Star-News Player of the Year: Who's in contention?

I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I've bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel :)

44 of LC

michael weston of LC should definitely be an all league first teamer. he's having a big year

i play for muir. enough said. this is to that dude who said get on the field before i talk.

Ive watched williams play and he is explosive and very fast. Against questionable competition???? Yeah Ill agree with that. Whose fault is that, not his. I agree with Stang Fan and observantcat with the nomination for williams. But at the same time observant cat, we have the "curse" so as far as williams taking the wildcats alone far in the playoffs I must disagree. Monrovia would have to be running on all cylinders and crushing opponents like it was easy. Ive also seen the Back from St. Francis riley. he is strong fast running back. He definitely can be considered too, but because of St. Francis having lost the last two weeks, hes the featured player on the offense the blame will mostly go to him. Is that fair not really but thats h.s. football. As far as Golper goes, he is hated on alot, but from what Ive read hes a strong kid and when healthy he is a beast. As far as people hating on him bout getting a scholarship to UCLA, come on now people stop hating. But I think people hate on arcadia, cuz they always have some standout player, either as a quarterback,defensive line, RB/LB and before mid-season that star player always gets injured and that seems to be the apaches excuse for losing games they should either be competitive or win. I know Im tired of hearing how good arcadia is in the beginning and then when it comes down to winning the league title. They either get a tie or 2nd place. In my opinion, they are the San Marino of the Pacific League, except the school is more known then SM. Golper, Williams, and Riley all really good backs, but because of the level of comp it might just go to Riley which sucks but u never know.....

If you are talking "player" of the year...need to include South Pasadena's Steven Colliau. Not on a good team, but he does everything for them. He never comes off the field. I don't necessarily think he should win the award, but he should be dissected and given serious consideration.

Thomas came up absent in a few games the only reason he should be included in this at all is because he plays so many different positions . He is a key player on their team but Campbell clearly takes the cake in this one the kid is dynamite. I do agree if he played D it would be hands down.

Meep,

I guess being dropped as a kid really did screw you.

Hey Meep,
Jeff Spicole wants his board back dude. What I said about Riley and Campbell was, and this is a quote:

"Campbell and Riley have played against superior competition"

To quote another previous blogger:

"Somewhere, some village is searching for their idiot"

Well, we found him on the PSN blog under the name "Meep".

Meep should definately be voted in for "dumbest poster of the year."

hey meep

get on a field before u start talking

Meep-

Go smoke some more weed,dude

I nominate Meeps. He is a Stud who defiantly knows his jack.

How you can you have a player of the year discussion and not mention Tra Sumler?!?

Todd golper is the 2008 pop warner MVP of the area. Somebody said that Riley and Campbell havent faced any quality competition yet they have the two hardest schedules in the area. The rio Honda league is garbage. Todd Golpers good buddy from a year ago (Kevin Walker), whos father is a coach for the UCLA football team makes me wonder why he got a scholarship. He is the biggest waste of size in the area. Campbell is getting college looks now and should be the star news player of the year. If ether Riley or Campbell were replaced with Golper, on the pop warner arcadia team, they would easily produce more than he has. Riley manages to do amazing things when he touches the ball against solid competition that single him out even with the great supporting cast that the SF team has. If Riley or Campbell don't win this it is because people don't know football. Riley has been playing with a bad back and he is still the best player this year

only seen Williams and Golper play opening week - Arcadia v. Monrovia. Golper definitely got the best of that matchup. I don't remember Williams even being a factor.

My vote is with M. Williams too! He is fast, strong and Cute!!! Good Luck on So. Pasadena. Go Wildcats!! =)

FYI,

I went through all the "spam" comments and was able to recover I think three or four comments from Goldenarm, Stang Fan and someone from Monrovia but I forgot who.

If your comment still is missing let me know.

This is a four-horse race between Williams, Golper, Thomas, and Riley. I think the lone dark-horse out there is Campbell, but he's going to have to BALL from here on out.

Williams- Great RB with a lot of power and speed and has the ability to take over certain games. The competition may not have been the toughest, but he surely isn't the one to blame for that, hence he can't be faulted for that. Definite playmaker on offense, but not the same type of playmaker on defense (from what I've read....I could be wrong). His numbers at the end of the year will give him a GREAT opportunity!

Golper- NO ONE is as seemingly "hated on" as much as this kid. For what? Just because the kid has a scholie offer and your kid doesn't? I don't get it. The kid works hard and plays hurt, not much else you can ask of a player. This kid IS his team. Unlike Williams and Thomas, if you take TG off his team they would crumble and might even finish 7th in league. Not nearly as explosive or as fancy a playmaker as WIlliams or Thomas, but nonetheless a playmaker on BOTH sides of the ball. Trouble is he is playing hurt right now which is limiting his ability and hurting his stats. Missing plays and games ALWAYS hurts potential POY's for obvious reasons, and TG just might be affected this year. But hey, that's football for ya.

