Is it too early to say, 'Wait 'til next year'?
Football for area schools, in terms of participation, is over except for the annual 605 all-star game and perhaps a smattering of individuals who might be invited to other all-star contests.
La Habra High School put a capper on it by bringing home the Southwest Division championship to go with the Southeast Division crown the Highlanders captured in 2007.
And they did it glorious fashion.
When the game was over, there was no doubt as to which was the better team. The teams played the way they've played all year and with the players they've played with all year.
There were no "what ifs" or "should-coulda-wouldas" left on the table.
And that's the way it should be. ...
All things considered, it was a good season.
It might have been even better had Pioneer not lost starting quarterback Ronnie Palacios, the Del Rio League's returning offensive MVP from 2007, to a back problem before the season started.
And if California had not had to play down the stretch with an injured quarterback and running back.
And if Santa Fe had a healthy Aaron Turner playing instead of standing relatively immobile on the sideline with a heavily-taped ankle when the Chiefs lost to Burbank in the first round of the playoffs.
And if La Serna had not been without at least two key players who had been disciplined and were missing in the second-round loss to Rowland.
And if Whittier running back Alex Gonzalez hadn't suffered an ankle injury (reportedly broken?) just as he was on the verge of a breakout season and set to couple with Daniel Enriquez to provide the Cardinals with the DRL's best running back tandem.
And if El Rancho hadn't suffered the same fate, losing half of it's ground game when Marcus Aldecoa went down with a leg injury leaving Marcus Galan to fend for himself (which he did most valiantly) for a good chunk of the season.
Youthful La Mirada finally settled on a quarterback just in time to win its way into the playoffs, and can't wait to get started for next season.
And neither, probably, can the rabid fans who have followed the area's teams this fall.
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Where is The All League selections. For all of our local school ST. Paul , Santa Fe
LG Hills: Good post and yes, I am biased since I was a Junior the season the Swordsmen won the 5A CIF Title (14-0) .
I would like to step back and say, "One of the best teams in this area" and yes, the 1965 El Rancho Dons led by Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson, a legend, can lay claim to being the best.
I'm sure there are many others who have seen more HS football than I have who may have more teams in mind.
By the way, congrats to La Habra for winning another CIF title and with their recent success clearly proves, the current best team in the area.
Del Rio Football Fan:
Not bitter? I think you are. You bring up an incident that happened 34 years ago. It happened so long ago that the coach you claim (Bruich) was involved is retiring after a long and illustrious career.
You are indeed a bitter old man.....
So 1981&1982 was the best team in area history, I think some of your Alum might say different. Pride in your schools is great. But El Rancho’s 1966 national and state champ might win out. Winniest coach absolutely, but don’t go crazy. Class of 83 always love your school and its history. It’s all good.
to st. paul-no im not bitter im just stating facts-the incident at dennys restauarant really happened-they did get thrown out of the playoffs that year-u can check it out-it really happened-dont worry by next year ur beloved cheating coach will no longer be number one-he will be passed by a coach with class-coach la Douceur does it with class and good sportsmanship -its just tellin u the facts.
To DelRio : LOL....you sound like a bitter man. Coach Marion Anchich is the winnest coach in California high school football and his 1981-82 team, which went 14-0 and were #1 in state and #3 in the USA, was probably the best team ever in this area.
Coach Anchich dominated the area and the CIF longer than any other coach or school and his many league titles in the Angelus League are a shining tribute to a stellar, Hall of Fame career.
St Paul has continued the CIF CHampionship tradition by adding another ring last season .
to St.paul 1983-dont worry-coach LaDouceur will pass your lying cheating Coach A-- next year- and he does it with class not with recruiting and cheating like ur beloved cheating COACH A-- if you dont believe me what happened whrn he had his assitant coaches such as Dick Bruich pull up the van next to Dennys Restaurant and spy on Pioneers practice before a CIF PLAYOFF GAME. they were turned in to the CIF and had to forfeit their playoff win because of course they cheated. by early next year your beloved cheating coach will be pasdsed over by a coach with some class who does it the right way.
Wow Murray.
No St. Paul.
No Whittier Christan.
Because you know, they haven't had a football program in years and they didn't do anything recognizable.
Totally forgot.
hey matadore 777, for your info, schurr football knows exactly where la habra is located we knocked them off twice in the c.i.f. playoffs, 28-21 in 1975, and 9-7 in 2006, so get your info right!
Mattadore 777, St Paul is no power house in anything maybe ghetto. Montebello and Shcurr has more success in sports then SP. MHS’s are champs in other sports, look it up before you blog. We can not only read much better then welfare SP ………. or locate poor trash SP. I know you think you’re the coverage police who should be covered or not. Ask yourself the question bone head.
De La Salle Coach Bob Ladouceur fell short in his bid to become the all-time winningest coach in California. He remains tied with former longtime Santa Fe Springs St. Paul coach Marijon Ancich, who retired with 344 victories.
