Training Camp: San Gabriel football enjoying view
SAN GABRIEL -- I headed over to San Gabriel's practice Wednesday morning. As soon as I walked on to the bleachers there were a handful of architects carrying blueprints while San Gabriel principal Jim Schofield gave the grand tour.
The Matadors field and part of their school will have a significant face lift later rather than sooner and that's the way the football team would like to have it.
San Gabriel's field was supposed to get major renovation in June but that was postponed to August. There was talk about the Matadors possibly not playing any home games this season on their field. I'll have more on that and the rest of the Almont League in Thursday's paper.
The Matadors looked good on the field. Coach Jones is excited about the team he's fielding.
It includes junior quarterback Isaac Valdez, a 4.0 student with a respectful demeanor. He went through some growing pains last year and now as a junior is taking on the leader role.
San Gabriel's former running back Nick Castillo transferred to Schurr after last season, but the Matadors don't seem fazed by the fishy move that might have CIF violations written all over it.
Sophomore Arthur Brown, junior Fabian Amaro and senior Gilbert Garcia all are competing for the starting job at running back.
Amaro is lighting quick as is Brown who has the speed and made plenty of ankle-breaking moves last year on the freshman squad.
"He's played seven years it seems like with the Rosemead Rebels," Jones said.
Jones added the Matadors will not make a decision right now. The competition is that tight and that's the way he'd rather have it.
ALHAMBRA -- Things are looking a bit more hectic over at Alhambra.
Coach Gil Ruedaflores admitted the Moors are "struggling" and that some marquee players, including standout junior receiver Mitchell Crockom, have yet to practice. More on that in Thursday's paper, too.
I didn't have time to make it over to Keppel's practice but Ruedaflores had some nice things to say about him first-year coach Raul Solis for Thursday's article.
I'll be heading to Temple City on Thursday morning and possibly La Canada to see what's going on with Rich Wheeler and the Spartans are doing.
Back to the Almont League .. so does anybody know what's going on with Nick Castillo now that he's suddenly over at Schurr? And will most of Alhambra's players be ready for the start of the season even though they haven't practiced? And does anybody know how Keppel will fare this season? Is this when they break that 27-game losing streak?
The lines are open and I wanna hear from you Moors, Matadors and Aztecs fans!
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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. |
HOW IS KEPPEL IN A 0-2..
WORKMAN GAME SHOULD OF BEEN A EASY WIN..
KEPPEL PLAYERS HAVENT STEP INTO THE ROLE OF LEADER YET..
NEXT WEEK AGAINST GABRILENO WILL SEE HOW MUCH THE TEAM
HAS GROWN TOGETHER CAUSE.. THE SECOND HALF OF THE WORKMAN GAME SHOWS THAT AZTECS DO HAVE A CHANCE OF ENDING THE LOSING STREAK THIS SEASON..
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
#10 EVAN (QB) THIS KID DOES NOT LIKE TO GO DOWN
#2 EDSON (TB/DB) IMPRESSIVE RUNS AND CATCHES
#23 MASON (ILB) UNKNOWN 1ST HALF , INCREDIBLE 2ND HALF
#1 MIKE (WR) WERE WAS THE OFFENSE IN THE LAST GAME
#35 ABE (FB/LB) 2 FUMBLES IN THE GAME COME ON...
WERE IS THE CONTAIN? POMONA ALL OVER AGAIN..
THE OFFENSIVE LINE NEEDS TO GET OFF THE BALL..
NICK CASTILLO WOULD BE VIOLATING CIF RULES CAUSE HE WAS SCOUTED OUT OF THE MATADORS.. SCHURR WAS SCOUTING A RUNNINGBACK ALL OF LAST SEASON.. GOING TO MARK KEPPEL AND TRYING TO SCOUT #5 WHO TRANSFERED OUT AND #2O FROM SG(NICK). SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS..
AZTECS HAVEN'T PROVED NOTHING YET.. HAVEING EDSON PENA #2 DB RETURN WOULD HELP OUR CHANCES WITH 1 TD AND 1 TD THAT WAS TAKEN BACK FROM A FLAG(CLIPPING).. COACH RAUL SOLIS IS A VERY GOOD COACH AND IS KNOWN FOR TURNING PROGRAMS AROUND AND THEIR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR COACH RAMOS WHO CAME FROM MONTEBELLO HIGH TO HELP WITH THE AZTECS 28 GAME LOSING STREAK. WATCHING FRIDAYS GAME AGAINTS WORKMAN SHOULD OF BEEN A WIN FOR THE AZTECS.. THE DEFENSIVE ENDS NEED TO CONTAIN.. MASON SIU INSIDE LINEBACKER #23 HAD A IMPRESSIVE 2ND HALF AGAINST WORKMAN WITH ALMOST 13 TACKLES IN ONLY THE ENDING TWO QUARTERS..OTHER TEAMS HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE AZTECS WHEN THEY PULL OUT OF THEIR SLUM..
