2006 Damien football schedule + analysis ...
Sorry to use this photo again, but you won't see this game anymore ... it's noticably missing from Damien's schedule
I must say that Damien games are a pretty exciting event. There's usually an overflow crowd and "The Pit" provides a student cheering section that's second to none. Just don't tell any of them that they have more of a soccer crowd vibe than football. Whatever, it's still the best student cheering section in the area.
Just thinking about Damien football harkens memories of a jarring experience for yours truly last season. As media, we sportswriters like some form of red carpet treatment. Is it deserved? Probably not. But we still like it. Anyway, I arrived at the Damien-Los Altos game last year and pulled up to a few gentlemen working the "reserved/preferred" parking area directly behind the home stands. I told them who I was, showed my press credential and boom, I was soon parked conveniently close to the stadium.
Fast forward, oh I don't know, to a few days later for the Bishop Amat game. I do the same maneuver, only this time when I get there, I am told I can't park there. I know what you're saying, "You need the walk, Aram" ... it's true, I do, but just prior to a Friday night lights session is not the time for me to aerobic walking.
Now, keep in mind that I do a TV show that extensively discusses Damien football as one of its core teams and I also happen to write for a newspaper that gives Damien coverage. Needless to say, I didn't appreciate the lack of hospitality. I didn't appreciate being told "You can park there, but your car will be towed." Just curious sir, but why wasn't my car towed the week before? Of course, parking on the street at Damien can actually be a good thing since you can't get out of the parking lot after games because Spartans students are catching their first glimpse of female co-eds and it causes some major delays. I digress.
About Damien football:
Two years ago the team was 2-8. Last year, 6-5. Both records are considered disappointing by Damien standards, but everything feels a little bit better heading into this season knowing that the Spartans were in the Sierra League race (barely) last season and made the playoffs.
Damien had two good wins last year - Charter Oak and Los Altos. Unfortunately, they both came in the first three weeks of the season and didn't count for squat in league.
The Spartans didn't win a meaningul game after that, losing to Bishop Amat, Chino, Chino Hills and most importantly to Glendora.
Offensively, Damien was a force in 2005. QB Mark Mendrun was a pleasant surprise and the running game came back to life a little.
Defense, on the other hand, was a problem. You can look at Damien allowing 24 points per game last season and say "it's not so bad." But take out the games against Charter Oak and Claremont, in which Damien allowed three points in eight quarters, and the Spartans' points allowed number skyrockets. And you also have to remember those performances came in the first two weeks of the season against teams with new personnel in almost every offensive position.
Here's the prob - Los Altos put up 35, Amat had 31, Chino scored 44, Chino Hills had 28, Glendora scored 36 and Canyon had 49. I don't care how good Mendrun is, no team can expect to trade points every week and win.
So, is it good news or bad that Damien loses many of the key contributors from last year's defense? LBs Chris Lucero and Dan Miller were good players. DB Ryan Farrar will be playing collegiately next season. Are there better players than those waiting in the wings?
The offense is going to be good again. Mendrun is back, as is his favorite target Travis Eschardies, who is one of the top receivers in the area.
The offensive line has some horses to replace, though. Every running back who saw meaningful carries last season also graduated.
Here's the sked:
Week 0 riverside poly (win)
Week 1 charter oak (loss)
Week 2 claremont (toss-up)
Week 3 los altos (toss-up)
Week 4 st jon bosco (loss)
~~~~~bye~~~~
Week 6 glendora (win)
Week 7 ayala (win)
Week 8 diamond bar (win)
Week9 chino (toss-up)
Week 10 chino hills (loss)
Projected record: 6-4 or 5-5
Sierra League: 2nd or 3rd place
Playoffs: Yes; out first or second round
If you're a local prep football fanatic, or Catholic, or both, the first thing you'll notice is that Amat isn't on the schedule anymore. I am bummed out by this, just like everyone else. I have no clue why the series ended, so please share if you know.
I like that both Charter Oak and Los Altos are on the schedule. It's pretty brave to schedule two of the area's top powers in addition to a tough nonleague.
