Football: Pasadena joins the PSN's Top 10 Rankings
STAR-NEWS TOP 10 RANKINGS
1. ST. FRANCIS (7-1) -- Is there really any debating St. Francis is not the best ream in the PSN area? Enough. St. Francis is the undisputed No. 1 team in the WSGV. Despite losing a few weeks ago to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, the Golden Knights dropped only one spot to No. 2 in the CIF-SS Western Division rankings. Say all you want about the CIF polls' validity, but the pollsters finally showed a deserving team some respect, and that team was St. Francis. Most teams after losing a game drop several spots, just like San Marino did in the CIF-SS Mid Valley Division, dropping from No. 2 to No. 6 after losing to Monrovia, the No. 1 team in the Mid Valley. St. Francis' biggest task comes Friday night at Alemany. This won't be easy, and you'd be crazy to think Friday's outcome doesn't define the Golden Knights' season.
2. MONROVIA (8-0) -- The Wildcats have played down to opponents, and was that ever more evident last week against South Pasadena? Monrovia mustered 14 first-half points before De'Shawn Ramirez saved the day. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Monrovia's only enemy right now is itself. They can't play down to opponents and lose focus. If and when they do, they'll get caught off guard and the domino's will follow.
3. TEMPLE CITY (4-3-1) -- The Rams scored a yawner of a victory last week against Blair. The powers that be must have grown tired of watching Temple City have its way with Blair because with less than four minutes left in the game at Muir, the lights went out. Nevertheless, the Rams jump up one spot from No. 4 after San Marino's loss.
4. LA CÃNADA (4-3) -- The Spartans surprised the world when they knocked off San Marino. Despite a soft preseason schedule, the Titans were the favorite to win. Were they exposed? Rocky Moore is about as good as any quarterback in the Rio Hondo League, and probably the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. The Spartans' win over San Marino throws the Rio Hondo League into whack, a bit. La Canada is probably going to finish 3-2 in league after losing to Monrovia and beating South Pasadena, while San Marino will be 2-2 heading into its finale against Temple City. A loss to the Rams, San Marino is out of the playoffs. A win over Temple City and we've got ourselves quite the scenario that certainly will give us all a reaching for Tylenol.
5. SAN GABRIEL (5-3) -- San Gabriel's making me look bad, and I'm sure they're enjoying every second of it. As you may have noticed by now, I picked Schurr to win and already the SG fanatics are saying that guarantees the Matadors will win. Not necessarily. Schurr owns San Gabriel like I own my 2006 Accord -- I beat it up, wear it down and tear it down. Sure, San Gabriel's knocked off a few good opponents, but the Matadors are walking in uncharted waters right now. They're in prime position to take the driver's seat in the Almont League, but they'll probably fumble the opportunity to land the coveted seat because they'll succumb to pressure. I digress. This post was supposed to be about San Gabriel's impressive win over Alhambra. The Matadors didn't just win handily. They destroyed the Moors. My brother, a San Gabriel alum, gave me grief the entire Saturday morning. I got the last laugh when Oregon beat USC.
6. RIO HONDO PREP (8-0) -- The Kares are taking care of business the way Monrovia isn't. Rio Hondo Prep is the No. 1-ranked team in the Northeast Division and they're leaving no doubt they are the best. The only reason why Monrovia hasn't dropped from No. 1 is because they haven't lost, but they've yet to dominate opponents like they did at the start of the season, particularly against Rosemead and San Dimas. One thing the Kares do need is a more efficient passing game. This week's showdown with Pasadena Poly took a hit when Panthers sophomore Jackson Allan suffered a serious head injury and underwent brain surgery over the weekend. While the game has Prep League implications on the line it's certain everyone will be thinking about Allan and his family.
7. SAN MARINO (6-2) -- De ja vu? San Marino exposed Monrovia a few weeks ago and now they got a taste of its own medicine against La Canada last week. The Spartans secondary was a virtual wall against the Titans offense. A lot will be riding on the Temple City-San Marino game on Nov. 13. Wish I could be there.
8. ALHAMBRA (4-3) -- The Moors still have a shot at the playoffs if they beat Bell Gardens and Keppel. Alhambra coach Gil Ruedaflores said the Moors would need a balanced attack to beat San Gabriel, but there was quite a lot of passes thrown and Alhambra never really established the run. This was a problem last year and it's a problem this year.
9. MARANATHA (6-2) -- The Minutemen escaped with a 19-12 win over Sierra Canyon. Maranatha coach Joel Murphy said the team's made drastic improvements since the starting the season at 0-2. It's safe to say the Minutemen will extend their streak to seven after taking on Marshall on Friday.
