November 2008 Archives

Northview coach Jim Arellanes following 14-0 loss to Paraclete..
"We didn't see anything like this team. I said, as soon as I saw the bracket, that this might be the best team in the division. With all due respect to Rosemead, because I know they are on fire right now, but I think it's going to be those two in the finals."

Well, looks like we'll crown a true San Gabriel Valley champion in the Southeast, where the best teams in the Valley reside. The Mid-Valley championship should be a great title game too once Rosemead and Paraclete dust off a couple Rio Hondo league survivors in the semifinals. I've seen 'em both now, Paraclete's the real deal and so is Rosemead. The only thing that can stop those two from advancing to the championship are turnovers, say, fumbling four times in the first six minutes or something. Sorry San Dimas, it happens. Anyway, have a good day and to the Westsiders, congratulations, it's nice to see Temple City and Monrovia back in the semifinals like the old days. I still don't think this is their year to win it all, but then again, what does Mr. 0-for-4 in Mid-Valley quarterfinal picks know anyway. Before I forget, someone reminded me that I said if either Azusa or Monrovia won the Mid-Valley, I'd donate a $100 bucks to the school's athletic department. If the Cat's win it, I'll deliver it personally.
CIF Semifinal Schedule Update
Southeast Division
Friday
Charter Oak at Rowland, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
West Covina vs. Diamond Ranch at Ganesha, 7:30 p.m.
Mid-Valley Division
Friday
Rosemead at Monrovia, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Paraclete at Temple City, 7:30 p.m.

Mt. SAC will take the field against Fullerton College today in the CCCAA Southern California Regional semifinals at Cal State Fullerton.
I'm covering the game, and will provide scoring updates for those of you who can't make it. Just click the thread

For live blogging of tonight's game, go to the comments ..
Paraclete 0 0 7 7 -- 14
Northview 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Live Scoring Summary
PA - Brandon Buteyn 8 run (kick good), 7-0, 10:29, third quarter
PA - Buteyn 20 run (kick good), 1:48, fourth quarter

CIF Semifinal Schedule Update
Southeast Division
Friday
Charter Oak at Rowland, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
West Covina vs. Diamond Ranch at Ganesha, 7:30 p.m.
Mid-Valley Division
Friday
Rosemead at Monrovia, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Northview-Paraclete winner at Temple City, 7:30 p.m.

Tonight's Mid-Valley Division quarterfinal
Paraclete (8-3) vs. Northview (9-2) at Covina District Field, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Northview); Ramirez (Northview)

Let's just say it was a good thing I wasn't at the track yesterday. Monrovia and Temple City swept aside my prediction there would be two teams from the Montview in the Mid-Valley semifinals. I don't know if San Dimas was in the holiday spirit on Black Friday, but they sure were in the Christmas mood coughing up four fumbles in less than six minutes to fall behind 27-0. But it wouldn't of mattered anyway, Tra Sumler was the best player on the field and Rosemead is a better football team. Then I lost the South Hills over Diamond Ranch game, but at least it came down to the wire. Maybe playing tough schedules toughens you up after all. The night was completely lost, at least a few predictions were spot on with Rowland, Charter Oak, West Covina and Upland (sorry Glendora). What does all this mean? That since I'm 0-for-3 in Mid-Valley predictions, Northview doesn't want me taking the Vikes over Paraclete tonight. Someone called this morning and asked me to make a switch. Nope, I'm sticking with it. No way the Valle Vista doesn't get a team in the final four after the year it had. FYI, we won't have quarter updates, but I'll update the scores on the thread.

For quarter-by-quarter updates of tonight's semifinals, click thread

Friday's quarterfinal results
Southeast Division
Charter Oak 40, Crescenta Valley 9 -- The Chargers win big, but running back Adam Muema leaves early with a bruise on his side. But not to worry, Brandon Golden took over and finished with 113 yards and two touchdowns to make it look easy anyway.
Rowland 52, La Serna 28 -- Where did this lopsided victory come from? That's a statement win over a 10-1 team. Now comes the big question, what will they do about Charter Oak in the semi's?
Diamond Ranch 15, South Hills 12, OT -- The surging Panthers advanced to the semifinals with their fifth straight victory after starting 1-6. In overtime the Huskies could do nothing with their first series, losing yards on every down. That set the stage for Diamond Ranch's Sean Marley to close it out with a game-winning 25-yard field goal.
West Covina 49, Burbank 28 -- The Bulldogs fell behind early, then rolled up their sleeves and gutted out a victory to meet Diamond Ranch in the semifinals.
Mid-Valley Division
Monrovia 41, Duarte 21 -- Marquise Williams had 233 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Cats, outdueling Jordan Canada, who had 280 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
Rosemead 59, San Dimas 22 -- Despite San Dimas fumbling four times in the first six minutes, this was all Rosemead. Tra Sumler finished with 260 yards and five touchdowns, and Angel Alejandre was nearly perfect, finishing 13-of-16 for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Temple City 17, Azusa 0 -- The Aztecs' great season came to end, getting shutout in their first trip to the quarterfinals since 1975.
Central Division
Upland 54, Glendora 14 -- The Highlanders were simply too much at home as the Tarts give up their most points in two years.
Rancho Cucamonga 28, Paloma 20
Cajon 34, Ayala 14
Los Osos 28, Chino Hills 24

Saturday's game
Mid-Valley Division
Paraclete (8-3) vs Northview (9-2) at CDF, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Nview); Ramirez (Nview)

San Dimas-Rosemead game highlights and postgame interviews

Hope you all eat well, enjoy your families, and a big Happy Thanksgiving thank you for another great year on the blogs. For those still playing football, see you on Friday.

In another special playoff edition of the two-minute drill we're joined by the Scouting Guru, substituting for Reginald Miller, who's busy schedule kept him away this week. The Guru joins prep sports editor Fred J. Robledo and sports writer Steve Ramirez, who cranked out all of this weekend's quarterfinal football games. Go check it out!

Friday's playoff games (unless noted)
Southeast Division
Crescenta Valley (9-2) at Charter Oak (10-0-1), 7 p.m.
West Covina (9-2) vs. Burbank (6-5) at Burroughs H.S., 7:30 p.m.
Diamond Ranch (5-6) vs. South Hills (9-2) at Covina District, 7 p.m.
Rowland (9-2) at La Serna (10-1), 7 p.m.

Mid-Valley Division
San Dimas (10-1) at Rosemead (9-2), 7:30 p.m.
Temple City (6-4) vs. Azusa (10-1) at Citrus College, 7 p.m.
Monrovia (9-2) at Duarte (6-5), 7 p.m.
Paraclete (8-3) vs. Northview (9-2) at Covina District Field, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Central Division
Glendora (7-3) at Upland (9-2), 7:30 p.m.

For spectators, it's a lot of fun, but Glendora High School football coach Mark Pasquarella isn't all that thrilled about Friday's rubber match against Upland in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Central Division playoffs. Glendora ended Upland's 2007 season in the first round of the Inland Division playoffs when quarterback Drew Kaluzny hit Michael Edwards for the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime to lift the Tartans to a 29-28 victory. Upland answered back in this season's opener in September, handing the Tartans a 35-21 nonleague loss. Glendora (8-3) opened the playoffs last Friday with a 56-21 victory over No. 3 West Valley, and Upland (9-2) beat Mt. Baldy League champion Chaffey 52-18, setting up Friday's game at Upland.
"It's fun, but in some ways you wish you were playing somebody else," Pasquarella said. "This is our third time playing them in 12 games and we open with them next year. But obviously we're familiar with each other and the kids are fired up about playing them. It doesn't really matter who you get at this point because there are legitimately eight teams left that can win it." All three Sierra and Baseline teams advanced to the quarterfinals.
"That doesn't surprise me, and it makes it kind of neat because you've got a lot of strong teams with different strengths and styles," Pasquarella said. "We think we're capable of winning the whole thing, but you can't look that far. All we're thinking about is getting our guys ready for Upland." The Tartans fumbled three times in their season-opening loss to Upland, and Kaluzny was intercepted once despite completing 13 of 21 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. Highlanders quarterback Josh Nunes was steady too, completing 17 of 27 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. "What makes (Nunes) tough is not that many people get to him," Pasquarella said. "They do a nice job with their protection scheme, and on defense they make you work for everything. It's a battle, it always is with them." The Tartans were senior-oriented a year ago and had to replace several starters, especially on defense. But they've improved over the course of the season and might even be stronger with junior Andre Holmes, receiver Wallace Gonzalez and stable seniors Kaluzny and Chad Young, the latter of whom's insertion at fullback has added another dimension. "We expected to start off slow defensively," Pasquarella said. "The difference is on offense, because we think we're more explosive."

The CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division football quarterfinals are filled with area teams with the exception of Paraclete, the big unknown from Lancaster that plays Northview on Saturday at Covina District Field. The Spirits (8-3) advanced to the Mid-Valley Division semifinals last year, return nine starters on offense, and have won eight consecutive since starting 0-3. Running back Brandon Buteyn averages 160 yards for an offense that generates 271 yards on the ground, which is a genuine concern for Northview coach Jim Arellanes. "Unfortunately we have to be the team that finds out what they're all about," Arellanes said. "Before we went up to Morro Bay (in the first round of the playoffs) last year we watched them on film and thought that we could compete. But it was a whole different story once we got there. Their size and athleticism was scary.
"That's what is concerning about Paraclete. We had a chance to watch them against (Cerritos Valley Christian) and came away feeling they're as talented as anyone in our division." Paraclete knocked off San Marino 42-14 in the first round, and Northview hammered Workman, 43-6. The Vikings are playing on Saturday after losing a coin flip with South Hills, which will play at Covina District Field on Friday against Diamond Ranch in a Southeast Division quarterfinal. "The good thing is if we win, we'll play next Saturday too, so it doesn't mess up the practice preparation," Arellanes said. "Hopefully with the lone game on Saturday we get a lot of people out to support us. Plus we have the extra day after Thanksgiving to let our food digest."

The rivalry between Monrovia and Duarte created the inaugural MD Classic, won by the Wildcats 14-6 on Sept 12. Now for the first time in history, the two schools will meet in the playoffs when Duarte (6-5) hosts Rio Hondo League champion Monrovia (9-2) in a Mid-Valley Division quarterfinal game Friday at 7 p.m.
"That's crazy," Falcons coach Wardell Crutchfield said. "It's always such a tense and emotional game, and now you're adding a playoff atmosphere to it. It will be exciting."
The Falcons' surprising 38-30 first-round win over L.A. Baptist has Crutchfield feeling Friday's game could be different. In their first meeting against Monrovia, junior running back Jordan Canada was slowed by a hamstring injury and finished with just 41 yards on 10 carries. Canada missed the following three games, but he's been one of the best in the Valley since his return with two 300-yard plus games and a 224-yard, three touchdown performance in Saturday's win over L.A. Baptist. The Falcons also didn't have center Eduardo Agundez, lineman Tim Starr and Mauricio Lopez in their first meeting because of injuries. "Jordan should have never played, that's what set him back," Crutchfield said. "But it was Monrovia, so he gutted it out. "We're a totally different team now, but so is Monrovia. They're playing as well as anyone. They've got their Wing T going. But we like our chances with (Canada) healthy. He's really looking forward to playing them again." Crutchfield's chief concern is Monrovia running back Marquise Williams, averaging 157 yards rushing. "We've got to hit him early to shake up his confidence," Crutchfield said. "You don't want to let him get going." If Duarte wins, there's a good chance the Montview League could have two teams in the semifinals. Montview champion Azusa hosts Temple City on Friday at Citrus College. "That would be unbelievable," Crutchfield said. "The kids hear a lot of this and that about our league. That would be a statement in itself." With Pasadadena High's Kevin Mills resigning last week, Crutchfield

With the coaching staff in place, this feels like a make or break year at Bishop Amat. It's probably not fair to expect too much from Steve Hagerty and staff in their first season, but there's nothing like the excitement and emotions of a quick turnaround. Whatever happens, week-by-week, we'll follow the ride.

Last week: Long Beach Poly 21, Bishop Amat 17
Final record: Bishop Amat 7-4

It's our final Bishop Breakdown thread of the season, though I might spring a few more during the off-season. The Lancers turned the corner in the first-year under Hagerty. There's no doubt wins over Orange Lutheran, Crespi and the nearly gigantic-upset over Long Beach Poly was a step in the right direction for a program that was 3-7 last year and hadn't been in the playoffs since 2004. But now comes the hard part, maintaining what they've done and building on it. They have quarterback Jerry McClanahan returning and running back Jay Anderson will be a force the next two years. But the key is the coaching staff. Hagerty assembled an all-star crew that included Ealar Gallagher (offensive line), Mike DiFiori (linebackers), Chris Rix (quarterbacks), Rodney Sermons (running backs), Daylon McCutcheon (defensive coordinator), Willhans Ili (defensive line), Joe Canales (defensive end) and Bill Mulvehill (special teams). Will they all stay? That's hard to believe. They came to restore the tradition, but will some be lured away by other head coaching jobs?

There will be a lot of fuss about San Dimas High School's Nico Barbone going against Rosemead running back Tra Sumler in Friday's blockbuster Mid-Valley Division quarterfinal-round playoff game at Rosemead. But what about San Dimas' Daniel Joseph?
"We've got him on our radar, too," Rosemead coach Matt Koffler said. "We know how dangerous he is."

To continue reading, click thread

With rain in the forecast through the end of the week, which teams are affected the most?

Ahh, Damon Kuklinsky, one of my favorite warriors from a year ago. Folks, this is how you're supposed to look after giving it everything you got.

South Hills: As much as they throw, and as slippery and muddy Covina District can get, add this to the list of things that don't help the Huskies.
Charter Oak: A Tsunami blowing into town won't stop the Chargers from routing Crescenta Valley.
Rosemead-San Dimas -- Won't matter, this will be won in the trenches anyway. Might as well mud-it up to add to the mystique.
Glendora-Upland -- Won't matter, both teams are similar in what they do.
Temple City-Azusa -- Favors Temple City. They're going to run, run and run again. The Aztecs have to win the turnover battle.
West Covina-Burbank -- Fits right into the Bulldogs game plans, but the winds do swirl in that part of town.
Rowland-La Serna The closest game to call in the quarterfinals will probably be decided by the fewest mistakes anyway.
Northview-Paraclete It can't help Northview playing on a sloppy field the day after South Hills tears it up. On the plus side, if Paraclete is as good as everyone says, a little neutralizing rain may not be a bad thing.

The photo above is of South Hills junior forward Natalie Maxey, arguably the area's best returning player. There are many other significant players back like Wilson's Aleina Dominguez, Charter Oak's McKenna Gordon, San Dimas' Ariel Shore, Walnut's Krissy Slusser, Glendora's Emily Wood, and St. Lucy's Lynsey Brown. With games and tournaments starting next week, what other players and teams should we look out for and who has the area's best team?

This is how are top ten finished last year
1. St. Lucy's
2. Walnut
3. Diamond Ranch
4. South Hills
5. Charter Oak
6. Los Altos
7. Arroyo
8. Glendora
9. Bonita
10. Bishop Amat

After talking to Huskies coach Steve Bogan, I'm wondering why I picked South Hills over Diamond Ranch this week. Seriously, they can't keep winning with what they have left. Senior Alex Barrios, a returning San Antonio League first-team defensive end, was ejected in Friday's win over Schurr for unsportsmanlike conduct, and will not be available in the quarterfinals. The Huskies are appealing to CIF, but it most likely won't get overturned. This comes with two more returning first-team players fighting their way back from injuries. Linebacker Wayne Goss broke his ankle during a trampoline accident nearly a month ago and returned for a series on Friday against Schurr, though he's far from a 100 percent. The Huskies hope to return starting linebacker Chris Bowden after injuring his knee and ankle, but he hasn't played in nearly a month as well. But that's not all. Senior running back/linebacker Marcus Schneider is also banged up, forcing Bogan to leave Schneider solely on defense where the injuries have hit the hardest. In the South Hills' win over Schurr, the Huskies were led in the backfield by sophomore Jordan Guiterrez and freshman Jammal Hart, who scored and finished with 97 yards on 20 carries. "In some ways I'm surprised we're still playing," Bogan said. "But at the same time I won't be surprised if we're playing next week. The kids are absolutely playing their hearts out." Diamond Ranch coach Roddy Layton certainly isn't feeling their pain. They're 9-2 for a reason," Layton said. "I know they have injuries and they will be missing a player, but they're still South Hills. They're still confident and the last time I checked, they've still got their quarterback."

"Absolutely, I would look into it," former Los Altos coach Greg Gano said of coaching at Damien. "It would be something I'm interested in."

Following Scott Morrison's firing at Damien on Friday, names have started to surface to replace him. The front-running name I've heard is former Chino coach John Monger, but the blockbuster out there is Greg Gano, who stepped away from Los Altos this past season and is one of the winningest coaches in San Gabriel Valley history. Gano said he's always admired Damien's football tradition, and at this point in his career, it's something he's going to take a close look at. Gano is still the athletic director and girls softball coach at Los Altos, but a move to Damien is something he would consider. "Absolutely, I would look into it," Gano said. "It would be something I'm interested in." At Los Altos Gano won six Miramonte League titles and four CIF-SS championships (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003) while compiling a 110-30-1 record at the school and a 25-6 mark in the playoffs. Gano was a three-time CIF-SS coach of the year (1999, 2002, 2003) and was the Tribune coach of the year in 2002 after leading the Conquerors to the Div. VI title.

