Note: Southeast Division prediction on Tuesday, Inland and Pac-5 on Wednesday.
Above: Monrovia QB Nick Bueno has been waiting a year to get over last year’s championship loss to San Dimas. His chance for redemption is now.
Fred’s explanation: This is an extremely tough division to predict because I’m not too familiar with the Olympic, but have heard nothing but good things about their league from coaches and our reporters at the Star-News and Whittier. You heard me say time and time again that Covina deserved the No. 1 seed on paper based on who they beat and overall record, but now it’s time to pick the winners and based on what I’ve seen this year, Monrovia is the most talented with the most dangerous weapon in QB Nick Bueno. And let’s face it, they have the most to prove after losing a heartbreaker to San Dimas in last year’s title game. I know I’ve dubbed them the Billy Cats after nine straight losses in championship games, but that’s all gonna end in a few weeks when they hang their first banner. Azusa is going to have a dream run as well, you don’t give up just 30 points all season and disappear. I keep going back to how they dismantled Bell Gardens in the opener 48-0, a team that is 7-3. Then I witnessed the 28-0 thumping over La Puente, an 8-2 team. You might balk at their schedule, but they whipped that schedule like I’ve never seen a team whip a schedule before, outscoring their opponents 392-30. Forget the heights and weights of Aztecs players they’ve got the biggest muscle of all, the one right smack in the middle of their chest and that’s going to take them a long way. Now for a big, however. I won’t be surprised if Whittier Christian, San Dimas or Covina make a run, though the Saints have a tough one at Arroyo in the opener. The Colts have a never-say-die attitude that I admire, but if they get to Azusa, I don’t see it happening. I wouldn’t be surprised if Baldwin Park makes a run, though having Monrovia in round two makes that difficult. That’s what I love about this division, no matter how many times I go over it, I can think of five to six teams that have a real shot of winning it all. But in the end, I love the dreamy matchup of Monrovia and Azusa.
Steve’s take: Fred is right for the most part. It’s a tough division, but at the end of the day none of the teams are better than Monrovia and Azusa, who should meet in the final. Yes, Covina and San Dimas, who I believe will take down Arroyo, can make a run. But Monrovia’s strength comes in the middle in the package of Ellis McCarthy, who in this division just can’t be blocked. Nick Bueno is the key to the offense, but football, regardless of level, always is decided by what happens up front. You can have all the speed on the outside, but if you can’t block up front, you, my friends, are not going to win. Look how unstoppable Oregon looked last year, with speedy backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. But the Ducks offensive line couldn’t keep Ohio State’s defensive tackles out of the backfield, and lost. That’s where Monrovia has the advantage with McCarthy. That edge will be enough in the next few weeks.
Mid-Valley Division Predictions
Top Seeds: 1. Azusa (10-0), 2. Monrovia (8-2), 3. Arroyo (9-1), 4. Covina (9-1)
Unseeded Sleepers: San Dimas, Baldwin Park, Whittier Christian.
Mid-Valley Division
Top Bracket
Village Christian (6-4) at No. 1 Azusa (10-0) — Azusa
Temple City (4-6) at Rosemead (7-3) — Rosemead
Bell Gardens (7-3) at Whittier Christian (9-1) — Whittier Christian
La Canada (5-5) at No. 4 Covina (9-1) — Covina
Bottom Bracket
San Dimas (6-4) at No. 3 Arroyo (9-1) — Arroyo
La Puente (8-2) at Maranatha (7-3) — Maranatha
Baldwin Park (5-5) at Schurr (6-4) — Baldwin Park
Gladstone (5-5) at No. 2 Monrovia (8-2) — Monrovia
Quarterfinals
Top Bracket
Azusa over Rosemead
Whittier Christian over Covina
Bottom Bracket
Arroyo over Maranatha
Monrovia over Baldwin Park
Semifinals
Azusa over Whittier Christian
Monrovia over Arroyo
Championship
Monrovia over Azusa
STEVE’S BRACKET
Top Bracket
Village Christian (6-4) at No. 1 Azusa (10-0) — Azusa
Temple City (4-6) at Rosemead (7-3) — Rosemead
Bell Gardens (7-3) at Whittier Christian (9-1) — Whittier Christian
La Canada (5-5) at No. 4 Covina (9-1) — Covina
Bottom Bracket
San Dimas (6-4) at No. 3 Arroyo (9-1) — San Dimas
La Puente (8-2) at Maranatha (7-3) — Maranatha
Baldwin Park (5-5) at Schurr (6-4) — Schurr
Gladstone (5-5) at No. 2 Monrovia (8-2) — Monrovia
Quarterfinals
Azusa over Rosemead
Covina over Whittier Christian
San Dimas over Maranatha
Monrovia over Schurr
Semifinals
Azusa over Covina
Monrovia over San Dimas
Championship
Monrovia over Azusa