10. PASADENA (4-4) -- Huckster I'm sure is banging his head somewhere on Sierra Madre Boulevard after seeing the Bulldogs make the list. Sure, Pasadena lost to Crescenta Valley, but after La Salle (3-5) dropped out of the rankings there was no other viable team to replace the Lancers. The Bulldogs in my book have surpassed all expectations. I'm sure that's not what coach Mike McFarland is saying, but already at Week 9 he's set the bar for next season. He's building a solid foundation for Pasadena football, and in only his first year it appears McFarland has the Bulldogs ready to dethrone Muir from its pedestal that is the Turkey Tussle streak. Never mind that Muir's having an atrocious season thus far. That's besides the point. I last covered Pasadena against Saugus. The defense was solid and nearly came away with a win. That was Week 2. Lets see what things look like Thursday night.
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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. |
Tom S. -
No, I don't follow this blog that much (sorry, Miguel). Good to hear Maranatha moving up in leagues. This will only help them in the long run.
Damn! Where doomed! This might be good, because we will not be ranked next week giving us our "MO JO" back!
Anon:
Guess you don't follow this blog much. Maranatha is going to the Olympic league next year with all their teams. Coach Murphy has already announced a game next year against a local large public school.
Dan the Man;
You should send this info. to the Maranatha athletic director and see if he'll schedule some of the local "bigger" teams...like LaSalle did this year.
Also, see if they can get out of that league that has some teams with 300 or less students in them. The Olympic league only has 5 teams and has schools more like the size of Maranatha.
Thanks.
Well, in response to a lot of people and their comments in regards to the smaller schools. I definitely think that they are more than feel good stories. I personally did not go to any of the smaller schools, but have attended games and definitely have to give it up to them as having some better teams this season. Maranatha has made strides to begin scheduling tougher games. Rio Hondo Prep definitely has to begin going in the same direction to see how they fit in. I would like to see one of these two teams going after the same type of schedule as La Salle did. Either or, this may not be one of the best years for PSN schools, but this one we may have to say that these small guys can compete this year.
I have left comments in the past about Maxpreps and Calpreps rankings, of whom has about an 80% win percentage on their picks. There rankings are based as follows:
MaxPreps uses a computer program to determine team rank. We do not poll coaches, sportswriters, or fans. Nor does our staff make any judgments on the merits of any individual team. Prior season history, school size, and comments on message boards are not considered in the MaxPreps rankings.
And this is how they would rank things, with their states ranking beside the applicable team.
1. St. Francis 40
2. Monrovia 176
3. Rio Hondo Prep 328
4. San Marino 373
5. San Gabriel 390
6. Pasadena 441
7. Muir 467
8. Maranatha 479
9. Temple City 487
10. Alhambra 504
11. La Canada 553
12. Arcadia 588
13. La Salle 665
Either or, there is no question that I feel that St. Francis and Monrovia are in a league of their own this season, but I definitely feel that it is one of those seasons where RHP and Maranatha is capable of competing with some of the big boys out there. So with that, I don't believe that just because some of the schools are bigger that these small schools could not compete and let the Maxpreps and Calpreps numbers speak for themselves.
Correct me if I am wrong, has Pasadena HS been on the front page of the sports section at anytime this season? I know the Star News, is now managed by a San Gabriel valley news group. Can't the Pasadena teams get some ink in a Pasadena paper. Maybe they're going to surprise me and do things like they used to and make the Turkey Tussle a full front page spread.....
Oh hell Miguel,
We told you to leave US alone, now you done put the whammy on HS...Let sleeping (shhhhh) dogs lie....
The only reason that so many RHL teams (outside of M-Town and their deserved spot) are ranked in the top ten is that the rest of the PSN schools are having down years. Arcadia played the #3 team in their division and had Burbank on the ropes but couldn't finish. Muir and Arcadia would beat the RHL schools 9 out of 10 times. Rio Hondo Prep and Maranantha are nice small school stories; the Occidentals of the high school football landscape. In the Pacific League, Burbank, Burroughs, and CV are in with the Tussle to decide between Muir and PHS. However, if week #9 RHL games play out then TC(3-1) invades SM(2-2) while LC(2-2) squares off @ SP in week #10. TC,SM,LC could end up all 3-2 and a loser coined flipped out of the playoffs. Now if LC and SP pull off the upsets this week...
what were the key factors in La Canada beating San Marino?
TC must take care of biz against south pas and put the game out of reach by halftime. this means come out strong and fierce and take the game for the serious game it is and take no prisoners. we cannot be distracted by the halftime hoopla of homecoming.
the current sm coaching staff knows our senior players very, very well. Most all were coached as fresh/sophs by G Luna, now JV head coach at San Marino. Is this an advantage...? I would yes it is, but the same advantage was true last year, and made no visible difference in the outcome.