Fred's thoughts: Wow was my reaction. I don't know how Damien doesn't take a close look at this. After what Bishop Amat did, imagine a Gano-led Spartans team going against Bishop Amat and Hagerty every season. Think of the players that would instantly be interested with Gano on board. We always talked about what he would do at a Bishop Amat, but this is a gem of a job too. Gano would not only get top-notch players in the SGV, but but his reputation would bring the Inland Empire into the mix.

Steve Ramirez and I will go head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the Tribskin Pick'em thread.

Robledo: Last week - 25-7; Season - 192-46
Ramirez: Last week - 26-6; Season - 182-56

Notes: Ramirez got me by one this week and he can have it. I took Bishop Amat and came within seconds of pulling it off, but Poly pulled it out. We all have to tip our hats to Azusa, which includes the Guru and Reg Miller, for taking Covina over Azusa. It wasn't even close. The big shockers of the first round were Santa Fe going down in the Southeast, and if you want to call it a surprise, Diamond Ranch beating No. 3 Muir, which all four of us nailed.

Robledo's picks of note: If I were setting a betting line on San Dimas-Rosemead, it's a pick'em. It's that close. With Nico Barbone back for San Dimas, I don't see how the Panthers stop this offense, and defensively, the Saints are getting some of their horses back. Then again, how do you stop Tra Sumler too? I also genuinely feel there will be a Tribune all-area final four in the Mid-Valley and Southeast. Laugh if you want, but I like all the match-ups, including Duarte over Monrovia in the MD Classic II, my upset special of the week.

Friday's quarterfinal games
Southeast Division
Crescenta Valley (9-2) at Charter Oak (10-0-1), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (COAk); Ramirez (COak)
Rowland (9-2) at La Serna (10-1), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Rowland); Ramirez (Rowland)
Diamond Ranch (5-6) vs. South Hills (9-2) at CDF, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SHills); Ramirez (SHills)
West Covina (9-2) at Burbank (6-5), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (WCovina); Ramirez (WCovina)
Mid-Valley Division
Monrovia (9-2) at Duarte (6-5), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Duarte); Ramirez (Monrovia)
San Dimas (10-1) at Rosemead (9-2), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (SDimas); Ramirez (SDimas)
Paraclete (8-3) vs Northview (9-2) at CDF, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Nview); Ramirez (Nview)
Temple City (6-4) at Azusa (10-1) at Citrus, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Azusa); Ramirez (Azusa)

Central Division
Paloma (8-3) at Rancho Cucamonga (10-0-1), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (RC); Ramirez (RC)
Cajon (10-1) at Ayala (9-2), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Cajon); Ramirez (Ayala)
Glendora (8-3) at Upland (9-2), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Upland); Ramirez (Glendora)
Los Osos (9-2) at Chino Hills (10-1), 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Los Osos); Ramirez (Los Osos)

Your thread to blog about anyone and anything you want.

Now that we've got Bishop Amat out of the way :), let's focus: The mother of all second-round quarterfinal playoff games is coming to Rosemead on Friday. Both teams should be a full strength. Everyone knows at full strength these are the best two teams in the Mid-Valley Division. This is what the the coaches wanted, this is how they voted so you go it. Before we break it down and make our picks, how do you think it will unfold?

RIO HONDO VS. MONTVIEW
I made a comment earlier this season that not much separated the top teams in the Rio Hondo and Montview, and heard plenty from our sensitive Westside neighbors. Well, we're about to find out. The best two teams in each league go head-to-head in the quarters, Duarte-Monrovia and Temple City-Azusa. Now that we're here, I'm going on record taking the Montview in a sweep. Just like DRanch-Muir, its hard to beat a good team twice, especially a rival. Plus, Falcons RB Jordan Canada was nowhere near as healthy as he is now, and it's at D-Town. Azusa made me a believer too, and has a great match-up against run-oriented Temple City, which fits right into their game plans. That's right, two Montview league teams in the semifinals. Don't laugh, it's gonna happen.

Friday's quarterfinal games
Southeast Division
Crescenta Valley at Charter Oak
Rowland at La Serna
Diamond Ranch vs. South Hills at CDF.
West Covina at Burbank
Mid-Valley Division
Monrovia at Duarte
San Dimas at Rosemead
Paraclete at Northview at CDF, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Temple City at Azusa
Central Division
Paloma at Rancho Cucamonga
Cajon at Ayala
Glendora at Upland
Los Osos at Chino Hills

Above: Azusa's Rauley Zaragosa had four INT's in the Aztecs' 27-6 win over Covina.

Thoughts from Press Row
I don't know how far Azusa's going to go, but it's refreshing to watch a group of neighborhood kids restore the pride. It's one thing to advance to the quarters at a traditional powerhouse, but another entirely when you do something a generation before you could not. To all those players who gave me a hard time on the sidelines for picking Covina, it's your moment, enjoy it.....

We finally get to see Rosemead and San Dimas. Although this should never have been a quarterfinal game, at least we're going to see it, and find out for ourselves. Then there's Northview-Paraclete. The winners of these two games will meet in the finals....

Ohh, to the Westside bloggers. You laughed when I picked all the San Antonio League tems to advance to the quarters. You asked what kind of cool-aid I was drinking. You laughed when I picked Diamond Ranch over Muir. But you're not laughing now. Diamond Ranch-South Hills could be epic, but I still like the San Antonio to sweep into the semi's. But it's all a moot point, Charter Oak is going to win it.....

Glendora, you did it again. The Sierra League went 3-0 in a tough division, and now the Tarts get a rematch with Upland, who they beat in overtime last year in the playoffs, but lost to earlier this season. Yes, a rubber match, what's better than that? .....

Ahhh, Bishop Amat. I couldn't believe my text messages, up 10-0 at half, 17-14 later in the fourth? To go toe-to-toe with undefeated Long Beach Poly is a statement that doesn't need explanation.

For quarter-by-quarter updates, click link

Friday's results
Mid-Valley Division
Monrovia 34, El Monte 7 -- Okay Cats, this was impressive, hope you get Duarte next.
Rosemead 45, Cerritos Valley Christian 14 -- Tra Sumler goes for nearly 250 yards in another romp. Dream matchup next.
San Dimas 67, Sierra Vista 12 -- The Saints are turning into monsters again. Too bad they'll meet Rosemead in quarters instead of the championship.
Northview 43, Workman 6 -- Not much drama in Vikings easy win over the Lobos. But tough Paraclete is next.
Paraclete 42, San Marino 14 -- Watch out for Paraclete. This is the team all the area coaches are raving about.
Temple City 7, Arroyo 6 -- Rams win defensive struggle without their head coach.
Azusa 27, Covina 6 -- Let's stop the soft schedule talk, the Aztecs are the real deal, advancing to quarters for first time since 1975.
Saturday
Duarte (5-5) at L.A. Baptist (6-4) -- Robledo (Duarte); Ramirez (Duarte)

Southeast Division
Charter Oak 55, Bell Gardens 15 -- This is what we've come to expect from the Chargers week in and week out.
Crescenta Valley 27, California 21 -- Kind of a shocker, but won't advance past next round against Charter Oak.
La Serna 42, San Gabriel 14 -- Matadors simply overmatched against the tough Whittier-area power.
Rowland 22, Burroughs 21 -- Michael Ball scores with 50 seconds left, then scores two-point conversion for thrilling victory.
Diamond Ranch 21, Muir 7 -- All I can say is sorry Westside folks, but I called it. 5-7 DRanch is in the quarterfinals against South Hills...oohh wee.
South Hills 40, Schurr 21 -- The Huskies trail early, but rally back to get Diamond Ranch next.
West Covina 28, Bonita 18 -- Bulldogs jump ahead 21-7 and hold on the rest of the way.
Burbank 20, Sante Fe 14 -- Who would have thought the two teams to advance from the Pacific would be Burbank and C.V., not Muir and Burroughs.

Central Division
Glendora 56, West Valley 21 The Tartans win another big first-round game, and now get Upland in quarters, a rematch of last year's first round thriller won by Glendora in overtime.

Rancho Cucamonga 21, Colton 17
Paloma Valley 42, Ontario 21
Ayala 38, Colony 7
Cajon 28, Etiwanda 27
Upland 52, Chaffey 18
Chino Hills 52, San Gorgonio 14
Los Osos 53, Elsinore 21

Pac-5 Division
Long Beach Poly 21, Bishop Amat 17: Lancers led 10-0 at half and 21-17 late in the fourth, but Jackrabbits scored on fourth-and-goal with just over a minute left to win it. Say what you want, but the Lancers are back. Great season.

