By Aram Tolegian
Staff Writer
Welcome to the year of the quarterback in the San Gabriel Valley.
It seems no matter what part of the Valley you’re in, from El Monte to Diamond Bar and La Verne, there’s a high school with championship aspirations directly tied to its gunslinger leading the show.
Think about it. Has there been a season in recent memory where so many teams had a talented signal-caller capable of leading them to the promised land, a Christmas gift come early in the form of a CIF title?
At Glendora, the spotlight is on San Diego State-bound senior Chad Jeffries, who can help his team pile up the points with his arm or legs. (to continue click thread)

“If the first play’s not open, I can find a second or third play and make something happen,” Jeffries said. “That’s the greatest thing I can do. My goal, as always, is to win. This year, I’m hoping we make the CIF finals. My personal goal is to throw for at least 2,500 yards.”
Jeffries just might do it if his stellar offseason is any indicator. The 6-foot-1 right-hander was named quarterback MVP of the Nike Camp at USC, then wowed scouts and recruiters at the Elite 11 showcase a short time later. He parlayed those showings into an early commitment with San Diego State. Now, there’s nothing left to do but play.
A college football future probably is not in the offing for Bishop Amat’s Rio Ruiz because baseball will be his calling if early 2012 Major League draft projections mean anything. But that doesn’t mean the ballyhooed junior won’t put on a show while he’s in a helmet and pads.
Ruiz, who played receiver last season as a sophomore, will make his much-anticipated debut at quarterback this season and is expected by many to be one of the best around from the word go.
“Some kids may not want to live up to that type of expectation, but I’ll accept the challenge,” Ruiz said. “I want to make it look like everyone told the truth when they said I’d be a stud.”
Arroyo’s Steven Rivera has plenty of experience to draw on and he’s only a junior. Arroyo coach Jim Singiser saw so much potential in Rivera he made him the varsity starter as a freshman. The experience is starting to pay dividends as Rivera’s return gives the Knights one of the best passing attacks around.
“We have a guy who can throw the ball as well as anybody in the Valley,” Singiser said. “He just doesn’t come in the frame of Chad Jeffries or some of the others guys around, but he puts just as much mustard on it.”
The numbers don’t lie. Rivera threw for a staggering 25 touchdowns and 1,941 yards last season. Rivera, armed with another strong group of receivers, makes Arroyo a strong bet to defend its Mission Valley League title.
Out of all the returning starters, Charter Oak’s Travis Santiago and San Dimas’ Sean Kennedy have something the others do not — a CIF championship ring.
Santiago led Charter Oak to its second consecutive Southeast Division championship in his first season as the starter. He had big shoes to fill whilereplacing 2008 Tribune Player of the Year Chris Allen, but the Chargers didn’t miss a beat.
Santiago, only a sophomore last season, looks poised to improve on his 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, but he’s not sweating anything other than wins.
“I don’t try to break records,” Santiago said. “I don’t look at my stats. Whatever happens, happens. Everyone in our league wants to beat us because we’re back-to-back CIF champs. I’ve learned that I can’t let up.
“You have to be going 100 percent all the time.”
Kennedy is recovering from offseason shoulder and foot injuries, but is expected back in time for the season. He is a proven game manager and may be asked to throw more this season because of the talent San Dimas has at receiver.
Perhaps the best dual-purpose threat in the area is Rowland’s Michael Ball. The 5-foot-10 senior missed considerable time last season after suffering a broken collarbone against Walnut. His 12-1 touchdowns-to-interception ratio shows why Rowland coach Craig Snyder is as impressed with Ball’s decision-making as he is his athletic ability.
“He sees the field well and sees things happen,” Snyder said. “He’ll come back to the sideline and make some pretty darn good suggestions.
“When he scrambles, he’s pretty lethal. He can find the open guy or use his legs to get out of trouble. He has all the intangibles that you can’t coach.”
South Hills is in good hands with Vincent Hernandez at the helm. Hernandez got considerable playing time last year as the backup to starter Jacob Shirley. Hernandez will guide the Huskies into a new league and playoff division, but if his strong offseason is any indicator South Hills will make the transition smoothly.
A little further down the road, West Covina welcomes back veteran George Johnson, who has 25 starts under his belt. Johnson will be asked to keep West Covina’s powerful rush attack humming and maybe even open things up with more passes. Coaches are confident Johnson can handle the request.
Rosemead has been a dangerous team under coach Matt Koffler when he has a returning starter at quarterback. Panthers fans are hoping the trend continues this season with Matt Macias back under center. Koffler’s focus, as always, will be to establish the run first, but look for Rosemead to open things up more with Macias having the full confidence of Koffler and staff. Macias threw for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Claremont’s Daniel Kessler has college recruiters hot on his trail after throwing for 2,419 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. Bonita’s Garrett Pendleton will be key in getting the Bearcats back on track. Pendleton is looking to build on last year’s 1,473 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Diamond Bar has not one, but two capable arms. Andrew Cameron returns after a junior campaign that saw him throw for 1,795 yards and 11 scores. He’ll be joined by Henry Omana, who got time under center last year after transferring from Mater Dei.
Covina will need a big year from Billy Livingston if it hopes to threaten San Dimas in the Valle Vista League. Livingston tipped his hand last year as a sophomore after throwing for 1,550 yards and 12 touchdowns. Covina’s staff feels an even bigger year is forthcoming.