Thomas- The best all-around player in the area...period. This kid has thrown, recieved, and rushed for td's. He has a few picks mixed in with a good number of tackles at corner. He's one of the best punters in the Pacific League as well as one of the most electrifying punt returners in the league. I think the only stat he's missing is a "pancake." Like Williams and unlike Golper, if you take him off his team there are so many other guys to step in that it wouldn't kill the team. However, his departure would REALLY hurt the Stangs because of the type of game he brings.

Riley- The BIGGEST stud of them all. A complete BEAST in between the lines who has the most potential out of anyone in this area from the last few years to be playing on....SUNDAYS! Yes....SUNDAYS! Trust me I'm not one to bloviate about certain local studs when they are in little league or high school about how this kid or that kid will "definitely be going pro." I know better. But this kid's size, speed, strength, intuition, and football IQ just might be enough to grasp that elusive goal that SOOOOOOOO many who have ever wore the uniform before him only dreamed of. He's special. But with that said, does that alone qualify him for POY. Not neccesarily. His numbers aren't that high yet and don't figure to be as high as others after SF finishes the toughest part of their schedule. But his numbers don't tell the WHOLE story.

Campbell- I LOVE his game! His speed, size, and strength at the WR position is impressive. He's one of those kids who has GOT to get some touches for his team to put points on the board. I believe he has 5 or 6 TD's this season and if he can get to over 1000 yards recieving and at least 10-12 TD's, than he certainly has to be in the picture. HIs biggest weakness is that he doesn't play any defense, and all the other candidates do. But hey, T. Crockum didn't play any defense at all either and he walked away with the award last year.

Williams, Thomas ,Riley , Golper-- heckuva group to pick from. Based on value to a team , Golper is way up there since he does appear to be the glue to his team and they win with him . Based on playing through pain, he probably wins hands down. Players don't usually come back on a broken and badly sprained big toe in 3 1/2 weeks but he has done it. I have watched him in both games since he has come back. It is clear he is in pain, but I would take him any day if the week to build my team around as a leader. Williams has the stats .Thomas is a threat and Riley is a stud. How do you go wrong with any of these guys.

Miquel - are you able to recover anything from the "under review" entries that get swallowed and disappear for reasons unknown?

Or is there a list of keywords to avoid - rather than have bloggers comments beamed into the black hole??

I've noticed NY and others have asked as well? What's the deal??

It is hard to include Mitchell Crockom in this conversation. He caught one pass in the first half last week on the first play of the game for 67 yards. Never touched the rock the rest of the half. In the second half, he caught an out for 15 yards and a first down. His only other touch the rest of the game came on his 3 yard run for a TD late in the fourth. A player of the year has to touch the ball more that three times a game. A good O.C. would get him 10-15 touches a game.How about an occasional reverse??? or is that to inovative for the pass happy Moors?
To make a long story short, he must be more of the offense than three touches a night.

Todd Golper - Player of the year.

Miguel Melendez - "Playah" of the year!!

If one player criteria is to consistently be "thee" difference between a "W and an "L", then Mr. Williams of Monrovia is a top contender.

Selflessly doing "whatever it takes" would be another criteria. No doubt Golper fits that bill...the kid is already dialed in for a ride, but comes full bore every Friday, setting the example for his teammates.

Of players I have seen these these two - a tough choice between them.
I have not been fortunate enough to see Ruben Thomas or Riley. It is early, but even at season end this will likely be a tough call.

Observantcat,
overall mvp has to go to R.thomas .
1.Thomas is playing a couple diffenrent postions.
2. His team has a winning record!
3. he has the most all-purpose yards in the area!
4. the crowd, players,opponents.... everyone hold their breathe when he ttouches the ball!
5.R.thomas has 2 int on the year!

Hands down player of the year!

Observantcat,
overall mvp has to go to R.thomas .
1.Thomas is playing a couple diffenrent postions.
2. His team has a winning record!
3. he has the most all-purpose yards in the area!
4. the crowd, players,opponents.... everyone hold their breathe when he ttouches the ball!
5.R.thomas has 2 int on the year!

Hands down player of the year!

I would love to see Williams destroy San Marino hopes of winning a league title. No pun intended SM fans. J/k I am not serious. JUST A WAKE UP CALL. On the real though.... have we ever come across any SM bloggers.... I have never seen one on here. Come join the fun!

