DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

The Baseline League cleaned house at the All-CIF football meeting Wednesday, claiming 19 of the 40 first-team selections.

To nobody's surpirse, Rancho Cucamonga's nine were the most from any single team. The Central Division champion Cougars also produced both the offensive and defensive MVPs.

Offensive MVP: Greg Watson, Jr., QB
Defensive MVP: Daniel Fonua, Sr., LB

Here are the rest of the All-CIF selections by league

BASELINE LEAGUE
Rancho Cucamonga:
Randal Telfer, Jr., WR
Irshad Stolden, Sr., WR
Gary Berwick, Jr., OL
Bryan Townsend, Sr., OL
Buddy Welka, Sr., LB
Sione Kauvaka, Jr., DL
Marcus Bennett, Sr., DB

Upland
Josh Nunes, Sr., QB
Davion Fleming, Sr., RB
Osahon Irabor, Sr., CB
Taj Johnson, Sr., CB
Justin Meng, Sr., LB

Los Osos
Richard Brehaut, Sr., QB
Arby Fields, Sr., RB
Matt Shin, Sr., OT
Jesse Gonzales, Sr., LB

Etiwanda
Ibe Nduka, Sr., DE

SIERRA LEAGUE
Chino Hills
A.J. Johnson, Sr., RB
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, So., FS
Shane Sweeney, Sr., OL
Logan Lazszyk, Sr., FB

Ayala
David Quiroga, Sr., WR
Courtney Samuel, Sr., RB
Lawrence Larivee, Sr., LB
Derek Brandon, Sr., DB

Damien
Jake Salter, Sr., DL

MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Colony
Joshua Andrews, Sr., OL/DL
Quayshawn Buckley, Sr., OL/DL

Chaffey
Deveion Bauman, Sr., DB

Posted by Clay Fowler at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Last week
Clay: 8-7
Lingo: 8-7
Overton: 6-9

Season standings
Clay: 115-96-6
Lingo: 107-105-6
Overton: 93-118-6

THURSDAY
Indianapolis (-6) at Jacksonville
Indianapolis: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

SATURDAY
At Dallas (-4) Baltimore
Dallas: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

SUNDAY
Pittsburgh (-2) at Tennessee
Pittsburgh: Lingo. Tennessee: Clay, Overton.

Miami (-4) at Kansas City
Miami: Clay, Overton. Kansas City: Lingo.

At New England (-8) Arizona
New England: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Cleveland (-3) Cincinnati
Cleveland: Overton. Cincinnati: Clay, Lingo.

Philadelphia (-5) at Washington
Washington: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

San Francisco (-5.5) at St. Louis
San Francisco: Clay, Lingo. St. Louis: Overton.

At Minnesota (-3) Atlanta
Minnesota: Overton. Atlanta: Clay, Lingo.

New Orleans (-7) at Detroit
New Orleans: Overton, Lingo. Detroit: Clay.

At N.Y. Giants (-3) Carolina
N.Y. Giants: Overton. Carolina: Clay, Lingo.

N.Y. Jets (-5) at Seattle
N.Y. Jets: Clay, Overton. Seattle: Lingo.

Houston (-7) at Oakland
Houston: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Denver (-7) Buffalo
Denver: Overton, Lingo. Buffalo: Clay.

At Tampa Bay (-3.5) San Diego
Tampa Bay: Overton. San Diego: Clay, Lingo.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Chicago (-4) Green Bay
Chicago: Clay. Green Bay: Overton, Lingo.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A year after he ended his 10-season tenure at Hacienda Heights Los Altos High School, Greg Gano was hired as the Damien High School head football coach on Tuesday.
The replacement for Scott Morrison, who compiled a 32-33-1 record at Damien, won four CIF-SS championships in 10 years at Los Altos. Morrison, who won two Sierra League titles in six years, was fired after a 3-7 season this year.

The last time he accepted a head coaching job, Gano replaced Dwayne DeSpain, who won seven CIF titles at Los Altos.

"When I took over for Dwayne they said `You're nuts,"' Gano said. "If I can follow a legend, the coach of the century, there's not much more pressure than that.

"I know what we have to do here and we've got a solid foundation."

Damien principal, Father Patrick Travers, said there were three finalists for the job but one pulled out, leaving Gano and former Chino head coach John Monger. Monger made four trips to the CIF finals from 1997-2001 and won a title in 1997 at Chino and 1979 at Don Lugo. Damien contacted Gano, who stepped down at Los Altos after the 2007 season, only after he expressed interest in the job via a newspaper story.

"It was an extremely difficult decision," Travers said. "Both of them wanted it, but we had to go with one. John hung in there until the end."

