Covina graduate Jim Hanifan, who won a Super Bowl as an offensive line coach for the Washington Redskins (1991) and St. Louis Rams (2000), will be a guest speaker at Covina’s alumni dinner Thursday at Casa Moreno’s restaurant in downtown Covina. Hanifan, who led the nation in receiving yards in 1954 at Cal, began his coaching career at Charter Oak High School, where he was head coach from 1959-65 before becoming an assistant at the University of Utah. Hanifan also will be an honorary captain when the Colts host Pomona in Friday’s homecoming at Covina District Field. (To continue, click thread).

Continue reading “Covina great and Super Bowl champ Hanifan to speak at alumni dinner; Livingston cleared” »

La Verne Lutheran’s Bruce English, a senior for the Trojans boys basketball team that won the CIF State Division V championships last year, has committed to play at nearby Loyola Marymount. Coach Eric Cooper also said that forward Xavier Jones has received an offer from West Point that the senior is considering. English also hit the game-winning shot to help the Trojans with the Division VAA championship, the Trojans’ second in three years.

By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
Glendora High School fielded one of the top boys cross country teams in the CIF-Southern Section last season. The Tartans girls team is making its own name for itself this season, and showed its ability with a solid effort at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational on Saturday. Glendora, featuring reigning all-area Girls Runner of the Year Lauren Justus, set a school course record, finishing 13th in the individual sweepstakes with a time of 97 minutes, 22 seconds.

Continue reading “Cross Country: Glendora girls have come long way” »

CIF-Southern Section Football Polls

Above: There were so many people telling me on Thursday that Colts’ all-everything Vinny Venegas is the straw that stirs their drink.

Pac-5 Division
1. Mission Viejo (South Coast) 7-0 Bye
2. Servite (Trinity) 7-0 Won St. John Bosco 32-24
3. Bishop Amat 8-0 Won Loyola 41-31
4. Alemany (Serra) 7-0 Won Crespi 28-17
5. Santa Margarita (Trinity) 6-1 Won JSerra 35-14
6. Poly/Long Beach (Noore) 5-2 Won Millikan 59-0
7. Lakewood (Moore) 7-1 Won Jordan 42-28
8. Mater Dei (Trinity) 5-2 Won Orange Lutheran 28-14
9. Tesoro (South Coast) 6-1 Won Trabuco Hills 21-14
10. San Clemente (South Coast) 7-1 Won Dana Hills 42-28
Robledo’s thoughts: How could the Lancers complain, if they take care of business the final two games they should be assured a top four seed.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
1. West Covina (Hacienda) 6-1 Won Los Altos 48-7
2. Bonita (Hacienda) 7-0 Won Walnut 44-14
3. La Serna (Del Rio) 6-1 Won Santa Fe 38-0
4. Diamond Ranch (Hacienda) 4-3 Bye
5. La Mirada (Suburban) 4-3 Bye
6. Mayfair (Suburban) 5-3 Won Bellflower 35-0
7. Norwalk (Suburban) 4-3 Won Glenn 64-7
8. Arcadia (Pacific) 4-3 Won Burbank 48-20
9. Burbank (Pacific) 5-2 Lost Arcadia 20-48
10. Burroughs/Burbank (Pacific) 4-3 Won Glendale 35-6
Robledo’s thoughts: You know it’s not unrealistic to think that after an 0-3 start Diamond Ranch could end up the top seed when all is finished. The Panthers are No. 4 with games against No. 1 and No. 2 still to come. West Covina and Bonita are where they should be, now we get the rare opportunity of watching who deserves No. 1 on Friday.

Inland Division
1. Centennial/Corona (Big VIII) 7-0 Won Santiago/Corona 69-13
2. Vista Murrieta (Southwestern) 6-1 Won Temecula Valley 33-22
3. Rancho Cucamonga (Baseline) 6-1 Won Alta Loma 43-0
4. Roosevelt (Big VIII) 6-1 Won Corona 56-35
5. Norco (Big VIII) 6-1 Won M.L. King, Jr. 35-15
6. Claremont (Sierra) 6-1 Won Charter Oak 35-32
7. Upland (Baseline) 5-2 Won Etiwanda 53-34
8. Chino Hills (Sierra) 5-2 Won Damien 42-7
9. Redlands East Valley (Citrus Belt) 5-2 Won Eisenhower 48-12
10. Redlands (Citrus Belt) 5-1-1 Won Yucaipa 23-13
Robledo’s thoughts: For the first time in forever, looks like Gano, Bogan and Farrar might not have anything to do on Thanksgiving. Only the winner of the Sierra has a realistic chance of doing anything, and right now that looks like Claremont.