The Sierra League schedule is going to be tough as usual. Chino Hills is the consensus favorite, with some people thinking they'll be stronger than last year while some thinking they'll take a step back.
Chino is a major question mark. The Cowboys lost a lot to graduation and a legend on the sidelines. Don't expect the talent to dip too far, but the dominance will wane.
Damien probably fits right in between or just below.
As bleak as the above analysis reads, it should be remembered that Damien has a top-shelf coaching staff, a good quality of student and the key ingredient to a strong season - a good, veteran quarterback. An optimist would say those three factors mean Damien could have any type of season. A pessimist says that Damien has neither the overall returning starters needed for success nor the defense to hang with the current Sierra League elite, let alone a still difficult Division II (or whatever it's called now).
The realist, and that's me, says Damien will probably produce similar results to last season. Nothing more, nothing less. Like most area teams, the Spartans will be interesting to monitor over the summer.
2006 WILSON WILDCATS SCHEDULE + ANALYSIS COMING SOON (AKA "the other team in Hacienda Heights" as it was so eloquently put).
Comments
u said we were gonna go 6-4 5-5
but we went 8-2 and should have been 10-0 this year
Posted by: rteyteyew | July 24, 2007 6:46 PM
Stuff today and starve tomorrow... John
Posted by: John | November 29, 2006 9:21 PM
One fire drives out another... Ferdinand
Posted by: Ferdinand | November 21, 2006 6:35 PM
The beauty of Damien is the quality of young men they graduate. From the Pit comes the embodiment of school pride. Year after year Damien produces champions on the field, court, classrooms and community. No bragging, just facts. In the last few years our soccer team has been ranked in the top 10 nationally, our swim and water polo teams consistently compete for championships and produce All Americans, Golf went state, track state qualifiers, cross country same. Again no bragging just facts. Damien Debate almost 20 consecutive league titles, and National Debate Qualifiers, Band exceptional. But the beauty of Damien, why they produce such fine citizens, is they don't plaster their school literature with individual accomplishments...they more on, to some of the premier colleges in the country. Mr. Hile has it right, the boys are all heart and fight, "with their shield or on it!" When they see the Green and Gold they may not tremble but the will remember they were in a fight! I put my money on solid hardworking coachable (non-recruited) kids any day of the week!
Posted by: DHS Dad | August 25, 2006 2:55 AM
Any word on where Coach Mike Churchill, formerly of Damien, more recently formerly of Riverside Poly (after getting shaft) might have ended up?
Thanks.
Posted by: Chris | July 6, 2006 1:01 PM
Yeah u tell them Captain Hile and we will play better and show more heart,
Posted by: BJ | June 25, 2006 8:51 PM
Colleges that will get great Damien Players....
San Jose State
Nevada, Reno
Idaho
USD
New Mexico
just to name a few. The seniors that left we some of the most talented players in the area and will make a mark in college. Sit back and watch.......
Posted by: mom | June 21, 2006 12:42 PM
MR. Tolegian, I disagree with your comments on the Damien Defense. As one of this years team captain's and last years leading tackler i know a little about our defense. First of all we can not take out the 2 games against Claremont and Charter Oak because we did play so they count. Second you said those games were early in the season for them with new personnel well it was for us also.You said we did not win a meaningful game after amat? You must have forgot about St. John Bosco a very good football team. We played a very tough schedule last year against very good teams and at 1 point we were 6 and 1 you can twist numbers in many different ways but we play hard on every down on defense. I can guarantee 1 thing we will play hard every down next season to like we are coached.I am not being disrespectful but when people say bad things about my school,team or defense i dont like it. Anthony Hile
Posted by: 40Deuce | June 17, 2006 9:40 PM
Glendora will always be behind Damien in the standings and cheering!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DHS4LIFE | June 15, 2006 7:46 PM
The dog pound rocks and it will for years to come.
Posted by: go tartans | June 15, 2006 1:24 PM
Yeah the the Pit at Damien is the Best, or should I say it has been. This year no one could compete with the Dog Pound following around the Glendora Tartan Boys Basketball team. They were tops this year yet the PIT at Damien always seems to be my favorite.
