October 2008 Archives

Wow!!! What a week of games. Six of the eight have playoff ramifications.

Last week: Roger Murray 8-2
Andrew Campa 10-0
Season totals to be updated Friday.

Week 8 games
Santa Fe at California: Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (California)
La Serna at El Rancho: Murray (La Serna); Campa (LaSerna)
Whittier at Pioneer: Murray (Whittier); Campa (Whittier)
Sunny Hills at La Habra: Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
La Mirada at Bellflower: Murray (La Mirada); Campa (Bellflower)
Schurr at Montebello: Murray (Schurr); Campa (Schurr)
Bishop Montgomery at Cantwell: (Cantwell); Campa (Bishop Montgomery)
Sst. Francis at St. Paul: Murray (St. Paul); Campa (St. Paul)

This week's games:

Santa Fe at California: Tradition says Santa Fe. California's 7-0 season says upset in the making. The visiting Chiefs (6-1) are not chopped liver and have had more spectacular moments. Condors have been more consistent. Chiefs probably have more talent. Condors have the momentum.

La Serna at El Rancho: 7-0 vs. 2-5. Seems like a no-brainer. Lancers seem to be a bit more organized. Dons often appear to be playing more on heart than by design. ER wide receiver Anthony Ayala says coaches have good game plans, but players don't always execute. If they get around to doing it, this could be a very good game.

Whittier at Pioneer: 1-6 vs. 1-6. May turn out to be the best game of the three DRL contests. Cardinals' defense can't win it by themselves. The offense has to step up. Titans' offense can produce points, but defense needs to make a stop every now and again.

Sunny Hills at La Habra: 3-4 vs. 5-2. Visiting Lancers had some moments early on, but seem to have lost their touch. It wouldn't make any difference, anyway.

La Mirada at Bellflower: 1-6 vs. 1-6. Huge, HUGE game for both teams. Playoff ramifications hanging on the outcome. First team to understand that wins.

Schurr at Montebello: 4-3 vs. 3-4. So much more than intracity rivalry here. Big penalty for the loser in terms of playoff possibilities. Host Oilers have the easier road after this one.

Bishop Montgomery at Cantwell Sacred Heart: 3-4 vs. 4-3. Host Cardinals look good on paper, but can they win it on the field?

St. Francis at St. Paul: 5-2 vs. 3-4: Records indicate host Swordsmen should just stay home and save wear and tear on their bodies. However, they're hoping investments in rugged preleague schedule will pay dividends now.

Whittier Christian, bye

Toughest week to make predictions.
Murray's/Campa's will be posted late Thursday p.m.
Step up and take your best shot. Comments encouraged, but be brief, PLEASE be brief.

La Habra 45, Troy 0
Hillman's 220 all-purpose yards, five TDs, complement another stellar defensive effort for 5-2, 2-0 defending Freeway League champions.
La Serna 31, Whittier 14
Burke, Burke and Co. keep impressive 7-0, 2-0 season on track against stubborn Cardinals.
Santa Fe 31, El Rancho 21
RB Turner 'held' to 90 yards rushing but Jackson's late forced fumble and recovery sets up Bomer touchdown to secure victory over upset-minded Dons.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 35, St. Paul 0
Did Swordsmen find a way to step up or did Knights shut it down in scoreless second half as St. Paul's rugged preleague schedule finally comes to an end.
California 58, Pioneer 13
Condors not flashy, just steady as their all-around game continues to make them look like legitimate title contenders.
Montebello 41, Alhambra 34
The defense forced five turnovers and Marron-Espinosa combo rushed for 270 yards, five touchdowns, but Higa's second fumble recovery blunts Moors' late bid and preserves win.
Cantwell Sacred Heart 28, Mary Star of the Sea 7
Cardinals QB Hernandez only nine for 20, 112 yards passing, but for three touchdowns to help earn win in Camino Real League opener.
Norwalk 41, La Mirada 24
Winner's ground game produces 'only' 442 yards (48 below season average), but it was sufficient to get past struggling-but-improving Matadores (1-6, 1-2).
Cerritos Valley Christian 38, Whittier Christian 21
Heralds QB Anderson 17 for 24 for 251 yards, three touchdowns -- off the bench - but effort is wasted when defense can't keep Crusaders out of the end zone.
Schurr v38, Mark Keppel 8
NOTE: Spartans won the game that was moved from Friday night to Thursday.

