IS THE RIO HONDO LEAGUE REALLY THIS GOOD?

This is a great blog!

mike the clone,
just like fred said big bad west covina almost lost to monrovia. So let me i say respect the schools on the east but this year the west valley schools could match your schools of the east. maybe in the past it wasn't like that but its like that now and i feel that it will stay that way. even though they're my rivals from back in the day temple city is living to the hype as well as monrovia. i still and always will feel that the league title will always be between these two schools. I'm aware that la canada has had a few shares of the title between monroiva and temple city, but anyone that knows about RHL knows im not lying about that. Its all about whose got home field advantage between the two schools. because i dont remember a time in the last six years T.C. has come down to M.H.S. and beat us or vice versa dats jus how it is.

i do wanna give props to blair high school. its a big change going on over there. and i feel that either south pasadena or T.C. will sleep on them and blair will pull an upset that will shake up the RHL. but i've notice maybe every other year when blair and san marino play there's a bit of a struggle. there's not an open blowout like it is when they play the big dogs of the RHL. but san marino is lookin good too. but i see that they wont get really tested until league play

la canada.... well there running back is tearing it up right now. but i feel that L.C. is going to rely on him too much and i dont see anyone else doing the work but him. i think that will bite L.C. in the back deep into league play. look back at desmond reed, he was temple city but one kid cant do it all. he came into monrovia and was shut down 42-21. A week before he had put up a touchdown in every skilled position against south pasadena. so if they rely on only him to put up points then i only see them as a second or third place team in the RHL

I think the South Pasadena football team is doing a great job this year! They have a small roster and are giving it their best shot. South Pasadena is not known for being strong in supporting all of the sports programs, so it is great to see these kids give it their all. I wish them the best and hope they are able to go to championships.

Don't understand the Rio Hondo Prep rag. They are a small program that can probably often beat the britches off RHL schools and the like if they had the opportunity. They are one of the best coached teams in the valley. They come prepared. Should be an interesting contest this weekend versus Maranatha. MHS should be out to avenge last year's massacre and Maranatha has some horses of their own this year. Robledo picked Bakersfield Christian against MHS but MHS prevailed 48 to 28 and two of those for BCHS were gimmes late in the 4th quarter. How did Rio Hondo do against BCHS? 14 to 7 and they had them at home. MHS is also averaging about 50 points a game.

I would have to say the best coach in the Rio Hondo League has to be Temple City's coach Mike Mooney. Just look at what he did at San Marino and what he's doing now at TC. Without a doubt he's the best coach in the league.

Dont even start baggin on RHP. All I gotta say is...what 2 TD's allowed by RHP the past 3 years against Western Christian? That sounds to me like the West has dominated the East.

Hey Mike,

If I recall, Rio Hondo has played Western Christian ever since they moved up from 8 man and beat them every time. In 2003, WC was supposed to be among the best teams in D XIII but got spanked by an 8 man upstart.

Seriously, the Prep League overall, has been consistanly strong in its level of football. The larger public HS and those private schools that have 600 or more students, tend to have more bigger players and musch more depth than smaller schools under 500. Poly, Flintridge Prep, Rio Hondo Prep of the Prep League, and Maranatha normally have decent teams that would give many bigger schools a good game, if they would not win outright.

I will also concede the fact that demographically, the West SGV is not the power it once was, but areas with a large immigrant population, will not have the numbers of quality players so prevelent during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

The East SGV even closed Royal Oak and Edgewood High Schools as us Baby Boomers grew up and out of the area.

Mike the Clone,
West Covina, your great No. 1 team on the East side, needed a last second field goal to beat Monrovia..
And thanks for saying Los Altos will rip the wannabees over here. St. Francis just beat them 19-12, and it wasn't even that close.

Greetings I am Mike the clone and you are not!

Fred I am a Tolegian hack but I had to cross over from Aram's blog because he is probably socializing and having beers with the monsignor after the Bishop Amat game.And his blog isn't up yet and I had time tonight after watching my "bagpipers' Glendora High get embarrased

Just a few comments about you wanna be's on the west side.

Rio Hondo Prep in the top 10,yeahhhh in your west side comfort zone maybe but in the east Hey "Prepers" (Rio Hondo Prep) when you start dealing with reality and start playing someone except schools like Mission High School come out and hang with the big dogs in the east side Charter Oak, Damien, Bishop Amat, Glendora, Los Altos schools like that would rip you wanna be's a new one if you crossed the 605.

Why did you think Arcadia and Temple City dumped Glendora from it's Schedule. They got tired of taking a whipping from the east side

Freddie my boy Mr. Tolegian and the East Valley is really where the true high school ball is.

Good Night Now!

South Pas looked good against Alhambra tonight.

Thanks Purdue, I changed it. And if anyone gets a chance, read the post that Anthony Brown said about his coach, Gil Ruedaflores on Ruedaflores' thread. I thought it was classy.

