I caught Coach Gano via cell phone at lunch today trying to get his thoughts on Friday’s big game at Charter Oak. The four-time CIF champ was in rare form and full of good takes. He even zinged me. That’s what happens when it’s Farrar-Gano week.

Gano On Charter Oak: They have the best talent of any team in the Valley. They’re the most talented team we’ve seen all year (Keep in mind Gano’s Spartans played Amat). They’re even more talented than Rancho Cucamonga.” … who the Chargers lost to earlier this season.

(I stopped Gano at that point and reminded him he hadn’t seen Rancho. His answer? “Doesn’t matter, I’ve seen them on film.”) Fair enough.

When I tried to joust Gano on the topic of Rancho-CO, he got a little sour at me and said “Do you want to talk football or do you want to talk like you’re a newspaper guy?”.

Moving on …

Gano on Santiago: “The kid is the top quarterback in the Valley, bar none. He’s the best quarterback I’ve seen in a long time and he’s the best quarterback they’ve ever had throwing the ball. There’s no question. He’s a weapon.

“You go into a game trying to contain that guy and you can’t contain him. I think everybody they’ve played has said the same thing. And guess what, 63 points later they’re still saying the same thing, ‘We should have contained him.'”

Aram’s take: Wish I could be there on Friday night to see it. There’s nothing like Gano and Farrar pretending to like each other. Respect each other, sure. Like? … I digress. Anyway, Fred will get the assignment, partly because I don’t want any argument from him when its time to make the hard decisions about the All-Valley team. And anyway, I’ve made a pact with myself to see just about every Valley team this season, and I will get a chance to add Diamond Bar to that list on Friday. And then Azusa and La Puente. I don’t need any convincing about Charter Oak. Remember, I’m the guy who was telling you all who’s No.1 since summer. And hey, that’s something Gano gave me credit for by saying “You were right about that.”