Posted by: Just Reg | June 14, 2006 7:13 PM
marcus williams
5'9
209
4.7 40
Posted by: carl | June 11, 2006 8:18 PM
Who's going to get carries this season?
Posted by: jeffrulerson | June 11, 2006 8:04 PM
And for our schedule we will beat claremont, who only has their QB back. Los Altos we'll beat if James Davis is at monrovia like reported. SJB is alright and that will be a close game. Fpr thaty PIT comment we are a football crowd hardly anyone else's student section has chants that are ACTUALLY loud, we got the best fans in so cal. And you know u like the pit flags and running after a touchdown down the track!!
Posted by: DHS4LIFE | June 11, 2006 2:49 PM
We got some college kids: Ian at Boise st,Tristan Turner OL is gonna be a freshman at Idaho, Daniel Alfaro the ex Qb from 2 years ago is at UCS.Nick Davilia is at Cincinatti. Freddie Brown is at Utah, Tommy Bright UCLA, Chuck Chiundu was a football star 2 years ago now he starts on the UCCONN soccer team.
He we are represented everywhere
Posted by: DHS$LIFE | June 11, 2006 2:45 PM
Rashidi Wheeler unfortunately passed away due to complications from an asthma attack suffered during a conditioning drill with the Northwestern football team. The story made national headlines after there was controversy about the lack of medical trainers and his subsequent treatment or lack thereof following the attack. Not sure about the details. God rest his soul.
Posted by: Aram | June 9, 2006 10:56 PM
I know that this is going back a few years, but in 1996: Matt Ward to Unlv, Dom Daste to Washington, Damian Allen to UCLA, and Dave Birch to Purdue
1998: Mark Christiansen to Oregon St., Darnell Pahrms to Washington, Rashidi Wheeler to Northwestern, and Brian Allen to Stanford
Don't forget Sheldon Jackson to Nebraska in 1994 and Jeff Hanna to Fresno St. in 1995, I think.
Posted by: jeffrulerson | June 9, 2006 10:13 PM
Most schools have a list on there website. It would be great if Damien would do the same. I think Damien is a great school they should let everyone know who came from there.
Posted by: Ed | June 9, 2006 10:53 AM
Ian Johnson, who graduated in 2004 is now the starting running back Boise State. I am sure there are some others. It would be nice for some Damien honks to speak up.
Posted by: Aram | June 8, 2006 9:24 PM
The past few years I have read in the paper of kids from Amat, CO and other local schools that are off to play college ball. Does Damien put out a consistent number of kids that play after high school? I know they do for baseball, and I am not just talking about top D1 schools. Can anyone help with that questions.
Posted by: John Andrews | June 8, 2006 2:25 PM
AT
One of the best "Head-to-Head" QB match-up's this coming season and I can't wait to see it:
Week One
Friday September 8th
Damien Spartans vs. Charter Oak Chargers
Senior QB Mark Mendrun vs. Jr. QB Andrew Carreon
This, in my eyes will be one of the Top head-to-head QB match-up's within the Foothill Communities of the San Gabriel Valley. I give the slight edge to Mendrun who is the senior of the two but look for Carreon to be ready for the challenge. It's gonna come down to how well their O Line can protect them as well as who's top reciever will be in better shape - Damien's Travis Eschardies or Charter Oak's Michael "Little Whisper" Johnson (another great head-to-head matchup) I give the edge to MJ on this one. Should be a great game though and look for it as the Adelphia Game of the Week.
-Reg
Reginald Miller
"A Local Sports Show" EP/Host
"Adelphia's HS Game of the Week" Anchor/Producer
Adelphia Communications
Glendora, CA
Posted by: Just Reg | June 8, 2006 10:05 AM
That last name rings a bell. Any relation to the CO legend?
Posted by: New York | June 8, 2006 7:12 AM
New Mexico
Posted by: Aram | June 7, 2006 8:39 PM
Where is Farrar playing ball next year?
Posted by: jeffrulerson | June 7, 2006 8:31 PM