I was out at St. Francis’ practice Wednesday afternoon. This good be a big year for the Golden Knights, who return several starters, and there have been some glowing reports about new quarterback Ty Gangi, who replaces Jared Lebowitz. The latter threw for 2,560 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
I can’t see the Golden Knights finishing higher than third in the Mission League, which includes stalwarts Serra and Chaminade, but they should have a good year. I can’t wait for early October when they take on Monrovia, which should be the game of the year.

Here’s my story on Gangi

La Salle had a dream season of sorts in 2012 that ended with a nightmare loss. The Lancers are using that as motivation as they prepare for the upcoming season. Will it? I like La Salle to repeat in the Del Rey.

Here’s my story from today’s practice

Rio Hondo Prep joined Monrovia as the only two schools in the West Valley to win CIF-SS titles, earning Northeast Zdivision hardware.
Can the Kares repeat? I think they can, but it will depend on how they replace four of five offensive linemen.
Running back Nate Tayco is the top returning back in the area, but he can’t do it without the blocks up front.
I was at the Arcadia school today as part of a brief tour of some of the summer camps.

MONROVIA — The path for a selected few high school football teams begins in the hot summer months and ends, if they are lucky, on a cold championship night in December.
No team in the area knows more about that than Monrovia High School, which has traveled down that road the past three seasons. They began their journey Monday, opening practice with an eye on a fourth consecutive CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley title, which would match Temple City’s run of four consecutive CIF-SS titles in the early 1970s.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox, who has guided the Wildcats to the finals each of the past four seasons, wining the past three after losing in the finals to San Dimas in 2009. “It’s good to be back at it. (The players had three weeks off, so we’re ready to go.”
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