(SGVN/Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

By Steve Ramirez
MONTEBELLO — It wasn’t pretty, but Alhambra coach Lou Torres isn’t about to give it back.
Not when his Moors are in first place and undefeated in the Almont League.
Sebastian Espinosa returned a blocked field goal 65 yards for a touchdown and visiting Alhambra held Schurr to 82 yards to lead the Moors to an 18-8 victory Thursday over the Spartans in an Almont League game.
Alhambra, also getting a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Joshua Mendoza, improved to 6-1 and 2-0 in league. Schurr, which got a 1-yard touchdown run from Bradley Powell, slipped to 1-6 and 1-1.
“We knew it would be a defensive game,” Torres said. “We were like heavyweights. We just kept punching.”

Continue reading “Defense shines, but Spartans are held to 82 yards against Alhambra” »

I just received word that Whittier High School’s homecoming football game against Pioneer will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Whittier College. I didn’t want to confuse anyone who was hoping to attend.

Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb

Each week I will rank all 13 area football teams. Here is this week’s rankings (which include previous rank and record):

1. (2) La Habra (3-3) — The Highlanders move to the top spot, mainly as a result of St. Paul falling to Chaminade, but it’s also tough not to reward a team for a 39-0 victory in which it yielded just three first downs.
2. (1) St. Paul (5-1) — The Swordsmen drop a spot after a 31-6 loss to Chaminade that saw St. Paul gain 295 yards, but get just six points on four trips into the red zone.
3. (4) La Serna (5-1) — The Lancers move up to No. 3 after steamrolling Whittier. This team continues to look like it can win another Del Rio League title.
4. (3) California (5-1) — Cal, which continues to play solid defense, was a bit sluggish in a 17-7 win over Pioneer. It will need to be more fine-tuned against preseason league favorite Santa Fe this week.
5. (6) La Mirada (3-4) — Back-to-back routs have the Mats back in the top five. Truthfully, this is a team that has played better than its record, with two of the losses coming to the top two teams in the area. All four losses have come to teams ranked in their respective divisions.
Others: 6. (8) Whittier Christian (4-3); 7. (9) Santa Fe (2-4); 8. (7) El Rancho (4-2); 9. (5) Cantwell (3-3); 10. (13) Schurr (1-5); 11. (10) Montebello (3-3); 12. (11) Whittier (3-3);
13. (12) Pioneer (0-6).

Above: St. Paul football players David Cabral, left, and Tyler Carrillo are the third and fourth members of their families to be impact players for the Swordsmen. (Keith Durflinger / Staff Photographer )

By Steve Ramirez
SANTA FE SPRINGS — David Cabral and Tyler Carrillo are St. Paul High School legacies.
The seniors are the latest in the line of their respective families who have not only played football for the Swordsmen but excelled while doing it.
Cabral, the team’s fullback, is the fourth Cabral to put on the Blue and White, joined by his father, Lou, who is also an assistant coach, and brothers Nick and Louie.
Carrillo, who starts at tight end, is living up to the tradition of brothers Andrew and Matthew, who also played tight end. Matthew Carrillo also played at Mt. San Antonio College and Old Dominion.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Carrillo, who figures to be a key player for the Swordsmen when they host Cathedral in their annual homecoming game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. “I can’t really describe it. I used to watch my older brothers play, and now it’s my turn.
“I was the ball boy, and can remember watching them play. They are the reason I wanted to come here.”
Cabral would also like to become the fourth member of his family to play for a CIF-Southern Section title.
His father helped win the Big Five Conference title in 1981, with brothers Nick and Louie playing in divisional title games, respectively, in 1998 and 2007. Louie helped St. Paul secure its last CIF-SS title, the Swordsmen beating Palmdale for the Western Division championship.
“I just want to keep that tradition going,” Cabral said. “I remember coming here and wondering, `How am I going to be playing with guys that are so big?’ But when I got here, they taught me how to just play football and not be scared, no matter how big, how fast, these guys are, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Continue reading “Family affair: Cabral, Carrillo latest in St. Paul family lines” »

There will be a lot at stake when the Whittier Christian High School football team travels to Maranatha for a 7 p.m. Olympic League game Friday.
Both teams are ranked among the top 10 in the CIF- Southern Section Mid-Valley Division, and the winner will take a step forward toward the league title.
Pride, though, will also be on the line for coaches Sergio Gradilla of the Heralds and the Minutemen’s Peter Karavedas, who was an assistant at Whittier Christian last season.
“We’ve talked about this since he got the job,” Gradilla said. “Now, it’s here. I don’t think it makes it more difficult (knowing one another). It’s going to come down to which team can step up and execute.”
Continue reading “Friend vs. Friend: A look at Whittier Christian’s Olympic League showdown with top-rated Maranatha, now coached by former Herald assistant Peter Karavedas” »