FIRST AND FOREMOST AS AN OPEN EYE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HELL WEEK AT AHS....MOST OF THE MOOR PLAYERS DID PRACTICE AND SINCE THE "SHINING STAR" CROCKUM DIDN'T SUIT UP DUE TO NON-PHYSICAL PAPERS AND INELIGIBILITY, THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT TRUE. CROCKUM THOUGH A DOMINANT FORCE FOR THE MOORS IS NOT THE ENTIRE TEAM....SO WHEN HE FAILS TO GET PASSING GRADES/PROPER PHYSICAL, YOU ALL CHIME IN AS THE WHOLE TEAM DIDN'T PRACTICE. STOP THE B.S.
ALSO, TO THE PEOPLE/PERSON WHO MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE AHS STAFF DOING THE "COVER UPS" FOR THEIR TEAM....IF THAT IS TRUE,PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ACTING AS IF THESE COACHES ARE THE ONLY ONES IN HISTORY OR THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE EVER DONE THE "YOUR A JOCK, WE GOT IT COVERED" THING.... WE DIDN'T INVENT IT, WE'RE JUST PLAYING ALONG....
I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE WHOLE "GUILT INTO HELPING THE KIDS" BY RUEDAFLORES WORKS, BUT DON'T GET IT TWISTED, THERE ARE THOSE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO BUST THEIR BUTTS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO. CAN'T BLAME THE ENTIRE MOORS TEAM FOR THE SHORTCOMINGS/SHADY DEALINGS/ OR UNCARING NATURE OF THE COAHES/CROCKUM.....
GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU COMMENT ON THEM.....
dpes anybody know where are those running backs from last year went like Willie Youngblood,Dushine Smith and
Anthony Brown and even Devin Fuller....
Alhambra H.S. @ Northview H.S. (Scrimmage)
thurs. 9/4 7pm
Alhambra H.S. @ Northview H.S. (Scrimmage)
thurs. 9/4 7pm
Goldenarm,
Negative on checking out the work from the new head coach at M-Town. But, I heard that they have a great program and that the team looked great from the running game stand point and the D is hot. There are a few transfers from the area that will step up. And cant give up the names from the JV that will make an impact. Just hurry and wait for Friday night.
DAWWGER
Miguel,
Do you know if Alhambra is scrimmaging Northview this year? If you could give the time & place, it would be great!
DAWWGER
you had a chance to see Maddox work yet?
Who from your JV team last year would you expect to have the biggest impact under the lights this year?
Check this out Goldenarm,
I guess that Gila River venom juice really kicks butt in AZ.
Hamilton HS from CHandler, AZ played Booker-T Washington from Miami, who is ranked 10th in the nation, on Saturday night. Hamilton HS won 37-19. How do you like them apples????
The story Goldenarm mentioned is on SGV Tribune blog:
http://www.insidesocal.com/tribpreps/2008/08/breaking_news_t_1.html#comments
M-town faithful
Word is Josiah Thropay left Amat bound for Charter Oak.
And ya know better KNOW THIS-
#1 will be on the field and your right for once
all these other Almont teams will be all over the field
trying to catch him.It's just a shame to know that you can feel so good about yourself degrading such a good hearted,respectable kid,so talented,with such a bright
future ahead for him.The kid is only an 11th grader
for christ sakes leave it alone.PATHETIC!
I guess you must have a personal vendetta against
Coach Ruedaflores because it's only obvious you must
be living in your own lil corrupted world.I really feel sorry for whoever you are because Coach is one of the
most respected men not only in the coaching community,
but by the hundreds and hundreds of kids who he has mentored who have gone on to be successful and respectable human beings.Who knows maybe he made you quite his team cause he is a very tough coach or maybe you have a son who just wasn't meant to play the game the way it's supposed to be played.What ever the case may be"YA KNOW",you really are pathetic and if Coach really goes against the rules then answer me this question-In 2006 how come ZION BABB did not play in the
second playoff game? Why couldn't coach pull these strings you talking about? further back than that-
How come coached benched Dominique Brazile in there second game? cause he got caught doing something wrong
and Coach would not stand for wrong!!!
And bad background isn't somewhere I go. It's where Rudeflores goes to guilt people into doing special favors for kids who don't do favors for themselves (i.e. showing up to class, staying out of trouble). He tries to guilt teachers into changing grades in order to get kids eligible.
So if you have problems with someone "going there", look no further than the guiltiest culprit: Rudeflores himself.
MAYBE IF I TYPE IN CAPS MY POINT WILL BE MORE RELEVANT!
Seriously, another Ruedeflores defending mouth breather. Crockum can practice all he want, but he isn't eligible. Not that being eligible has ever stopped Rudeflores and Torres from playing people. Babb was ineligible for his first round playoff game and still played.
If Crockum shows up on a field and plays, there are 5 Almont teams that will be all over it because he's not even close to having the grades he needs.
AND BY THE WAY YOU KNOW,"BAD BACKGROUND"!
WOW THAT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE SOMEWHERE YOU SHOULDN"T
REALLY BE GOING.................
