About this blog
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
Ok Huckster....now you're scaring me.
It would be nice to see all the Pacific League teams dominate in the non league games.
Burbanksports,
If Saugus beats PHS I will suck your "Big Toe"! LOL!!!
I think Burbank will be good enough to beat Muir, but not PHS!
Alhambra dances with TC, So Pas and a couple other SGV teams in preleague play so many of us will get a chance to see the kid perform....this year and next. I see he is already in the gun sights of Scout/Rivals for 2010 prospects.
If this Cazzarin kid can throw timed, in stride slants and outs, look out! Not to mention reverses and special teams posibilities. Few if any corners are going to be able to go nose to nose with a kid like this. Of course nothin means nothin without the fab five up front, but lately it seems the Moors have been able to replenish their lineman pool fairly well every year.
Huckster.....
Saugus will run over and around your 'dogs.
Burbank's pre-league schedule will have them ready to upset your 'dogs.
Might be a tough year...
Good call Gledog. Crockom looked like he could do it all at the CV tournament. He had an interception that was just unbeleiveable, and seemed to always be open on offense. Cazzarin can throw the ball, that's for sure.
Purduealum05,
I was at that combine @ the home depot center as a spectator,and this morning I was at that passing tournament in CV-Crockum is a Man-child!
Tremendous speed,great hands,ridiculous leeping ability,it literally looks like a man amoungst boys-not to take anything away fron the other boys,he's just a superior athlete-and to think that he will only be a junior this season is amazing.At QB,Cazzarin,the coachs' grandson,looked very impressive also.Very accurate,and nice touch-according to sources,he grew 4-5' inches since last year,he goes about 5'11,and both him and Crockum won the championship together as freshman,and the only undefeated season at A.H.S. Moors will be a team to watch 2008!
Goldenarm,
Thanks for that insight! Did
Crockum play receiver for the
Moors last year?
PurdueAlum05,
Both Williams Do and Johnny Escobedo graduate. I don't believe their is a lock on the tailback position yet - several kids will be battling for the job....same for fullback.
Looks like the Moors have one of the fastest kids in the SGV, with Crockum (sp) blowing down 4.5 at a recent combine. Only Cierre Wood of SC was faster at 4.43. What the balance of the Moor roster looks like I don't know, but it seems they keep finding large people for trench work.
Scott,
You have a great a point. I guess you might prove me wrong here. Have you heard if Blair is practicing yet this spring? Do you know who will replace Will Do at RB?
sfhs92,
I agree with you. Glendale as well as SP both lose players to private schools and it shows on the field.
Does anyone know how Alhambra will be this year?
Back in the late '80's and early '90's Glendale was a good team. The problem that Glendale has is that alot of their elite players end up at Privite schools.
PurdueAlum05, I'm not sure they'll be good either, but they were far more competitive than I ever thought they'd be last season. They stayed around against Alhambra which was saying something.
Sorry Scott, but I don't think Glendale will ever be good. They have been the doormat of the Pacific for as
long as I can recall. I'm not saying my Alma Mater is any better but I just don't see Glendale being very good. They seem to find a way to lose whether its bad coaching or players arguing amongst each other. History always finds a way to repeat itself.
91030,
Last year SP had 12 sophomores on varsity that received playing; 5 of which were linemen. SP might be young this year, but experience shouldn't be a factor. My main argument is that beating Glendale and Hoover by more than 3 TDS doesn't improve your team. I commend Muir and St. Francis for scheduling teams like Oaks Christian and Los Altos, which will only make them better teams.
Huckster I wasn't knocking your dawgs. Someone asked if Saugus would be good because they lost a lot of talent all I was saying is that they have some good players coming back and that they shouldn't be over looked.
91030
Last year when So Pas JV played at TC they had some quality players and also some hefty size dudes on the line. TC was outsized in the trenches for sure.
The So Pas team was also extremely well supported in the visitor stands by parents and fans.
