Football: No movement in latest Top 10 Rankings
1. MONROVIA (5-0) -- Well, what can you say. Disciplined, focused, talented, young and tough. Certainly last week's bye refueled the Wildcats even more as they get ready for the Rio Hondo League.
2. ST. FRANCIS (5-0) -- Now, this game should have been played at Cowboys Stadium. Notre Dame comes to town with a 4-1 record. This game will serve as a good measure to see where the Knights stand. But so far the Golden Knights have been impressive.
3. SAN MARINO (5-0) -- A lot's been said about the Titans' schedule, soft or not? We'll see how San Marino stands against the SGV's best. It'll be a tough task, but someone's gotta do it.
4. ALHAMBRA (3-1) -- The Moors look like they're getting their act together on offense. Schurr will be a tough start to the Almont League, but Alhambra might as well get it out of the way. The result of this game could shape the rest of the Almont League.
5. TEMPLE CITY (2-2-1) -- Max Ruckle rushed for 203 yards last week and scored three touchdowns. There will be games when QB Justin Smith shines and games when Ruckle leads the Rams, sometimes both. That's the beauty of the spread offense, it's an added dimension in the long run. The feeling here is Thursday's La Cañada will be a fun one to watch with the action swinging back and forth.
6. SAN GABRIEL (2-3) -- The Matadors took a beating in preseason. I know they'd like to think otherwise, but losses to Cathedral, Burbank and San Marino have been a bit demoralizing. I guess if we're going to get down to it we should also question San Gabriel's schedule, which includes wins over South Pasadena and Contreras. Yeah, never heard of them either.
7. LA CAÑADA (2-2) -- The Spartans are off to a good start. They will be good this season and very much will contend for a playoff spot this season. A missed tackle here and there is what has La Cañada staring at a 2-2 record instead of 3-1. QB Rocky Moore is every bit as advertised. He's thrown for at least 250 yards in each game this season and is yet to throw an INT (I really hope I don't jinx the kid). Josh Hanson is also fun to watch. He's an athletic (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) wide receiver with slick moves, quick feet and good hands. He put a sick move on an Arroyo defender for the Spartans first TD last week. He scored on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Moore. When he caught the ball, Hanson went left, right, left, quickly spun around and raced down the Spartans sideline and into the end zone. That's probably the sickest move I've seen all season long.
8. BOSCO TECH (3-2) -- The feeling here is the Tigers will make the playoffs. Bosco Tech had a tough stretch offensively when facing the likes of Salesian and Pioneer. They were losses the Tigers pretty much handed themselves with silly mistakes and penalties. To be fair, Bosco Tech did play without its heart and soul -- senior Johnny Calderon.
9. LA SALLE (3-3) -- I'm no fan of moral victories, but the Lancers will come out stronger after this tough preseason schedule. Anytime you schedule teams playing in tougher leagues and divisions there's always a lesson to come from it, and La Salle definitely will grow from that experience. I think I missed my chance at checking out QB Mike Novell and the exciting Mike Alexander. Looking at the schedule the rest of the season I just don't picture myself covering a La Salle game. Luckily, Novell's a sophomore.
10. RIO HONDO PREP (5-0) -- The Kares are taking care of business like they're supposed to, which is why they are ranked. The defending CIF-SS Northeast Division champions have a huge target on their back, and Flintridge Prep is the first team from the Prep League with a chance to knock off Rio Hondo Prep when they meet Friday night at 7:30 at Rio Hondo Prep.
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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. |
I am a really surprised by this years results...I haven't seen much but from what I have seen is a HUGE drop in talent over the last couple of years in the area... i think all of these teams in the top 10 wouldn't stand a chance against the 07-08 Arcadia, Muir, and St. Francis teams... The only team from this top 10 I feel would stand a chance would be St. Francis because they have always been at the top plus they have Riley.. From what I have seen from Monrovia this year if they would play any of those three teams I think they would get slaughtered... Thats just my two cents what do you guys think?
Sportsfanic:
Your wish may be closer than you think. Since Morovia is going to be taking a couple of teams off of their preseason schedule, I'm sure Coach Maddox would love to oblige the Muir coach's in a preseason game. I would love to see Monrovia vs. St. Francis and Second game Monrovia vs. Muir. Now that would be something to blog about. I say it's only High School football, Let them play. I would actually love to go over to the eastside and play BA or Charter Oaks as well. This would be the time to have you coach's put in the request. I know coach Howard would love to be the real true power of the SGV.
Sportsfanic:
Your wish may be closer than you think. Since Morovia is going to be taking a couple of teams off of their preseason schedule, I'm sure Coach Maddox would love to oblige the Muir coach's in a preseason game. I would love to see Monrovia vs. St. Francis and Second game Monrovia vs. Muir. Now that would be something to blog about. I say it's only High School football, Let them play. I would actually love to go over to the eastside and play BA or Charter Oaks as well. This would be the time to have you coach's put in the request. I know coach Howard would love to be the real true power of the SGV.
oh yea , miguel
muir does not play oaks christian next year so they have a spot open , ask one of the top ten teams to fill it.
oh yea , miguel
muir does not play oaks christian next year so they have a spot open , ask one of the top ten teams to fill it.
miguel ,
i will be serious with you , if muir played any of those teams in the top ten they would beat them. why dont you ask those teams why they wont schedule muir in pre-season. if muir had that easy schedule they would have been 10-0 every year.
who has st francis played ? who has monrovia played ? burbank blow out cv and cv almost beat st francis. you need to put muir back on the top 10 , they need to be #3 and there team is all sophmores and juniors.
Hey Miguel what about coming to see La Salle play Verbum Dei on Saturday night at St. Matthias High School, drive isnt too bad. Should be a good Camino Real league game. Is there a chance you might come see them play???
Miquel
thanks for the photo of Ruckle catching a TD pass against Rosemead.
Note his hand position...he is on the way down from catching a high ball thrown over his shoulder....his feet have still not found the ground....for those who say the Mad one cannot catch......wrong!
Max - bring it all this Thursday....we need it!
Go Rams!!
BurbankSports,
Either I’m going to be quiet tomorrow or the “Blog” is going to have “Hell to pay”! I look at it like this if "PHS" wins tomorrow, we got 2 big games left (CV & Burbank)and a major personal matter that is family business!
Miguel,
All bull$hit a side, I take it that you might be from the Soutside of the SGV and that's cool, but Rio Honda Prep, La Salle, La Canada, San Gabriel, TC, Bosco Tech and Alhambra would never beat Pasadena this year! San Marino is a really big stretch too! I understand that it's local high school sports and everyone needs a lil love from time to time in the area, but the athletes on those other teams don't match up at all! Keeping it 100% only St. Francis could have went into Long Beach Jordan and won from our area!
Huckster will be quiet after tomorrow night.
Relax Huckster. I wouldn't go that far. Not yet at least.
Well, Im glad you got off the titan train miguel. I know that 5-0 has looked so delicious the last couple years, but what has it gotten you, an upset stomach haha.
Thanks Meguel!
Keep them stinking rankings away from the "Dogs House"!
I know for fact we (PHS) would beat the $hit out of every team from #3 on down!
Miguel, Whats the game of the week? My vote St. Francis vs. Notre Dame can beat two so cal powers going head to head
No way because it's not going to happen.
So Miguel, if San Marino happens to beat Monrovia, will they be #1?
Funny how NO PACIFIC LEAGUE TEAMS are listed here on the PSN Top Ten. Hmm... FIFA national team lists are way off, Boxing Judges are very questionable (esp with HBO fighters) and the BCS is inexplicable, The Russian basketball timekeeper in 1972.. You know where I'm going with this!