Saturday Morning Quarterback Postgame: Monrovia rolls over Duarte; Rosemead blows up San Dimas; Temple City shutsout Azusa; Rio Hondo Prep romps Boron

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Marquise Williams is one of the most complete players I have ever seen. The senior running back rushed for 233 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead the Wildcats.

Duarte’s Jordan Canada will be fun to watch next season. The junior had 280 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns, a 39-yard run and a 72-yard touchdown catch.

Freddy, Freddy, Freddy. He said the Montview would sweep the Rio Hondo League but dude was so wrong. Rio Hondo League went out there and did their thang. Foks, for the first time this season, I went unbeaten!

Tonight’s Results with my comments:

Rosemead 59, San Dimas 22, Final — Monrovia gets another rematch in these playoffs after the Panthers’ Tra Sumler rushed for 260 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Rosemead in the win. No one believed you, Koffler, but I called it.

Monrovia 41, Duarte 21, Final — Got to meet my boy ObservantCat at the game. Good lookin’ out ‘Cat. Not sure why Duarte didn’t go with Canda early and often in the first half.

Temple City 17, Azusa 0, Final — Max Ruckle rushed for 142 yards and scored a touchdown. Nobody believed in the Rams, but I called it (Goldenarm).

Rio Hondo Prep 42, Boron 14, Final — Antonio Alanis, Chris Llamas and Charles Quintero each scored two touchdowns to lead the Kares, who led 36-0 midway through the fourth quarter. Alanis, Quintero and Tim Esguerra each rushed for over 100 yards. Nobody believed in the Kares, but I called it.

Saturday’s second-round game
Maranatha vs. Big Bear at Big Bear Middle School, 1 p.m. — Melendez (Maranatha)

Info on Maranatha’s game at Big Bear: Big Bear High School plays its games at Big Bear Middle School.

Minder Field
Big Bear Middle School
41275 Big Bear Blvd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
(next to Burger King)

Buses and spectator vehicles should park at the lower part of the campus in the Student Parking Lot on the west side of the school. Officials should park there also. Team vans or vehicles with equipment may drive up the driveway on to the track around the football field to drop off items but they may not park there. PLEASE, DO NOT PLAN TO PARK ON THE FIELD. Visitors will dress in the girls locker room of the middle school. It is located below the field areas at the south end of the gym (the second door east of the bus parking area).

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…….Star-Jibber…….

An open discussion about whoever and whatever you wanna talk about …

And if it’s too much for you to handle don’t worry, I’ll bring in reinforcements…..

I’m taking the rest of the day off. Time to stuff my face with three dinners. I leave you with this touching story of Temple City’s Joey Stewart.

SOLID SURROUNDINGS SURROUND STEWART

By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer

If you ever wonder how Joey Stewart turned out to be the person he is – poised, respectful, hard working and ever so cool – take a closer look at his surroundings.
Stewart has always found himself surrounded by exemplary people,whether it was relatives or family friends. That’s the way his father, Tim, always wanted it to be.

Stewart took a liking in the family friends who would later become an influential part of his life.

But it was his father’s work ethic that made a lasting impression.

And for that, Stewart is most thankful.

Following his father’s example has steadily streamlined its way into just about everything Stewart puts his mind to.

And for that, the Temple City High School football team is grateful.

He’s a brutal force in the backfield, whether it was starting at running back early in the season or since switching over to fullback, wreaking havoc on opposing defenses with his deft blocking skills, brutal force and speed.

But there weren’t always good times.

Last season, Stewart missed eight games after tearing the meniscus on his right knee and watching from the sidelines was probably tougher than the injury itself.

Continue reading “…….Star-Jibber…….” »

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………CIF-SS Playoffs second round preview………

TEMPLE CITY VS. AZUSA

WHERE: Citrus College

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Temple City (6-4-1); Azusa (10-1)

GAME NOTES: The visiting Rams are coming off a tough 7-6 win over Arroyo in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs. But Temple City has the weapons to outrun the Aztecs. The Rams will be led by running back Max Ruckle who has rushed for 1,278 yards and 16 touchdowns. Joey Stewart is capable of holding his ground, too. The fullback has rushed for 751 yards and 11 touchdowns in the run-first offense attack. Morgan Hatch though can balance the offense. He’s passed for 1,252 yards. Gianni Bruno-Lopez has caught for 581 yards and three touchdowns while teammate Kenny Werner has caught six touchdown passes. Azusa is led by quarterback Adrian Gaeta who has passed for 1,335 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gaeta is also mobile and the leading rusher on the team. He’s rushed for 733 yards and 12 touchdowns and Albert Martinez has rushed for 552 yards.

THE PICK: Temple City

SAN DIMAS VS. ROSEMEAD

WHERE: Rosemead H.S.

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: San Dimas (10-1); Rosemead (9-2)

GAME NOTES: The host Panthers, led by Tra Sumler’s 1,766 yards and 26 touchdowns, defeated Valley Christian, 45-14, in the first round of the Mid-Valley Division playoffs. San Dimas, the fourth-seed, defeated Sierra Vista, 67-12. The Saints and Rosemead have two common opponents in South El Monte and Covina. San Dimas beat South El Monte, 56-33, and Covina, 35-27. Rosemead, on the other hand, led 37-0 at the half against Covina before pulling away, 50-12, in the season opener. The Panthers beat South El Monte, 52-14. Daniel Joseph has rushed for 1,406 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 127 yards per game. Running back/linebacker Nico Barbone has rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Saints, who run a Wing-T offense. Rosemead’s secondary will be challenged. But the Panthers feel they can counter with a balanced attack, led by quarterback Angel Alejandre who has passed for 1,949 yards and 13 touchdowns.