Sfhs92,
I think you got it backwards, but Saugus should be worried about PHS! I’m telling you folks now the Dogs are going to be for real this year! They will be better than last year’s team, because they’ll be able to run, pass with a great defense. No more one dimensional attack with a struggling defense, all I can say is I can’t wait to bet the Muir people to recover my lost funds for the PHS give away in the bowl last year. Yes, I’m back and ready to root like never before!
As for the scheduling there will be some interesting games, because Muir has a pretty tough preseason and PHS preseason is difficult too, with Moor leauge (L.B. Jordan) on it. I like the way Arcadia has kept its opponents close to home. Burbank and Burroughs have some really tough opponents as well. What I really like about PHS’s schedule is that we play Arcadia and Burroughs back to back with two weeks before we play Muir. I like are chances at winning the Pacific.
Glendale was actually quite competitive last year and if they have a lot of young players returning, they could be a surprise team.
91030,
I understand where you are coming from, but if you look at the preseason schedules that SP and TC played this year in softball, it showed when they get to league play. They played with superior talent and it prepared them for league play and the playoffs. I think La Salle would be a great for SP because it would challenge them instead of beating Hoover or Keppel by 40 points.
To Stang Fan,
Who is Kenny? SF has one 4-6 and misses the play-off for the first time in what, 10-12 years. You seem so worried about SF. What is Muir's record against the Knights in the last 10 years?
PurdueAlum05
The SoPas schedule is the identical one they have had for the past several years, and this season it may in fact help. That is because for the most part it is a young team with a lot of juniors getting there first varsity experience and several seniors who took a year off to concentrate on other activities. A preseason schedule which allows such players to learn through a few potentially "easier" opponents (Hoover and Keppel), and grow through playing a few more difficult ones (SG and Alhambra) may in fact be beneficial for the team in preparation for League. Next year, with a more experienced squad, an upgrade in preseason scheduling may be warranted. Finally, both Glendale and Keppel may be much improved from last year. Glendale returns numerous juniors, including several top skills players and on defense. Keppel started mostly sophmores last year, who may also be better with that experience under their belt. Top teams in their leagues, probably not, but much improved, possibly.
Goldenarm, they are actually from the plains of Lynwood. It is actually a very small high academic school in Lynwood. I guess the local Junior Highs had no openings on the schedule.
Not sure of the value for So. Pas to continue to schedule TWO games against perennial losers like Kepple and Hoover each year. One game against either would be sufficient, then add a more challenging game to the schedule. this would help build credibility of the SPHS program.
Matt,
Firebaugh, great name, but what the hell is it?
Beware, could be 22 corn fed recruits from the plains of Texas......
PHS should be worried about Saugus. They may have lost some talent but they still return their QB, and Running back both of whom went for over a thousand yards on the ground last year, and their RB, Zirbil, was arguably the best RB in the Santa Clarita valley last year. Yes St. Francis' offense was one diminsional at the end of last year, but that's what happens when your senior starting QB gets hurt in the middle of the season, and yes we missed the playoffs last year, but you fellas at Muir flamed out in the first round. I guarantee you that SF's offense will be alot better this year.
SF losing Saugus on their scheudle was not by choice. There weren't many choices to replace Saugus except for El Rancho who had an opening.
La Canada is playing a team, Firebaugh, that looks to be playing its first season of football. Talk about scheduling a cupcake.
Kentera,
You know Kenny boy...I think I see your point. No, you know what...you are absolutely correct! Muir is ducking SF! How perceptive of you to pick up on that. I'm such an IDIOT... why didn't I simply accept that fact before. Muir IS terrified of SF! Plain and simple. THere is NO other way to justify it. When those big, bad Franciscan monks roll back their giant sleeves in order to pick up the phone and make that call to John Muir HS to schedule a game...well the Muirites just back down.
Afterall, SF's 4-6 season, mixed in with their inability to qualify for the playoffs, not to mention their supremely one-dimensional offense which featured an absolute absense of anything remotely resembling a passing attck, is just WAY too formidable of a task for Muir to take on. So Kenny...YOU ARE RIGHT!!! Muir is scared of SF. Thanks for insight.
