By Stephen Ramirez
steve.ramirez@langnews.com
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter

(Photo by Leo Jarzomb/Whittier Daily News)

La Serna-Los Altos water polo photo gallery
It may only be an early-season game, but the Los Altos and La Serna high school boys’ water polo teams, both of which are ranked in the Top 10 of CIF-SS Division 5, put on quite a show on Tuesday afternoon at La Serna.
The game included four All-CIF players from last season, with Los Altos (4-2) and La Serna averaging 15 and 13 goals per game, respectively.
La Serna, ranked No. 4, came from behind for the second year in a row in the annual nonleague game and defeated second-ranked Los Altos, 17-13.
Despite a high-scoring game, La Serna third-year coach Jim Armstrong was quick to praise his freshman goalie Zack Jenkins on his strong play late in the game, holding Los Altos to only one goal in the final period.
“They (Los Altos) can really make a goalie look silly,” Armstrong said. “They shoot from such angles and with authority, but he stepped up big and stopped them in the end.

Aram and Fred discuss the big games in the Whittier Daily News area for Week 3 of the High School Football season. Aram and Fred both like Damien over St. Paul, but Fred is taking La Habra while Aram takes La Mirada in the battle for No. 1 in Whittier.

St. Paul quarterback Jacob Maier (#15) breaks away from a South East defender in their non-league football game at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs on Friday September 12, 2014. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)

DAILY NEWS FOOTBALL RANKINGS
1. La Mirada (2-1) — The Matadores were given a dose of reality after being blown out by a Servite team that is considered one of the best in the state. But they stay at No. 1, because their 2014 resume is just better than anyone else. This week, La Mirada gets La Habra, which also gives us a better look of good they really are.
2. La Serna (2-1) — The Lancers, after an opening week setback, are rolling. They beat a good Los Osos team, then overwhelmed Schurr last week. They again look like the Del Rio League favorites, and still might be the best in the area.
3. La Habra (1-2) — The Highlanders are in the same boat as La Mirada, who they host on Friday. But the Mats have better wins, although La Habra’s white-washing of South Hills was impressive.
4. St. Paul (3-0) — Look who is the area’s only undefeated team. But as horse trainer Tom Smith told owner Charles Howard in Seabiscuit, ‘Against who?’ The Swordsman get a good measuring stick at Damien this week. Win that, and you have to believe they can do some damage in the Angelus League.
5. El Rancho (1-1) — The Dons appear to be La Serna’s chief challenger in the Del Rio League. Right now, they appear to be a step behind, but I like the look of this club.
6. Whittier (2-1) — The Cardinals make the biggest leap in the area, moving here form outside last week’s top 10. But its earned after they whacked last week’s No. 6 — Whittier Christian — and every else in the bottom of the top 10 lost, and in some cases, big.
7. Whittier Christian (2-1) — With the 6-10 ranked teams all losing, the Heralds just drop one spot. Other than last week’s loss to Whittier, the Heralds have looked solid.
8. Santa Fe (1-2) — It’s hard to get a read on the Christian Lara-less Chieftains, who have again scheduled up big. They’ve got another tough one this week, traveling to West Covina.
9. California (1-2) — The Condors have suffered back-to-back blowouts. It won’t get any easier this week as they are at San Marino, which won 65-0 last week.
10. Schurr (1-2) — The Spartans were no match for La Serna last week …but who is?
Others: 11. Cantwell (1-1), 12. Montebelo (0-3), 13. Pioneer (1-2).

The game: In this year’s Tribskin Pick’em, Aram will I will do it a little differently. We’ll pick all games from the SGVN coverage areas of the Tribune, Whittier Daily News and Pasadena Star-News for an all-encompassing, all-out bragging right for 2014, since nobody ever pays the dinner bet. I won last year, ending Aram’s two-year win streak.
Head-2-Head
Aram Tolegian (Last Week: 31-10; Season Total: 91-29)
Fred Robledo (Last Week 29-12; Season Total: 83-37)

Last Week:
Aram picked up a couple more games, his big difference makers were taking San Gorgonio over Glendora, Glendale over La Canada, and Bassett over El Monte.
This week: Great games in the Pasadena area and is good as Monrovia’s looked, I like St. Francis over the ‘Cats and La Salle over Maranatha. Glendora at Los Altos is intriguing, but this is where Glendora flexes its muscle. Also like Bishop Amat easy over Chino Hills and San Dimas easy over Rosemead. In Whittier, gotta take La Habra over La Mirada, also like Damien over St. Paul.

Thursday’s games
Gladstone vs. El Monte at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Monte); Aram ()
Pioneer vs. Cerritos at Gahr, 7 p.m. — Robledo — Robledo (Pioneer); Aram ()
Sherman Indian vs. Blair at Muir, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Blair); Aram ()
Friday’s games
Bishop Amat at Chino Hills, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BAmat); Aram ()
La Mirada at La Habra, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Habra); Aram ()
Arcadia vs. Azusa at Citrus College, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Arcadia); Aram ()
La Salle at Maranatha, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Salle); Aram ()
Monrovia at St. Francis, 7 p.m. — Robledo (St. Francis); Aram ()
San Dimas at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SDimas); Aram ()
South El Monte at Bonita, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Aram ()
South Hills vs. La Serna at California, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Serna); Aram ()
St. Paul at Damien, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Damien); Aram ()
Northview at Walnut, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Aram ()
Bell Gardens at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. — Robledo (COak); Aram ()
Beverly Hills at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BHills); Aram ()
Bosco Tech at Bassett, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bassett); Aram ()
Brea Olinda at Diamond Bar, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Diamond Bar); Aram ()
Burroughs vs. Santa Fe at Downey, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Burroughs); Aram ()
California at San Marino, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SMarino); Aram ()
Covina at Claremont, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Claremont); Aram ()
Diamond Ranch at Schurr, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DRanch); Aram ()
Duarte at Mountain View, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Duarte); Aram ()
El Rancho at Montebello, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Rancho); Aram ()
Flintridge Prep at Sierra Vista, 7 p.m. — Robledo (FPrep); Aram ()
Ganesha at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BPark); Aram ()
Glendale at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SPasadena); Aram ()
Glendora at Los Altos, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Glendora); Aram ()
Hart at Muir, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Muir); Aram ()
Keppel vs. Workman at La Puente, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Workman); Aram ()
La Canada vs. Crescenta Valley at Glendale, 7 p.m. — Robledo (CV); Aram ()
La Puente at Wilson, 7 p.m. — Robledo (La Puente); Aram ()
Pomona at Colony, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Colony); Aram ()
Rio Hondo Prep vs. Calvary Murrieta at Temescal Canyon, 7 p.m. — Robledo (RHPrep); Aram ()
Rowland at Arroyo, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Arroyo); Aram ()
Webb vs. Marshall at U. of La Verne, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Webb); Aram ()
West Covina at Tesoro, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Tesoro); Aram ()
Whittier at Long Beach Wilson, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Whittier); Aram ()
Whittier Christian at St. Margaret’s, 7 p.m. — Robledo (St. Marg); Aram ()
Alhambra vs. L.A. Wilson at Moor Field, 7 p.m. — Robledo (LA Wilson); Aram ()
Gabrielino at Mar Vista, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Mar Vista); Aram ()
Temple City at Eagle Rock, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Eagle Rock); Aram ()