FOOTBALL LEADERS
(Through Week 6)
RUSHING
Player,team C Yds Avg TD
Aaron Turner, SFe 123 1085 8.8 16
Daniel Enriquez, Wht 115 730 6.4 5
Louie Lozano, LaSer 77 655 8.5 7
Joshua Quezada, LaHab 64 601 9.4 6
Marcus Galan, ElRan 92 564 6.1 4
Ronnie Hillman, LaHab 34 488 14.4 5
Matt Botello, Pio 72 469 6.5 4
Greg Perea, Cal * 63 421 6.7 6
Alex Gonzalez, Wht 45 399 8.9 4
Matt Urquiza, Cal 67 386 5.8 4
Joseph Loara, Cntwl 50 358 7.2 4
Joseph Moran, Mntbl 64 353 5.5 1
Marcus Aldecoa, ElRan 41 342 8.3 4
Randall Nygren, LaHab 51 294 5.8 6
Eric Espinosa, Mntbl 40 265 6.6 5
Eli Mendibles, Mntbl * 19 222 11.7 2
Ben Burke,LaSer * 42 212 5.1 6
* Quarterback

PASSING
Player,team PA PC YDS TD
Cesar Hernandez, Cant 135 74 1256 11
Randall Nygren, LaHab 106 58 883 11
Ben Burke, LaSer 97 54 894 9
Steven Del Villar, Pio 90 42 745 7
Josh Perea, ElRan 85 42 580 4
Alex Flores, Sfe 50 29 459 1
Eli Mendibles, Mntbl 58 26 371 3
Greg Perea, Cal 44 23 292 4
Matt Viramontes, Wht 39 18 235 0

RECEIVING
Player,team C YDS AVG TD
Ronnie Hillman, LaHab 26 433 16.7 5
Jeffrey Taylor, Cntwl 21 396 18.9 5
Anthony Ayala, ElRan 20 311 15.6 2
Chris Perez, Cntwl 19 339 17.8 2
Gavan Ramirez, Pio 14 388 27.7 3
Joshua Quezada, LaHab 14 188 13.4 3
Kimball Tillman, Cntwl 12 291 24.3 2
Jon Rodriguez, LaSer 12 191 15.9 0
Fernando Gomez, Mntbl 11 166 15.1 0
Freddie Sanchez, LaSer 9 177 19.7 2

**NOTE: Statistics provided by schools that responded to inquiries. **

California High's football program received good news early this morning
when the report on running back Matt Urquiza's ankle was "not broken."
It was determined to be a "high ankle sprain," and although he is
definitely out of the Pioneer game tonight, he'll be "monitored closely
throughout next week" in practice and could be available for Friday's
game against Santa Fe. Urquiza suffered the injury during the third
quarter of last week's victory over El Rancho.

When California plays visiting Pioneer tonight, the Condors will be without running back Matt Urquiza. Coach Jim Arnold said the standout, two-way senior may have suffered a broken ankle in last week's victory over El Rancho, and while the doctor's final evaluation of the injury won't be made until Today or Friday, Arnold said in any case, Urquiza won't be playing against Pioneer. "It really hurts us because he's a standout on both sides of the ball for us."
Arnold said junior Dudley Gamino, who was impressive with an 84-yard scoring sprint against El Rancho, will replace Urquiza,

Pioneer coach Ramon Juarez said that junior quarterback Steven Del Villar has been practicing on a still-sore ankle but will be ready tonight.

California, Santa Fe and La Serna all won but failed to move up in this week's CIF-SS Southeast Division football poll.
California (6-0) dumped El Rancho, 45-13, Santa Fe (5-1) got by Whittier, 19-6, and La Serna (6-0) pounded Pioneer, 57-27, to remain in the Nos. 3, 4 and 7 spots.
Actually, nobody moved up, all were winners.
La Habra (4-2) all but destroyed Sonora, 62-0, but also stayed in the same spot, No. 4, in the Southwest Division. Places 1 though 8 remained the same.
St. Paul (3-3) hung with within striking distance of Loyola for three quarters before succumbing to the Cubs' Anthony Barr and his 191 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-21 loss that dropped the Swordsmen two notches to No. 6 in the Western Division.

In other sports, no locals are ranked in boys/girls cross country and girls tennis.

