STILL THE ONE: Monrovia is still the team to beat after the first week of high school football.
Staff file photo by Keith Birmingham
PASADENA STAR-NEWS LUCKY 21 RANKINGS
1. Monrovia (0-0) — The only knock of the Wildcats, who have won back-to-back Mid-Valley Division titles, is that don’t have a signature win during the last two years. They get a chance Friday, traveling to face Ayala, which routed Diamond Bar, 46-17.
2. St. Francis (0-0) — All signs point to a solid season for the Golden Knights, who hope to ride a solid defense with the quarterback skills of Jared Lebowitz. It starts Friday when Arcadia comes calling.
3. Rio Hondo Prep (1-0) — I look as the Kares as the area version of TCU and Boise State, who are small schools who have shown they can play with the big boys. Rio showed it as well, whacking Arcadia, 29-7 last week.
4. San Gabriel (1-0) — Rebuild? The Matadors showed last week in a 53-0 victory over Animo South Los Angeles that they simply reload.
5. Maranatha (0-1) — The Minutemen, with quarterback Andrew Elffers held its own against a Division 3 level team, eventually losing 29-15 to Antelope Valley. They have another tough one this week, traveling to Don Lugo.
6. San Marino (0-0) — The Titans didn’t do a thing and moved up three slots from the preseason rankings. But they get to test their will Thursday when they open the season at Eagle Rock.
7. Muir (0-1) — The Mustangs looked riderless in a 35-6 loss to Upland. But that may have been more of the skills of the Highlanders. But it doesn’t get any easier this week with a trip to Alemany scheduled on Friday.
8. Arcadia (0-1) — Are the Apaches really this bad? Or was a 29-7 loss to Rio Hondo Prep more about facing a Kares’ squad that’s a lot better than most thought while also trying to adjust to a new coaching staff? I will lean on the latter for now. But it doesn’t get any easier with a trip to St. Francis on Friday.
9. Pasadena (0-1) — The Bulldogs were in over their ahead against Alemany, which could be one of the better teams in the Serra League and Pac-5 Division. They get the week off with a chance to regroup before host Cathedral in two weeks.
10. Duarte (1-0) — The Falcons appear to back at the level when they annually competed for Montview League glory. They got the ball rolling with a 46-0 victory over Marshall last week.
Best of the Rest: 11. Rosemead (0-0), 12. Pasadena Poly (0-0)’ 13. La Salle (1-0); 14. La Canada (0-0); 15. South Pasadena (0-0); 16. Temple City (0-1); 17. Bosco Tech (0-1); 18. Flintridge Prep (0-0); 19. Keppel (0-1); 20. Marshall (0-1); 21. Blair (0-1).
