It took a while to get going, but Santa Fe managed to defeat visiting
Littlerock, 36-0, in a preseason football game Thursday night.
Senior running back Aaron Turner carried 26 times for 232yards,
including touchdown runs of 22, 50, 3 nd 11 yards. Turner has 579 yards and nine touchdowns in two games.
Junior quarterback Alex Flores was intercepted twice in the first half
but rallied in the second half to complete all five of his passes for 89 yards, including
a pair of 22-yarders to tight end Nikolai Crouch that set up Turner’s
last touchdown.
Backup quarterback Ryan Garcia got the Chiefs’ final touchdown on a
35-yard keeper in the final minutes.
Santa Fe sacked Littlerock quarterback Sean Duffy four times, two of
them by Crouch, and blocked a pair of punts, the first one setting up
Turner’s 22-yard touchdown run.
Santa fe improves to 2-0; Littlerock slips to 2-1.

Several area schools opened the football season in spectacular
fashion, at least offensively. La Serna, 56 points; Cantwell, 49 points;
El Rancho, 49 points; La Habra, 40 points; Santa Fe, 40 points;
Whittier, 33 points.
And Whittier Christian scored 36 in a losing cause.

Last Week’s picks: Roger Murray 10-3; Andrew Campa 9-4.
Totals to date: Murray 14-4; Campa 13-5.

This week’s picks:
Thursday’s game:
Littlerock at Santa Fe – Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (Santa Fe)

Friday’s games:
California at La Mirada – Murray (California); Campa (California)
Bassett at Cantwell – Murray (Cantwell); Campa (Cantwell)
El Rancho at Bell Gardens – Murray (El Rancho); Campa (Bell Gardens)
La Habra at South Hills – Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
Norwalk at La Serna – Murray (La Serna); Campa (La Serna)
Rowland at Montebello – Murray (Rowland); Campa (Rowland)
Pioneer at South El Monte – Murray (South El Monte); Campa (South El Monte)
Downey at Schurr – Murray (Schurr); Campa (Schurr)
Whittier at Warren – Murray (Warren); Campa (Warren)
Savanna at Whittier Christian – Murray (WhChristian); Campa
(WhChristian)

Six area teams ranked among the Top 12 in their respective CIF-SS
divisions, with three of them moving up, two dropping and one remaining
the same.

La Habra continues as the Southwest (Div. VI) Division’s No. 2 behind
El Dorado after whipping Downey, 40-15.

Improving their rankings were Santa Fe, from No. 5 to No. 3 and
California, from No. 7 to No. 5, in the Southeast Division (Div. VII),
and St. Paul, which moved from No. 6 to No. 3 in th Western Division
(Div. III).

Santa Fe rousted Warren, 40-14, and California defeated Rowland,
23-10.

Dropping were Schurr, from No. 4 to No. 10 in the Southeast Division
after a tough, 17-14 loss to Burbank Burroughs, and Whittier Christian,
which fell from No. 6 to No. 10 in the Mid-Valley Division (Div. XI).

Locals listed among others receiving votes were La Serna, Whittier
and Pioneer in the Southeast Division, and Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary
in the Northwest Division (Div. 10).

Each of the Daily News’ Top 5 ranked teams came out on top, four of them with decisive decisions and all of them impressive. As expected, in nearly all of the games, running backs were featured, and defense was a catalyst.

Thursday’s result:
Whittier 33, Bell Gardens 30
Enriquez late run in clutch provides winning margin.

Friday’s results:
La Habra 40, Downey 15
Hillman, Quezada and Co. set the stage for next week’s titanic with
Southest Division favorite South Hills.
Santa Fe 40, Warren 14
Turner rushes for 275 yards, five touchdowns in three quarters; No chance for
Chiefs to sneak up on their DRL foes now.
St. Paul 31, LA Garfield 22
QB Lopez averages 10 yards per carry, throws for two TDs with top
rusher Bratcher still sidelined.
California 23, Rowland 10
Condors spot hosts the first score, then rallys as QB Perea throws
two TD passes, runs for another.
La Serna 56, John Glenn 0
QB Burke 7-11-150 yds, two TDs, runs for two more while defense
forces three turnovers, including two interceptions.
El Rancho 49, Cerritos 13
Marcus Aldecoa, Marcus Galan rush for 415 yards as Dons rebound in a
big way from loss in season opener.
Cantwell 49, Salesian 7
Visiting Cardinals showcase potent offense while defense manages
to grab some of the spotlight.
Fullerton 33, La Mirada 16
Visiting Matadores waste QB Poncedeleon’s 213-yard passing.
Burroughs 17, Schurr 14
Second-half field goal spells defeat for Spartans.
Santa Paula 39, Whittier Christian 36
Sophomore QB Stephen Anderson, three TD passes, six in two games.
Charter Oak 52, Pioneer 28
Titans stay close for awhile, can’t hang with powerful Chargers.
Baldwin Park 17, Montebello 7
Oilers still struggling to establish an offense.

Last week: Roger Murray 4-1; Andrew Campa 4-1

This week’s picks:
Thursday’s game
Bell Gardens vs. Whittier: Murray (Whittier); Campa (Bell Gardens)

Friday’s games
California at Rowland: Murray (California); Campa (California)
Cantwell at Salesian: Murray (Cantwell); Campa (Cantwell)
Cerritos at El Rancho: Murray (El Rancho); Campa (Cerritos)
La Habra at Downey: Murray (La Habra); Campa (La Habra)
La Mirada at Fullerton: Murray (Fullerton); Campa (Fullerton)
John Glenn vs. La Serna: Murray (John Glenn); Campa (La Serna)
Montebello at Baldwin Park: Murray (Baldwin Park); Campa (Baldwin Park)
Pioneer at Charter Oak: (Murray (Charter Oak); Campa (Charter Oak)
Warren vs. Santa Fe: Murray (Santa Fe); Campa (Warren)
Schurr at B/Burroughs: Murray (Schurr); Campa (Burroughs)
LA Garfield at St. Paul: Murray (Garfield); Campa (Garfield)
Santa Paula vs. Whittier Christian: Murray (WhChristian); Campa (WhChristian)