Stang...,

Yes-rambeau's match ups this friday will be great. Will he draw first blood? All jokes put aside, as a junior, he had a rough night at muir, which I bet he hasn't forgotten. If I were him, I'd be fired up to get at this game.

If you were to break down just who would be the difference maker on any team on any level it would be hands down Marquise Williams. If he were to play in the pacific league he would have just as many yards than in the Rio Hondo league. For the most part he has had to conform to being THE Back to go to in his senior year. As a Fresman he alongside of Jordan Canada were a two headed monster, Imagine having the two of them in this years backfield along with a third running back by the name of Smith. Even Bishop Amat couln't lay claim to the best team in the SGV. Like I said earlier this year whether Williams chose to play for Arcadia, Muir, Pasadena, TC or any other WSGV contenders He still would hold his own and be the Great player he is...So My vote goes out to Williams 2008 MVP...ps...I think he will take the Wildcats further than most would like to think in the CIF playoffs. No one else could make that claim and feel comfortable about it.

My apologies to Reuben Thomas. He definitely deserves to be on here.

His name completely blew my mind. He should be on here instead of Crockhom IMO.

what about R.thomas from muir? last week :
4td's
250+ passing yards
198 rushing yards
and 85 yard rushing td.....
his name should be somewhere?
T.Golper is good but look at the stats!

This will be a big game for Rambeau. Let she how he does against the best team in the area! I hope he matched up against campbell or thomas! this week will be a true test for him this week!

Golper has got to be it. He is putting up big numbers, (13-15 tackles a game) on a broken toe and it does not look like he's getting any better. He is playing offense as well. Arcadia is just a different team with him in the lineup.

Williams is second in my book. I just can't say he has played TOO tough of competition. He will dominate San Marino IMO.

Riley is so hard to place in this vote. He is such a phenomenal athlete and football player but he's got such a great supporting cast. It's really hard to discredit him but at this point, I think Golper and Williams are 1 and 2. Don't get me wrong, Riley is the most talented player in the area hands down.

It's Todd Golper. No question, hands down the best player on the field week in and week out. Nobody as aware, intelligent, and involved in every big play to help their team win them him. He's a great player and he proves it week after week, injured or healthy the kids got heart.

!. Golper
2. Williams
3. Riley
4. Campbell
5. Rambeau

I threw in rambeau aka first blood @ #5 because the kid has been playing out of his mind lately since recovering from an ankle injury from the SF game. When healthy, there is no stopping him. Remember he returned the opening kickoff against monrovia. He had the winning big grab against pasadena. His defense is great also. He learned a lot from his junior year.

to whoever said that riley will struggle in league, i must disagree with you. his freshman year when they brought him up to league, he racked up over 100 yards in his first varsity game..

i'm sure he'll be fine

Lets wait and see. Campbell and Riley have played against superior competition. Let see what happens when they play in league.

1.Golper
2.Williams
3.Campbell
4.Riley
5.Crockom

Well well well... My view on this is the same as below. M. Williams !!! If u haven't witnessed this kid in action u r missing a good game.. I'll say this it's real !! He's a Hog player.. HANDS DOWN!!!

Got to put Matt Schilz out there. According to Maxpreps, he's 79/135 for 1,437 yards with 6 Int's and 16 TD's for the season. He's shown great poise and character leading his team back from behind a couple times. He could start on any team in the valley right now!

I agree about Mr. Williams. The kid is an absolute machine/work horse! Say whatever you want about these other guys but this is the kid that should win this thing. Single handidly beat TC. Williams 13 - TC 7. If he put up 240+ yards against the supposed best run defense just think what he'll do against Blair or South Pas! YIKES!!!

Miguel
This ones pretty easy so i'll break it down

Riley- Amat layed the foundation load the up the box and force others to step up. Malik Speed will help to open things up but league has too many studs. Will have a better time as a defender but look average in this league.

Golper- He'll never be 100% this season and injuries have forced the staff to do patch work. He's moving around so much on offense the best thing here to do is let him play defense only.

Crockom- stats aren't consistant and not dominate enough. In the big games his play making ablility hasn't impressed. It'll be surprising to see in losses if he's kept in when the games not on the line. That's where I see alot of his yards coming from.

Campbell- Wish he had more touches this kid has "IT". Seems to be the third option on this very atheletic team. Too many weapons just lost in the crowd. Would love to see him as a target for Maranatha's QB.

Williams- Might be the season MVP. With Monrovia getting better with the "T" each week. Look for him to have at least 2 50+ yard touchdowns a game. And after facing T.C. which probably had the best run defense in the RHL don't be surpised if he cracks the 2,000 yard mark. He'll definetly get the awards for league and all-WSGV and MVP he'll be one of the frontrunners. This is the guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!