..........Rosemead vs. Monrovia..........
All of last week, leading up to its game against San Dimas High School in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs, Rosemead football coach Matt Koffler heard it from just about every place he went.
Nico Barbone this. David Joseph that.
All the while the Panthers boasted one of the premier running backs in the San Gabriel Valley in senior Tra Sumler, who was ready to tear up the field with his bruising physicality and elusive speed. But despite routing the Saints 59-22, the running back versus running back debate will continue when Rosemead takes on Monrovia at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a semifinal showdown. The Wildcats, who defeated Duarte 41-21, are led by Marquise Williams, who rushed for 233 yards and scored five touchdowns in the victory. "Those two guys are special," Koffler said, "so I don't think it should end."
But the reality is it will end for one team this week.
And aside from relying on Sumler, who also scored five touchdowns in his team's win Friday, and a balanced attack with quarterback Angel Alejandre, the Panthers will need their defensive line to continue its dominating performance, which hides week after week behind the Sumler shadow. "Our defense has been overlooked all year," Koffler said. "Our defensive coordinator and our defensive line are just phenomenal."
Marc Paramo is the defensive coordinator in his second season with Koffler, who
credits Paramo for a superb defense that limited San Dimas' offense to 22 points after it averaged more than 30 a game. "He deserves all the credit in the world," Koffler said. "When you stop a team that's averaging 30 points a game, that's pretty special."
The defensive line is anchored by seniors Edward Vasquez, Armando Avila and Chris Flores, along with junior Luis Diaz. "Without them it doesn't work," Koffler said.
The Rosemead coaching staff didn't watch Paraclete beat Northview 14-0 in last Saturday's other quarterfinal. "I did not watch it and I did not have any coaches at that game," Koffler said. "We are taking this one game at a time and our main focus is Monrovia, a team we definitely cannot overlook."
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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. |
Way to focus and straight to your point, i love it. Keep up the work people. Dont let anyone stop us bloggers.
M-Town gatos,
Excuse my spanglish but Rosemead will go all the way and win the crown.Two words for Monro-fans,"CAN'T PASS"!
So for that reason season will end on friday night,but keep your heads up you had a great season!
NOW ALL I GOT 2 SAY IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE REALLY BEEN GIVING ROSEMEAD ALOT OF CREDIT AND THINK THEY ARE GOING 2 COME WALLK ALL OVER MONROVIA AT THERE OWN HOUSE NOW ME PERSONALY I DONT THINK SO MONROVIA AT HOME IN THE PAST 12 GAMES HAVE ONLY ALOUD 6 TO 19 POINT SO LET BE REAL WILL ROSEMEAD STAND A CHANCE THINK TWICE THE MONROVIA WILDCATS WILL TAKE IT ALL THE WAY WITH THERE DEFENSE THAT WHICH AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME SINCE THEY LAST LOST 2 ROSEMEAD NOT TAKEN ANY RUNNBACKS LIGHTLY. AND RUNNING BACKS MARQUISE WILLIAMS,DJ COLE,AND KENDAL BOGGS.
SO IF U ASK MY OPINION I WOULD SAY MONROVIA WILL WIN THA WHOLE THING HANDS DOWN I HAVE FAITH IN THESE BOYS
MM...I'm not getting the rational in your pick of Rosemead. Here are three of my thoughts:
1. Monrovia had some serious growing pains in their first contest TEN WEEKS AGO. Much has been made of the Wing-T implementation...but the motion and alignment penalties were crippling that team. And, the laws of probability were not working that night: the pick 6 and recovered fumble in the end zone were freakish plays. And Rosemead fumbled 7 times in that game...SEVEN. Monrovia didn't recover any of them. FREAKISH
2. Monrovia is playing at home...where they HAVEN'T LOST A GAME! Now, that's home cookin'!
3. Monrovia is better prepared...emotionally...for the BIG game. Rosemead wears their emotions on their sleeves...they've proven that when it gets tough, they can't keep their cool. On the other hand, the Cats are even-keeled. If you saw the way they handled themselves at an emotionally-charged Duarte last week, then you have an inkling of how Maddox's temperment has rubbed off on the Cats. They're collected and have a manner about them that is eager, not anxious...enthusiastic, but not enraged. They play with a confidence that doesn't translate to cockiness.
Cats in a close one.
Monrovia - 20
Rosemead - 16
GO CATS GO!
I'm still beside myself that Monrovia's inconsistency the past few years, including the beginning of this year, has put Rosemead as the purported favorite to win this game.
I'll take Monrovia.
Also, if Maddox establishes a consistent off-season program, which I think he will, this will be the last time that Monrovia beating any local public school should be considered an "upset." No, I am not saying that we will beat everybody, but it will not be considered an upset when we do.