West Covina QB Jon Najera (knee) downgraded to a game-time decision vs. Covina on Friday night

West Covina High School quarterback Jon Najera missed Monday’s practice and is expected to sit out Tuesday as well due to a knee injury suffered in last Friday’s scrimmage against Claremont.

Bulldogs head coach Mike Maggiore said that Najera, a senior, will be a game-time decision on Friday night when West Covina opens its season in front of the FOX Sports cameras against Covina at Covina District Field.

Najera beat out sophomore Antonio “Noodles” Hull for the starting job after a prolonged battle this spring and summer. Hull would start on Friday night if Najera is unable to go.

“We have to see how it feels,” Maggiore said. “We’ll know a lot more on Wednesday. We’re not going to push something like that at this point in the season.

“He’s gotten a lot more range of motion in the last 48 hours, so I think he’ll be fine.”

Najera is scheduled to have an MRI next week to rule out whether there’s a meniscus tear. The injury is more bad luck for Najera, who started last year’s season opener against Covina only to leave the game early with an injury and never reclaim his starting job from then-senior Chris Caballero.

Aram’s take: You see? I had a feeling. I’m no doctor (at least not medical), but I do know that when you’re unable to walk off the field on your own due to a knee injury, it’s serious. I feel horrible for the kid because he may potentially miss a chance to play in front of the entire Southland on FOX, and that comes on top of what happened last year. I’m starting to get a little worried about WestCo. Running back Josh Best is already out for the next month with an injury. If Najera is out, Noodles goes to QB, but then who is the home run hitter at RB? And I don’t want to hear “West Covina has plenty of backs” unless you want to START NAMING THEM. This ain’t 2010 or ’11.

Before I get another call, text or tweet: Jordan Thropay is still at Chino Hills and will be on the JV team this season …

Amazing. I start the day not knowing anything about this, but sure enough my phone blows up with tweets, texts and calls about the fact that sophomore quarterback Jordan Thropay is not on the Chino Hills roster (on maxpreps).

Turns out, Thropay has decided he wants to play junior varsity this season and will be the quarterback of the Huskies’ JV team. Thropay’s chances to start for the varsity team (where many people had him pegged) took a hit when Matt Simko transferred in from Colony.

Aram’s take:
I don’t think this is such a bad move since Thropay will grow a lot more as a QB getting tons of reps on the JV team than he would holding a clipboard on varsity.

San Gabriel names Mikal Quintanilla starting QB …

Temple City transfer Mikal Quintanilla has beaten out Marquz Valenzuela for the starting quarterback job at San Gabriel, head coach Jude Oliva announced Monday.

Quintanilla replaces Star-News Player of the Year Andy Guerrero, who threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed over 1,000 yards last season.

The Matadors open the season on Friday at home against Animo South Los Angeles.

All-Encompassing SGV(N) Top 25 heading into Week 0

1. Monrovia — Most complete team around. Starting 11s are as good as anybody.
2. Bishop Amat — Good defense and run game. Not a bad combo.
3. Charter Oak — Have to trust that Chargers will use defense in proper way.
4. West Covina — Defense takes backseat to no one and offense isn’t one-dimensional.
5. Chino Hills — Overall team speed has me a bit worried, but we’ll see …
6. Damien — Will find out whether the lines are a big concern vs. O-Lu.
7. St. Paul — Like the talent on hand, but worried about cohesion.
8. La Habra — Highlanders still solid, but not sure this team is better than last year.
9. St. Francis — If good skill players are found, Knights may fly up this list.
10. La Mirada — Know Mats have lines, but curious about how much speed there is.
11. La Serna — Lancers will get teste in nonleague. League shouldn’t be a problem.
12. Maranatha — Addition of McClain at TE/DE gives Minutemen a missing piece.
13. Bonita — I go hot and cold on the Bearcats. Right now, I’m hot. In a week?
14. San Dimas — Plug-n-play system means solid results should continue.
15. Ayala — ‘Dogs had better take care of business against Diamond Bar.
16. San Gabriel — With a little time, Mats will be formidable once again.
17. Arcadia — Ground game should thrive no matter who’s carrying the rock.
18. South Hills — Word from Covina scrimmage gives cause for pause.
19. Cantwell — St. Bernard going bye bye flings door wide open for Cards in Del Rey.
20. Diamond Ranch — Can’t believe it’s skill and not size I’m worried about.
21. Claremont — Hoping WestCo scrimmage was an aberration.
22. Arroyo — Knights can ease “No Rivera” fears with win over Los Altos on Friday.
23. Rio Hondo Prep — All of a sudden everyone is a Kare believer.
24. El Monte — Schedule is there to fly up this poll. It’s all on B-Mart.
25. Northview — Playoff spots are up for grabs in Valle Vista. Vikes look ready.