PurdueAlum05,
Thanks for not taking my comments as disrespectful to So Pas. My point was the same as yours, So Pas would benefit from tougher challenges across their pre-league schedule.
Goldenarm,
South Pas and San Marino both have weak pre-season schedules and it shows when they get to league play. I wish SP at least tried to play someone like a La Salle that would challenge them more than Hoover, Glendale, and Keppel. I believe these teams combined last season finished with an overall record of 1-28-1. San Gabriel and Alhambra are pretty good teams, which usually leads to losses for SP. When SP does beat these two, they usually have a pretty good team.
Stang Fan,
Making more excuses for Muir ducking St. Francis again. I see Muir a 4-6 or 5-5 team this year in a very weak league.
It looks as if Flintridge Prep will play a few of their games at Occidental College. I'm betting that Finchamp was involved in some way.
I think its a great idea!
Goldenarm, PHS actually plays Saugus at College of the Canyons. Will Saugus be good this year, it's tough to say since it lost a lot in terms of talent. Still a tough place to play on the turf at COC.
After Muir, the Diamond Ranch kids face Colony, Oaks Christian, Chino Hills and Amat.
Stang Fan,
If you look at the question as "toughest pre-league schedule".... based on seasons past and 2007 power ratings - Muir has the Godzilla of pre-league battles ahead. To me, this is a plus for all the SGV, not just the Stangs alone. It starts exposing our fish to the supposed "Big Fish" pond, where all our fish are said to be unable to swim, at least according to the BS we all have heard. In addition, these games should have high spectator appeal and most importantly, could preempt a great season for Muir. How it plays out is a mystery, but it has to be a win-win. I am sure there are those who disagree.
I saw on Calpreps that Tustin, Mission Viejo etc, have preleague games in Hawaii.
PHS has an interesting head-banger with College of the Canyons and I see Chaminade also visiting the area.
In the RHL, Monrovia and TC have the toughest pre-league schedule. So Pas looks to have the softest pre-league with 0 -10'ers Keppel and Hoover and 1-8-1 Glendale.
If you play in the Pacific Leauge you almost lose the "most difficult schedule" contest by default. With doormats like Hoover and Glendale, and bad teams like CV and Burbank, and inconsistent teams like phs, it's hard to make an argument for "toughest schedule." With that said I really like what Muir did for its first three games by scheduling a very competitive Diamond Ranch team, the very tough private power Oaks Christian, and the perennial city contenders Venice. That's a short, but challenging gauntlet. THere is no way Muir can say it has the most difficlut schedule, but it's not because of the teams THEY scheduled, rather its the watered-down league that they play in.
THe title for most difficult schedule, again, has to go to SF, although they lose some "scheduling" points. SF's scenario is the exact opposite of Muir's. SF plays in a VERY competitive league, and by the looks of things has scheduled their preseason games accordingly. Off go Los Altos and Saugus, two extremely competitive programs, who are replaced with Rio Mesa and El Rancho who haven't had the success of the former schools and are fresh off of very disappointing seasons. The five games SF sought out and scheduled are not difficult games AT ALL and I look for them to go 5-0. The games that they are forced to play, with their own league and the two with the Serra league, are extremely challenging and I see them going 0-5 or 1-4 if their lucky. At the end of the day I think SF did the right thing by scheduling two easier teams. Some may argue that those games will not prepare them for league, but I would disagree. The two games with the Serra teams wil certainly prepare them for their three league games, there's no question about that. And SF can't take a PR hit like it did last year by not only missing the playoffs, but having a losing record. WIth this schedule they'll play .500 or better and somewhat appease their myopic fanbase, although I truly believe they will miss the playoffs again, which will only serve to rile the alumni at the end of the season.
Rio Mesa had a good team with a stud running back a couple of years ago, but I'm not sure how tough a team it'll provide to the Golden Knights. It is a good football program.
Does anyone know about Rio Mesa? St Francis is no longer playing Los Altos or Saugus. Is this a good or bad thing for the Golden knights? This will help them stay healthy for the end of the season but it could also leave them untested. Just my thoughts because I don't know about the two new teams on their schedule.