Esperanza 24, San Clemente 16
Mission Viejo 37, Loyola 7
Lakewood 35, Servite 34, OT
Tesoro 23, Los Alamitos 7
Mater Dei 35, L.B. Jordan 7
Orange Lutheran 28, Fountain Valley 0
Notre Dame 42, Compton 0

By Staff Writer Clay Fowler
A week removed from a 3-7 season, Scott Morrison was fired as head football coach of Damien High School on Friday. Morrison, a Damien graduate, guided his teams to two Sierra League championships and four playoff appearances in six seasons. Given those accomplishments, Morrison was surprised to be relieved of his duties.
"The administration stepped in because we didn't have a successful enough season," Morrison said. "It's a tough place. You gotta win, and we didn't win this year. We went to the playoffs three years in a row and won two league championships, but apparently that doesn't earn you any wiggle room."
Damien is forming a search committee to find its next coach, but doesn't have a timetable. "We feel that this is the right time for us to go in a different direction," Damien athletic director Tom Carroll said. "Scott will always be a part of the Damien family."
Morrison, who is uncertain whether he will continue his teaching job at Damien, acknowledged feeling tension as the Spartans lost seven of their first eight games this season. "I never heard anything directly, but you always hear plenty indirectly," he said. "You kind of have a feeling just like when any relationship gets strained. It's unfortunate because I love this place and I love these players."
Morrison was the head coach for five years at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, Calif., before returning in 2003 to Damien, where he helped the football team win a CIF-Southern Section championship in 1982. Morrison has coached in some capacity for 22 years - all at private schools. He finished his career at Damien with a 32-33-1 record. Damien's 2008 nonleague schedule was likely its most difficult during Morrison's tenure. When the Spartans entered league play at 1-4, their four losses were to opponents who had a single loss between them. "There was plenty of negativity swirling around about our ability to win games," Morrison said. "Sometimes it has a negative impact on the kids and how they view the team."

WILSON COACHING UPDATE
I'm only addressing this issue because of the rumors swirling on the blog about the coaching status of Wilson football coach Greg Hoyd, who finished 1-9 in his first season. I've deleted several comments since yesterday, but apparently it won't go away. I spoke with Hoyd on Wednesday, who said he has no intention of resigning and is preparing for another season. When asked about his coaching status, Wilson athletic director Dave Merrill said he could not comment. I'll leave it at that unless I hear something further.

Note: I'll open it up for discussion, but if it gets too personal, I'm shutting it down.

Your thread to blog about anyone and anything you want.

The regular season is over and we still have no idea who will win our MVP. Seriously, there are so many to consider. Stevie R., and I were talking about it, there is nobody you can absolutely put your finger on and say, "he's in the lead." But we can discuss it. Who will join our long list of former Tribune players of the year like Pat Haden, Eric Bienemy, Mike Smith, Brigham Harwell, and Co.? Obviously we'll have a much better idea when the playoffs are finished, so having said that, who do you think has the best chance, factoring how their team will do in the playoffs compared to how they did during the regular season.
For a complete list of our former players of the year, click the thread.

In our special playoff edition of the two-minute drill we've added the Scouting Guru to go with Time Warner and ESPN's Reginald Miller, prep editor Fred J. Robledo and sports writer Steve Ramirez, who discussed five of Friday's big football games. By the way, Miller does a great job following our local teams and beyond on his popular site "A Local Sports Show" ... go check it out.

Friday's playoff games
Southeast Division
South Hills (8-2) at Schurr (7-3), 7: 30 p.m.
Bonita (7-3) at West Covina (8-2), 7 p.m.
Diamond Ranch (4-6) at Muir (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

Mid-Valley Division
Covina (4-6) vs. Azusa (9-1) at Citrus College, 7 p.m.

Pac-5 Division
Bishop Amat (7-3) at Long Beach Poly (10-0), 7 p.m.

CIF playoff schedule with updated times and locations
Friday's games
Covina vs. Azusa at Citrus College, 7 p.m.
Bonita at West Covina, 7 p.m.
Bishop Amat at Long Beach Poly, 7 p.m.
Arroyo at Temple City, 7 p.m.
Burbank Burroughs at Rowland, 7 p.m.
Bell Gardens at Charter Oak, 7 p.m.
Sierra Vista at San Dimas, 7 p.m.
South Hills at Schurr, 7:30 p.m.
Diamond Ranch at Muir, 7:30 p.m.
Glendora at West Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Cerritos Valley Christian at Rosemead, 7:30 p.m.
Workman vs. Northview at Covina District Field, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Duarte at L.A. Baptist, 1 p.m.

It's time to go out on a limb and make big predictions. You know who we like in the first round, but it's time to pick the Final Four, Championship, and that sleeper you have to pay attention to.

Southeast Division:
Semifinals: Charter Oak (9-0-1) vs. La Serna (9-1); South Hills (8-2) vs. Santa Fe (9-1).
Championship: Charter Oak over Santa Fe.
Sleepers: Diamond Ranch, Burroughs.
Explanation: Taking the Chargers is a no-brainer. It doesn't mean they're going to win it, but you'd be a fool to bet against them. The rest of the games are extremely tough to call, so I'm taking the power teams with the easiest road to the semi's, which is why I like La Serna to meet up with the Chargers. La Serna shouldn't have a problem with San Gabriel, and are good enough to beat Rowland or Burroughs in the second round. In the bottom half, Muir, Diamond Ranch, Schurr and South Hills is like the group of death. We like South Hills to come out of it, but you just don't know. Santa Fe should get to the quarters and if they get West Covina, I've got a feeling the Chiefs could handle it. Santa Fe's only loss came against a team in the Pac-5 playoffs, San Clemente, and that was only a 21-7 loss. But regardless of what happens, this is the Chargers' division to lose.
Final Four that would rock the Valley:Charter Oak-Rowland; Muir-West Covina. Championship: Charter Oak-Muir

Mid-Valley Division
Semifinals: Monrovia (8-2) vs. San Dimas (9-1); Paraclete (7-3) vs. Covina (4-6)
Championship: San Dimas over Paraclete
Sleepers: Duarte, Arroyo
Explanation: This is going to be an interesting division where we find out who's legitimate and who's not. I still the say the winner of Rosemead-San Dimas in the second round wins it all, and if San Dimas is healthy, or lets just say if Nico Barbone is back, the Saints march to the championship. We have the Saints playing Monrovia in the semis, but don't count out Duarte just yet. They're not a 5-5 team with Jordan Canada and the 'Cats didn't face Canada when they beat them the first time. But Monrovia should have enough to win the M.D. Classic part II. In the bottom half all I keep hearing from area coaches is how legitimate Paraclete is. The winner of Paraclete-Northview should go to the final and to show I'm not a complete homer, I'll listen to what people are saying and take Paraclete. Covina might be a shocker on the bottom half reaching the semi's, but what a great draw for the Colts after going 4-6. I'd be willing to bet San Dimas and Rosemead would trade spots with the Colts right now. As for Azusa, we'll find out if they're the real deal. If they hammer Covina, there's no reason to believe they can't get to the semi's, but either Northview or Paraclete would be too much.
Final Four that would rock the Valley: Monrovia-San Dimas; Northview-Azusa.
Championship: San Dimas-Northview II

Central Division
Semifinals: Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1) vs. Ayala (8-2); Upland (8-2) vs. Los Osos (8-2)
Championship: Los Osos over Rancho Cucamonga
Sleepers: Glendora, Ayala
Explanation: The Baseline is the class of the division, and it won't be a surprise if Los Osos and Rancho meet in the finals. Don't count out Glendora. I've picked West Valley, but the more I look at who West Valley's played, the better I feel about Glendora have a shot against the No. 3 seed.

Pac-5 Division
Semifinals: Esperanza (7-3) vs. Mission Viejo (9-1); Tesoro (10-0) vs. Notre Dame (10-0)
Finals: Notre Dame over Mission Viejo
Sleepers: Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran
Explanation: There is no reasonable explanation for not having Long Beach Poly playing Notre Dame in the finals, but I took a shot by picking Bishop Amat in the huge upset over Poly, so this is how I think it will shakeout the rest of the way.

Boys water polo hasn't been a thread topic this season, but let's open it up with Damien and Walnut in boys semifinals today. Anytime you get this far, it's a huge accomplishment and we want to recognize it. Steve Ramirez wrote a preview of today's games, and we'll have a reporter at each event to bring the full story to you.

Wednesday's semifinals
Division III
No. 2 Murrieta Valley (23-3) vs. No. 2 Damien (23-8), at Mt. SAC, 6 p.m.
Division VI
No. 4 Walnut (26-4) vs. No. 1 Rio Mesa (26-4-1),William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, 3:30 p.m.

You remember former Tribune sports writer Joe Haakenson, the man who came up with "Haak's Locks," when he picked NFL games for us. The former Angels and Clippers beat writer is now the sports editor at the Long Beach Press Telegram, and lets just say we made a friendly "Happy Hour" wager on Friday's Long Beach Poly-Bishop Amat game. He said Poly wins by 21, but agreed to give me 15 points.