Gano, who will also teach at Damien beginning in September, is yet to speak with any incumbent assistant coaches about retention.

He has named four assistants from outside the program, including two who coached with him at Los Altos, and the former head coaches at Hacienda Heights Wilson and Monrovia.

The 2009 schedule awaiting Damien includes two teams crowned CIF champions Friday night: Central Division champ Rancho Cucamonga and Southeast Division champ Charter Oak. Also on Damien's 2009 slate are Bellflower St. John Bosco, which defeated it 34-0 on Sept. 12, La Puente Bishop Amat, 47-24 winners over the Spartans Sept. 29, and Claremont, the lone nonleague foe to fall to Damien in 2008.

Travers expressed hope that the reputation Gano built in the San Gabriel Valley would attract players from the area to Damien as well as players from the Inland Valley and further east.

"We don't recruit but your program has to be attractive," Travers said. "Unfortunately, your program comes down to wins and losses. We hope people from the east end will be knowledgeable enough to check out who (Gano) is and be interested in coming."

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Last week
Clay: 8-7
Overton: 7-8
Lingo: 4-12

Season standings
Clay: 107-89-6
Lingo: 99-98-6
Overton: 87-109-6

Green Bay (-3) at Jacksonville
Green Bay: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Indianapolis (-17) Detroit
Indianapolis: Overton, Lingo. Detroit: Clay.

Washington (-6.5) at Cincinnati
Washington: Clay, Overton. Cincinnati: Lingo.

At Atlanta (-5) Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Miami (-5.5) San Francisco
Miami: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

Seattle( -2) at St. Louis
Seattle: Clay, Lingo. St. Louis: Overton.

At N.Y. Jets (-7.5) Buffalo
N.Y. Jets: Clay, Overton. Buffalo: Lingo.

Tennessee (-3) at Houston
Tennessee: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

San Diego (-5.5) at Kansas City
San Diego: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Baltimore (-3) Pittsburgh
Baltimore: Lingo. Pittsburgh: Clay, Overton.

At Carolina (-8) Denver
Carolina: Overton, Lingo. Denver: Clay.

At Arizona (-4) Minnesota
Arizona: Overton, Lingo. Minnesota: Clay.

New England (-7) at Oakland
New England: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Dallas (-3) N.Y. Giants
Dallas: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Philadelphia (-14) Cleveland
Philadelphia: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Offensive MVP - Greg Watson, QB, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga

Defensive co-MVP - Ibeakalem Nduka, DE, Sr., Etiwanda
Defensive co-MVP - Jesse Gonzales, LB, Sr., Los Osos
Defensive co-MVP - Daniel Fonua, LB, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga

OFFENSE
First Team
Angel Santiago, QB, Jr., Etiwanda
Vince Minor, RB, Sr., Etiwanda
Willie Mebane, WR, Sr., Etiwanda
Qadeer Stewart, WR, Sr., Etiwanda
Marquese Wallace, C, Sr., Etiwanda
Richard Brehaut, QB, Sr., Los Osos
Arby Fields, RB, Sr., Los Osos
Matt Shinn, OL, Sr., Los Osos
Irshad Stolden, WR, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Randall Telfer, TE/WR, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Bryan Townsend, OL, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Gary Berwick, C, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga
Josh Nunes, QB, Sr., Upland
Jason Speicher, WR, Sr., Upland
Dylan Tumser, OL, Sr., Upland
Jacob Van Ginkel, K, So., Upland

Second Team
Tyler Singleton, RB, Jr., Claremont
Bobby Ratliff, WR, Jr., Etiwanda
Matt Siler, OL, Sr., Etiwanda
Alex Arballo, K, Jr., Etiwanda
Trevor Rogina, TE/WR, Sr., Los Osos
Timmy Roman, WR, Sr., Los Osos
BJ Sonboli, OL, Jr., Los Osos
Roy Delgado, OL, Sr., Los Osos
Michael Boyd RB, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga
Sateki Finau RB, So., Rancho Cucamonga
Matt Roberts, WR, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Charles Saseun WR, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Jon Hernandez, OL, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga
Davion Fleming, RB, Sr., Upland
Osahon Irabor, WR, Sr., Upland
Gianni Olivas, WR, Jr., Upland
Eden Mahina, C, Jr., Upland
Akel Al-Asady, OL, Sr., Upland

