Vinny Venegas is looking like the odd-on favorite to be league MVP.

NOTE: This is the fIfth in a series of previews that look at local leagues that consist of local teams only.

1. Covina — The Colts used close wins over Baldwin Park and San Dimas to win the league last year and the majority of the key contributor’s from that return. QB Billy Livingston is the top QB in the league. WR Vinny Venegas is the top WR in the league. If RB Gevontray Ainsworth isn’t the top returning RB in the league, then he’s in the conversation. Get the point? This team is loaded on offense. But offense wasn’t only what sent Covina to 10 wins and a trip to the semifinals. Covina’s defense allowed just 17 points per game for the season last year. That’s outstanding. Johnny Padilla, the team’s leading tackler is back. D-lineman Nick Hynes, who had 10.5 sacks last year is also back. As I look around the Valle Vista League, I really don’t see any teams that I would call considerably better than they were last year. I think Covina is. This was the class that two years ago the Covina coaches gave plenty of playing time to while they were sophomores with the hopes of it paying off big-time in 2011. Beside Monrovia, I don’t see a threat to the Colts in the Mid-Valley Division. This year could be special.
Predicted record: 9-1 overall, 6-0 in league.
Playoffs: Yes, top-four seed.

2. San Dimas — Usually I would call what San Dimas went through last season a transition year after the CIF title, but I can’t do that. I don’t think this year’s team is better. There isn’t a beast on the line like Allen Brown. There isn’t a scary receiver like Kevin Kolbeck. The running backs lost a lot of production, too. But, the Saints are to a place where the systems and the coaching keep the program afloat even in years when the talent isn’t lofty. That would be this season. San Dimas should give plenty of defense problems with its offense. Having an experience QB in Shawn Kennedy helps quite a bit. All-purpose threat Dillon Corona should have his best season yet. The defense, at least looks-wise this summer, still figures to be formidable.
Predicted record: 6-4 overall, 5-1 in league.
Playoffs: Yes.

3. Pomona — Yeah yeah, I know. Pomona has 30 transfers and they were all-CIF at their former schools and they’re all eligible and they’re all at Pomona for the education. Great. The chatter on the blog has prompted a lot of people to contact me in the past week. People who have been at Pomona for a while and people who are new to Pomona. Basically people from every walk of life from Pomona have contacted me to either complain or inquire about who it is that keeps talking up their team and playing up all the new faces. I did not see Pomona this summer. And before our oft-traveling friend calls me a lazy reporter, I will ask him to find me ANY reporter who went more places this summer. Not to mention, Coach Rice mustn’t feel like talking because we can’t get a call back. So, I have to go off the trusted opinions of people who contacted me. The one person I trust the most said this “They don’t have anybody as good as Jamal (Overton) or Demetrius (Counts) this year.” He also said he counted about eight transfers and that the statements of them being all-league at their prior schools was just not accurate. He also said that while the LBs look good weight room-wise, they’re also a little stiff and not very tall. Another person told me they are no better or different than a typical Pomona team. This person said the school is trying to go back to the Eugene Germany days, but they aren’t their yet. He also said that Pomona has transfers EVERY year because that’s the nature of the beast. The one thing these people who have contacted me all have in common is that they didn’t want their Devils getting a bad rep on the blog because of one person. And they wanted to set the record straight in terms of the talent being over-hyped by that same person. At the end of the day, I think third is a good place to put Pomona in any predictions. And the main reason for that is because Wilson, Northview and Baldwin Park both look down to me when compared to last year.
Predicted record: 6-4 overall, 4-2 in league.
Playoffs: Yes.

4. Baldwin Park — This is a transition year for the Braves, who lose studs like WC3, Demetrius Jackson and Mario Rodriguez from last year’s team. BP cannot simply reload with players like that, but I do expect the typical, tough brand of BP football player to make it so that the Braves don’t collapse. Coach James Heggins has done a great job turning this program around and turning it into a consistent winner. Adding Jim Arellanes to his coaching staff certainly helps, but losing Wardell Crutchfield hurts. Running back Anthony Moran is a load and I expect the offense will be built around his tough running. Receiver Bruno Haro is a solid outside threat. So the makings of a decent offense are there if Arellanes can develop a QB. The defense should hit hard but has so many key players to replace that it’s hard not to see them taking a bit step back.
Predicted record: 5-5 overall, 3-3 in league.
Playoffs: Yes.

5. Wilson — Robledo and I were very impressed when we got to meet new Wildcats coach Bob Burt. He seems to have the right kind of style for what’s needed as the program transitions from last year’s disastrous outcome. Burt is no-nonsense, so that should help. But I’m starting to get skeptical whether today’s kids respond to old-school guys. I know all of you are going to point to Lou Farrar and Jack Mahlstede and Harry Welch and say I’m lost. But those guys are all entrenched. Burt is a guy no Wilson player had even heard of last year. Nonetheless, disciplined football usually leads to good things. The Wildcats aren’t the most talented bunch around, but you can bet they will be in good condition and make teams beat them.
Predicted record: 4-6 overall, 2-4 in league.
Playoffs: No.

6. Nogales — Year 2 of the Sebastian Hernandez Era should produce some improvement. I had heard rumblings that Nogales had a nice collection of athletes this year. And when I saw that Keith Bolden from QB to RB/WR, I started thinking they were on to something. I saw the Nobles at the SGV Shootout and they do have some nice athletes, but it didn’t see like they’ve put it all together. If that happens, this team could surprise.
Predicted record: 5-5 overall, 1-5 in league.
Playoffs: No.

7. Northview — I was worried by what I saw from the Vikings this summer. Unless their lines have some nice talent, this could be a very long year for Northview. Last year’s team was somewhat dangerous, as evidenced by their 14-11 loss to Covina. But there was a lot of talent lost from that team. The good news is beside Covina, the rest of the league isn’t as strong as last year. Northview’s nonleague schedule isn’t so scary that the Vikes couldn’t get some confidence-boosting wins. But if they don’t, the snowball will be rolling by the time league begins.
Predicted record: 1-9 overall, 0-6 in league.
Playoffs: No.

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