In girls volleyball, La Serna moved up a spot in Division II-A to No. 9; La Mirada made the biggest jump, three notches, to No. 6 in Division III-A; and Whittier Christian, three weeks as No. 1, had no place to go up so remained in Division IV-AA's top spot.

In boys' water polo, only two area teams are recognized, and both held their spots: Montebello No. 1 in Division III, and La Serna No. 2 in Division V.

Friday night's results:

La Habra 62, Sonora 0
Yes, Fullerton rolled over Buena Park (50-7), but it it still doesn't
look good for the Indians and the rest of the Freeway League because
the Highlanders are on a roll.
Santa Fe 19, Whittier 6
Turner returns opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, and although
point differential isn't what many expected, it was a game the Chiefs
were supposed to win.
La Serna 67, Pioneer 27
Lozano, Burke sharp and Lancers continue to impress, but beating up
personnel-depleted Titans doesn't earn a lot of ranking points.
California 45, El Rancho 13
Aggressive Condors defense wouldn't let El Rancho's offense get loose,
even with Aldecoa back to help Galan, and the near future doesn't appear
bright for the Dons.
Schurr 38, Alhambra 24
Spartans rise to the occasion - again - and add more misery to the
Moors' already deteriorating hopes for what was expected to be a
championship Almont League season.
Loyola 42, St. Paul 21
One more week to go (Sherman Oaks Notre Dame) for the Swordsmen, and
then they get off this fast track to begin Mission League play, though,
that's not going to provide much relief.
Bell Gardens 45, Montebello 20
Oilers put their two-game win streak on the line, then couldn't stop the
Lancers' ground game (316 yards) nor keep them out of the end
zone (seven possessions, six TDs).
Cathedral 42, Cantwell Sacred Heart 0
The visiting Phantoms worked their magic and the anticipated duel
between super receivers Ray Carroll (Cathedral) and Jeffrey Taylor
(Cantwell) got lost in the shuffle.
Mayfair 28, La Mirada 0
In what not long ago was the Suburban League's premier matchup, winning
Monsoons weren't impressive enough to scare anybody, and the Mysterious
Matadores remain a question mark.
Paraclete 38, Whittier Christian 12
First-half miscues + lost opportunities in the second half + Brandon
Buteyn 280 yards and three touchdowns = more obstacles than the
youthful, mistake-prone Heralds could handle.

Last Week's results: Roger Murray 7-2; Andrew Campa 6-3
Totals to date: Murray 46-16; Campa 42-20

Week 6 picks:

Friday's games:
California at El Rancho: Murray (California); Campa (California)
Sonora at La Habra: Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
Santa Fe at Whittier: Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (Santa Fe)
La Serna at Pioneer: Murray (La Serna); Campa (La Serna)
Mayfair at La Mirada: Murray (Mayfair); Campa (Mayfair)
Bell Gardens at Montebello: Murray (Bell Gardens); Campa (Montebello)
Schurr at Alhambra: Murray (Alhambra); Campa (Schurr)
Loyola at St. Paul: Murray (Loyola); Campa (Loyola)
Cathderal at Cantwell: Murray (Cathedral); Campa (Cathedral)
Paraclete at Whittier Christian: Murray (Paraclete); Campa (Paraclete)

Just for fun:
Murray's upset pick: Cantwell
Campa's upset pick: Bell Gardens

Congratulations to Pioneer High School's water polo team for upsetting Paramount, 6-5 , -- at Paramount -- Wednesday. Andrew Orozco scored the game's tying and winning goals in the fourth quarter to put the cap on a standout defensive effort by the Titans. It was their fourth win of the season, and that's four more than the program had in 2007.

The football fanatics' postings are appreciated, but it's nice to hear from folks from other sports, too. How about cross country and tennis and volleyball? Where's the volleyball faithful with insight into their sport.
It helps our coverage when the faithful show an interest.

Some days, you just can't make a nickel.
Pioneer football coach Ramon Juarez, whose season has been frought with injuries to key players, said Tuesday that quarterback Ronnie Palacios will not return to the field again this season, effectively ending his high school football career.
Palacios, the Del Rio League MVP a year ago and in many circles, described this season as arguably the league's best quarterback, has been trying to rehab from a bulging disc in his back.
It was thought he would be able to return to the field after a period of rest and inactivity, but doctors finally determined that should Palacios receive another blow to the area, he risked having the bulge move out more and while not life threatening, it could have negative after effects later in life.
Health willing, Palacios plans to play baseball, his first choice between the two sports, for the Titans this spring.

