FRED ROBLEDO

Fred Robledo is the Prep Sports Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. E-mail me your opinions, story ideas or tips to fred.robledo@sgvn.com.

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Rowland vs. Charter Oak


When Rowland High School football coach Craig Snyder offered the "we're just happy to be here," line while discussing Friday's CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division semifinal against top-ranked Charter Oak, it wasn't just another over-used sports cliche.
The Raiders not only were 3-8 last season, but this is the school's first trip to the semifinals since 1968. A win will put them in their first championship game in school history. "Of course, we'd like to move on and play for a championship, but nobody expected our kids to be where they are right now," Snyder said. "I'm so darn proud of how hard they worked. They've played their butts off and are excited about the opportunity to play the best team in our division."
The Raiders have been the surprise of the season. They beat Northview 21-12 in September, then knocked off West Covina, 16-7. West Covina is in Saturday's other semifinal against Diamond Ranch. After finishing in a three-way tie for the San Antonio League title, Rowland (10-2) won the coin flip to enter the playoffs as the league's top team, then defeated Burroughs 22-21 in the first round before scoring a 52-28 victory over once-beaten La Serna in the quarterfinals. But Charter Oak is something different entirely. The undefeated Chargers (11-0-1) routed Bell Gardens (55-15) and Crescenta Valley (40-9) to reach the semifinals for the third consecutive season and return third-year starting quarterback Chris Allen, who has lost just three games his entire career. "It's got all the making of a David vs. Goliath matchup," Snyder said. "I just hope we've got a few lucky stones to throw at them. I swear that kid (Allen) can throw the ball 80 yards, and he's so efficient. We were saying the other day he looks like Daunte Culpepper. Then they have the running back (Adam Muema), they play defense and are so well-coached. You know, they're the best team we've seen all season. I don't think that's a secret." Chargers coach Lou Farrar spent the weekend breaking down video on Rowland and came impressed with how similar both teams appear. Raiders sophomore quarterback Michael Ball has grown over the season while throwing for 1,619 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also is second on the team in rushing with 620 yards. Senior running back Brandon Stansell has more than 1,000 yards rushing and averages just under 100 yards a game. Where Rowland also mirrors Charter Oak is on defense, where the Raiders are allowing just 14 points a game. "They've done a phenomenal job this season," Farrar said. "They've got athletes, we're similar in size and they've won 10 games. I don't care who it is, when you play a team with 10 wins in the semifinals you know you're facing a good team." Chargers running back Adam Muema left Friday's win over Crescenta Valley in the first quarter with a hip injury, but the move was more cautionary than anything else. "He could have played if we needed him," Farrar said. "He had three carries and two touchdowns, and with the quick lead, we just decided to hold him out. But he's fine and will be ready to go on Friday."

Comments

SGV PRIDE and JFR, I'm a cat that loves high school football. And happen to think Charter Oak has tons of talent. But your record is and always has been really weak in a weak division. And as far as Amat's record in those years, the one win that was convincing was the THRASHING of Charter Oak. Now, the real reason I'm on Charter Oak is because of all the talking that goes on in here about a team who has good kids but refuses to schedule tough teams. Try doing that and you might earn a little more respect. JFR, stop with the foul language you studio gangster!

please, what is you obsession with CO this year, you sound like a little BITTER B!#ch who has no team left to cheer for. Please come to our game so I can pretty PLEASE put my foot up your ?

please:

You're right it is subjective because in that same time frame BA had double the losses and squeeked past a couple of teams CO beat and lost to a team that lost to a team CO played. Since its all subjective maybe if CO played a harder schedule they would have the same record during this time as BA or if BA played a easier schedule they might have won as much as CO. But like you said its all subjective. UCLA can go back to their winning streak against SC but it wont matter on Saturday. This blog is about 08.

ALL Charter Oak FANS,
I did a little research and would you believe that since 2004 Charter Oak has played 32 teams with a winning record (the bulk of that coming in 2005 and 2006)? And I'm not talking about top teams from top conferences, I'm just talking about teams with a winning record of whom many had 1 win that qualified their record as winning. Know what the record was in those games? 18-13-1. Therefore, you're basically a .500 team against winning records. Does that make your scheduling tough? Also, against teams I would consider part of reputable leagues (purely subjective) Charter Oak was a whopping 4-9-1. So COJO, D-MO, CO Mom, please don't tell me how great your scheduling is or your team for that matter. You play inferior teams. And, oh yeah, 2 of those losses were thrashings at the hands of the Lancers!

what did snyder try to pull this time?

No.....Dont Tell Me SNYDER Walpapered the Locker Room With Pages From the BLOG !!!!????????

....anyone have the scoop ??

HEY FRED, have you heard what the great coach of Rowland pulled today against CO.