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
1. Azusa (Montview) 7-0 Won Duarte 46-0
2. Monrovia (Rio Hondo) 5-2 Won San Marino 56-0
3. Arroyo (Mission Valley) 6-1 Won Rosemead 35-21
4. Whittier Christian (Olympic) 6-1 Bye
5. Covina (Valle Vista) 7-1 Won Baldwin Park 17-9
6. San Dimas (Valle Vista) 5-3 Won Northview 43-0
7. Vallley Christian/Cerritos 5-3 Won Maranatha 70-64 (5 OT)
8. Village Christian (Olympic) 5-2 Won Los Angeles Baptist 56-19
9. Schurr (Almont) 4-3 Won Alhambra 44-13
10. Maranatha (Olympic) 5-3 Lost Valley Christian/Cerritos 64-70 (5 OT)
Robledo’s thoughts: There is no way anyone with one loss deserves to be ranked ahead of Covina, and that includes two-loss Monrovia and one-loss Arroyo and Whittier Christian. Covina has a victory over West Covina, No. 1 in the Southeast and over Baldwin Park, the team that beat defending champion San Dimas, you know the team that Monrovia couldn’t defeat. Covina owns a victory better than any win Arroyo, Whittier Christian, Azusa, or Monrovia has on its resume, plus a solid No. 2 win over Baldwin Park. Why they’re not No. 1 or the very least No. 2 doesn’t make any sense. It reminds me of the way Rosemead was voted down in the polls in 2008 before running the table to the Mid-Valley title game.

Thanks to all of our loyal prep fans in the SGVN, we know you had something to do with this: The San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s total paid circulation has grown significantly over the past year, according to figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.The Tribune’s total paid circulation grew by 11.19 percent daily and 2.29 percent on Sundays, according to the audit bureau. Both growth rates are among the highest for daily newspapers in Southern California. Traffic to sgvtribune.com, which is not included in the audit figures, has also increased from last year. Year to date, page views have increased more than 26 percent and unique visits are up by nearly 28 percent.

Steve and I will go head-to-head in Tribskin Pick’em throughout the season for our annual dinner bet. I lead the overall series, two years to one.
Last Week: Robledo (14-4); Ramirez (13-5).
Season: Robledo (122-42); Ramirez (116-48).

Last week: Some Claremont coaches caught me leaving Charter Oak on Friday and said to keep picking against them and they will keep winning. Sorry, not sure I’m picking against them again. Not only did Steve and I miss Claremont’s win over Charter Oak, we both looked foolish taking Loyola over Bishop Amat. However, few could have predicted Diamond Bar beating Rowland and Gladstone beating Sierra Vista. I picked up an extra win taking Covina while Steve took Baldwin Park.

This week: I haven’t seen Bonita but have been impressed with West Covina in the games I saw against South Hills and Rowland. However, knowing that Bonita defeated a darn-good Claremont team and what they’ve done to everyone else, I’m taking the Bearcats. They had three blocks in Friday’s blowout over Walnut — that tells me something about their effort, not to mention how opportune they’ve been all season, getting four picks on Friday as well. This sounds like a team with a chip on its shoulder and more to prove, plus they’re undefeated, something I’m sure they’re not ready to give up. The Sierra League playoff race heats up with four 1-1 teams going head-to-head. I like Charter Oak over Damien because of too much offense, and Chino Hills over South Hills because the Huskies give up too many points. Bishop Amat should not lose its regular season home finale, not with a two-week break to get ready for Alemany on the road. A loss would be a disaster, and no way for Hagerty to lose his first at Kiefer.

Thursday’s games
Azusa at Ganesha, 7: p.m. — Robledo (Azusa); Ramirez (Azusa)
Bassett vs. Gladstone at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Gladstone); Ramirez (Gladstone)
Nogales vs. Northview at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Ramirez (Northview)
Friday’s games
Glendora vs. Alta Loma at Citrus College, 7 p.m. – Robledo (Glendora); Ramirez (Glendora)
Bonita at West Covina, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Ramirez (West Covina)
Diamond Ranch at Los Altos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DRanch); Ramirez (DRanch)
Rowland at Walnut, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Walnut); Ramirez (Rowland)
Arroyo at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Arroyo); Ramirez (Arroyo)
Rosemead at Mountain View, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rosemead); Ramirez (Rosemead)
South El Monte at El Monte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Monte); Ramirez (El Monte)
La Puente at Sierra Vista, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Ramirez (La Puente)
Workman vs. Duarte at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Workman); Ramirez (Workman)
Notre Dame at Bishop Amat, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BAmat); Ramirez (BAmat)
Ayala at Claremont, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Claremont); Ramirez (Claremont)
Charter Oak at Damien, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Charter Oak); Ramirez (Ch. Oak)
South Hills at Chino Hills, 7 p.m. — Robledo (CHills); Ramirez (CHills)
Pomona vs. Covina at Covina District, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Covina); Ramirez (Covina)
Wilson at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BPark); Ramirez (BPark)

I was caught by surprise when South Hills sophomore transfer Aaron Vaughns made his debut for Charter Oak on Friday, getting four carries for 17 yards in their loss to Claremont. The junior running back was one of four South Hills players to transfer and with his approval, all four who left the Huskies have been cleared by the CIF-Southern Section, which include Brock Booth and Randall Varella to Bishop Amat, and receiver Chris Gilchrist and now Vaughns to Charter Oak. Vaughns was apparently granted a valid change of address transfer on Oct. 13.