Thursday Countdown: Struggling Marshall, Blair meet in what could be teams’ only chance for victory

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Thursday’s Football games and Predictions
Northview vs. Montebello at San Dimas HS, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Aram (Montebello)
La Serna at Los Osos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Los Osos); Aram (LS)
Blair vs. Marshall at Muir, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Marshall); Aram (Marshall)
Brethren Christian vs. Whittier Christian at Ocean View HS, 7 p.m. Robledo (WC); Aram (WC)
Glenn vs. Pioneer at La Mirada, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Pioneer); Aram (Pioneer)
Azusa at Whittier, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Azusa); Aram (Whittier)

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Thursday’s Football Preview: The good news is that one of these struggling programs will get a win tonight … we think. And for whomever gets it, that might be all they get in the win column for the season when Blair (0-1) meets Marshall (0-1) at Muir High School Thursday at 7 p.m.
Marshall was somehow routed by a hapless West Adams team last week. Meanwhile, Blair was blanked Flintridge Prep.
Players from both schools should be commended for their efforts under trying circumstances and the opportunity to taste success tonight for whichever teams wins could provide a season’s worth of memories.


NORTHVIEW (1-0) VS. MONTEBELLO (0-1) AT SAN DIMAS HS, 7 P.M.
Montebello High School’s football team is hoping last week’s blowout loss to Diamond Bar did more than just damage the Oilers’ egos. Hopefully, it was a lesson that will start paying dividends tonight.
Local fans will find that out tonight when the Oilers (0-1) visit Northview (1-0) at San Dimas High in a key, Mid-Valley Division game for both.
“Diamond Bar is a lot better than I think people are giving them credit for,” Montebello head coach Pete Gonzalez said. “They’re pretty good. As I told our team after, I think that game made us a better team.”
Youth and inexperience proved costly for Montebello last week in the 48-14 loss to the upper-division Brahmas, but Gonzalez is expecting a much tighter performance tonight out of his team.
“We expected to have some mistakes (against Diamond Bar) and we did,” Gonzalez said. “I loved our effort all the to the end of the game.”
Although Northview may not be Diamond Bar, the Vikings should prove very formidable if last week’s win over a highly touted Rosemead is any indicator. Northview unveiled freshman quarterback Steven Comstock, who guided his team to a 27-21 win.
The Vikings also have a strong revenge motive tonight as Montebello was the team who sent them packing in last year’s Mid-Valley Division playoffs with a 24-17 win in the first round.
“We played them last year and they were physical,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t expect anything less. They’re definitely a well-balanced team and they’re coached well.”

LA SERNA (0-1) AT LOS OSOS, 7 P.M.
The Lancers began life without graduated standout Frankie Palmer with a loss last week to out-of-state Ralston Valley of Arvado, Colorado. Meanwhile, Los Osos was getting waxed by Alemany.
La Serna has made a habit in recent years of producing big efforts against upper-division foes, which is exactly what Los Osos is.
New quarterback Enrique Pacheco, Palmer’s replacement, could see his confidence rocket if he can lead his team to a road win tonight.

GLENN (0-1) VS. PIONEER (0-1) AT LA MIRADA HS, 7 P.M.
This may not be what area fans have in mind when they think about a Del Rio-Suburban league match up. But nonetheless, one of these teams will get a shot in the arm with a win tonight.
Glenn was competitive in a 14-7 loss to Magnolia last week. Pioneer managed four touchdowns in a 42-28 loss to Sunny Hills.
The Titans have some decent skill players, so that might be enough to get them in the win column tonight.

WHITTIER CHRISTIAN (1-0) VS. BRETHREN CHRISTIAN (1-0) AT OCEAN VIEW HS, 7 P.M.
The Heralds started the season with a win last week over Bishop. Brethren was able to down Riverside Prep.
Trips deep into Orange County are never easy and this one could get interesting if Whittier Christian isn’t better on defense. But the Heralds’ skill on offense, led by the highly recruited Noah Evans at receiver, should be enough to keep the train rolling.

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