Fred J South Pasadena is undefeated just to let you know.

I meant to respond yesterday, but had technical problems.

Campy, no complaint, just an observation. Also, I re-ran the numbers. I'd say ten of the last eleven (as compared to 11 of the last twelve). I'd concede one to Temple City during the Desmond Reid campaign. Also, I would never suggest that the talent level at MHS is always equal year to year. However, it is always greater than our RHL foes. Plus, we have great coaches. To me, that combination equates to championships. Our 6 titles are great. But remember, Campy, Bill Maloney and San Marino had 6 consecutive just before MHS grabbed our 4 in row ('96-'00). So, I don't think my observations are too big of a stretch. I do have high expectations for MHS b/c of the talent and veteran coaching.

Most important, though, is the present and future. I can't think of a better place to attend high school and play football than at MHS. Coach G. has done an excellent job of reaching out to the community and he keeps things fun. The town supports the team. You can echo 'Cat jacks off the mountain at night. The M turns into a V most Fridays. It's great.

Now, let's not overlook La Salle. I hope everybody in the program recalls the embarrassment of that scrimmage a couple years ago. Also, let's send a message to the rest of their league.

These Polls sure remind me of The College BCS polls. If I had to put my money on whos the best team in this area I would say Number 1.Monrovia
2. St. Francis
3. Muir (?)
4. Temple City
5. La Canada
6. Burroughs
7. Duarte
8. Blair
9. South Pasadena
10. Pasadena

This is from evaluating their performace thus far this year. The reason for choosing the Wildcats is because they have a very strong naturally atheletic Defense and a very Balanced quick offense, probably the quickest in the San Gabriel Valley. ST. Francis is the most Disiplined team but seem to lack the killer instinct. But overall they will beat a team that is sleeping or not on it's A game. Muir has the potential to explode on anyone or get exploded on I think they could beat any one of these teams on my top ten exept for MHS or St. Francis. Temple City is a Cross between Monrovia and St. Francis except on a much smaller scale at least this year, Unfortunatley One running back is not going to bring down many of these teams on this list and as you noticed a lot of them are in the RHL. La Canada has a very gifted back but lacks the surrounding tools needed to get the job done this year which will become prevalent as these next few games go by. Burroughs could have sent shock waves hough the valley had it won on friday against St. Francis. Duarte would be the team that I would fear in the Montview league, It has the most potential to upset any of my top ten star news teams than anyone and you can ditto that comment for the Blair Vikings this year with their new approach to playing the game with winners mentality. Pasadena has a ways to go to prove to me that they can go the distance, it's seems they stole the Blair playbook from the 90's. With all that is said all games consist of 4 solid quarters and there may be a 5% give or take in my predictions but I will stick to them unless someone proves otherwise.

Star-News top ten.
1. St. Francis (3-0)
2. Muir (2-1)
3. Temple City (3-0)
4. Monrovia (3-1)
5. La Canada (3-1)
6. Arcadia (1-2)
7. Alhambra (2-1)
8. South Pasadena (3-0)
9. Pasadena (2-1)
10. Rio Hondo Prep (3-0)

Does anyone know the Pasadena star news football rankings for this week?

I never said anything about Arcadia and TC in a scrimmage. I did not see , nor heard anything about it from people who may have seen it personally.

I mentioned TC playing Arroyo and Alhambra in non-league games in most seasons.

tc should not be number 1 at all just like SB said arcadia destroyed tc at the scrimmage and monrovia beat arcadia...whats so good about that tc rb, he's not that good especially how a poor of a run defence arcadia has that shut him down even with tc's "great" o-line

Anonymous, you asked for ara's best receiver poll, and you got it...

Well first off let me apoligize for not getting my "Hot 8" in.I know I have readers that wait for that all week(sure lol).Anyways what an incredible game friday night at Monrovia!On those hot summer days in July I wonder just why the hell I'm not playig 18 holes over at Santa Anita,games like friday remind me why.Just a classic slugfest between two powerful football teams, of which both have excellent chances to win their league and championship.Since January both coaching staffs knew this was going to be one for the ages.That is why it was funny wathing all of the hype about blowouts(Aram,Reginald,err Reggie,Reg you were a Wildcat supporter we go way back to the side -hack days)I understand listening to Mr.Trbune of H.S. sports but he's been a hater since I can remember.Not to get side tracked.I think the article topic was "Monrovia are you ready for this" when it should of read" West co. are you ready for these"Oh well Fred you showed a lot of love over the years and are welcomed by the Cat family,one thing though who dragged you to the San Gabriel vs. Temple City game. Unforunatly you missed probally one of the best games in a long while.RHL News,its funny lookig at the rankings knowing not one of those teams has played anybody like the Cats have.Like my good old pal Campenario said"the rankings will sort itself out"stay tuned for the "Hot 8"A couple shout outs Thanks for nice love Big M lover,New York,Campenario,hopefully as the season progresses we will have more nice things to say.WAR USC- GO BRUINS

NY -
Your complaint may be legitimate, in terms of Monrovia having consistent talent...or not. But an expectation of a title every year? MHS has 50% of the league titles in the last 12 years (one or two of them shared), and had that great run of four in a row. Flat out: the Rio Hondo is a tough league, especially the top half of it.

