....Star Picks....All football, all the time
Star-News preps writer Keith Lair and I will be going head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the "Star Picks" thread.
Melendez: Last week: 12-4; Overall: 26-15
Lair: Last week: 11-5; Overall: 28-13
Notes: My wrong picks were Hoover (lost to South Pasadena); Temple City (lost to Alhambra); Keppel (lost to Gabrielino); and Brentwood (lost to Rio Hondo Prep). Lair's wrong picks were Temple City (lost to Alhambra); La Salle (lost to San Marino); Duarte (lost to Pomona); Capistrano Valley (lost to Maranatha); and Gladstone (lost to Bosco Tech). If it wasn't for my horrific Week 0 start, I'd probably be running away with the lead. So for now Lair is two wins up on me. Some of you guys have posted your picks which are great but how about you add up your records while your at and see how you fare through the season.
Tough picks: I might head over to the Burroughs-St. Francis game and just watch. Keith Lair will be covering the game. This could be a close game than most probably expect. San Gabriel I think has more weapons on offense than Temple City. The Matadors can attack you just as good on the ground as they can over the air. Joey Stewart will be one tough assignment for the Matadors. Nice battle of the private schools between Bosco and La Salle. Arcadia-Lynwood should be pretty good if the Apaches are back to 100 percent.
Thursday, Sept. 25
Burroughs at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. -- Melendez (St. Francis); Lair (St. Francis)
Friday, Sept. 26
Hoover at San Marino, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (San Marino); Lair (San Marino)
Temple City at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (San Gabriel); Lair (Temple City)
Alhambra at La Canada, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Alhambra); Lair (Alhambra)
Arcadia at Lynwood, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Arcadia); Lair (Lynwood)
Glendale at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Glendale); Lair (Glendale)
Beckman at Monrovia, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Monrovia); Lair (Beckman)
Blair vs. Jefferson at PCC, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Blair); Lair (Jefferson)
South Hills at Duarte, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (South Hills); Lair (South Hills)
Bosco Tech vs. La Salle at St. Matthias, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (La Salle); Lair (La Salle)
Keppel at Mountain View, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Keppel); Lair (Mountain View)
Village Christian at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Gabrielino); Lair (Gabrielino)
Rio Hondo Prep at Sage Hill, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Rio Hondo Prep); Lair (Rio Hondo Prep)
Flintridge Prep vs. Campbell Hall at Occidental College, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Flintridge Prep); Lair (Campbell Hall)
Saturday, Sept. 27
Marshall at Chadwick, 2 p.m. -- Melendez (Chadwick); Lair (Chadwick)
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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. |
Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?
Does anyone know if it is possible to watch soccer games live online. I just arrived at college and I don't have access to FSC or goltv. I'm a big fan of the champions league, premiership and the big european leagues. Can any one help with this?
sgvfootballfan-
Like i said i'll give you props! good job! heard it wasn't "EZ SAILING" like Miguel says all your games will be ez,but I'm glad u guys represented the ALMONT league
since everyones claiming our league is weak!
Hopefully we'll prove these paper guys wrong!
Justafan where you at? I just copied something you wrote out last week. Here it goes.
JUSTAFAN WROTE:
Prove me wrong and beat TC and i will give you your deserved props.Good Luck buddy!
Yo Stangfan,
I bet our loss to Glendale doesn't hurt as much as it does to coach Carrol n company!UNBELIEVABLE...hey shi...........happens!
Yo Stangfan,
I agree and we deserved to get whooped with 9 turnovers and gave 31points off mistakes.The refs didnt help we had like over 200 yds penalties.We limited mistakes against Tc and bounced back but yo so right...It's so early in the season it only counts in NOVEMBER right?
ATOWN got size up front and good skill with guys returning off spring injuries we will be just fine and so will you.Let's not write a good team off for one bad game...I pray to God if Glendale makes it to play-offs I hope we can play them again that would be fun.
justafan,
Bro, I hear you. I really do. But it is HARD to look past a 44-28 butt whooping by......GLENDALE???? At the end of the day, it is ALL still early.
Dear SGVFAN,
I am not bashing on coaches or football players.
I am bashing on these paper guys...............
according to them it will be "easy sailing" for you guys
after losing to these two COLLEGE teams that everyone is bragging about.Anyways that is spilled milk.As a fan I am entitled to my opinion and I feel that these paper guys OVERRATE too many teams.Prove me wrong and beat TC and i will give you your deserved props.Good Luck buddy!
JustaFan:
Let me assure you that I'm not a coach either!!! I'm exactly what you are and what my name says I am SGFAN. I'm upset because you do nothing but bash us. You always go out of your way to bash us. As far as moral victories are concerned, who is excited about getting beat? The kids at SG aren't exicte about losing I can assure you that. For someone who dislikes SG you seem to be at all the games. Well anyways we really do not need your approval over at SG.