GO ST PAUL AND ATTABOY COACH A....STILL #1
Roger Murray
Let me tell you about a young man that you write about. But until now, I see you really don't know. This young man plays, Football, basketball, baseball. He was a starter in all of these sports since, he was in the 10th grade, and his GPA has always been higher then a 3.0 He has been a leader and a captain in all of these sports,
Any team that played against Whittier this year new that they had to stop #30 and they would put 8 to 9 players in the box and he still had 100 yds or more in nine of the ten games. His line avg wt was about 235. not like santa fe at about 270
In 2006 as a soph he had 740 yds rushing 5 TDs
In 2007 he had 1213 yds, rushing 13 TDs. Was first team all league. With the most points voted by the coaches in the league as a running back. You gave him 1st team All Area running back.
In 2008 he had 1387 yds rushing 11 TDs. Again he was voted the top running back. But this time was voted OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR in the Del Rio league. More than all of that this young man has helped the Whittier football program get better just like so many other players have done since I have been here. His hard work has given him the respect of his fellow players and coaches, the players and coaches that he has played against. So I thought I would tell you about this young man. Even though its to late.
His name is Daniel Enriquez
Hey Murray
Just a Question... If Sonora HS is in La Habra why are they not in the Coverage if La Habra and Whittier Christian are? I know it may be towards the Brea side in the 714.
Roger Murray and the Whittier Daily News only covers the teams he likes or the teams that win. Have you heard one thing about Whittier Christian this year. Nope!!! One of the more successful teams in the area over the last four years, got moved up to a new league, and had to play in the mid valley division, so they struggled with a young group of kids. A school of 650 playing with Rosemead, Monrovia, San Dimas. Sure a smaller school, but deserves coverage. It was great to see the runs by La Serna, good coach, good man, Cal hi, good coach good man, and of course La Habra. Reminder to the daily news, WHITTIER Christian is in your coverage area.
Football Fan….. With those comments you must be a St Paul fan or alum. If the comments that are posted on this blog are garbage why blog here? I don’t think Murray is just going to man up and play. Now don’t give your excuse that you hate so much, but only if you give it right? Because that would be a joke.
What happened;… So what did happen to St Paul? Not much and maybe Murray had better things to think about. Now do you (SP) need to be the center of attention? I’m sure many and I would like to remember the great run La Habra had this season a storied championship, great battles. They have rewritten football history in our area that no one can take away, not even you St Paul. So just be happy for them.
Excuses! Excuses! If this, If that ... All that matters that they lost ... Give me a break! If SF was that good, they should have still beat Burbank without Turner ...
Hey Schurr stop complaining that you get no coverage. The city of Montebello should not even be in the Whittier coverage area. You guys should join your sister cities in the San Gabriel Valley or the City of Los Angeles. Del Rio league will always get love because they have the most schools in the area. La Habra, St Paul because they are the power houses here. If we took a vote we;d probably all vote to kick montebello to the valley or the city where they belong. They know anything about the strong tradition of La Mirada, they probably couldnt locate La Habra on a map, and the legend of st paul must seem like a myth to them
hey anonymous learn to spell CHAMPIONSHIPS before you start talking about them :]
La Habra season was exciting. For the boys to get the opportunity to play at Anaheim Stadium was an experience they will remember for a lifetime.
And they will be ready next year...many of thier strong players were only 10th & 11th graders. They have a tough offensive line returning- Casey,Peko,Elkington and on defense they have Padilla,Sandoval,Peppard and of course the Juice(Quezada)..thats just a few off the top of my head,,there are more. God Bless all the Seniors.
The beginning of this blog was good, but the end was a joke. I hate excuses. Do you know how many sport teams across the country could say comments like that? It's garbage! You sound like the Raiders! Every year is going to be next year, and the reason for losing that next year is injuries and coaches. Just man up and play!
Dear Mr. Murray,
Just so you know this, the Whittier Daily News is also responsible for writng about the schools in Montebello area also. In case you forgot, Schurr High School has a CIF champsionship in 2006 and was a semi-finialist in 2007. Plus, the have been league champs the last 6 years. With all do respect to the other schools, this program is a very consistent proud program. But no one knows that becasue YOU and your newspaper feels its more important to talk about the La Mirada's and Pioneer's of the world. When have they won anything? All I hear from you about them every year is that they are an upstart program? How many yeares can you be an upstart program? Granted, the St.Paul's and the La Habra's of the world deserve the ink that they get in your newspaper becasue they are consistently winning every year. But please, Sante Fe, the Buffalo Bills of high school football? Didnt Schurr beat them in the 2006 CIF championship game which by the way your paper picked Santa Fe to win? So in closing Mr. Murray, do us a favor, show us that you are a equal opportunist and give other schools some ink in your newspaper besides the Whittier schools.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ST. PAUL
DO YOU EVER MENTION THERE FOOTBALL TEAM NOT EVEN ON THIS SMALL COVERAGE.................
WHERE ARE THE ALL LEAGUE TEAMS
La Habra what a great season, be proud and I know you are. Obviously I would of liked El Rancho to have had been more successful this season, but the kids had their opportunities and no one could have ask for more. El Rancho’s kids we love you and are always proud of you and behind you. Let’s take some more steps towards a better season next year. Injuries are part of football and fate is a part of life and life is not fair and shouldn’t be. It’s just life.