DEFENSE
First Team
Robbie Skarseth, OLB/SS, Sr., Alta Loma
Kevin Gannuscio, DE, Sr., Alta Loma
Casey Ruth, P, Sr., Alta Loma
Aaron Martyn, LB, Sr., Claremont
Austin Miley, DT, Jr., Etiwanda
Erine Esparza, DB, Sr., Los Osos
Trevor Rogina LB, Sr., Los Osos
Mitch Rosnagle, LB, Sr., Los Osos
Tony Washington, DE, Jr., Los Osos
Josh Repp, P, Sr., Los Osos
Matt Looney, S, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Buddy Welka, LB, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Sione Kauvaka, DL, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga
Osahon Irabor, CB, Sr., Upland
Gianni Olivas, S, Jr., Upland
Justin Meng, LB, Sr., Upland
Mike Macias, DT, Sr., Upland

Second Team
Eric Valenzuela, LB, Sr., Alta Loma
Willie Mebane, DB, Sr., Etiwanda
Jimmy Shorters, DB, Sr., Etiwanda
Cody Bretall, LB, Jr., Etiwanda
Nick Tito, LB, Jr., Etiwanda
Jesus Rivera, DT, Sr., Etiwanda
Sean Alston, DB, Jr., Los Osos
Daniel Garza, DE, Sr., Los Osos
Ray Delgado, DT, Sr., Los Osos
Jordan Meaders S, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Marcus Bennett, DL, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Rudy Gallegos, DL, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
Taj Johnson, CB, Sr., Upland
Tim Helton, LB, Sr., Upland
Isaiah Shivers, DT, Sr., Upland

Posted by Clay Fowler at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Offensive MVP - A.J. Johnson, RB, Chino Hills (above)

Defensive Co-MVP - Lawrence Larivee, LB, Sr., Ayala
Defensive Co-MVP - Chad Young, LB, Sr., Glendora

Athlete of the Year - David Quiroga, WR/DB, Sr., Ayala

OFFENSE
First Team
Courtney Samuel, RB, Sr., Ayala
Curtis Mowery, OL, Jr., Ayala
Cody Ruiz, WR, Sr., Chino Hills
Cody Craver, OL, Sr., Chino Hills
Shane Sweeney, OL, Sr., Chino Hills
Chris Alarcon, C, Sr., Chino Hills
Taylor Herrera, WR, Sr., Damien
Chase Sipple, OL, Sr., Damien
Sylvester Stewart, RB, Sr., Diamond Bar
Drew Kaluzny, QB, Sr., Glendora
Andre Holmes, RB, Jr., Glendora
Chad Young, FB, Sr., Glendora
Wallace Gonzalez, WR, So., Glendora
Aaron Stockham, WR, Jr., Glendora
Joel Baez, TE, Sr., Glendora
Cody Tescher, OL, Sr., Glendora
Thomas Lilly, OL, Sr., Glendora
John Gallardo, OL, Sr., Glendora

Second Team
Obum Gwacham, WR, Sr., Ayala
Brandyn White, RB, Sr., Chino
Jared Taylor, RB, Sr., Chino
Jace Dyson, TE, Jr., Chino
Ryan Verdugo, QB, Jr., Chino Hills
Nate Harris, WR, So., Chino Hills
Ryan Morrison, WR, Jr., Damien
Adam Cychner, OL, Sr., Damien
Robert Ignacio, RB, Sr., Diamond Bar
Aaron Bales, WR, Sr., Diamond Bar
Colin Lockett, WR, Sr., Diamond Bar
John Brandt, OL, Sr., Diamond Bar
Derek Fredendall, OL, Sr., Glendora

DEFENSE
First Team
Ryan Castro, DL, Sr., Ayala
Michael Yllanes, DL, Jr., Ayala
Nick Thomas, LB, Jr., Ayala
Derek Brandon, DB, Sr., Ayala
Alex Arroyo, P, Sr., Ayala
Devin Jackson, DB, Sr., Ayala
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, DB, So., Chino Hills
Josh Rottler, DL, Jr., Chino Hills
Logan Laszcyk, LB, Sr., Chino Hills
Jake Salter, DL, Sr., Damien
Ethan Betance, P, Sr., Damien
Jason Reyes, DE/LB, Sr., Damien
Justin Robles, LB, Sr., Diamond Bar
Colin Lockett, DB, Sr., Diamond Bar
Nathan Tourtellotte, DL, Sr., Glendora
Chase Murphy, DE/LB, Sr., Glendora
Erick Meraz, LB, Sr., Glendora

Second Team
Anthony Penalber, LB, Sr., Chino
Justin Robles, LB, Jr., Ayala
Andrew Yaroma, LB, Sr., Ayala
Zach Figueroa, DL, Jr., Chino
Bryan Wright, DL, Sr., Chino
Shane Taylor, P, Jr., Chino
Trevor Loza, DE/LB, Jr., Chino
Brandon Cross, DE/LB, Sr., Chino Hills
Travis Haywood, DB, Sr., Damien
Brock Tracey, LB, Jr., Damien
Obiajulu Okafor, DL, Sr., Damien
Jake Vieth, DB, Sr., Damien
Duwani Bankhead, DB, Jr., Glendora
Dylon Nichols, DB, Jr., Glendora

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Last week
Clay: 10-3
Overton: 8-5
Lingo: 6-7

Season standings
Clay: 99-82-6
Lingo: 95-86-6
Overton: 80-101-6

At Indianapolis (-13.5) Cincinnati
Indianapolis: Overton. Cincinnati: Clay, Lingo.