Look at Haak, he's the man, but he loses this bet on Friday :)

Next Up: Wednesday we'll post a special edition of the two-minute drill, which will include the scouting guru joining Reginald Miller, Steve Ramirez, and myself. I'll also post my final four and championship predictions...stay tuned.

Quick news from the westside, apparently Muir's all-everything Rueben Thomas is a fast healer. He's expected to be a 100 percent for Friday's first-round games against Diamond Ranch, according to our man at the Star-News, Miguel Melendez. Miguel was busy on Monday, Pasadena coach Kevin Mills resigned, and Temple City coach Randy Backus missed their league finale and isn't expected to coach in Friday's Mid-Valley playoff against Arroyo. Apparently Backus is is taking personal days while an alleged incident on campus involving the coach is sorted out.

1. Bishop Amat (7-3) -- It would have been easy to drop the Lancers from No. 1 after getting pounded last week by Notre Dame 56-21, but the Lancers have done enough the entire season to warrant a No. 1 ranking at the end. Can they beat No. 1 Long Beach Poly on Friday? That's like asking if they're capable of beating Orange Lutheran. Yes, not likely, but on any given Friday.
2. Charter Oak (9-0-1) -- The Southeast Division is the Chargers to lose. They have the quarterback, running back, offensive and defensive lines, coaching staff, confidence and are injury-free. If that's not a recipe for a championship, what is?
3. Rosemead (8-2) -- I'm going to continue to hammer this point home one more time. People at CIF said they had to respect the "coaches" poll, which is why Rosemead wasn't seeded in the Mid-Valley Division. That's fine, but why compound things by setting them up against San Dimas in the second round? Not fair. For those coaches who shamelessly didn't give the Panthers their due, shame on you for cheating the Panthers' kids of their just due.
4. San Dimas (9-1) -- The Saints will be running at full steam once they get to the second round of the playoffs, which will be the real Mid-Valley championship game against Rosemead. Linebacker Kyle Withem will be back, Nico Barbone will be healthy. And I've said all along, when the Saints are injury-free, they can beat anyone.
5. West Covina (8-2) -- You should have seen coach Mike Maggiore jumping up and down on the sidelines following their victory over South Hills. The Bulldogs can beat anyone, or could go out in the first round. That's kind of been their M.O., in recent years and Bonita will get them a huge test on Friday.
6. Glendora (7-3) - What bad luck. The Tartans beat Ayala to force a three-way tie for the Sierra League title, then lock the coin flip and fall to No. 3. But don't worry, they went through this last year with Upland. They face No. 3 Hemet West Valley in the first round. The Tartans are like West Covina, they could go out in the first round or win it all. There's no world beaters in this division, but the parity is great from top to bottom.
7. South Hills (7-3) -- The Huskies drop a few spots after losing to West Covina, and health is a real issue heading to the playoffs. They need Chris Bowden and Wayne Goss back on defense soon. I'm not sure if they can get by Schurr limping into the first round. But if they can and these guys get healthy, who knows?
8. Rowland (8-2) -- The Raiders are a sleeper in the Southeast Division. Just like when the season started, nobody is talking about them. Burroughs won't be an easy first round opponent, but they should squeak by at home.
9. Northview (8-2) -- Before we say the the Valle Vista league champions got a great draw in the Mid-Valley by being on opposite sides of San Dimas and Rosemead, don't overlook a possible second-round game against Paraclete. From what some coaches have explained, Paraclete is the real deal and has as much chance of winning the division as anyone.
10. Azusa (10-1) -- Yes Aztecs, you've finally cracked our top ten in the final poll. Their 29-point average margin of victory can't be ignored, regardless of their schedule. If they beat Covina on Friday and do it in convincing fashion, you have to truly consider the Aztecs legitimate title contenders. But I won't believe it until I see it.
Rounding out the top 33:11. Bonita (7-3), 12. Diamond Ranch (4-6), 13. Duarte (5-5), 14. Damien (3-7), 15. Pomona (6-4), 16. Walnut (5-5), 17. Diamond Bar (4-6), 18. South El Monte (5-5), 19. Arroyo (3-7), 20. El Monte (5-5), 21. Covina (4-6), 22. Baldwin Park (4-6), 23. Workman (5-4), 24. Los Altos (1-9), 25. Western Christian (5-5), 26. Sierra Vista (4-6), 27. Gladstone (2-8), 28. Mountain View (2-8), 29. Ganesha (2-8), 30. Nogales (1-9), 31. Wilson (0-10), 32, La Puente (1-9), 33. Bassett (1-9).

Ahh, the playoffs are just a few days away. In today's paper we featured Charter Oak quarterback Chris Allen, who is a remarkable 28-3-2 as a starter since taking over his sophomore season. Covina coach Darryl Thomas talked about facing No. 2 Azusa in the first round on Friday. When I asked if the Aztecs are a sleeper or legitimate No. 2, Thomas laughed, "I'm not going to answer that question," he said. "They're having one of their greatest years in a long time." Bonita coach Eric Podley knows the Bearcats have had trouble against physical offensive lines with explosive running backs, losing to San Dimas and Charter Oak convincingly. The Bearcats will run into similar problems against West Covina. "(West Covina is) very physical and fast," Podley said. "They are very similar to Charter Oak. They will look to run first and pass when they need to. We didn't play well against Charter Oak, so I'm sure that will help us. We've seen similar offenses like that, but will that give us confidence? We'll see."

Once again, a local coach has stepped up and offered to help give insight to what's going on in cross country. This comes from Glendora assistant coach Bob Ramsey

The girls led the way at Saturday's CIF Prelims held at the famously tough. Mt. Sac cross country course. Once again, the conditions held down the performances, with the rapidly rising heat causing the meet organizers to limit the afternoon races to just over 2 miles. The performance list below shows the disparity, with almost all of the leading times coming from the girls Div III and boys Div II, which ran the first races of the day.
The girls from St. Lucy's, Bonita, and South Hills, all Div III schools, advanced to next Saturday's CIF Finals, which will also be held at Mt. Sac. St. Lucy's was led by soph Marissa Horton (19:15) and featured a gap of just 54 seconds from first to fifth. South Hills was led by senior Amanda Camarillo (19:21), while Bonita put in a strong effort led by soph Heather Jackson (18:52). Rosemead junior Brittnie Munoz (18:47) led all SGV runners and will advance to the Div III finals as an individual, along with Charter Oak frosh Carly Lake (19:25). Wilson's Angela Tu dropped a great 19:22 effort, but caught a fast heat and did not finish in the top eight, the requirement to advance.
Among the boys, only three individuals advanced, led by Jayson Perez's (junior/South El Monte) SGV leading time of 15:48. This is also the fastest SGV time of the year and is especially impressive for having been run in the heat. He'll be joined in the Div III finals by Rosemead senior Victor Serrano (16:15). Sergio Rodriguez (senior/Los Altos) turned in his third sub-16:00 effort of the year - 15:56 - to advance to the Div II finals. None of the boys teams advanced. Glendora came the closest, finishing 7 points from the final qualifying spot while running the fastest time by any non-qualifying team.

For individual results, click thread

Steve Ramirez and I will go head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the Tribskin Pick'em thread.

Robledo: Last week - 18-1; Season - 167-39
Ramirez: Last week - 15-4; Season - 156-50

Notes: Since the heart of the San Gabriel Valley is in the Southeast and Mid-Valley Division, we will pick every game. Change that, we'll pick every playoff game in the four division's we have area teams in. I have to give Stevie R., a chance to catch me, right? He gambled trying to push ahead by picking Bishop Amat over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Gabrielino over El Monte, and lost by picking Ayala over Glendora and South Hills over West Covina, all wrong. The only game I missed was the South Hills-West Covina game. I knew I should have never changed my mind and stuck with West Covina, I would have had a perfect 19-0 week. Oh well, it's on to the CIF-SS playoffs and our predictions. On Tuesday we will have Final Four and Championship predictions. Until then, here is who we like in the first round.

Robledo's picks of note: Undoubtedly there will be upsets in the first round, so I've got three for you, including Bishop Amat over Long Beach Poly. Maybe you think this is crazy, but the Moore League wasn't nearly as tough as the Serra or Trinity, and looking at the Jackrabbits' schedule, they never played or beat anyone in the Pac-5 playoffs other than the teams in its own league. I'd like to think Amat's win over Orange Lutheran was more impressive than any Long Beach Poly win. It's still a longshot, but Poly is not Notre Dame. In the Mid-Valley, I'm taking Covina over No. 2 Azusa in the first-round. I know this won't be popular with my friends near the Foothills, but the Colts have just as much offense, and I think they might be a little more physical on defense. I ask myself, what would Covina's record be if they played Azusa's schedule? Probably 9-1 or 10-0, so take the Colts. In the Southeast, I'm taking Diamond Ranch over Muir. Muir's all-everything Rueben Thomas injured his knee against Pasadena on Friday and is questionable, and two others suffered injuries but will likely play Friday. I know it's not a popular pick on the Westside, but the Panthers' brutal schedule finally pays off for them. It's tough beating a good team twice in the same season, but Muir is limping into the playoffs while the Panthers are hitting their stride.

