Friday Night Recap: St. Paul makes its play, rallies past Ayala; Santa Fe is no match for Charter Oak; La Serna, Whittier Christian also win

We should have a new No. 1 next week, and it will be a familiar name as St. Paul, taking advantage of La Habra’s blunder on Thursday, rallied to be beat Ayala. Other big wins on Friday were La Serna getting back in the win column with a victory over Warren and Whittier Christian winning for the second-consecutive week. Also, Whittier fell from the unbeatens, with a loss to Paramount. There was also a big loss, with Santa Fe losing, 49-0, to Charter Oak. It’s the Chiefs’ third blow-out setback in five weeks.

Here’s the Friday night roundup:
No.2 St. Paul 30, Ayala 27 —
Do the Swordsmen have the look of the top team in the area? You bet. While this was closer than I thought, nothing beats 4-0, so you can expect St. Paul to come on up, especially following La Habra’s 41-6 loss to St. John Bosco on Thursday. Paul Echeverria rushed for 96 yards to lead the Swordsmen, who face Schurr next week before opening Mission League play in two weeks.
No. 3 Whittier Christian 29, Salesian 14 – That’s two in a row for the Heralds, who are starting look like the team that went to the Mid-Valley Division finals last season. Whittier Christian, getting 259 yards and three TDs from quarterback Daniel Chacon, led 26-0.
No. 4 California 27, Schurr 0 — You can throw the Condors in the mix for the Del Rio League chase after blitzing the Spartans. California, keyed by Nick Gonzalez, forced five fumbles and had six sacks to coast in a nonleague game. Running backs Gabriel Lozano, Justin Dankert and jAaron Garcia combined to rush for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Bellflower 21, No. 5 La Mirada 7 – Just when we think the Mats are about to step up, they fall back. Bellflower had an 82-yard interception return for a TD and a 54-yard fumble return to set up another score to beat La Mirada in the Suburban League opener.
Charter Oak 49, Santa Fe 0 – Boy the Chiefs are difficult to figure out. This is their third blow-out loss in five games. But all against the best. The question is how this will effect their psyche. Coach Jack Mahlsted says it won’t. But you still have to wonder.Running back Joey Davis rushed for 98 yards.
La Serna 21, Warren 7 – The Lancers are beginning to look like the Del Rio League favorite after beating the Bears. O.J. Medina rushed for 147 yards and two scores to lead La Serna.
St. Bernard 27, Cantwell 24 – This one will hurt. The Cardinals, getting 150 yards rushing and a TD from junior Jared Gonzales, looked like they were on their way for a win in the Del Rey League opener, leading 21-6 at halft. But the Vikings showed why they are one of the favorites after rallying.
Paramount 24, Whittier 14 – Whittier’s chance at at perfect season ended against the Pirates, who led 17-0 after three quarters.
Huntington Park 17, Pioneer 13 – It was close, but the Titans fall to 0-4.

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Thursday Recap: La Habra no match for St. John Bosco, 41-6

La Habra, the top team in the area all season that looked so impressively despite losses to Pac-5 Division stalwarts Servite and Orange Lutheran, laid a big egg Thursday, dropping a 41-6 setback to another Pac-5 team, St. John Bosco,
The visiting Braves had nearly 500 yards total offense, including 228 during the first half as they took advantage of three Highlander turnovers to lead 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and 28-0 by halftime.
Royce Moore had 162 total yards and scored two touchdowns and quarterback Rene Medina threw for 221 and accounted for three scores as St. John Bosco improved to 4-1.
La Habra, getting 102 yards rushing from Nick Serrato, slipped to 2-3.
The Highlanders, who lost to Trinity League members Servite and Orange Lutheran by a combined 14 points the past two weeks, lost their sixth consecutive game to teams from the Pac-5 Division League. They also went 0-3 against those three last season.
The final quarter was played with a running clock.
La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta: “They’re good and we didn’t play well. We didn’t execute, we
didn’t take care of the football. We didn’t do the things our football program normally does. But they had something to do with that. They’re a very good football team. That’s the reality of it. That’s a good group of football players.

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Getting his just reward: Whittier’s Walter Scott wins ABC7 NFL Coach of the Week Award

Here’s my story on one of the good guys, Whittier football coach Walter Scott, who won the ABC7 NFL High School Coach of the Week award for the third time on Wednesday.

WHITTIER – Walter Scott is a legacy at Whittier High School.
He played there and for the past 23 years has been the Cardinals’ football coach. His dedication to the school and community is widely known, and Scott was rewarded for his work this week when he earned the ABC7 NFL High School Coach of the Week award.
It marked the third time he won the award, making him the fourth coach to be so honored. He received the award Wednesday.
The presentation will air Saturday on KABC’s Sportszone Show about 9:15 p.m.
“It’s all about these kids,” Scott said. “Whittier High School is a special place. Hopefully, (winning this award) puts them in that special category.
“Around here, it’s about the kids. Hopefully that translates to them, and it did. I’m kind of humbled that they chose me again. I was really surprised when they called. But because our season was so difficult last year, it was important that the same message was being sent, and that being those life skills that we are trying to give these kids.”
The message has been transmitted and received.
Whittier was winless in 2010 but has opened this season with three consecutive victories. It joined St. Paul as the area’s only undefeated teams.
Part of the change is another year of growth for many of the players, but also what Scott always taught them – to keep pushing forward.
“He’s a great coach,” quarterback Gio Hernandez said. “He’s great to play for.
He didn’t give up on us after last year. He’s always been here for us.
“He’s very positive all the time, about us just getting better and trying to improve.”

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