Star-Picks: Everyone is 0-0 as league begins. Me too.

The Stang Fan: You should e-mail me your record every Saturday so I can update it when I start this thread. Step to it, bro!
Melendez last week: 9-4 (Total: 56-39-1)

Last Week: My four losses were Keppel, La Canada, San Gabriel and Arcadia. I very well could have gone 12-1 if not for last-minute losses by La Canada and San Gabriel. I think Keppel wasn’t too far off either. Impressive win by Pasadena. I mean, really. How can you not want to root for the ‘Dogs? (Unless of course you’re allegiance is to 1905 Lincoln Ave) … There’s a lot of raw talent on that PHS team. Great defense, but they can only do so much with a mistake-prone offense digging holes. If they can limit the silly mistakes and be more disciplined in terms of turnovers then you have a PHS team with a lot of upside.

This Week: How can I not be at the Monrovia-San Marino game Friday night? Easy. Notre Dame visits St. Francis. The pick here goes to Monrovia, obviously. I know, shouldn’t have used the word obviously, but really, c’mon. The Wildcats are the No. 1 team in the CIF-SS Mid-Valley Division and what weaknesses does Monrovia really have? Maybe Observantcat can enlighten us. Monrovia is a battle-tested team, and despite that the Wildcats have pretty much steamrolled through the competition. San Marino, not so much. I still think Benny Hung, if he plays, will present a formidable challenge to a young defensive line. QB Joe Forgatch and WR Stevie Yortsos are an offensive prowess all by themselves, but I don’t see them testing the Monrovia secondary. Speed, speed, speed. Should be a good first half. Back to St. Francis … This will be my first-look at Dietrich Riley. I hear Justin Posthuma had an off night last week, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back. I’m eager to see how cohesive the Knights defense is playing this season. But first, I’ll be at the Temple City-La Canada game Thursday night. Someone said it best, think it was Goldenarm — the winner of Friday’s Monrovia-SM and TC-LC game will shape the outcome of the Rio Hondo League. I’m banking on Monrovia and Temple City earning a “W” and setting up next week’s showdown at Temple City. Bring it!

THIS WEEK’S GAMES (WITH PREDICTIONS)

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Temple City at La Canada, 7 p.m. — Temple City
Pasadena at Burroughs, 7 p.m. — Pasadena

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Notre Dame at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. — St. Francis
Monrovia at San Marino, 7 p.m. — Monrovia
Arcadia at Muir, 7 p.m. — Muir
Brentwood at Maranatha, 7 p.m. — Brentwood
Alhambra at Schurr, 7 p.m. — Alhambra
South Pasadena vs. Blair at PCC, 7 p.m. — South Pasadena
Gladstone at Duarte, 7 p.m. — Gladstone
Gabrielino vs. El Monte at Arroyo, 7 p.m. — El Monte
San Gabriel at Keppel, 7 p.m. — San Gabriel
Arroyo at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Arroyo
Flintridge Prep at Rio Hondo Prep, 7:30 p.m. — Rio Hondo Prep
Saddleback Valley Christian at Pasadena Poly, 1 p.m. — Pas Poly
Mary Star of the Sea at Bosco Tech, 1:30 p.m. — Bosco Tech
Marshall vs. Calvary Chapel at Downey, 7 p.m. — Calvary Chapel

SATURDAY’S GAME
La Salle vs. Verbum Dei at St. Matthias, 7 p.m. — La Salle

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