An intriguing first-round game: Damien and Upland, Gano and Salter, but who will win?
By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
There will be a sense of familiarity when Damien High School opens the CIF-Southern Section Central Division football playoffs against visiting Upland at 7 p.m. on Friday. Not so much for the Spartans players, who did not face the Highlanders this year, but the coaching staffs. Particularly Damien coach Greg Gano and Upland counterpart Tim Salter. To Continue, click thread
"We scrimmaged Tim Salter and Upland for years when I was at Los Altos," Gano said. "We know a lot about each other. They play smart and they play with a lot of muscle."
Upland, which lost in the division finals last season to Rancho Cucamonga, is 8-2. The Highlanders tied Rancho Cucamonga for third place in the Baseline League but lost the tiebreaker and enter the postseason at the division's lone wild-card team.
Gano is not buying it. He knows what Upland did last season and the tradition Salter has built, which includes winning a division title earlier this decade.
It's this year's team that has him worried the most.
"They are quick on defense, and they'll come after you," Gano said. "They also play with a lot of emotion, so our guys are going to have to be ready."
Damien, which began the season 1-5, comes into the contest on a roll. The Spartans, led by running back Phillip Sainz and quarterback James Guillen, have won four consecutive games to earn a share of the Sierra League title.
"I think our kids just bought into what we kept telling them," Gano said. "They believe in themselves and are playing good football. I couldn't ask for anything more."
Damien will be without senior wide receiver Ryne Morrison, who bruised his kidney in last week's victory over Chino and is out for the season.
"It's a big loss for us. We have to use kids who do not have a lot of playing time," Gano said. They just have to step up."
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Just to say bonjour, fantastic website, I love reading your stuff.
Hi, That was a great post thank sincerely for sharing that information with everybody.
who were the nine first teamers? and so forth?
Sainz, Arevalo, Matthews, Tracey, Polonio, Ramirez, Hale, Saygehg, ..an I close?
damien had 9 first team 6 second team and 2 honorable mentions
Who made All Sierra League? I heard Sainz and Jefferries shared the Offensive POY award. That can't be true?
Does any one have the All League lists?
Fred? Are you going to post them if people put them out?
Just askin',
That's my point exactly. Why were you here in the first place? Does you computer automatically alert you when someone writes the words "Amat" or "Bishop" on one of these blogs? Do you just feel the need to search out the "haters" and defend your school? If you're just snooping around to "stir the pot" just say so. That's OK, it's what makes this interesting.
Plenty of Damien people read the thread but the fact of the matter is, unfortunately, for both schools the "haters" and the fanatics have much more to say when the team wins. Although overall I believe we had a successful season compared to recent years, we're not quite back to the level we once were. That will come with time. So, fewer posts.
Congratulations to Amat Football on a BIG win and a very exciting game Friday night. Good luck next week. Congratulations to Upland on some great defense and a bigger win than most Scots would like to admit. You're not an "at large" team. Good luck next week.
Spartans, hold your heads high and be proud of what you accomplished this season. Always be able to answer the question "Did I do ALL I possibly could? " with "yes". We'll return again!
seems like some one is trying hard to take attention away from the lack of a spartan running game on friday. damien lost for one reason and one reason only.
Damien played a good game.They were just out played.Upland's D-fence was just to fast and strong to run against.IF you are going to beat the Scots you have to be able to pass.It is no secret that is where Upland is weak.Hope to see Damien next year it was a good game.Enjoy your turkey at home we will still be playing Football.
Damien has a good team.But upland's d-fence was just to fast.They shut down the run and Damien's passing game is not verry strong.Hope we meet again nest year it was a fun game to watch.Good luck nest year Damien.
Congratulations to the Upland Highlanders, you played a great game and hopefully the Spartans can say they lost to the eventual CIF Champions.
The mark of a well coached team is how they handle "bad calls" or what I like to call..part of the game...the Highlanders did that with flying colors. In the first half at least for 30+ gains were called back...for better or worst Upland kept they cool unlike the Spartans who couldn't deal with miscues..a fatal year long character flaw.
Coach Gano and every single coach he brought in deserve an apology for the way some players behave at practices. The truth is every dad who attended practices knows what I'm talking about...and finally it caught up with teh Spartans.
Some players really gave it their all this year from day one and some picked and chose their spots...either way the patch is forever and so to will be their behavior/effort.
Damien will only improve when peopel are honest with themselves and beleive what tehir eyes are telling them...as for me...it was fun and an honor to see Gano and Co work and improve kids that otherwise would have never had such an awesome experience...
Not soon enough sparta,not soon enough. Looks like leonides bit the dust ,out on his shield.
Monster Man
Varsity isnt the freshman level! We'll see and after tonight you guys surely need something new!
Somebody might be lining the pockets???
Gano Sucks
Prayers, Refs and homefield advantage and you still couldnt win! I'll admit, #9 on Damiens team was good... but, Upland stomped all over them during the second half! This was a refs game the first half and to think that they gave the Spartans a lead when the clock ran out. Wow, what a way for Upland to comeback and smash that in their face!! This is my confession... SCOTS, all day every day!! NEXT???? What time is the next worship?