At Chicago (-6.5) Jacksonville
Chicago: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Green Bay (-6) Houston
Green Bay: Lingo, Overton. Houston: Clay.

At Tennessee (-14) Cleveland
Tennessee: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

Minnesota (-8) at Detroit
Minnesota: Clay, Overton. Detroit: Lingo.

At N.Y. Giants (-7) Philadelphia
N.Y. Giants: Clay, Lingo. Philadelphia: Overton.

At New Orleans (-3) Atlanta
Atlanta: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

N.Y. Jets (-4) at San Francisco
N.Y. Jets: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Buffalo (-1) Miami
Buffalo: Lingo, Overton. Miami: Clay.

At Denver (-9) Kansas City
Denver: Lingo, Overton. Kansas City: Clay.

At Arizona (-14) St. Louis
Arizona: Clay, Overton. St. Louis: Lingo.

At Pittsburgh (-3) Dallas
Dallas: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

New England (-5) at Seattle
New England: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Baltimore (-5.5) Washington
Baltimore: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Carolina (-3) Tampa Bay
Carolina: Clay, Overton. Tampa Bay: Lingo.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all know the Baseline League isn't Inland Division championship material. One collective playoff win in three years is a trend, not a coincidence.

But with three teams in the semifinals its first year in the less competitive Central Division, a Baseline League that used to disappear come playoff time has been vindicated.

There is a lot of glamour that tarnishes the Baseline in some people's eyes, a lot of hype that gives them more reason to dismiss it upon failure. But there is a reason two of the league's quarterbacks will be playing in the Pac-10 next year - they're good - and they're showing it right now. (Get used to it, at least one of next year's glamourous Baseline QB's is Pac-10 caliber)

The Sierra League is solid to be sure. And the Mt. Baldy League deserved credit for producing the Central Division champion the last two years, although it would have been interesting to see Colony navigate a bracket including the Baseline and Sierra Leagues.

It's not fair to say we figured anything out this year about Colony's 2006 and 2007 title teams. The young 2008 Colony team isn't comparable to the last two, evidenced by a third-place finish in a league that went 0-3 this postseason. But the road to the Central Division obviously got tougher with the arrival of the Baseline and Sierra Leagues and the departure of the Inland Valley and Pacific Leagues.

After posting a 3-17 playoff record in the previous five years, the Baseline League has a collective mark of 6-1 in these playoffs - the one being Etiwanda's 28-27 loss to Cajon, the lone non-Baseline team in the semis. Etiwanda's 14-9 win over Corona in 2006 is the lone playoff victory for the Baseline the three years prior to this one.

The poor Inland Valley League, which was moved to the Inland Division, didn't win a single playoff game this season in four tries.

The Sierra League's playoff record doesn't look as shabby as the Baseline's, but there is a good reason for that. It has produced one win each of the last two postseasons in the Inland Division and one of those wins was courtesy of a first-round matchup with a Baseline team. In fact, all six of the Sierra League's playoff wins from 2003-05 came at the expense of the Baseline League.

But now that the two are in a winnable division, the Baseline League has dominated the Sierra League. All three Sierra teams advanced to the quarterfinals but two were knocked out by Baseline teams and the third by Cajon.

The last time a Baseline League team reached a CIF semifinal was Upland in 2004, the only year in the previous five the Baseline League collectively produced more than one playoff victory.

This year, however, one is guaranteed a spot in the Central Division championship game and a Rancho Cucamonga victory over Cajon could make it an all Baseline League final.

The only tangible reason I could consider the Baseline League better this year than the previous five is the two senior Pac-10 QB's reaching the height of their maturity... Rancho Cucamonga having a QB able to harness the team's speed is another and the Los Osos and Rancho defenses have proven more stout than usual. But I don't believe the league as a whole would have done much better in the Inland Division than the teams that won three playoff games the previous five years. However, somebody was going to take advantage of the re-tooled Central Division and the Baseline League deserves credit for being the one to do it.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)