Please call him or Big Lou tonight, Joe Amat you will like this one. It's an old school trick pulled back in the 60's & 70's to try to pump up your team.


GET TO IT FRED<IT'S GOOOOD!

This CO/Rowland is not even a good Semi-finals game. It will put out of reach by CO at halftime. The WC/DR match up will be a battle. This is the end of line for Rowland, they will be embarassed on their home field. CO way too strong. This is a blowout game Rowland has no chance, but someone has to qualify for the Semi's. CO 49 Rowland 8

Letter from gibbs, I thought it would be funny to make some arrogant comments about C.O. this year. I wanted to try the shoe on the other foot( so to speak.) Every year all the yahoos come out of the closet and a lot of dumb things are said about eachothers teams (and about the actual kids). In the last 3 years, i believe C.O. bloggers have usually kept there composure. I wanted to see the type of responses I would get. Very, very interesting. It was all a joke but i think a lesson can be learned from this. Lets just not take high school football so serious and support all of our local teams. There are way more serious issues out there besides unsportsmanlike bloggers. Good luck to all of your kids and may they stay healthy.

la parent id pick rowland to after what co has done to u the last 2 years

C.O. you know, I'm sure you're a solid guy, but there are several bad apples that support your Chargers. I went to a game and stood on the sidelines and all the other guys on the sideline were screaming at refs and smack talking to the oppossing players. Mind you these were grown men yelling at young kids. I'm sorry, but that will always be the image that I have of Charter Oak Football and its supporters.

Anyone that is someone knows that these so called representatives of Charter Oak do not resemble what is condoned by the program. Every team this time of year gets bandwagon fans but the real Charger fans do not reflect arrogance but instead follow the team motto and preach humility. Charter Oak has been on both sides the last few years and knows to well how the opposite feels. I am disappointed in you L.A. Parent because the rivalry between both schools has always been a positive relationship. Do not let a few stand for what many have worked so hard for and that is creditability and respect. If you met these young men and coaches you would be really impressed with most importantly the kind of people they are and the kind of family that exist everyday. Rowland is an outstanding football program from top to bottom. Trust me they are not taking anything or anyone for granted and no one lightly. Good luck Rowland and both teams play a clean, healthy football game regardless of the outcome. Years from now you want your last football game to be your best memory.

Charter Choke,

Not a Raider fan either, but this week I will be their supporting Rowland. You all want to talk the crap, now you are in a no win situation.

Frankly I had no interest in either CO or Rowland but from just reading the comments posted by CO fans I have to say I am pulling for the Raiders. CO fans need some humility-Remember CO fans no matter what happens this week or possibly next week you did not beat every team you played.

to all u Rowland whiners u need to all bring paper tissue with u to the game friday because Charter Oak is going to bring the pain and we r going to bring our " A " game well be ready for u because after the game its CO moving on and yes CO is a team with better class I should know im class of 1999 from CO so Happy Holidays Rowland better luck next year CO # 1 GO FIGHT WIN CO # 1 in SGV

to all u Rowland whiners u need to all bring paper tissue with u to the game friday because Charter Oak is going to bring the pain and we r going to bring our " A " game well be ready for u because after the game its CO moving on and yes CO is a team with better class I should know im class of 1999 from CO so Happy Holidays Rowland better luck next year CO # 1 GO FIGHT WIN CO # 1 in SGV

Criticize all you want about C.O.. Anyone who knows football or has actually watched C.O. play knows there is NO competition in this league except for maybe Diamond Ranch, which should of beat Amat. Alway haters out there. Go ahead and post, its a free blog!!! one other point. C.O. had a cupcake schedule? I BET ONE OF THOSE CUPCAKE TEAMS BEAT YOUR TEAM.. HA! HA!

Just looked back at preseason polls...Calpreps had DR #2, CO #3, WC #6, Rowland not in the top 20 in the Southeast. CIF preseason poll-CO #2, DR #3, WC #10, Rowland unranked. Maxpreps ranking for Southern section preseason-DR #84, CO #99, WC #132, Rowland not in top 300 out of 391...

So there is a reason I am pumped up over Rowlands success...It was unexpected...Right Fred???

see yo;

You have two games left too play! Remember 2007? Oh yeah, you lost in the finals. Remember Miami against Penn St. Rams vs PATRIOTS, Jets vs Colts. I thought I throw those teams in their since they were all destine to win!Oh I forgot the one that's going to keep you a little humble! EL DORADO... Win the title, then talk how BIG you really are!

ROWLAND RAIDERS TAKE THEM DOWN!!!

