Perhaps the Jason David workouts are already paying off …

This is from the L.A. Daily News’ UCLA football notebook. It seems that Dietrich Riley, who just two weeks ago was working with Jason David and other SGV studs, has to come to Westwood meaning business. Boom! Check it ..

Safety Dietrich Riley is quickly making a name for himself with big hits, but he added to his resume Saturday by making two interceptions in the afternoon scrimmage. And that was with the first-team defense.

Riley expected to make an impact as a true freshman, but not this quickly.
“I thought I’d be running with the 3s,” said Riley, who prepped at St. Francis High. “It’s shocking to be with the 1s. They want to see how I live up to that. I responded quite well.”

Everyone has taken notice. Riley leveled Anthony Barr during Friday’s practice – thankfully, neither player was injured. Then Randall Carroll had a counterpunch Saturday.

“They’re actually gunning for me, man,” Riley said. “I have to run with a swivel on my head because when we were in team play, Randall Carroll tried to blindside me, but luckily I saw him out of my peripheral vision and I was able to shed him off. The receivers, I like. We’re trying to toughen them up. I know the coaches are on me, saying stay up (when tackling). It’s tough to do that. I wasn’t brought up that way. I only know full speed.”

Aram “The SGV Tour” continues at Covina … where I liked what I saw …

Not that I have against anything the Colts (given all the emails I got in ’05-06 about being a Covina homer, we know I could never be accused of that), but I was hoping to see SOMEBODY in the Valle Vista League crummy so good so it might be easier to the narrow that league down. Well, I got rocked. This team looks strong to me and you know Coach DT and staff are some of the best around.

I have no clue how Covina will be on defense, which ultimately might tell the tale of its season, but I do know the offense is gonna be sick. QB Billy Livingston looks as good as any I’ve seen. He’s throwing to the fastest high school kid IN THE COUNTRY in Remontay McClain. And soph RB Gevontray Ainsworth looks like another Ainsworth who can play. Seriously, this offense is going to be very good. Anyway, on to what the Colts had to say …

Today we play a little game called OVER/UNDER …

It’s real simple I’ll put out a number to a corresponding stat or situation and then give my take: Over or Under. You may do the same by commenting or tell me what an idiot I am or simply find another site to read. But the fact is I haven’t had FUN on a job in nearly three years so now I’m going to.

Odds/Numbers provided by SGVN oddsmaker Aram Tolegian:

Steven Rivera (Arroyo) total passing yards in ’10
OVER/UNDER: 2,000 yards
Aram’s bet: OVER

Muir regular-season total wins
OVER/UNDER: 7 1/2
Aram’s bet: OVER

Number of teams from the Almont League to make the Mid-Valley Division playoffs
OVER/UNDER: 2 1/2
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Number of playoffs wins by Bishop Amat
OVER/UNDER: 1 1/2
Aram’s bet: I’m thinking …

Bishop Amat regular-season wins total
OVER/UNDER: 8 wins
Aram’s bet: OVER (but I think I may only get a push out of this … great number set up by your’s truly, though)

Total points scored between Bonita and San Dimas in Smudge Pot
OVER/UNDER: 45
Aram’s bet: OVER (way over)

Total TDs thrown by Glendora QB Chad Jeffries vs. Charter Oak

OVER/UNDER: 2 1/2
Aram’s bet: OVER

Monrovia regular-season wins total
OVER/UNDER: 8
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Total TD receptions by Bishop Amat WR Wallace Gonzalez
OVER/UNDER: 6
Aram’s bet: OVER (may need a line adjustment here, so check back)

Any San Gabriel QB season-total passing yards
OVER/UNDER: 1,750 yards
Aram’s bet: UNDER (Hunch: they’re gonna run the ball way more)

Number of Sierra League teams to make it past the first round of the Inland playoffs
OVER/UNDER: 1 1/2
Aram’s bet: OVER (I’ve got Chino Hills penciled in to win first round, I’ll roll the dice that one of the other two can get a W)

Season-total rushing yards by Amat RB Zach Shay
OVER/UNDER: 649 yards
Aram’s bet: OVER (Non-league sked makes me think Lancers run over some teams)

Season-total rushing yards by Amat RB Jalen Moore
OVER/UNDER: 649 yards
Aram’s bet: OVER (Make me look good, Christian Orduno!)

Season-total number of times Aram blows the diet on a Friday night after the games

OVER/UNDER: 8
Aram’s bet: OVER

Number of playoff wins by the Rio Hondo League teams
OVER/UNDER: 4
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Number of playoff wins by the Del Rio League
OVER/UNDER: 3
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Number of playoff wins by the Hacienda League
OVER/UNDER: 5
Aram’s bet: OVER

Total passing yards by Schurr QB Aaron Cantu
OVER/UNDER: 2,100
Aram’s bet: OVER (He threw for 2,500 yards last year, but is it fair to ask that again given what was lost to graduation?)

Rushing touchdowns by Rowland QB Michael Ball
OVER/UNDER: 8
Aram’s bet: UNDER (I’m thinking they won’t risk him running unless they absolutely have to … and if you’ve heard what I have about their RB, they won’t have to)

Number of times this season Aram says “I told you so” about Amat WR Adam Sanchez
OVER/UNDER: 11
Aram’s bet: OVER (I told you so)

Damien regular-season wins total
OVER/UNDER: 4 1/2
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Charter Oak playoff wins
OVER/UNDER: 1/2
Aram’s bet: OVER (but only if they play at home … which I have no way of knowing now, so I’ll close my eyes and bet)

Number of Valle Vista League teams to make the Mid-Valley Division playoffs
OVER/UNDER: 3
Aram’s bet: OVER … yep, I’m saying it, the Valle Vista gets two of the four at-large berths

Number of playoff wins by Whittier Christian
OVER/UNDER: 1 1/2
Aram’s bet: UNDER

Season total passing yards by La Habra QB Cody Clements
OVER/UNDER: 2,100
Aram’s bet: OVER

Points per game allowed by Baldwin Park’s defense
OVER/UNDER: 22.5
Aram’s bet: OVER (Rowland and South Hills on the sked)

More next week …

Aram “The SGV Tour” continues at Damien … Coach Gano discusses the pressure and expectations at Sparty …

I had a great and long visit with the Damien staff today. It was all about football and nothing else. These guys are ready to go and and realize they’re going to have to do the proverbial “coach ’em up” job this season because the Spartans are light on experience.

Here’s my interview with Damien coach Greg Gano.

About the team. They were doing conditioning only on Thursday. Do they pass the look test? For the most part, yes. But I’d like to see more in pads to give an honest answer. I got to get familiar with some of their skill guys at the Jason David workouts, so I had an idea of what’s there. And like Gano says, they’re “going to be alright.”