Head-2-Head
Aram Tolegian (Last Week: 20-9; Season Total: 352-107)
Fred Robledo (Last Week 21-8; Season Total: 352-107)
Below: The question of the week is will Glendora QB Matt Fink return from his high ankle sprain to take on top-ranked Colony?
Last Week: My oh my, after 11 weeks and more than 400 predictions, Aram and I tied with three weeks go. We both missed last week taking La Puente over Montebello, Kaiser over Bonita, El Rancho over Burbank, La Mirada over Salesian and La Habra over Capistrano Valley. But I got Aram on four games taking Azusa over El Monte, Glendora over Summit, Crescenta Valley over Harvard Westlake and Pasadena Poly over Morro Bay. Aram got me on three, taking La Serna over Dominguez, Arrowhead over Cantwell and San Marino over Claremont.
This week: This is one of the best local match-up weeks I can remember. Let’s start with Glendora, I’m hearing that QB Matt Fink is likely to play at Colony, so I’m going with Glendora. And if Fink is fit, they become my new favorite to win it all. I like Charter Oak in an easier than expected win at San Marino. I’m taking West Covina over Bonita in a rematch of West Covina’s 2011 title over the Bearcats, which to this day is still the best championship game I’ve been part of. The pictures tell it all. Will Bonita get its revenge? I don’t think so because Bonita has rarely put together two solid weeks in a row, and West Covina is just better. Monrovia flirted with disaster and will probably pour it on at Los Altos. Pomona is the Mid-Valley favorite in my opinion. Even if the administration stinks and they’re without their head coach on administrative leave, players win games so Pomona will beat San Dimas. Northview will win a tougher than expected game at Montebello, St. Francis will rout La Serna and undefeated Maranatha and Pasadena Poly will move a step closer to a highly anticipated championship in the Northwest. Azusa and Rosemead have no shot at Paraclete and Sierra Canyon, respectively. As for Bishop Amat, time to put on their big boy pants and show they’re capable of beating anyone in the Pac-5. But the question is, who starts on Friday at QB, Damian Garcia or Ryder Ruiz. Glad that’s not my choice to make. Either way, Amat advances.
CIF-SS High School Football Playoffs
Friday’s predictions
Pac-5 Division
Bishop Amat vs. JSerra at Saddleback College, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (BAmat); Aram (JSerra)
Central Division
Glendora at Colony, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Glendora); Aram (Colony)
Charter Oak at San Marino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (COak); Aram (CO)
West Covina at Bonita, 7 p.m. — Robledo (WCovina); Aram (WestCo)
Monrovia at Los Altos, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Monrovia); Aram (Monrovia)
Mid-Valley Division
Azusa vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Paraclete); Aram (Clete)
Northview at Montebello, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Aram (Nview)
Pomona at San Dimas, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Pomona); Aram (Pomona)
Rosemead vs. Sierra Canyon at Granada Hills HS, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SCanyon); Aram (SC)
Southeast Division
St. Francis vs. La Serna at CalHi, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (St. Francis); Aram (SF)
Northwest Division
Maranatha at Arrowhead Christian, 7:30 p.m. — Robledo (Maranatha); Aram (Natha)
Linfield Christian vs. Pasadena Poly at South Pas, 7 p.m. — Robledo (PPoly); Aram (Poly)
Highlights, interviews and crowd shot of Los Altos’ playoff victory over South Hills on Friday.