Ramirez Update: I wake up a lot earlier than Steve Ramirez, so I'm posting my picks and he'll update with his when he casually strolls into the newsroom sometime this morning.
Ramirez's rebuttal: Well, due to the NHRA being in town, and after working 15 hours the past four days, forgive me for finally getting a few extra hours of shuteye. On a personal note, congrats to Cruz Pedregon for his performance over the weekend and making all Hispanics proud!

Mid-Valley Division
El Monte (5-5) at Monrovia (8-2) -- Robledo (Monrovia); Ramirez (Monrovia)
Duarte (5-5) at L.A. Bapitst (6-4) -- Robledo (Duarte); Ramirez (Duarte)
Cerritos V.Christian (7-3) at Rosemead (8-2) -- Robledo (Rosemead); Ramirez (Rosemead)
Sierra Vista (4-6) at San Dimas (9-1) -- Robledo (San Dimas); Ramirez (San Dimas)
Workman (5-4) at Northview (8-2) -- Robledo (Northview); Ramirez (Northview)
San Marino (8-2) at Paraclete (7-3) -- Robledo (Paraclete); Ramirez (Paraclete)
Arroyo (3-7) at Temple City (5-4) -- Robledo (Temple City); Ramirez (Arroyo)
Covina (4-6) at Azusa (9-1) -- Robledo (Covina); Ramirez (Covina)

Southeast Division
Bell Gardens (5-5) at Charter Oak (9-0-1) -- Robledo (C. Oak); Ramirez (Charter Oak)
California (8-2) at Crescenta Valley (8-2) -- Robledo (Cal); Ramirez (California)
San Gabriel (5-5) at La Serna (9-1) -- Robledo (La Serna); Ramirez (La Serna)
Burroughs (7-3) at Rowland (8-2) -- Robledo (Rowland); Ramirez (Rowland)
Diamond Ranch (4-6) at Muir (9-1) -- Robledo (DRanch); Ramirez (Diamond Ranch)
South Hills (8-2) at Schurr (7-3) -- Robledo (SHills); Ramirez (South Hills)
Bonita (7-3) at West Covina (8-2) -- Robledo (WCov); Ramirez (West Covina)
Burbank (5-5) at Santa Fe (9-1) -- Robledo (Santa Fe); Ramirez (Santa Fe)

Central Division
Colton (6-3-1) at Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1) -- Robledo (RC); Ramirez (RC)
Ontario (6-4) at Paloma Valley (7-3) -- Robledo (Paloma); Ramirez (Paloma)
Colony (6-4) at Ayala (8-2) -- Robledo (Ayala); Ramirez (Ayala)
Etiwanda (5-5) at Cajon (9-1) -- Robledo (Cajon); Ramirez (Cajon)
Glendora (7-3) at West Valley (9-1) -- Robledo (WValley); Ramirez (Glendora)
Upland (8-2) at Chaffey (8-2) -- Robledo (Upland); Ramirez (Chaffey)
San Gorgonio (6-4) at Chino Hills (9-1) -- Robledo (CHills); Ramirez (Chino Hills)
Elsinore (5-5) at Los Osos (8-2) -- Robledo (Los Osos); Ramirez (Los Osos)

Pac-5 Division
Bishop Amat (7-3) at Long Beach Poly (10-0) -- Robledo (BAmat); Ramirez (Long Beach Poly)
San Clemente (8-2) at Esperanza (7-3) -- Robledo (SClemente); Ramirez (Esperanza)
Loyola (6-4) at Mission Viejo (9-1) -- Robledo (MViejo); Ramirez (Mission Viejo)
Lakewood (4-6) at Servite (7-3) -- Robledo (Servite); Ramirez (Servite)
Los Alamitos (8-2) at Tesoro (10-0) - Robledo (Tesoro); Ramirez (Los Alamitos)
L.B. Jordan (7-3) at Mater Dei (7-3) -- Robledo (MDei); Ramirez (Mater Dei)
Orange Lutheran (8-2) at Fountain Valley (7-3) -- Robledo (OLutheran); Ramirez (Orange Lutheran)
Compton (7-2) at Notre Dame (10-0) -- Robledo (NDame); Ramirez (Notre Dame)

BREAKING NEWS: Bishop Amat has been awarded the lone at-large berth in the Pac-5 Division. The Lancers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Get ready, the third season is upon us. You can view the CIF-SS Football Pairings on the CIF website. We'll discuss the matchups more in detail tomorrow. But the results are out, start all the chatter.

PAC-5 DIVISION PAIRINGS: Seeds: 1. Long Beach Poly, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Tesoro, 4. Servite
Fred's thoughts: Bishop Amat can't complain about getting the No. 1 team in the Division, not after playing MaxPreps' No. 1 team in the country Friday. Amat is in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, not bad for coach Steve Hagerty and Co.

Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty's reaction: "We're glad to be alive for an eleventh week. Our goal all year was making the playoffs. We felt if we were worth anything as coaches, we should get that done."

Upper Half
Bishop Amat (7-3) at Long Beach Poly (10-0)
San Clemente (8-2) at Esperanza (7-3)
Loyola (6-4) at Mission Viejo (9-1)
Lakewood (4-6 at Servite (7-3)

Bottom Half
Los Alamitos (8-2) at Tesoro (10-0)
L.B. Jordan (7-3) at Mater Dei (7-3)
Orange Lutheran (8-2) at Fountain Valley (7-3)
Compton (7-2) at Notre Dame (10-0)

MID-VALLEY DIVISION PAIRINGS: Seeds: 1. Monrovia, 2. Azusa, 3. Northview, 4. San Dimas.
Fred's thoughts: The CIF really screwed this up. Congrats to the Valle Vista for getting two of the top four seeds and to Azusa for being No 2, but Rosemead not getting seeded is ridiculous. They could play San Dimas in the second round, and the winner will go on to win the championship. It's kind of outrageous that Rosemead beats Monrovia head-to-head, has the same record, plays a tougher schedule, and Monrovia is No. 1 and Rosemead is not seeded. Can someone please explain the logic?

Rosemead coach Matt Koffler's reaction: "I don't know, it's impossible to explain. You try to play a tough schedule. You hammer everyone in your league. What else can you do? But we can't sit here and cry about it. It is what it is now, you've got to go back to work and get ready."

Upper Half
El Monte (5-5) at Monrovia (8-2)
Duarte (5-5) at L.A. Bapitst (6-4)
Cerritos Valley Christian (7-3) at Rosemead (8-2)
Sierra Vista (4-6) at San Dimas (9-1)
Bottom Half
Workman (5-4) at Northview (8-2)
San Marino (8-2) at Paraclete (7-3)
Arroyo (3-7) at Temple City (5-4)
Covina (4-6) at Azusa (9-1)

SOUTHEAST DIVISION PAIRINGS: Seeds: 1. Charter Oak, 2. Santa Fe, 3. Muir, 4. Rowland
Fred's thoughts: Oh my goodness, first thoughts are Charter Oak and South Hills on opposite sides of the draw, which means they can only meet in the championship. Second thought is what a list of great first round games. Diamond Ranch in a rematch at Muir with the winner probably playing South Hills! Bonita at West Covina in the first round. Charter Oak appears in good shape, though Cal good be a dangerous team in the second round. This is going to be some race to the finish.

South Hills coach Steve Bogan's joking reaction to being on opposite sides of Charter Oak in the draw: "The unconfirmed watergate portions of CIF set it up that way," Bogan said laughing. "We would love that, because it means we're playing for a championship. There are some interesting games, that's for sure. But you can't get caught up looking too far down the line."

Upper Half
Bell Gardens (5-5) at Charter Oak (9-0-1)
California (8-2) at Crescenta Valley (8-2)
San Gabriel (5-5) at La Serna (9-1)
Burroughs (7-3) at Rowland (8-2)

Bottom Half
Diamond Ranch (4-6) at Muir (9-1)
South Hills (8-2) at Schurr (7-3)
Bonita (7-3) at West Covina (8-2)
Burbank (5-5) at Santa Fe (9-1)

CENTRAL DIVISION PAIRINGS: Seeds: 1. Rancho Cucamonga, 2. Los Osos, 3. West Valle, 4. Cajon.
Fred's thoughts: The coin flip was painful for Glendora, who gets the Sunbelt League champion and No. 3 West Valley in the first round. But being in the botom half is better, right. At least they avoid Rancho Cucamonga for a while.

