It’s officially football season: Star-News Top 10 heading into passing circuit …

1. MONROVIA — Still the most talented team in the area from top to bottom. Expect more of a ground game with considerable depth at RB and a athletic QB in Potts. Wildcats could be special again if Kurt Scoby makes his way into the backfield this fall.

2. LA SALLE — The only thing more disappointing than an 0-10 record is a 10-1 record. But huge strides were made last season under head coach Russell Gordon. There’s a good amount of skill talent to work with, plus some transfers. Where the worry lies is along the lines.

3. MUIR — The Mustangs are making progress slowly but surely under head coach John Hardy. The thing is that they’re not operating with all the talent that could be at their disposal. Depth is a sweat, but who else you gonna like in the Pacific?

4. RIO HONDO PREP — A dynamic senior class was lost, but this program knows how to reload. The new faces will need only some seasoning because they probably already have the system down pat. RB Nate Tayco is one of the best ball carriers around and expect him to be relied on early and often.

5. ST. FRANCIS — The rebuild is on. Knights were the least explosive they’ve been in a while last season and that was with Jarde Lebowitz at QB. Now he’s gone and there’s more work to do. St. Francis needs a serious upgrade in the speed department.

6. SAN MARINO — Here’s where things start to get shaky in local area. The Titans lost an excellent senior class, but reportedly have some nice prospects in the program. Head coach Mike Hobbie certainly knows what he’s doing, so it’s probably a matter of time before SM hit its stride again. Just don’t expect anything close to last year’s level of play.

7. TEMPLE CITY — The Rams started to make strides around the mid-point of last season. With some decent pieces to build around, they could put things together a lot quicker this season and make some more noise, or at least put themselves in position to again, in league.

8. MARANATHA — Former San Gabriel coach Jude Oliva takes over the head job after Pete Karavedas’ abrupt exit. Some will say that Maranatha missed a golden chance to do damage with the classes it had the past few seasons. But Oliva is a proven winner and his teams have been no stranger to the end zone. Don’t expect a breakout, just a solid product.

9. ARCADIA — Things aren’t what they once were, but lots of programs in this area can say the same thing. The Apaches’ only four wins last year came against the lower rungs of the Pacific League. And now there’s another coaching change to deal with. A repeat of last year seems a safe prediction.

10. FLINTRIDGE PREP — Why not? Who do you want to put here instead, Alhambra? San Gabriel? Flintridge Prep has become one of the area’s best in hoops and bases, so why not football? The Prepsters won six games last year, but weren’t close against RHP. Still solid.

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Bacon resigns at Temple City

Temple City High School baseball coach Barry Bacon has decided to resign after 16 years of coaching the Rams.
Bacon said he wants to devote more time to his two children and their activities, including Little League baseball, flag football and golf.
Temple City, in a rebuilding year, went 7-17-1 this season and missed the CIF-Southern Section playoffs for only the second time since Bacon has coached the Rams. Temple City made its first CIF-SS finals appearance last year, losing to Palm Desert, 4-0. The Rams also went to the semifinals in 2006.
He cited the year-round aspect of the sport for another reason for stepping down.
He will remain as a math teacher at Temple City.

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Down to two … Pas Poly and Flintridge Prep carrying local hopes on the diamond …

And then there were two.

Flintridge Prep and Pasadena Poly high school’s baseball teams are all that remain of the local teams in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. Both will be hoping to keep their championship aspirations alive today in the Division 6 quarterfinals.

Flintridge Prep hosts Crean Lutheran at the Glendale Sports Complex at 3:15 p.m. while Pasadena Poly visits Calvary Chapel of Downey at Veteran Memorial Park at 6 p.m.

“All three teams in from our league are still in the playoffs,” Flintridge Prep coach Guillermo Gonzalez said referring to his team, Poly and Webb. “Our league this year has shown a lot. We’re hanging in there. We’re just trying to keep our league up there.”

The Rebels will have ace Brenden McKiernan on the mound today against a Crean Lutheran team that’s scored 17 runs in two playoffs game this season.

Flintridge Prep has also proven capable of putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard. The Rebels have scored 20 runs so far in the postseason, but something has to give today as Crean Lutheran has allowed only one run in the postseason.

“I know we’re seeing their ace on Friday and that’s all I know about them right now,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve been aggressive when we’re hitting and taking advantage of mistakes other teams make.”

Flintridge Prep, Poly and Webb finished in three-way tie for the Prep League championship this season. Poly has parlayed two home games into wins over Bloomington Christian and St. Margaret’s.

The Panthers will be tested on the road today by a Calvary Chapel team that finished third in the Delphic League this season but pulled off playoff upsets over Santa Fe League champ Salesian and No. 2 overall seed Malibu.

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