JFR:

I don't understand where your anger comes from. Everyone knows the best teams always have the most critics, and take the most shots by rival fans. CO is a top team, therefore, draws a great deal of attention. I've yet to see where anyone has picked Rowland to win this Friday night over C.O. Are there a lot of rival fans that are jealous of CO's success and want to see them lose??? Of course there are...People are always going to want to see successful programs fall once in awhile---It gives hope to the underdogs/Rowland's of the world.

No way I think the players of CO get more pumped up by reading a comment by a blogger. That is silly even to consider. They are clearly an excellent team that comes to play every week.

JFR---you are trying to start a fire where there is no fuel. CO is clearly the dominant team in the Southeast...Why do you take the bait left by some fans to get a rise out of you?

If you are a player, have fun playing the game-you guys are winners. If you are a fan or a parent, take a step back and enjoy the team you get to support. Good luck Friday night, but I am sure you won't need it.

CHARTER OAKS "GRUELING SCHEDULE"

ALISO 0-10
PIONEER 2-8
D BAR 4-6
RNCH CU 11-0-1
DAMIEN 3-7
ETIWNDA 5-6
D RNCH 6-6
WILSON 0-10
LOS ALT 1-9
BONITA 7-4
B GARDN 5-6

WOW....WOW...WOW...WOW
SERIOUSLY???

i think we should start a thread where people create CO's schedule for next year it seems to be such a hot topic on here lets here the input of all the jealous teams who didnt practice on thanksgiving

is it co's fault that the east san gab valley cannot offer any competetion outside of maybe 3 teams

if you think co is gonna play up in competition to impress a bunch of washed up football dads you crazy!

this blog just loves to see FAILURE and charter oak is not gonna help u out there not this year

so bigshots lets hear the new preseason sched. new leauge and new div proposal

hey everybody lay off amat ok when you mess with them your messing with my legacy i was a back up PAT holder for the 83 team that finished 2nd in leauge please everyone do not talk about amat when you do that you force me to go on to max preps for hours and find stats on charter oak

I saw the CO DR game on film. CO beat them because they were the fresher team in the 4th Quarter, CO does not have alot of kids going both ways. that's what makes them so good. The 1st td You did score was on a broken long pass play.

And for your win againts South hills. same thing happend long pass that #5 went for the interception. if he just plays the ball DR does not score. also SH was driving down the field with,,, let me say ,,no running game whats so ever. and missed the game clinching field goal. I really thought you (DR)beat them but it looked like SH lost the game , Just be glad you are there and just play football See you Saturday night.

CO, the BEST, must be a Tartan fan.

Vince L, our preseason schedule was weak, we have played nobody this year and that is why we don't have a loss. I'm only repeating everything said on this blog this year. You might want to let the RAIDER NATION know that his comments are already wallpaper in the locker room. It's also very obvious that he types when professional wrestling is on in the background. P.S. tell him to mix in " I PITTY THE FOOO " from Mr. T. I love his stuff.

gibbs-the reality is that Amat played RC the past two years during the two worst years of our existence and swept the Cougars. They chose not to renew. Don't even start with the CO talk - been down that road too. The other reality is that both schools are LARGE schools. CO with well over 2000 and RC pushing 3000. Amat hovers around 1400.

Gibbs,
Sorry I couldn't think of a clever acronym like gee i'm brainless, ball less and stupid.

If every team was as lucky to have CO's schedule and then enter CIF with CO's draws, every team in SGV would have a winning record and tradition.

God bless CO.

Talk about fantasy. Who is using a great football name like Vince L. to cover up his own loser accomplishments. You probably never even played the game except on your playstation. We will see all your blogging appologies after Fridays game. My best to Rowland.(We all hope over here he doesn't represent you) 10 and 2 is a fantastic record.

charter oak may not have had the toughest regular season scedule but it was beter than rowlands.
etiwanda
rancho cu.

i mean montebello?
baldwin park?

lets get real.

this game wont be a blow out so both sides stop ranting. its gonna come down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes

JFR,
WOW, A little anger there, take it easy I'm not really Vince Lombardi.

Keep talking Raiders and CO haters, we love it. We know we played the weakest of the weak and we SUCK. I hope someday we can have the great tradition that all of you folks out there have had. Maybe, just maybe we can have the same success as you retired water boys and 2nd string parents have had. Dear Santa, I know we suck this year but could you please let stay within 28 against the RAIDERS. Thank you, and I will leave out an extra cookie.

Gibbs,
I'm talking about CIF in the Southest Conference. We don't give a crap about your fantasy game. Talk Rowland v Charter Oak or start your own fantasy blog.

A rematch between Charter Oak and Rancho Cuc. would be the ultimate game to watch this year. Not even Bishop Amat could compete with either of these teams. They couldn't even beat Los Osos. Sorry if you cant handle the facts but these are the two teams to beat this year. Small school, big players. You go C.O.