YOU KNOW MUST KNOW THAT HIS TEAM HAS TO FACE CROCKUM
FOR TWO MORE YEARS,HA HA,I WOULD BE MAD TOO! AND COACH
RUEDAFLORES AND HIS STAFF ARE A BLESSING TO THIS
COMMUNITY NOT AN EMBARRASSMENT! OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE
DROWNING YOURSELF IN TOO MUCH HATERADE!
PUT THE BOTTLE DOWN BUDDY YOU REALLY DO SOUND
IGNORANT AND PATHETIC!!!!!A-TOWN BABY 2008
You know doesn't really know.
Crockum hadn't practiced because he hadn't had his physical. He turned it in Thursday and practiced.
Stop the hating, it looks pathetic.
Crockum isn't practicing because he isn't eligible. He was supposed to make up a class in summer and didn't do it. Now they're doing what they usually do...playing the "He comes from a bad background!" sympathy card. He only had a million chances to make up the class and made the choice not to do so.
It's the SOS at Alhambra...ineligible players, proper paperwork not being done, bungling coaches, an AD with blinders on and a sense of entitlement with administration pretending not to know so that they don't have to do anything. What an embarrassment to the community.
Dear Fan,
I am a fan too and I followed Aaron's team that year.
So I wouldnt make bold statements if I didnt have the facts to back them up.Fact is there's Brian Gonzalez who's probably the best all-around wr similar to Ryan Hart,and by the way he's one of the top kickers in the nation.Theres a kid name Ryan Batey,transfer from muir,also wr and probably
one of the best lockdown corner's in the area.A kid named
Vy Peco,probably the most talented kid on the team,wr db,and he's only a 10th grader.So what that means bubby,
you can probably double team Crockum,but that would be just double the trouble.Moors are loaded and we are not even discussing the disgusting defense they have.WOW!
Golden,
No confusion at all and no misunderstanding.
My bad if I sounded that way buddy.
I believe a couple boys didn't practice due to some
physical papers that is all.Waves might be an understatement,"TITAL WAVES",more like it!!!
Thank God football's here......Go Moors
Aryn Hart didn't have one player like MITCHELL CROCKUM, but he had plenty of top receivers to throw to like all cif caliber Phil Huertas, his twin brother Ryan Hart, Harrison. Cazzarin is going to need more than one receiver to throw to, look what happen to Zion Babb he best receiver they got and still got eliminated from the playoffs, can't win it all with one good player. Alhambra shouldn't be fine with co-league champs, we need a cif championship. play 4 quarters
No problem Miguel.
justafan
you misunderstood my point, I am simply asking Miquel to give us a reason on why players are not practicing.
The fact the team is so promising as you state makes that question even more intense.
You are serious about the sandbagging?? If confusion was the goal, I guess it worked to some degree. I am a former Moor...so I would love to see them make waves.
i agree with elias buckwalter castillo moved to schurr highschool area and thats final with him and molina in the backfield i beleive that schurr is the team to beat in the almont league
go spartans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i agree with elias buckwalter castillo moved to schurr highschool area and thats final with him and molina in the backfield i beleive that schurr is the team to beat in the almont league
go spartans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i agree with elias buckwalter castillo moved to schurr highschool area and thats final with him and molina in the backfield i beleive that schurr is the team to beat in the almont league
go spartans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"TEAM UNITY ISSUE"? "ISSUES"?
I don't think so Golden, I think it's just a good old
fashion case of "SAND BAGGING", by coach Rudy.The Moors
are loaded this year and nobody is waiting on any contracts...ha ha that's funny!This is probably the best
looking AHS team i've seen in a long time.The last time the Moors had a great QB was probably as far back as
Aaron Heart.This year the Moors have a QB headed in that direction.Thing is Aaron didn't have a MITCHELL CROCKUM!
The scarier thing is that both Cazzarin and Mitch are only JR's.Now that is bad news for a lot of teams.
GO MOORS 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coah Raul has a proven record of getting it done at previously horrible football schools. Although Keppel may not have the talent to really compete at a high level yet, they will be well prepared, physically and emotionally. Other schools better take note and not expect to just show up and have an automatic win.
Good luck Aztecs !!!!!
Miquel,
"most of Alhambra's players have not practiced???
Are we talking mutiny, contract negotiations, TV rights....what is the deal???
If this is a team unity issue or whatever the issue...I think you should come out and say it. any player heading into full fledge contact unprepared and not fully conditioned...is a major bad idea.
Whatever it is I hope the Moors get it together and be all they can be.
In football, you don't miss practice.
All I can say is their best chances of snapping that skid are with games 2,3, and 4 (Workman, Gabrielino, and maybe Mountain View)
And if they win ONE Almont game you should celebrate, march down Hellman Avenue or whatever.
Anonymous said:
more on keppel please
August 27, 2008 9:26 PM
more on keppel please
You're right Dawwger, good call. Live and learn, right?
MM
Easy Miguel
I dont know about your post regarding the cheerleaders. This is a topic that can get you in trouble depending on how you read it or how the readers perceive it.
High School dad.
DAWWGER
Castillo moved to Montebello. He now lives in the Schurr area. That's it.