another question will be the offensive and defensive lines. They lack the Friday Night Lights experience that is always coveted by coaches in the area. If you are buying into this team, you are buying into the experience that Leonardis and his staff bring to the table. To be the champs, you have to beat the champs. And until someone beats the champs, you have to make the Knights the favorites to win the MVL…. Again!
Projected record: 8-2
El Monte HS Football coach Hector Spathias. (Photo: El Monte HS Athletics)
El Monte High School
Coach: Hector Spathias
2021 Record: 4-7
2021 Calpreps.com Rating: -43.1
Number of Returning Players: 14
Number of All-League Players Returning: 0
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Jerry Urias
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 6
Number of OL Returning: 3
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 3
Rushing yards: 1,801 yards (180.1 4.5 AVG)
Passing Yards: 259 yards (25.9 YPG, 23.5 AVG.)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Joshua Juarez WRÂ
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Hector Spathias
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 6
Number of DL Returning: 2
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 4
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Jonathan Lopez, 12, 5-10, 240, MLB
Saul Sanchez 12, 5-8, 160, OLB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Cesar Carreon 12, 5-8, 175, DE
COMMENTS FROM HECTOR SPATHIAS: I think we have the best coaching staff in the valley and year in and year out our staff does some remarkable things to get the team ready for league. Our staff has not missed the playoffs with the exception of our first-year coaching together in 2011. Every year it's been 1st or 2nd place except at Los Altos when we finish 7-3 and took 3rd in league. I know we are picked to come in 5th place, and I can see why, but Calpreps does not take into account the coaching staff. We will not come in 5th place. “
2022 Schedule (with 2021 season records)
Week 0: at Pomona (5-7, 0-3)
Week 1: at Rio Hondo Prep (10-2, CIF-SS Div. 7 Quarterfinalists)
Week 2: vs. Norwalk (6-5, CIF-SS Div. 12 First Round)
Week 3: BYE
Week 4: at Sierra Vista (0-8, 0-2)
Week 5: vs. Viewpoint (4-5, 0-3)
Week 6: vs. Gabrielino (4-5, 1-4)
Week 7: vs. Arroyo (10-1, CIF-SS, Div. 9 1st Round)
Week 8: at Mountain View (2-7, 0-5)
Week 9: at South El Monte (4-6, 2-3)
Week 10: vs. Rosemead (6-6, CIF-SS Div. 12 Quarterfinalist)
CRYSTAL BALL: Tough team to get a read on. It’s the start of a new era at El Monte with Jesse Ceniceros leaving El Monte for Sierra Vista and Hector Spathias taking over at the reins. To say that Spathias is excited about the team is quite an understatement. The Lions do have a returning QB in Alexiz Rodriguez and I’m sure he’ll throw for more than 233 yards that he amassed last year in the Ceniceros’ run-heavy double-wing attack. The skill guys are there but can they play some defense in 2022? That is a question that will be answered quickly with a nonleague schedule that includes Rio Hondo Prep, Norwalk, Sierra Vista, and Viewpoint. If the Lions can come away with a 3-2 record, that could be the confidence they need to have entered the MVL portion of the season. I can see this team with a seven-win season, but I can also see a seven-loss season in my crystal ball. Let’s check back with the team after week 5.
Projected record: 3-7
Projected League Order of Finish: 1. Arroyo 2. Rosemead, 3. Mountain View, 4. El Monte, 5. Mountain View, 6. Gabrielino.