Upper Half
Colton (6-3-1) at Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1)
Ontario (6-4) at Paloma Valley (7-3)
Colony (6-4) at Ayala (8-2)
Etiwanda (5-5) at Cajon (9-1)

Bottom Half
Glendora (7-3) at West Valley (9-1
Upland (8-2) at Chaffey (8-2)
San Gorgonio (6-4) at Chino Hills (9-1)
Elsinore (5-5) at Los Osos (8-2)

All five local teams lost in Saturday's quarterfinals, but it was a great fight girls. Thanks for making this volleyball season an enjoyable one, on the court and on the blog. You can start discussing Tribune All-Area teams now. Who's the player of the year and who deserves to be on the first and second teams?

Saturday's quarterfinals
Division II-AA
Redlands East Valley def. South Hills, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-10
Beckman def. St. Lucy's, 25-19, 25-20, 27-25
Division III-AA
Village Christian def. Bonita. 32-30, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21
Division III-A
Mayfield def. Ganesha, 25-13, 25-14, 25-11
Division IV-A
Riverside Notre Dame def. La Puente, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17

Mission Valley update: Rosemead made a case for a top-four seed in the Mid-Valley and should be No. 1 according to us after a 50-12 pounding over Arroyo to claim the league title outright. They've done everything they're supposed to do, now it's up to the people who put it all together.

Serra League: Notre Dame's 56-21 victory over Bishop Amat gives the Knights, the No. 1 team in the nation according to MaxPreps, the outright title after going 10-0 and 3-0. Because Loyola (6-4, 2-1) beat Crespi (6-4, 0-3) 14-13 on Friday, Loyola earns the automatic second-place entry, leaving the Lancers (7-3, 3-1) alone in third, which is a good thing. Sunday's lone at-large berth in the Pac-5 Division will likely come down to Amat and St. John Bosco, a 48-31 loser to Servite on Friday. St. John Bosco finished fourth in the Trinity League but also had a 7-3 overall record. But it's hard to believe that St. John Bosco will get in over Amat, especially since Amat beat Trinity league champion Orange Lutheran.
Side note: Amat QB Jerry McClanahan didn't start the first half for disciplinary reasons. He was apparently late to a team meeting, and per team rules, he had to sit out. That says a lot about coach Hagerty, not putting anyone before the rules of the team. I also learned something else interesting. If you noticed there hasn't been an "A" in the middle of Amat's field this year. The guy who paints the "A" told me that Hagerty said they need to earn it first.

For quarter-by-quarter updates of tonight's games, click link

Friday's results
Rosemead 50, Arroyo 12 -- If this doesn't make the Panthers a top four seed, nothing will.
Notre Dame 56, Bishop Amat 21 -- It was a humbling loss to say the least, but wins over Orange Lutheran and Crespi should get the Lancers into the Pac-5 playoffs.
Covina 34, Baldwin Park 12 -- Looks like the Colts are heading to the playoffs as the No. 3 team from the Valle Vista. Maybe a first-round game against Azusa?
El Monte 13, Gabrielino 0 -- The Lions are going to the Mid-Valley playoffs after a shutout over the Eagles. They will go as the No. 3 from the MVL.
San Dimas 62, Ganesha 19 -- How's that for a thunderous reaction to last week's loss to Northview. Someone's going to be shaking at the knees when they get the Saints in the first round.
Northview 27, Pomona 7 -- The Vikings clinch the Valle Vista title outright, and could go in as a top two seed in next week's playoffs.
Azusa 42, Bassett 0 - Give it up to the Aztecs, they crushed everyone in the Montview, are 9-1, and deserve whatever seed they get in the Mid-Valley. Question is, how far can they go?
Duarte 48, La Puente 0 -- The Falcons are warming up just in time and may have the running back in Jordan Canada to cause some damage in the playoffs.
South El Monte 51, Mountain View 14 -- Great finish, but a case of too little too late.
Sierra Vista 35, Gladstone 0 -- For a team that we had ranked 33 out of 33 at one point, what a great finish to make the playoffs.
Damien 25, Chino 6 -- Spartans salvage season with two straight wins at the end. Congrats for hanging tough guys.

SAN ANTONIO COIN FLIP POSTGAME: Wow, here is how it went down. All three flipped, Rowland (8-2, 3-1) was the odd coin and goes to the playoffs as the No. 1 from the San Antonio. Since West Covina (8-2, 2-1) beat South Hills (8-2, 3-1) head to head, West Covina goes as No. 2 and South Hills, No. 1 in the division last week, goes as the No. 3 team from the San Antonio. What does this do to the seedings? A San Antonio team should at least get a No. 4 seed, which means Rowland or West Covina. South Hills, however, will play a first place team in the first round, which means a game against, yes, Muir, Charter Oak, Santa Fe, or Schurr. Heck, if the Huskies get Schurr, this might work out well after all as Bulldogs coach Mike Maggiore put it. "When we won the title in 2004, we won it as a third-place team," he said. "You got to win four games to win it all anyway. There's a lot of good teams here, you just have to take on who they give you." With three teams at 8-2, Snyder feels that Rowland or West Covina should at least get a top four seed. "You've got three teams finishing 8-2," Snyder said. "You've got South Hills beating Ayala and West Covina beating Glendora, both upper-division teams that tied for the Sierra League title. If one of us don't get seeded, it will be hard to make sense of it all."
Rowland punched its ticket with a 49-21 win over Walnut Thursday. If the Raiders had lost, they would have missed the playoffs." Nothing ceases to amaze me anymore," Snyder said. "I still don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. There are some great third place teams out there like Diamond Ranch and California. You just don't know." Huskies coach Steve Bogan took it all in stride. "If this was my first five years in coaching, I would probably be analyzing it all," Bogan said. "At some point in time you have to play good football teams. My main concern is just getting healthy."

Scouting Guru notes !!!!!: You don't want to miss this, the Guru is breaking everything down, last night's games, tonight's games, it's a must read. He sent this too me at 7 a.m., and you're going to love it. He touches on everything, even answers some bloggers questions. Click this thread you don't want to miss it.

Poor sportsmanship and shots at Snoop Dog! News reporter Jennifer McLain wrote about about the West Covina Bruins junior all-american 12-14 year-olds football team being banned from the playoffs because of poor sportsmanship after a fight erupted earlier this season. You can watch some of what went down, here.

San Antonio League: West Covina beats South Hills 14-10 on a nine-yard TD by Ricky Johnson with 31 seconds left. Rowland defeated Walnut 49-21, forcing a three-way tie for first in the San Antonio between West Covina, South HIlls and Rowland. There will be a coin flip for the top three spots on Friday at noon at Walnut High School.

Sierra League: Glendora knocked off Ayala 21-14, and with Chino Hills' victory over Diamond Bar, it sets up a three-way tie for the Sierra League title. But the Tartans lost out. Ayala won the coin flip at a nearby Starbucks to enter the Central Division playoffs as the league's top entry. Chino Hills finished second and the Tartans third after the flips. Imagine that, they win the game but finish third anyway. Ahh, coin flips.

Miramonte League - Charter Oak cruises to 41-10 win over Bonita, completing an undefeated regular season and will likely enter Southeast playoffs as No. 1 seed following South Hills loss.

For quarter-by-quarter updates of tonight's games, click link

Thursday's results
Charter Oak 48, Bonita 10 -- Chargers win the Miramonte, will likely get No. 1 seed in the Southeast. Steve Ramirez walks in after covering it and says, "They're gonna win the division, nobody will stop these guys." Bonita coach Eric Podley kind of agreed, "They were bigger than us and they knew they were bigger than us," Podley said. "They inflicted their will on us. We didn't respond well. They're a better team than us, clearly. If we played them ten times, they would beat us ten times. But I feel we could have played better."
West Covina 14, South Hills 10 -- If you watched it, you would agree the Bulldogs deserved to win it. Both coaches talked about Friday's coin flip at Walnut. "We'll worry about that tomorrow," Maggiore said. "This is great for our kids and our program. They've beaten us the last few years, so to beat one of the best programs in the Valley and in our division has gotta give us a big boost of confidence going into the playoffs." South Hills could go from the No. 1-ranked team in the Southeast to the third-place team from the San Antonio League if it's not fortunate in today's coin flip. "I don't care about that stuff," Huskies coach Steve Bogan said. "It won't change what we do. We'll play whoever they give us. Obviously you would like to win the flip, but we need to go out and get better. That's what we have to focus on."
Rowland 49, Walnut 21 -- The Raiders benefit from West Covina's victory, finishing in a three-way tie for the San Antonio.
Glendora 21, Ayala 14 -- Great win on the road to grab a piece of the Sierra League title. But bad luck in falling to third after coin flips.
Los Altos 38, Wilson 14 -- Did you really think Felipe Aguilar wouldn't win a game in his first season as head coach? The "Wheel" goes back to Los Altos.
Chino Hills 34, Diamond Bar 28 -- Brahmas play 'em close as Chino Hills finishes in three-way tie for Sierra, getting second-place entry after the coin flips.
Diamond Ranch 45, Nogales 7 -- Don't look now, but that's three-straight wins heading into the playoffs. Momentum is everything isn't it?