THE PICK: Rosemead

RIO HONDO PREP VS. BORON

WHERE: Boron H.S.

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Rio Hondo Prep (7-3); Boron (10-1)

GAME NOTES: The visiting Kares will make a 210-mile round trip visit to arguably the best team in the Northeast Division playoffs. Aside from facing a tight double-wing, plenty of counters and double reverses, Rio Hondo Prep will also have to battle low temperatures. It’s expected to dip in the low to mid 30’s. The Kares boast a tandem of running backs in Antonio Alaniz and Tim Esguerra. Alaniz has rushed for nearly 900 yards and 11 touchdowns and Esguerra has added nearly 800 yards and nine touchdowns. But the Bobcats boast three running backs who can counter from all directions. Israel Lucas leads the Boron backfield with 1,879 yards and 22 touchdowns. Leroy Taylor has rushed for 633 yards and eight touchdowns while teammate Joshua Glass has 368 yards and 12 touchdowns.

THE PICK: Rio Hondo Prep

MARANATHA VS. BIG BEAR

WHERE: Big Bear Middle School

KICKOFF: Saturday, 1 p.m.

RECORDS: Maranatha (10-1); Big Bear (7-3-1)

GAME NOTES: “I think it’s a great matchup,” Minutemen coach Joel Murphy said. “Coach (Dave) Griffiths has done an incredible job with his program over the years and we’re excited to get a chance to play for another week.” In last week’s first-round win over Ontario Christian, Maranatha scored only 16 points despite two players combining for nearly 400 yards of offense. Senior quarterback Matt Schilz completed 20 of 43 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown but threw three costly interceptions, including two in the red zone. Senior running back Daniel Kopplin had 117 yards on 17 carries. “We don’t really have time to think about last week’s game,” Murphy said. “Did we trip up? Sure. But you learn and move on and choose to get better because of it.”

THE PICK: Maranatha

MONROVIA VS. DUARTE

WHERE: Duarte H.S.

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Monrovia (9-2); Duarte (6-5)

GAME NOTES: Senior running back Marquise Williams had a tough time adjusting to the Wing-T offense but by Week 3, he and his counterparts grasped it well enough to put together an eight-game winning streak. But others have proven to be the X-factor. Kendal Boggs and DJ Cole offer another dimension to the team’s dynamic. Nick Bueno, the sophomore quarterback, allows for a spread offense and Jonathan Cushman, the senior linebacker, provides the stifling defense. The Wildcats’ secondary will be tested with a healthy Canada waiting in the backfield. He can cut to the sidelines for long-yardage plays or earn his yards going straight down the middle, and he has the lineman to get it done. Maurilio Lopez, a 6-foot-3, 300 pound towering presence, returned late in the season from a back injury that forced him to sit out the entire preseason. Duarte coach Wardel Crutchfield’s concern is Williams, who is averaging 157 yards per game.

THE PICK: Monrovia

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

For the first time in five years, I will be enjoying Thanksgiving Day at home with the familia. After chowing down some turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, my sisters will probably force me to watch scary movies with them.

I have worked on just about every major holiday whether it’s working on the sports desk, covering holiday colege basketball tournaments or helping with Rose Bowl coverage. I would never usually be home and that’s one thing my mom did not like about my job.

But I’m thankful to have my dream job. I work in a city I love (thankfully I didn’t leave for Seattle or Indianapolis) and I’m still close to the city I love: Los Angeles. I’m the envy of some advertising executives in the office who’d rather talk football on the phone than selling ads. And I don’t say that to gloat but it does put things in perspective.

Thank you for your patience. Thank you for warm welcome. You guys have made me addicted to the blog and for that I thank you.

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Temple City will practice in gym, Monrovia in the rain

It looks like Temple City will practice today in the gymnasium given the fields are very muddy and more rain might be on the way. I’m looking outside my window office and there is no rain.

Still, it wouldn’t serve the Rams any purpose to practice in the mud since they’ll be playing on turf at Citrus College on Friday at 7 against Azusa in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs.

Practicing in the gym is never the same, of course, as practicing on the field. Teams mostly go through formations and no tackling is done. One time I covered a UCLA football practice at Pauley Pavilion. It looked very weird. The players wore only tennis shoes, shorts and jerseys and it was all done at half speed.

Meanwhile, Monrovia practiced at 10 a.m. and got caught in the middle of the down pour. Coach Maddox said had they practiced at 8 a.m. they probably would have missed the rain.

Still, practice went as scheduled on the field as they prepare for Round 2 (literally and figuratively) against Duarte in the Mid-Valley Division playoffs.

In case anyone’s wondering, the Wildcats will not have Thanksgiving Day off. They will practice bright and early at 8 a.m.

“When a football program is in the playoffs year in and year, practicing on holidays sometimes is never an issue because the parents and players are used to it,” Maddox said.

Winning tradition comes at a price. But the kids will get home just in time to enjoy some turkey, mashed potatoes with tiny onions swimming in gravy, and of course pumpkin pie.

Coming Friday is a story on the MD Classic, Part 2. Maddox brings up an interesting point: when Monrovia played Duarte in Week 1, they did so without seeing much of Jordan Canada, who played sparingly in the first half and much more in the second.

So, really, Monrovia is going to play against a much better Duarte team who also returns senior lineman Maurilio Lopez, a towering presence at 6-3, 300 pounds. A battle in the trenches, indeed.

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