It's Just a game - I'm on here because in the recent comments, a comment cane up that started with "Again - all about AMAT". That was my invitation. I wanted to se what nonsense somebody was writing. Sure enough some knucklehead was overeacting to what a non-Amat blogger was writing. So I thought I's give you all a tip on how to spot someone affiliated with AMAT. As they say, there are many Bishops - but only one AMAT.
If only Damien people read the Damien thread that wouldn't be too exciting a blog now -would it? What would an Amat thread look like if the haters didn't come out of the wood work to talk smack?
Standard Blogging,
Damn, I missed that! You're right... Touché!
"confirming that (as well )...sorrrrrrrrrryyyyyyy...lol
opps...Just a game...sorry but it's...BIG BOYS...not BIG BOY'S...but I still believe ( you are ) better than him? seriously...I due...opps Eye do...josh darn it..... I DEW....this is embarrassing....EYE DOO....lmao
Just askin',
Thanks for confirming the point about Amat fans bringing it back to them. As you said yourself "No one affiliated with Amat says -"I go to Bishop" or "I send my son to Bishop". It's AMAT." You're clearly referring to "Amat" so that must mean you're from Amat. So, what are you doing here?
Open Your Eyes,
I noticed you didn't mention where you're from, are you a "big boy"? According to Just askin' you're not from Amat, so then where? If you've got a big enough mouth to pop off why don't you say where you're from? Ah, I guess you have no b@lls either! By the way, contrary to popular belief Damien DOES NOT recruit or provide "scholarships" or free tuition like most of the "big boy's" you're referring to so let's not try comparing apples to oranges.
It's usually the insecure jealous types that have to make negative comments about everything so thanks for confirming that for us too.
.......and learn how to choose the correct words while "your" at it.
How about the Freshmen Coach Gano brought up? Understand why Gano brought them up. Gano does everything for a reason and bringing them up was brilliant. These Sophomores and Freshmen know they are being looked at seriously and when the season is over they will begin an even better Spartan campaign next year...it's all about leadership and competition.
Realize that at QB position alone we have 3 legit propsects in So. JV 6'3" Zaldivar, Freshmen 6'2" Alfaro and the best of them all 6'1" Hawkins....let teh competition begin.
Next year Damien will be loaded and have a monster year just wait and see.
Golly Gee Batman!
14 Varsity Sophomores , get over yourself!
Go Spartans,
Good luck tonight boys, just come out and play hard, everyone is behind you and we will show our support at the game, let's do our talking on the football field, leave no doubt. All of you're hard work will start paying off tonight, one play at a time, play each one like it's you're last one and give all you got. That's Damien Spartan Football...........
and what makes you think that it is an Amat fan making the (fair) comparisons between the two private schools? Could be someone random, maybe from the Sierra League, pointing out that in no way should a private school of your size be in a public school league. Here's a tip. When a post refers to the school as "Bishop" - it's NOT an AMAT person. No one affiliated with Amat says -"I go to Bishop" or "I send my son to Bishop". It's AMAT.
Again - all about AMAT. No matter what the blog is about, somehow those (*&^(&^AMAT fans bring it back to them. You wonder why the SGV isn't behind you??? A little humility goes a long way. There are other players/teams that deserve to be highlighted.
GO SPARTA!!!!!!!
Damien,
Your are a 5-5 team. Your a private school with numbers larger than Bishop and you play with the little boys. Grow some b@lls, play with the big boys. O sorry you did and we all saw what happened. We all know that Gano doesn't have the b@lls to continue to play Bishop Amat. Fred gives you guys as much PR as Bishop Amat and that is a joke.
LETS GO SPARTANS!! we are hungry for a victory! it's going to be such a good game that even our New Varsity Sophomores all 14 of them are going to get playing time! woohooo so excited......not going to sleep tonight.....counting the hours for our VICTORY!!
Seriously....good luck to both schools Upland we know you play good football! It has been a long awaited match-up.
Spartans GOOD LUCK!!
Come On Spartan fans..Thats for the guys on the field to decide, not someone hiding behind a keyboard. We all know DAMIEN will be sent to confession after a good BEATDOWN from Upland!! It should good be a good game no matter what! LETS GO SCOTS!!
Come On Spartan fans..Thats for the guys on the field to decide, not someone hiding behind a keyboard. We all know DAMIEN will be sent to confession after a good BEATDOWN from Upland!! It should good be a good game no matter what! Stomp 'em SCOTS!!!
Sorry "Come On Damien" - busy getting ready for the pre-game tailgate and post-game party! Upland goes down tomorrow! Sparta lives on! Good Luck Damien...leave it all on the field tomorrow night! Just keep doing what you have been doing, we're all behind you 110% GO DAMIEN!!
Damien just need to come out that tunnel and play some SMASH MOUTH football. Damien is playing some good ball, they just need to stay focused. Good luck SPARTANS.
Looking forward to seeing an Upland Beatdown. Go Damien!!!
Almost 24 hours since this thread has been up and not one Damien poster.That is some spirit you people have . Get off you hands and get to typing some support for your team.