Steve Ramirez and Fred J. Robledo going head-to-head throughout the season.
Records:
Robledo: Last week (15-4); Season (177-56)
Ramirez: Last week (17-2); Season (178-55)
Notes: Ramirez rallied to take the lead in the playoffs, going 17-2, and is back in front by taking Wilson over Mayfair, and Temple City over La Puente. We both picked Duarte over Cerritos Valley Christian and Baldwin Park over Compton Centennial, and lost both. What happened to the Falcons, that was one of my locks of the week? All three of us, including Reginald Miller from Time Warner Cable, picked the Falcons to win the division. Big disappointment after they reached the quarters last year. By the way, on our best chances for upsets, two of our three picks came through, with Wilson and West Covina winning first-round games.
Friday’s CIF-SS quarterfinal games and predictions
Southwest Division
No. 2 Charter Oak (9-1-1) at West Covina (6-5), 7:30 p.m — Robledo (Charter Oak); Ramirez (Charter Oak)
No. 3 Trabuco Hills (10-1) at Wilson (6-5), 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Trabuco Hills); Ramirez (Trabuco Hills)
Foothill (9-2) vs. No. 4 South Hills (9-2) at Covina District, 7 p.m. — Robledo (South Hills); Ramirez (South Hills)
Southeast Division
South El Monte (7-4) at No. 4 California (10-1), 7 p.m. — Robledo (SElMonte); Ramirez (California)
Inland Division
Glendora (9-2) at No. 1 Corona Centennial (10-1), 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Centennial); Ramirez (Centennial)
Final Thoughts: Big rematch on Friday, Charter Oak at West Covina, a game the Chargers won at home, 55-28, earlier in the season. The Bulldogs are much improved, but so are the Chargers, if you can believe that. It won’t be as lopsided, but the Chargers will win again. South Hills has a tough game at the District Field against Foothill. They haven’t played a team this tough since Los Altos back in week five, when the Conquerors had Bryce Mahmud-McBride. If anyone thinks the Huskies will have a chance against ElDo in the the semis or Charter Oak in the finals, this game will be the indicator. Wilson and the Gilmore show continues, and don’t be surprised if they give Trabuco Hills a run for their money. Wilson has as much offensive firepower as anyone, and if they play defense like they did against Mayfair, they’ve got a shot. South El Monte is on fire, winners of seven straight, and will beat California on Friday. Mark that down, this is a team on a mission, and my pick to go the semifinals, where the fun will end against La Habra. By the way, Whittier Daily News reporter Andrew Campa, who picked the Eagles to win the Mission Valley League at the beginning of the season when everyone else was going with Rosemead or Arroyo, says, and I quote, “South El Monte has no chance against Cal.” Glendora, this is just too tall a hill to climb. Corona’s only loss is against power Mater Dei and they’ve beaten plenty of heavyweights. For the Tartans to have a chance, they have to methodically move the chains behind Jake Vega and Andre Holmes. If they can move the ball, they won’t get blown out. But, seriously, don’t see how they can win this one.