SGFAN,
You sound like an angry coach.My bad buddy and you're
totally right i'm just a fan.I just so happend to be at that pathetic Cathedral game to watch that pathetic so-called d1 running back going to USC? what a joke and
if you disagree with me on that then coach then I'll understand
why you made such a ridiculous statement about nobody
stopping Your infamous SLIP SCREEN??? and wich 40 plays
are you talking about it wasn't against that OVERRATED
cathedral team sure wasn't against D1 HIGHPOWER SERRA!
You must be talking about your great victory over
such a classy program at So.Pas.Anyways I'm just a fan
and I just call it how i see it buddy.Nothing against your coaching ability at all.
Love affair? nah just tired of teams getting props for getting whooped on...in the game of football you don't get rewarded for moral victories buddy,straight up!
justafan,
so sg runs the slip screen so why can't anybody stop it?? the only reason why u think they only run the slip screen because it always pops 4 big yardage!!! u don't see the 40+ plays that go on in a football game?? but then again I don't except u 2 know that, your name says it all "JUSTAFAN"!!!!! so u say that everyone in the paper must be having a love affair with sg, but u seem 2 go out of ur way to talk about them more than anyone, I think ur the one with the love affair!! anyways enough with all the smack talk the TC SG game should be a great one, Good Luck to both classy programs!!!
It worked against So.PAS that's about it...
will it work against TC???
We will see on friday night!
justafan,
man, they do love that slip screen. And it does work for them.
La Salle doesn't win more than four games this year, and just maybe squeaks into the playoffs....but this start is very similar to the start of that championship run they had a few years back.
SG football field updates have been postponed to a later date. Hence them not playing at Keppel.
Yo Golden,
all I meant was that TC's line is still bigger than SG's
line 5'10 or not! In other words, I've seen both teams
and TC has way better line play.Too much for the Mats,
especially with the run game.They will pound SG wich will only open up the pass for Mr.Hatch n' company.
If Rams defend the slip screen, it will be another long
night for the Mats.The funny thing is, even when the Mats
are 1-3, these paper guys will still be ranking SG.
I guess they are infatuated with "Moral Victories"?
I tell you what I don't need to get my butt whipped
just to find out how tough I am!
la salle afficiando,
if you are out there, what was the lowdown on SM? Two running backs both in excess of 150 yds? I guess the early propaganda job from SM saying they "have no O-line" is out the door. Blown smoke, big time. This is going to be a team to reckon with all year, now with skilled, confident kids and a full staff of very good coaches. Benny Hung I remember from freshman year, a slick runner, the other RB I have not seen. 7-3 JV team last year, this team could beat either TC or Monrovia to take the RHL this year. (Sorry M-town)Close games will fall to SM...where as in recent years, opponents snaked away the close games. People are shooting down LC and SoPas early, but by the time RHL play begins, these teams may improve to a point where they are very competitive. To me, Blair is still a flashing unknown....for them to resurge and then crumble would be hideous.
miquel,
the SG/TC game was originally penciled in to be played at Keppel. Have you seen the "new" S.G playing field??
justafan,
I have not heard anyone but you call the TC line "big".
Until you hit right tackle at 6"3 255, the line is pretty much 5'10 across the board. Thanks for the confidence vote, though. The Moor nose guard was physically larger than anyone on the TC line.
I think San Gabriel is better than most here are saying, they had a sucessful JV group last year that added to the wealth of varsity returnees. Serra is bad to the bone, so no way that should lessen the Matadors - in fact just the opposite.
I believe the Rams learned and learned early....much better to learn now than in Week 6 or 8.
Zeke Prado 11-5 for week 2
Thursday, Sept. 25
Burroughs at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. -- Melendez (St. Francis); Lair (St. Francis)
Zeke Prado (St. Francis)
Friday, Sept. 26
Hoover at San Marino, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (San Marino); Lair (San Marino)
Zeke Prado (San Marino)
Temple City at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (San Gabriel); Lair (Temple City)
Zeke Prado (San Gabriel) its going to be a track meet
Alhambra at La Canada, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Alhambra); Lair (Alhambra)
Zeke Prado (La Canada) Im going with the upset on this one
Arcadia at Lynwood, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Arcadia); Lair (Lynwood) Zeke Prado (Lynwood)
Glendale at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Glendale); Lair (Glendale) Zeke Prado (Glendale) Eagle Rock what were you thinking!
Beckman at Monrovia, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Monrovia); Lair (Beckman) Zeke Prado (Monrovia) broke down against Rosemead but bounce back this week
Blair vs. Jefferson at PCC, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Blair); Lair (Jefferson) Zeke Prado (Jefferson) i dont Blair can handle a city school with out Tip.