Rowland v Charter Oak is the CIF Championship game. Winner of this game wins CIF Southeast.

I don't believe the victory will be as sweet if C.O. wins it all this year. There are great teams in our league and d-Ranch has certainly proved themselves this year as a team to beat, but not playing any o.c. teams this year is a real dissappointment. Especially this team. I believe they would give anyone a good game this year.

J.A.R.H.S. Alum

Is your son #66. That is the best player on that Rowland team. His motor is always running. You have some size on that team along with speed, but CO's defense is quicker & that will be the difference. Anything can happen tough, it's football. Good luck Raiders & congratulations on a great year.

D-MO;

Believe me! Their as bad as the AMAT FANS, AND WERE SICK OF IT...

TAKE THEM DOWN RAIDERS!

If the Raiders win on Friday, it will be the second time in school history they have advanced to the Championship game. In 1968 JRHS lost to Neff HS (from La Mirada). I no longer live in Rowland Heights or the SGV, but I am proud of my hometown Raiders. Win or lose, Coach Snyder and his kids will do it with class. Go get em on Friday, I will proudly be on the sidelines watching these young men compete against a well coached and strong opponent.

to insight-no excuses for La Serna getting pounded on friday-they always play a cupcake preseason schedule and always build up a fake winning record against weak teams. Its always the same then once they go to the playoffs they get blown out when they play a real team-nothing ever changes until they decide to try to compete against decent teams!

Bandwagon and DRRRRanch,
Pipe down. The Chargers aren't going around pounding their chests in any kind of arrogance. They are the class act of the SGV, period. The coaches and players are loved by their fans. We (fans) may be a little arrogant, but the team is going about their mission with quiet determination. If you don't like it, don't come around next year. We will be in the hunt again.

RE: La Serna vs Rowland
Rowland played well and may have won anyways but La Serna was missing 3 Senior starters on defense. Two of these players also played on offense. NO EXCUSES for the loss, but I would suggest that the final score was not indicative of
Rowland's strength.

92-35 is the score between co and the ranch the last 3 years

yet somehow they think every year they had us hahahahaha

DRanchhhh,

If you know Charter Oak well enough and obviously you don't but go ask your coach about "real, true" Charger coaches, players, and fans. Your rant sounds ridiculous as if you actually yourself do not want to play Charter Oak again and are trying to will Rowland to a victory. I promise you the Chargers only focus has been, is, and will be on themselves and each other. They have the utmost respect for Rowland and their entire program. And shame on you for making false accusations about them recruiting because if you asked the very few families that chose to go to Charter Oak you would have a much deeper appreciation and respect for why the families (Charter Oak had nothing to do with the very few transfers)decided to go to Charter Oak this year. Ignorance is bliss like they say my friend so I won't assume because you know what they say about assuming too but I will do my very best to remain positive and believe the very best in you and not that your just a dumb and stupid fool speaking nonsense!

ROWLAND....READ and MANIFEST. They (CO) are a group of young men like yourselves. They dont take steroids and are not super human. They just happen to be a very well "recruited" team. Nothing wrong with that. They (CO) breathe the same air, bleed the same blood, and lift the same weights you lift. I know some of you players are looking at this blog and thinking pessimistically, but you cant. That TEAM is beatable. 16-7 with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter, should tell you something. Dont trip about being an underdog. We have been that for the last 3 years.

And as for CO you will be surprised at what a younger, scarier kid will do to a bully when backed into a corner. Keep talking, you guys might choke on your charge!!!

ANY GIVEN FRIDAY.... EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT, ROWLAND SHOCKS THE CRITICS.
THIS ROWLAMD TEAM IS A GROUP OF STORM CHASERS.

Come on CO is the eventual Champ here and for one good reason. They do not belong playing this far down in this league. They need to be moved to the Sierra or Mountain View League. Playing Rowland and Diamond Ranch is nothing as Compared to playing the likes of Corona Centennial or Chino Hills as a regular. come on playing LA and Wilson is like playing Nogales and Walnut and Garey.

Come on ROWLAND! Beat down charter choke! Man i'm tiring of hearing how good they're. Like their sh*t don't stink! Too bad your not playing Corona Centennial, like Glendora did last year. I bet you wouldn't be talking so tough right now. Rowland do the SGV proud and make these cocky morons crawl underneath a rock and go away!

JUST DO IT ROWLAND!

Relax CO, let the boy's do the talking on the field. Rowland will be one of the best teams we have played all year. This will not be a cake walk.

oh my bad, thanks for the correction. still non the less

Charter oak > Rowland

Actually its when the lightning strikes the thunder roars. Because the thunder is caused by the lightning.

When Thunder Rolls, Lightning Strikes


Watch out Rowland the Charger are commin!!!

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