Hall of Fame game tonight at West Covina, 7:30 p.m., matching West's Nick Bueno, Jeffrey Davis and Karl Holmes against East's Julian Gener, Maurice Dupleasis and Aubrey Coleman

What: San Gabriel Valley Hall of Fame Game
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Where: West Covina HS
Series: East leads, 19-10-2
Last year: East 40, West 0

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
The East's recent dominance in the Hall of Fame All-Star Game means very little to Covina High School football coach Darryl Thomas, who has yet to taste any success in two tries in the game.
Thomas, who has played and coached in the game, is 0-1-1 heading into tonight's renewal.

He's hoping to coach the heavily favored East to another dominant performance and add to what's become a commanding lead for the East in the series.

"I've been affiliated with this game twice and I haven't won," said Thomas, who lost as the East coach in 2001 and tied as a player in 1986.

The East won last year's matchup, 40-0, to take a 19-10-2 lead in the series.
Tonight's kickoff is slated for 7:30 at West Covina High.

As poised as the East looks to keep the pounding going, there has been some optimism out of Monrovia High where the West team has been practicing and, according to game organizers,looks capable of springing an upset.

Monrovia's Ryan Maddox will coach the West and has the services of Star-News Player of the Year Nick Bueno under center. Joining Bueno at quarterback is Muir's Jeffrey Davis.
Both quarterbacks couldn't ask for a better group of receivers to throw to, led by Arizona State-bound Muir split end Karl Holmes Jr., Monrovia's Jay Henderson and Arroyo tight end Sam Torres.

Defensively, though, the West will have its hands full with a sizable group of East receivers led by Walnut's Aubrey Coleman, who is 6-foot-5. As if that wasn't enough, the East will try Rowland's Michael Ball, one of the area's top weapons, at receiver.

The East also boasts Claremont's Aaron Dockery as one of its top targets.

Line play is an area where the series seemingly has gotten away from the West. Led by Fresno State-bound Allen Brown of San Dimas, South Hills' Peter Nonu and West Covina's Jon Cortez, the East figures to have another big advantage up front.

The East, which didn't allow a point last year, also should be tough to crack again this year thanks to a stellar front seven that's led by Amat defensive end Julian Gener and West Covina linebacker Maurice Dupleasis.

Gener and Bishop Amat teammate Michael Juarez will honor former teammate Austin Lacy, who passed away earlier this month, by wearing stickers of Lacy's No. 6 on their helmets.