What: San Gabriel Valley All Star Football Game
Where: West Covina High School
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Above: San Dimas’ Jarrell Sykes will take part in Friday’ game
By Aram Tolegian
Montebello High School football coach Pete Gonzalez has coached in his fair share of all-star games and he’s never seen anything like the camaraderie the West team has as it readies for the San Gabriel Valley All-Star Senior game Friday at West Covina High. But will it all add up to a win for the West, or will an East team that’s itching to get some pride back for it’s neck of the woods after losing two straight in the series remind everyone who has historically been the boss in the series. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
“I’m most impressed that they’ve all shown up,” Gonzalez said referring to having had full participation in practice. “I really appreciate the fact that they’ve put their time in. I know we’re up for a big challenge, but I’m really impressed with our commitment to the game.
“They understand that pride is at stake and they are representing their schools, their communities, their coaches, their families. We’re going to play to win. It’s been a great group of guys. No problems. They’re really supportive of each other. This is the fourth all-star game I’ve done the last eight years and these kids got along the best.”
The West offense should be dangerous by land or air on Friday. La Salle running back, the Pasadena Star-News Player of the Year, is the headliner while Star-News Offensive Player of the Year Michael Bonds figures to get the lions share of the quarterback duties. When Bonds drops back to pass he will likely be looking for Arcadia Raeshawn Roland, who is one of the top receivers around.
Whether Bonds will have much time or Milliner much room is the big question because the East defensive line is no joke. The Los Altos tandem of Jayson Jones (nose guard) and defensive end Andrew Manuele headline a unit that has shined in practice.
On offense, the East is led by a dangerous group of running backs led by San Dimas’ Jarrell Sykes, Northview’s Kevin Thomas and La Serna’s Matthew Marshall. It’s looking quite obvious that on either side of the ball, the East is looking to bully the West with its physical nature.
“Our running backs are a good bunch of running backs,” East head coach Eric Martinez (Diamond Ranch) said. “Our defensive line is pretty good. Those are our strengths.”
Although it’s an all-star game, Martinez said he and his staff have been driving home that the goal is to win on Friday. The East has lost the last two installments after establishing a seven-game win streak prior to the 2015 game. The East still comfortably leads the all-time series 23-13-2.
“I would love to go out with a win because, obviously, my last game, we lost,” Martinez said. “And the fact we haven’t won the last two years, that’s a big incentive. I’ve told them they’ve owned the last two years and we’ve got to bring it back, so they’re pretty pumped. They just want to change it up now.”
The West, however, seems bent on adding to its budding streak.
“We’ve really emphasized what we’re playing for and who,” Gonzalez said. “They understand it.”