Also, as a RHL and MHS homer, here's hoping that Blair brings it all the way back. Keep it up, Coach Sanders; make defense and protecting the ball your priorities, and you will bring it back.

Thanks for the RHL love, Fred.

there should be a poll on the best receivers in the area, my vote is mixed in between kevan walker of arcadia and armon binns of phs

What the heck happend to CV? In 97 they had Michael Prickett who was recruited by UCLA and did absolutely nothing, but he still "played" D1 ball. Hoover was descent at Bball back in the day and Glendale I have no idea. Do you guys think that school size really matters? That's the main reason why the leagues are structured the way they are. Even though Hoover and Glendale have a bigger student body compared to all the schools in the Rio Hondo League, they haven't done jack in football. It really is good to the see the Rio Hondo League doing well as a whole. Most of the wins might be against "scrubs", but believe it or not as a whole we use to struggle against these "scrubs". We'll see how strong the Rio Hondo League is when South Pas takes on Alhambra, if the Tigers pull it off, we'll hear excuses about how Alhambra didn't have their top RB. There's always something...

The Pacific League would be so much better if Hoover and Glendale weren't in the league. Are these schools good at any sports? I say keep CV in the league, at least they know how to win at other sports.

South Pasadena played one seemingly quality opponent in San Gabriel, but then everyone is smashing them. Their 3-0 record is nothing. They have to step up this week against Alhambra and prove something, if they dont, theyll be the same old sp. A win over alhambra i think could propel them into the playoffs, and maybe even a RHL championship, but if they lose, their confidence, and season are both shot.

No way should TC be on top. Arcadia destroyed TC in a scrimmage and Monrovia beat Arcadia. (Although Arcadia didn't capitalize on a wide open TD, TD called back, and a fumble on the one - All should've been touchdowns in the first half.) That would've changed everything but what's done is done. Monrovia should be atop those rankings.

TC normally plays Arroyo and Alhambra each season. Those school normally have strong football programs.

Not sure why the Pacific brought in the two teams from Burbank, but held onto CV, Hoover and Glendale. Those teams should be in the Rio Hondo or Almont. Monrovia should be back in the Pacific, circa 1970's. Not sure where TC belongs.

Good for the RHL teams. They are relatively better than the other area teams that thye regularly play. It's all cyclical at the smaller public school level. Monrovia is the only school in the RHL that has consistent talent. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I can't think of a good reason that we have not won 11 of the last 12 RHL titles. But it is what it is.

That would be fantastic!

This is the main reason that I like the Wildcats, because they have never ducked a tough preseason schedule and that's what usually determines their outcome in most cases. I wonder what the RHL would look like if they had the same preseason scheduals to really compare who the noise makers are. I like Mike Mooney because he gets everyone ready for the game even if he knows their fate is maybe doom. Monrovia has a well deserved bit of a swagger that says they can beat anyone, yes that's anyone on any given friday if all of their players play to their full atheletic potential. The rest of the teams are good but lack remanufactured talent. Blair is coming into it's own. I really think this is a team that TC and LC might have trouble with. If this team scores first on any one of these teams, I'm smelling upset. Or according to some blair fans Set Up!.... I'm tired of hearing about the but whoopin that St. Francis put on Arcadia, Monrovia would have won that game no matter who was missing from their line-up. That is why you call it a football team. If Davis is missing from the Monrovia line-up I'm sure Garrison could compensate the difference. And I'm sure that Davis is Just as valuable than Hess is for Arcadia. Not to conceede the Mid-Valley trophy over to Monrovia but I think they really dont have that much compettion ahead of them. If they play within their talents. Good Luck RHL stop hating on each other and play football.

It's all relative. The RHL's record compared to the rest of the Mid-Valley Division is legitimate.
If we're being honest, it's a weak division, period.
That being said, the RHL should be 1,2,3 if the pollsters knew where to put Monrovia. I still believe when it's all said and done, Monrovia and Temple City will meet for the Mid-Valley title.

The 16 wins are against teams with a combined record of 10-40... 8 of the wins are against teams without a win, with 3 more to be added this Friday.

Most of these victories are against the dregs of the Pacific league (Hoover, Glendale, and CV)... can anyone say "releague".

That said, coaches and ADs cannot control other programs... and these are all local, upper-division teams.