It's too early to be saying things like this, but ...
Among Del Rio League football teams, it appears Pioneer and Santa Fe
face the biggest preleague challenges. Pioneer gets Southwest Division
finalist Charter Oak, Cypress and then Western Division champion St.
Paul, along with what is expected to be an improved South El Monte team
that was 7-5 last season. In between, in Game 2, don't ignore Mid-Valley
Division (XI) South El Monte's potential.
Santa Fe opens with Warren from the always tough San Gabriel Valley
League, faces Division I San Clements in Game 3 and takes on always
physical Downey in Game 5. In between, the Chiefs can't afford to look
past speedy Littlerock and always dangerous Bell Gardens.
At the other end of the spectrum, some folks are putting down La
Serna's schedule as weak and ineffective, but La Mirada in Game 3
figures to be much improved, Warren in Game 4 will be a legitimate test, and Los
Altos will be, well, perennial contender Los Altos, even though the Conquerors will have a new head coach.
CO Dano,
I was there and I agree if it was no rain
& better refs both South Hills & Charter Oak would have been in the finals. Another thing I couldn't figure is why your coach did not run Adam Muema,
running him in the power I in the second half is what turned the game around the week before when you played West Covina.
I felt that every team in the area improved their pre-season schedule, including La Serna. John Glenn High School has a new head coach in Coach Wilson (Dusan Ancich deciple) they will be greatly improved. Norwalk has a new head coach, I believe he is from Bloomington High School (the same offense they ran last year) they should improve on their 6 wins from last year. La Mirada will be a sleeper this year with the Tri-Head Coaches (including Coach Brooks) they will be heading in the right direction. Warren is a SLEEPING GIANT, mark my words there are athletes all over that campus, the big question with Warren has been the same for years...if they were to get the right coach in there, well..they have a new Head Coach. Finally, Los Altos, we all know the rich tradition over the hill, we also know the off year they had last year, odds are they will rebound from that, there are to many players on that side of the hill!!! All 6 of the Del Rio League teams have upped the schedule.
Pioneer for sure, El Rancho has two sure tough ones
with West Co & St.Francis, Sante Fe could have a tougher schedule but it depends on Warren & Downey some years they can be good & other years they can be mediocre.
Charter Oak was not in the finals last year. The got beat by Trabuco Hills (and the refs) in the rain at Charger Stadium. El Dorado then squeeked by Trabuco Hills to take the Southwest.
Bitter? Yeah I'm bitter.