I hope everyone had a chance or will have a chance to pick up the PrepXtra football preview that debuted today. It has a preview on all 13 area teams along with some other interesting stories.
Now that the preview is out of the way. It’s time to make some league picks.
I’ll start with the Del Rio League since the league involves nearly half the area teams.
If you saw our preseason rankings from last month, you’ll see little has changed.
The Daily News Preseason pick to win the Del Rio League is:
LA SERNA
Here’s why La Serna will win its first DRL title in decades: La Serna returns 18 starters from last year and is hungry to avenge a bad 2009 campaign in which the team finished 3-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
The team has an improving quarterback in Andrew Buenrostro and several solid players in linebacker Jake Houts, wide receiver/defensive backs Andrew Rosales and Connor Burke, offensive/defensive lineman Phil Alonzo and some solid running backs in Richard Alvarez, Oscar Medina and Tommy Ruiz.
Here’s the rest of the order from 2-6
2. SANTA FE
T3. CALIFORNIA
T3. EL RANCHO
5. WHITTIER
6. PIONEER
My take: Santa Fe was my pick to win before running back Jon Pinedo went down for the season. The Chiefs have some decent backups but no one like Pinedo. His loss will be felt. As for California, the Condors are young and might get beaten up early. However, California has a solid returning quarterback in Adam Contreras and a strong offensive line and should be fine by league time. I like El Rancho a lot but have questions regarding quarterback Troy Campos and a small offensive/defensive line. I do like the prospect of a fired up Art Franco and Ronnel Lone in the backfield. I liked Whittier a whole lot more than before I heard the Cardinals lost two crucial defensive players to grades. That may very well take a bite out of their chances. Don’t sleep on Pioneer. The Titans might have the best O-line in the league and should be in every game this season.
The most balanced Del Rio League in years should figure to have a balanced and fun race until the last week of the season. Hope to see you at a game.
