Tribune Super 35 Rankings
1. Charter Oak (8-1) — From this point forward, Charter Oak plays big-boy football, starting with trying to dethrone three-time Sierra League champ Chino Hills at their house on Friday followed by the Inland playoffs. We think our Chargers are good enough to get to the second round and possibly the semifinals. Do you?
2. West Covina (8-1) — Best thing that could happen to the Bulldogs is having a Week 10 championship game with Diamond Ranch. The best way to prepare to defend a title is having a game that means something, and this means a lot. If they lose, there goes the No. 1 seed in the Southeast and the No. 1 league entry. But if recents results mean anything, expect the Bulldogs to make a statement and win big at home in their league finale.
3. Bishop Amat (6-4) — The Lancers need a Hail Mary to get to the playoffs after last week’s disaster at Notre Dame, failing to take advantage of an INT that set up a first down at the 12 with almost two minutes left and a chance to control their own destiny. They lost, finished 1-3 in the Serra and now have to not only hope Crespi and Notre Dame lose to Loyola and Alemany respectively in the final games on Friday, but hope to win a three-way coin flip afterward. Is this Friday Night Lights or what?
4. Covina (9-1) –– All that stands between the Colts and the No. 1 seed in the Mid-Valley is pesky rival Northview. You don’t think the Colts stumble now do you? They’ve an over-time loss against the top team in the Southeast from being undefeated. This is their year, now they have to go out and get it done.
5. Chino Hills (6-3) — The sleeping giant is back ready to go after its fourth straight Sierra League title. Since winning the title in 2008, the Huskies are 16-3 in the Sierra, and have never gone 5-0 in league.
6. Damien (6-3) — Do you really think we should drop the Spartans after a close loss to Chino Hills and one that got away against Charter Oak? The Spartans are a year away from really making some noise, but they do not want to end the season with three straight losses after how they started. They get Ayala and need to win to get into the playoffs.
7. San Dimas (7-2) — With only two guaranteed playoff spots in the Valle Vista, the Saints need to beat surprising Pomona to lock down No. 2, otherwise they likely get in as a wild-card with an unpredictable playoff road. I thought Pomona worked Northview much easier than San Dimas did, but I still like the Saints on Thursday against the Devils.
8. Arroyo (8-1) — Quarterback Steven Rivera has 28 touchdowns to lead the SGV, but all he’s thinking about is beating El Monte and winning his third straight undefeated Mission Valley league title. If the Knights get hot in the playoffs, Rivera could go after the SGV single-season touchdown passing record of 42, set by Bishop Amat’s Pat Haden in the early 1970s and equaled by Los Altos’ Felipe Aguilar in 2000 during a 14-0 season.
9. La Puente (9-0) — How good is the area’s only undefeated team? We will find out on Friday when they try to snap three-time defending league champ Azusa’s 25-game league winning streak.
10. Bonita (5-4) –– The Bearcats got a huge overtime win against Diamond Bar and now just need to beat Rowland to get into the playoffs. Said it before and will say it again, they will be the biggest sleeper in the Southeast playoffs.
The rest: 11. Los Altos (6-3), 12. Ayala (3-6), 13. Claremont (5-4), 14. Diamond Ranch (5-4), 15. Pomona (6-3), 16. Azusa (6-3), 17. El Monte (7-2), 18. South Hills (3-6), 19. Glendora (3-6), 20. Diamond Bar (4-5), 21. Rosemead (5-4), 22. South El Monte (6-3), 23. Nogales (5-5), 24. Duarte (6-2), 25. Walnut (2-8), 26. Rowland (2-7), 27. Northview (2-7), 28. Sierra Vista (5-4), 29. Mountain View (3-6), 30. Baldwin Park (2-7), 31. Workman (4-5), 32. Gladstone (2-7), 33. Ganesha (1-8), 34. Bassett (1-8), 35. Wilson (0-9).