Questions of the day: Where will St. Paul Principal Ms. Lori Barr sit for Friday's Loyola-St. Paul football game? And which team will she root for?
The answers may not be as simple as you think. And then again, they might be no brainers.
Ms. Barr's son is Anthony Barr, Loyola's 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior running back who reportedly has already received offers from Notre Dame, Sanford, UCLA and USC.
One report gently reminds that Ms. Barr "is St. Paul's principal, and she will most likely be in her usual spot in the bleachers, probably somewhere around the 25-yard line."
If so, good for her. But which side will her heart be on?

Wide receiver Dont'e Webb has enrolled at West Covina High School. This is brought up again only to explain that he did not transfer because he had been "expelled from St. Paul due to behaviorial infractions." His transfer had nothing to do with football, it was his idea and it was done for personal reasons.
Enough said.

Thursday's result:
California 33, El Monte 14
Condors take command early on Stern's 57-field goal, don't look back.

Friday's results:
Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary 33, Don Bosco Tech 7
Cardinals fly high behind QB Hernandez's 12 for 19, 219 yards, 3 TDs.

La Serna 21, Los Altos 6
When ground game struggles, QB Burke steps up (13-20, 181 yards, 2 TDs).

St. Paul 42, Pioneer 0
Swordsmen take advantage of offensively-challenged Titans.

Santa Fe 21, Downey 16
Chiefs, Turner (23-169, 3 TDs) run past visiting Vikings

Schurr 7, Whittier 6
Cardinals waste late defensive stand and Schurr gets help to win

Whittier Christian 34, Kern Valley 7
Heralds recover from frustrating loss behind Camarillo's 121 yards.

St. Francis 45, El Rancho 7
Visiting Golden Knights score big early, breeze rest of the way.

San Clemente 28, La Habra 21
Highlanders lose early lead, late rally snuffed by Tritons' defensive stand.

La Mirada, Montebello, byes.

Last Week's results: Roger Murray 6-5; Andrew Campa 5-6
Records to date: Murray 39-14; Campa 36-17

This week's games:

Thursday:
California at El Monte: Murray (California); Campa (California)

Friday:
Cantwell vs. Don Bosco Tech: Murray (Cantwell); Campa (Don Bosco Tech)
St. Francis at El Rancho: Murray (St. Francis); Campa (St. Francis)
La Habra at San Clemente: Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
La Serna at Los Altos: Murray (La Serna); Campa (Los Altos)
Pioneer at St. Paul: Murray (St. Paul); Campa (St. Paul)
Downey at Santa Fe: Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (Santa Fe)
<strong>Whittier at Schurr: Murray (Schurr); Campa (Schurr)
Kern Valley at Whittier Christian: Murray (Kern Valley); Campa
(WhChristian)

Just for fun:
Murray's upset pick: Whittier Christian
Campa's upset pick: Whittier

Last week's results: Roger Murray 9-2; Andrew Campa 9-2
Up to date: Murray 33-9; Campa 31-11.

Thursday's game:
Schurr at California: Murray (Schurr); Campa (Schurr)

Friday's games:
La Mirada vs. Cerritos: Murray (La Mirada); Campa (La Mirada)
Cantwell vs. San Marino: Murray (Cantwell), Campa (Cantwell)
Los Alamitos vs. La Habra: Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
Warren vs. La Serna: Murray (La Serna); Campa (Warren)
HH Wilson vs. Montebello: Murray (Wilson); Campa (Wilson)
Pioneer vs. Bolsa Grande: Murray (Bolsa Grande); Campa (Bolsa Grande)
Santa Fe vs. Bell Gardens: Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (Santa Fe)
St. Paul vs. St. John Bosco: Murray (St. John Bosco); Campa (St. John Bosco)
Whittier vs. Paramount: Murray (Paramount); Campa (Paramount)
Whittier Christian vs. Mission Prep: Murray (WhChristian); Campa (WhChristian)
El Rancho, bye

And just for fun:
Murray's upset special: St Paul over St. John Bosco
Campa's upset special: La Serna over Warren