PREPXTRA FOOTBALL PREVIEW ARRIVES ON TUESDAY, AUG. 30 — Don’t Miss Out!!!!!

I promise you won’t find another publication quite like PrepXtra which covers the 2011 high school football season in the San Gabriel Valley. The second annual Star-News PrepXtra Preview Magazine will be available in your home subscription or at newsstands on Tuesday, Aug. 30. If your newsstand runs out or you simply want extra copies, you can purchase them for $1 at the Pasadena Star-News (911 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena) office. They will go quick, so get here early. You can also purchase San Gabriel Valley Tribune or Whittier Daily News PrepXtra preview editions at those offices.

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Football: Monrovia No. 1 in CIF-SS preseason’s Mid-Valley Division Top 10 poll. Maranatha No. 5; In the Southeast Division, Arcadia is No. 4 and Muir No. 6. And how’s this for a shocker: La Salle is No. 5 in Northwest.

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
1. Monrovia, 2. Covina, 3. San Dimas, 4. Whittier Christian, 5. Maranatha, 6. Village Christian, 7. Arroyo, 8. Bell Gardens, 9. Baldwin Park, 10. Azusa.
Others: Montebello; South Pasadena; Pomona; San Gabriel; La PUente; El Monte.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
1. West Covina, 2. Bonita, 3. Mayfair, 4. Arcadia, 5. Santa Fe, 6. Muir, 7. Diamond Ranch, 8. Walnut, 9. La Serna, 10. Diamond Bar.

NORTHEAST DIVISION
1. Bishop Union; 2. Boron; 3. Rio Hondo Prep; 4. Desert Christian/Lancaster. 5. Vasquez. 6. Salesian. 7. Chadwick. 8. Desert. 9. Pasadena Poly. 10. Mojave.

NORTHWEST DIVISION
1. Lompoc; 2. South Torrance; 3. Santa Ynez; 4. Nordhoff; 5. La Salle; 6. Cabrillo/Lompoc; 7. Carpinteria; 8. Bishop Montgomery; 9. North Torrance; 10. Templeton.

WESTERN DIVISION
1. Chaminade; 2. Arroyo Grande; 3. Dominguez; 4. Serra; 5. St. Paul; 6. St. Joseph/Santa Maria; 7. Atascadero; 8. St. Francis; 9. Culver City; 10. Rio Mesa.

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Football: St. Francis’ Riley expected to start at UCLA

CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF DIETRICH RILEY THROUGH THE YEARS

By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES – A year ago, Dietrich Riley would do whatever it took to get on the Rose Bowl turf.

But now, a year later, it may be his time to shine.

“Being penciled in as a starter, gives me a lot of confidence,” said Riley, a former St. Francis High School star who came to UCLA as one of the top defensive back recruits in the country. “It makes me want to work harder.

“I just want to prove that I’m that guy who can make big plays. I’m excited. I have a lot of energy going into the season and I want to prove to the world that UCLA is going to be a great team this year.”

If the Bruins are to recapture some of their past glory, Riley could play a major role in that transition.

The sophomore saw limited playing time as a freshman, but there were some indications of future greatness.

He played in 11 of UCLA’s 12 games and had 22 tackles. But he caught some attention with a jarring hit on Oregon State star Jacquizz Rodgers in UCLA’s 17-14 victory on Nov. 6. It’s one of the most viewed sports videos on YouTube.

It also was a quick glimpse of the Pasadena native’s untapped potential.

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Football: Young Matadors steadily grew up, growing.

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

SAN GABRIEL – A few years ago, San Gabriel High School football coach Jude Oliva started a number of sophomores, not out of necessity but because of athletic ability.

Among that group who now are three-year starters are Hunter Garcia, Carlos Purser, Brian Lopez and Alex Villalobos.

Villalobos has stood out the most while earning first-team Star-News All-Area honors as a wide receiver, but Oliva feels the rest of the group can hold their own, too.

That much was clear on Wednesday afternoon at San Gabriel, where the Matadors wrapped up their final day of two-a-day workouts before today’s walk-through and scrimmage at Maranatha at

7 p.m. San Gabriel opens the season at home Sept. 2 against Muir.

Garcia, a 6-foot, 225-pound defensive end, had a strong presence at practice. He muscled his way into the backfield with a strong upper body that allowed him to record eight sacks last year as a junior.

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