The players Mooney was most familiar with have graduated - and his links and friendships at TC are not as strong as they once were - as when MM manned the crows nest for the Clete game. His good friend Loya is just a well versed spectator nowadays.
Our youngsters know little of the history and very few of the players, and unmentioned things like SM did not have their starting QB last year get forgotten in the time warp. Provided we have our heads straight and load up and defeat So Pas, next weeks game promises to be an outstanding one and something our youngsters can either feast or gag on for their many season's ahead.
SENIORS - take the ball and lead!! Run to the light!
Go Rams!
Miguel, I'm LOVING 3 RHL teams in the top 4! However, SM beat San Gabriel without Benny Hung, how is SG ranked higher than them? I talked to an SM dad about LC and he said it was there worst game yet with 3 fumbles a pic, and he said 8 or 9 drops, sounds like a whiner but it still doesn't make sense to have SG over them
miguel , are you efen kidding to put pasadena over muir , they dont have no defense.
come on , i will stop reading this fake news paper. look at the scores of muir league and pasadena. it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out and grades came out , ask pasadena what players cant play in the tussle , i know !!!!!!!!!!
so before you put them on top ten ask the school.
Isaac Cmp Att Yds Lng TD Int
Valdez 22 36 324 40 1 1
Darrian Cmp Att Yds Lng TD Int
Cazarin 21 43 186 33 1 2
New York,
That was too funny about miguel. But my beef is miguel what do you mean RHP is doing what monrovia isnt???? Monrovia would do that and more in that schedule are kidding me???? You get alot of grief from the bulldog and moor, and matador fans, but for the most part ur right on, unless its san marino haha. but it seems like your a little obsessed with M-town. So said they havent dominated. Well T.C. game isnt suppose to be a domination, its a rivalry game. That game wasnt suppose to be a blowout no matter how deep monrovia is in talent at all positions. South Pas, if thats not dominating i dont know what is, no matter how long it took, its all about the FINAL SCORE to me!!!!
Trueblue
The cats will be fine, we have depth in all positions. Tough loss but Im sure we have someone to replace him on the D-line
O-cat
We shouldnt even have to do that. PSN rankings dont mean much when it comes to CIF. hopefully fred is wrong about the pairings and we can get the monrovia-paraclete finals match up. But the San Marino-T.C. match up should be a good one. as long as monrovia takes care of business and stays focused thats domination within itself!!!!
The Bulldog mascot you see in this photo was not returned when the cheerleader left last school year. So currently PHS doesn't have a Bulldog mascot suit. True story...
to every moor fan, curiousgeorge, any moor fan out there,
IVE BEEN HOLDING MY THOUGHTS FOR ALMOST ONE WHOLE WEEK, NOW ITS TIME GET RID OF THE OFFENSE OF COORDINATOR AND GET RID OF THE DARRIN WE DO NOT NEED A SON AND FATHER COMBO THAT WAS THE WORST PERFORMANCE IN ALHAMBRA HISTORY. IAM EMBARASSED TO BE A ALHAMBRA FAN THIS YEAR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR WAS THINKING THROUGHOUT THE GAME. GET RID OF EVERYONE THE COACHES THE DANCE, DRILL TEAM, CHEERLEADERS, THE ADMINISTATION GET RID OF EVERYONE I KNOW THE CONCESSION WORKERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING FOR THE CAREY COUCH STAND. GODS GOODNESS SERIOUSLY THE OFFENSICVE OF COORDINATOR CAN NOT CAll a play if hIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT AND DARRIN IS THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN ALHAMBRA HISTORY I WANT THOSE COACHES FROM THE FRESHMAN TO THE VARSITY TEAM GONE PLEASE.
CALL A RUNNING PLAY WHY ARE YOU PASSING 98.5 OF TIME, IVE COULDNT BEATING SAN GABRIEL WITH MY OWN FLAG FOOTBALL TEAMS PLAYS ARE YOU KIDDING ME SERIOUSLY. IF THE COACH ONLY IMPLEMENTED THE RUN IN THE FIRST QUARTER I THINK WE COULD AT LEAST BEATEN SAN GABRIEL BY TOUCHDOWN, BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT HE WAS THINKING THE COACH "PLAY CALLER" CAN NOT I MEAN CAN NOT A PLAY CALL IF HIS LIFE DEPENDING ON IT. IM HAPPY THIS IS THE QB LAST YEAR IM SICK OF THIS PASSING 100% ALMOST EVERY GAME. IAM REALLY FUSTRATED AT THIS TIME AND THE STAFF IAM LETTING IT OUT TODAY AND MY LAST TIME ON THIS BLOG, ALHAMBRA WILL MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS AND GET ELIMATED ONCE AGAIN IN THE FIRST ROUND, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. FOR GOD SAKE.
TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
FIRE EVERYONE GET RID OF THEM, THE COMMUNITY IS CONTAMINATED HORRIBLE GAME AND IVE NEVER SEEN A WORST GAME IN MY LIFE. IM DONE WITH THIS SEASON. 2010 BETTER BE A BETTER FOOTBALL YEAR I FEEL DISGRACED FOR ALHAMBRA FOOTBALL
to every moor fan, curiousgeorge, any moor fan out there,
IVE BEEN HOLDING MY THOUGHTS FOR ALMOST ONE WHOLE WEEK, NOW ITS TIME GET RID OF THE OFFENSE OF COORDINATOR AND GET RID OF THE DARRIN WE DO NOT NEED A SON AND FATHER COMBO THAT WAS THE WORST PERFORMANCE IN ALHAMBRA HISTORY. IAM EMBARASSED TO BE A ALHAMBRA FAN THIS YEAR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR WAS THINKING THROUGHOUT THE GAME. GET RID OF EVERYONE THE COACHES THE DANCE, DRILL TEAM, CHEERLEADERS, THE ADMINISTATION GET RID OF EVERYONE I KNOW THE CONCESSION WORKERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING FOR THE CAREY COUCH STAND. GODS GOODNESS SERIOUSLY THE OFFENSICVE OF COORDINATOR CAN NOT CAll a play if hIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT AND DARRIN IS THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN ALHAMBRA HISTORY I WANT THOSE COACHES FROM THE FRESHMAN TO THE VARSITY TEAM GONE PLEASE.
CALL A RUNNING PLAY WHY ARE YOU PASSING 98.5 OF TIME, IVE COULDNT BEATING SAN GABRIEL WITH MY OWN FLAG FOOTBALL TEAMS PLAYS ARE YOU KIDDING ME SERIOUSLY. IF THE COACH ONLY IMPLEMENTED THE RUN IN THE FIRST QUARTER I THINK WE COULD AT LEAST BEATEN SAN GABRIEL BY TOUCHDOWN, BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT HE WAS THINKING THE COACH "PLAY CALLER" CAN NOT I MEAN CAN NOT A PLAY CALL IF HIS LIFE DEPENDING ON IT. IM HAPPY THIS IS THE QB LAST YEAR IM SICK OF THIS PASSING 100% ALMOST EVERY GAME. IAM REALLY FUSTRATED AT THIS TIME AND THE STAFF IAM LETTING IT OUT TODAY AND MY LAST TIME ON THIS BLOG, ALHAMBRA WILL MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS AND GET ELIMATED ONCE AGAIN IN THE FIRST ROUND, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. FOR GOD SAKE.
TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
FIRE EVERYONE GET RID OF THEM, THE COMMUNITY IS CONTAMINATED HORRIBLE GAME AND IVE NEVER SEEN A WORST GAME IN MY LIFE. IM DONE WITH THIS SEASON. 2010 BETTER BE A BETTER FOOTBALL YEAR I FEEL DISGRACED FOR ALHAMBRA FOOTBALL
New York:
You noticed that too? I guess we have to just plain and simply leave our starters in and make the score completely out of reach in order to make a statement. I will just sit back and take the wins and give some of the second and third string guys a chance to participate so that they understand what a CIF run feels like.
Miguel, the 'Cats were without their backbone in that game! Defensive lineman Kenny Machi was out with an injured rotator cuff and he may be out for the year, he is a silent leader on that defense, the 'Cats will struggle to replace his tenacity and balls.
Monrovia is mentioned in five of the paragraphs of the top ten rundown. That is a bit obsessive.
Miguel, even though you don't beleive in us right now, do you see the illuminated "M" when you close your eyes at night only to awaken in a panic when it turns into a "V"?
Drama, I think that eventually you'll need a more efficient passing game. But you're right, I should go see them Saturday, and I will. See you guys there.
Miguel,
I really wish you would get off the argument that Rio Hondo Prep somehow needs a, "more efficient passing game", it didn't seem to hurt them last year (same QB).
As a matter of fact, QB Chris Llamas is only 12 passing yards short of last years entire years total (610 yds), with many games remaining. It's all about a great defense with RHP, a good running game helps too!
Miguel, go see this team in person, Saturday would be a great chance for you to do so!