South Hills at Duarte, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (South Hills); Lair (South Hills) Zeke Prado(South Hills) Duartes down and wont get back up till league
Bosco Tech vs. La Salle at St. Matthias, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (La Salle); Lair (La Salle) Zeke Prado (La Salle) could be a close one
Keppel at Mountain View, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Keppel); Lair (Mountain View) Zeke Prado (Mountain View) Sorry boys
Village Christian at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Gabrielino); Lair (Gabrielino) Zeke Prado(Gabby) Zuniga on a roll
Rio Hondo Prep at Sage Hill, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Rio Hondo Prep); Lair (Rio Hondo Prep) Zeke Prado (Rio Hondo Prep)
Flintridge Prep vs. Campbell Hall at Occidental College, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Flintridge Prep); Lair (Campbell Hall) Zeke Prado (Campbell Hall)
Saturday, Sept. 27
Marshall at Chadwick, 2 p.m. -- Melendez (Chadwick); Lair (Chadwick) Zeke Prado (Chadwick)
Yo observantcat i'm with you bud...
and I can see why you would say that LC will play much closer than people think-actually they were beating Glendale in the 4th qtr 21-20 with like 5 minutes left.
My opinion on that? Well no excuses the AHS lost 2 GHS-
But if they were 2 play each other 10x AHS wins 9!
Come on bro lets be honest,9 turnover 31 points? I don't think you can beat any team like that...not to mention over 200 yds penalties.Keppel would have probably beat them with those stats....well my bad I would'nt go that far!LOL
Anyways if Moors limit mistakes it will not be anywhere
near a close game...A-TOWN will win BIG!
Just my opinion buddy and I don't believe in moral victories.I was at that Cathedral game(OOOOVER-RATED)
and you can keep Carrol for all i care.He is fast 4 nothing and soft as charmin tissue paper.SG running backs were tougher than him.He wouldnt take a hit if his life depended on it.He needs to stick 2 track.Infact he didnt even score that night I think he had a 15 yd run but that was it.Serra very good they will most likely win there league,wich happens to be with Cathedral,Cantwell,etc.Still not impressed with SG,still think they are over-rated.If they beat TC i will apologize,but thats very unlikely.TC way too big up front.They are way better than last year and have a great QB! they will be exposed finally for the 1st time this year,trust me!
Good point Anonymous!. SG has played some tough opponents with the exception of South Pas. SG hang in with Cathedral for 3 qtrs. Score at the half was 13-0. Cathedral at the end were just to big and fast. SG's defense where able to contain SC recruit Randall Carroll who is the reining 100 and 200 meter state champ. Serra which is one if the most talented teams in the LA area, has around have 5 or 6 kids getting looked at from DIV I schools. SG got beat by good quality opponents with great talent. SG wont see that much talent or speed the rest of the way.
If you guys look at who SG has played, it is pretty impressive. Cathedral in Week 0 with USC commit Randall Carroll and last week against a powerhouse Serra team with top junior prospect Robert Woods who already has offers from UCLA and USC.
Not saying they will beat TC, but they are not overrated.
San Gabriel has more weapons? wich weapons are those?
I'm telling you i am truly amazed how over-rated you paper guys are with these Matadors...it's like you have this love affair with somebody over there...who?
I have no clue.TC is way too big up front,in the trenches,for your mighty lil Mats.Especially for their
Mighty lil QB who's putting up these astonishing numbers
with all his weapons!LOL
TC will pound em' for a couple quarters,then open up with
Mr. Hatch and all them good sized Wr's against SG' 5'5 5'6 db's.Finally you guys will see the true colors of this amazing Matador team.
Miguel! What's the matter with you...I sure hope you dont go to Vegas you would come home naked..lol
But on a real note...SG over TC?....I heard SG lays down on defense and takes a nap and looks at the scoreboard and someone scores 50 plus points on them. Next Arcadia vs. Lynwood unless Lynwood doesn't have an offense and their defense goes to sleep then thats two down. Tell me you did'nt pick PHS to win the Turkey Tussle. Let's keep going...Jefferson vs Blair? Come on No Match for the Demo's at least not this year.
Villiage Christian...WAY over Gabriello and as for my longshot...I have La Canada in a much closer game with Alhambra than we think.......
If Blair does not win this game; they should play PHS.
Geez....
BULLDOG NATION,
THIS WILL BE A GOOD WEEK FOR PHS BULLDOG FOOTBALL NATION
WE WILL NOT LOSE A FOOTBALL GAME THIS WEEK.
WE WILL NOT GET BLOW-OUT THIS WEEK!!!
WHY,WHY, YOU ASK??
BECAUSE WE HAVE A BYE THIS WEEK,WHICH MEAN NO GAME FOR US,WHICH MEAN NO GAME EQUAL NO LOSS,NO BLOW-OUT!!
NOW THAT IS GOOD NEWS PHS BULLDOGS NATION CAN BE HAPPY ABOUT!!!