CIF football semifinal predictions...

You would never give the edge to Lakewood anyways. We have learned to expect nothing less.

Lakewood 31
Edison 27

Action Jackson: To say I "would never give Lakewood the edge anyways" is just wrong. I would if I thought they were going to win. I think Lakewood is a very, very good team and they do have a chance to win and I personally hope they do win. However, looking at it from an unemotional point of view (unlike you), I'm picking Edison because Edison is very, very good. They are ranked No. 1 in California and No. 2 in the nation. Not by me, but by maxpreps.com, which is in the business of evaluating those things from a non-emotional, unbiased viewpoint.

Lakewood has ZERO shot against Edison.

Edison is on a different level.

While your on your honest I don't take sides routine. I don't know you personally, but the good old Press Telegram, has always looked down on both Lakewood {especially) and Milikan, as second class citizens and new commers. I don't have a dog in this fight either, I graduated from L.B. Poly in 1955 and both my sons went to Lakewood, my daughter graduated from Poly. By the way friend of mine who went to Poly and worked for the Press Telegram can vouche for my honesty, Doug Ives. Go Lakewood, Edison 24 LAKEWOOD 30 IN OT.

Richard Byrd...
It's not a "routine." We cover close to 40 high schools and do our best to cover them fairly. Does that mean every team gets covered equally? Of course not. That's impossible. Do some teams get covered more because of their success? Of course. An example: Do the Clippers get the same coverage as the Lakers? Do I even need to explain that one to you? We don't "look down" on Lakewood or Millikan or any school. I don't know Doug Ives personally, but when did he last work at the Press-Telegram? 20 years ago? Longer? Fans with ties to schools look at coverage from an emotional standpoint and simply cannot understand a journalist's perspective. And that's OK. I don't know you personally, but you're wrong.

Lakewood nearly took down Crenshaw early in the season. Lakewood is better now at this point of the season than they were at they barely lost to Crenshaw. Lakewood shocks the world and will defeat the unemotionally number 1 ranked ) Edison 28-21.

For what its worth, I've always loved The Shadow's work. LB Poly gets a ton of coverage because...um...they have a really really really successful program.

We had a great year, but it ends with Edison. We got lucky with Bishop Amat, but luck will have nothing to do with this game.
Again, we need to schedule a much tougher preseason.
Lakewood 14
Edison 42

Thanks Lancers!

Note to the Poly High head football coach the Moore League MVPs attend Lakewood High (yes there are two MVPs at the school). Note to Lakewood High head football coach - next time you win a BIG game please do not go running across the field and shake your opponent coaches hands ahead of everyone else. Geez where are your old school football manners? Woody Hayes would have decked you...LOL

With that said, it's been a great year for the Lancers. Can you win? YES you can. Back in 1969 our superb Lancers had Blair High School stuck on their 3 with less than a minute remaining in the Semis. That team played an excellent game to get to that point and position. The fact that they lost that game was due to coaching and not the players. So, yes you can to do it! Our coaches are excellent - and have you well coached. But YOU have to excute and stay disciplined (please no grandstanding let the cheer lsquad do that for you) and listen this is the Promised land you are in. Last years team no how hard it is. So advantage Lakewood.

Regardless advantage Lakewood. NOTHING TO LOSE OK? Don't hold back either. BRING IT! You are going uphill against a class Edison team. BUT YOU CAN DO IT THIS TIME.

Lakewood in a thriller in OT...........

Shadow knows his stuff. PLEASE.........He knew how good Jerry Stone was.........enough said......

This is silly. I went to Lakewood and Lakewood does not get a bad rap by the Press-Telegram. Poly has always been the dominant football program in the Long Beach area (even when Lakewood wasn't even a school). Lakewood and Millikan are relative newcomers. There are still older people in Long Beach who remember when there was no Lakewood or Millikan.

But, here's my point: When Lakewood does something noteworthy, the Press Telegram does a good job of covering it. We have had a ton of 5-5, 6-4 seasons and then get trounced in the first round. Why should the Press Telegram get so excited about that? Why should the readers who pay for the P-T every day want to read about that? The Lakewood baseball program gets the respect it deserves. Baseball isn't covered nearly as much as football at the high school level, but I've seen articles in the P-T featuring Spud O'Neil and other game articles that say things like, "Lakewood continues its Moore League dominance in baseball". You don't see those kinds of articles for Poly baseball - at least not in recent years (even though produced some good MLB players in recent years).
The bottom line is - when the teams perform well, they get favorable coverage. When a football program goes 6-4 and gets beat 38-3 or 56-7 in the first round year after year, don't expect them to get huge coverage - especially when there is a state title contender in the Long Beach Poly right down the street.

In the last couple years under Coach MacNeal, Lakewood has improved big time and has gotten good coverage. Why should the Shadow say Lakewood 63, Edison 10 when we all know that Edison is tough? Then he would be being a BAD reporter and not telling you the truth. Both teams are very good - he believes Edison is a bit better. Nothing wrong with that.

And this is all coming from a Lakewood alum. Go Wood!!! Continue to call it like you see it Shadow!! You guys are doing a good job at the P-T.

Thanks mom... But seriously, thanks. Well said.