Thursday's second round results
Division II-AA
South Hills def. Arcadia, 25-10, 25-12, 23-25, 25-17
Bishop Montgomery def. Glendora, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23
Lakewood St. Joseph def. Walnut, 25-19, 25-19, 15-25, 25-23
St. Lucy's def. Riverside Poly, 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18
Division III-AA
Bonita def. Victor Valley, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14
Granite Hills def. Charter Oak, 25-10, 25-27, 25-21, 25-19
Division III-A
Ganesha def. Culver City, 25-21, 28-26, 16-25, 25-23
San Gabriel d. Covina, 25-13, 23-25, 25-10, 25-23
Gabrielino def. Cerritos, 26-24, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-6
San Dimas at Webb, 7 p.m., N/A
Division IV-A
La Puente def. Desert, 28-26, 26-24, 25-17
Bishop Conaty-Loretto def. Gladstone, 25-18, 11-25, 25-9, 25-22

From left, Brady Zuniga (UNLV), Ryan Arnold (Santa Clara), Chris Cunningham (Santa Clara), Joel Licon (Loyola Marymount), Garrett Johnson (Fresno State), Rich Pedroza (Cal State Fullerton), Josh Leyland (Washington State), and Jiovanni Mier (USC). Not pictured but signing today is San Dimas' Kevin Ponzo, going to Utah

Northview High School third baseman Ryan Arnold and Bishop Amat pitcher Brady Zuniga will be fierce rivals this spring.
The two-time defending CIF-SS Division V champion Lancers move to Division IV, home of the 2007 champion Vikings.
Northview defeated Bishop Amat in last year's Glendora tournament championship game, and with both teams in the same division, it adds fuel to an already intense rivalry.
But Arnold and Zuniga put that aside on Wednesday, feeling more like teammates after signing their national letters of intent to UNLV on the first day of the early signing period for non-football student-athletes.
Eight locals visited our offices to take pictures on Wednesday, for story click thread

Yeah, it's that time already. This is a feeler to gauge the interest of winter sports. In my opinion girls soccer was the most popular winter topic on the blog other than our year-long love affair with football. But I also know how big basketball is around these parts, just not on the blog for some reason. Hopefully that changes this year. Whether it's boys or girls basketball, soccer or wrestling, start listing your top ten's for each, players to watch for, etc, etc. We start making our calls to work on previews next week.

The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he's offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don't hate, enjoy it for what it's worth, which is one man's opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley. In this thread he breaks down Thursday's league title games as only he can do.

It's championship night on Thursday in the San Gabriel Valley. With three of the premier leagues having their championships settled, it's what high school football is all about. And each game has a direct impact on the seeding for their respective divisions in the CIF playoffs. We felt than instead of giving Top-10 lists this week and other stuff, we are going to preview three of the league championship games in the area and use official coaches tape footage to see if can find a possible winner Thursday night.
For the thorough breakdowns of the Miramonte, Sierra and San Antonio League championship scenarios and predictions, click this thread, you won't be disappointed.

This is your chance to vote for the games of the week.
Thursday?
Charter Oak at Bonita
South Hills at West Covina
Glendora at Ayala
Friday?
Rosemead at Arroyo
Bishop Amat at Notre Dame

Coach of the year
These are the coach of the year candidates heading into the playoffs, who do you think will be standing at the end?
Azusa's Joe Scherf, Bishop Amat's Steve Hagerty, San Dimas' Bill Zernickow, Rowland's Craig Snyder, South Hills' Steve Bogan, Charter Oak's Lou Farrar, Rosemead's Matt Koffler, Northview's Jim Arellanes, Bonita's Eric Podley, West Covina's Mike Maggiore and Glendora's Mark Pasquarella.

Once again, a local coach has stepped up and offered to help give insight to what's going on in cross country. This comes from Glendora assistant coach Bob Ramsey

All of the SGV leagues held their league finals last week. For most athletes, it was the culmination of their season, but for some, they qualified to extend their schedule at least one more week at Saturday's CIF Divisional Prelims, held at Mt. Sac. Here are the results from the leagues that submitted their results here and/or to DyeStatCal.com.

For all the results and Saturday's CIF schedule, click thread

We'll start a postgame thread for each round of the playoffs. Results might not be posted until the next morning, but you can come back tonight and tell us what happened. The interest in girls volleyball has been off the charts, and I don't expect it to slow down now. Can we all thank Steve Ramirez for doing a great job covering it this year.

BREAKING NEWS: Bishop Amat disqualified itself from the CIF-SS Division II-A playoffs today after learning of an error made by CIF, who awarded the Lancers an at-large berth to play St. Lucy's this afternoon. At-large teams must have at least a .500 record. CIF reported that Amat was 12-12, but Amat athletic director Mike Manzo called CIF and admitted they finished 13-15, which gives St. Lucy's a bye into the second round. "Our coach (Stephanie Cruz) had already stepped down to focus on other things, and we were planning for our banquet. We were as surprised as anyone to learn they (CIF) had given us an at-large." My question to CIF is, whose season did they ruin by making this error?

Final Top Ten poll
1. South Hills (17-5) -- Huskies, after a series of upsets the past two weeks, come full circle to sit atop the rankings.
2. Walnut (18-3) -- The Mustangs, behind Samantha Sheller and Jennifer Silva, have been one of the most-consistent teams all season.
3. St. Lucy's (18-9) -- The Regents are playing their best at the right time, getting big wins over previous No. 1s Glendora and Diamond Bar, then take advantage of CIF-SS goof to advance to the second round of the playoffs with a bye.
4. Diamond Bar (19-4) -- The Brahmas have a tough playoff hoe, facing Torrance tonight with a possible match against top seed Redlands East Valley in the next round.
5. Bonita (16-4) -- Is there anyone better than Courtney Donaldson?
6. Ganesha (20-6) -- Its hard to believe this team at one time was hovering near the .500 level. Now they could make some big noise in the III-A Division.
7. Glendora (20-8) -- The Tartans, once one of more surprised teams in the area, have slumped going into the second season.
8. Charter Oak (16-3) -- The Chargers also enter the postseason on down-hill slide, losing to Bonita and Los Altos last week.
9. San Dimas (18-5) -- The Saints advanced to the quarterfinals last season. Is a similar run possible this year?
10. La Puente (21-0) -- The Warriors hope to continue the magic.

Tonight's CIF-SS Girls Volleyball
Playoff Scores
First Round
Division II-AA
Torrance def. Diamond Bar, 21-25, 25-14, 28-26, 16-25, 16-14
South Hills def. La Salle, 25-8, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19
Irvine University def. West Covina, 25-15, 25-12, 25-12
Glendora def. El Segundo, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19
Walnut def. Rialto, 25-15, 25-18, 25-15
Division III-AA
Bonita def. Knight, 25-11, 25-2, 25-16
Los Altos at Palm Desert, 7 p.m.
Charter Oak def. La Quinta, 25-18, 25-19, 25-15
Division III-A
Ganesha def. Santiago/Garden Grove, 25-6, 25-17, 26-28, 25-15
Covina def. Orange, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20
Westminster La Quinta d. Arroyo, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19
San Dimas def. Ocean View, 3-0
Division IV-A
Nordhoff def. Bassett, 25-12, 25-16, 25-12
Gladstone def. Cal Lutheran, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-19
Grace Brethren def. Azusa, 25-21, 25-18, 25-8
La Puente def. Vistamar, 22-25, 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12

Thursday's second round schedule
Division II-AA
Arcadia at South Hills, 7 p.m.
Bishop Montgomery at Glendora, 7 p.m.
Walnut at St. Joseph, 7 p.m.
Riverside Poly at St. Lucy's, 7 p.m.
Division III-AA
Bonita at Victor Valley, 7 p.m.
Charter Oak at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
Division III-A
Culver City at Ganesha, 7 p.m.
San Gabriel at Covina, 7 p.m.
Gabrielino at Cerritos, 7 p.m.
San Dimas at Webb, 7 p.m.
Division IV-A
Gladstone at Bishop Conaty, 7 p.m.
La Puente at Desert, 7 p.m.

Tim Gilmore's high school career will end on Thursday against rival Los Altos, where the Wildcats will likely finish 0-10, with Gilmore wandering into the unknown. This was the kid that everyone talked about as a sophomore, and who nearly took our player of the year award after his junior season, rushing for 1,978 yards and 22 touchdowns, and leading the Wildcats to the second round of the divisional playoffs. I give him credit for staying at Wilson with a new coach and new offensive philosophy, but it was obvious he struggled and they struggled. I'll wonder what he could have done for South Hills? Could he have changed things by going to Los Altos? Would he have been a difference-maker at Bishop Amat? Selfishly, we can ask can't we? We'll never know for sure, but good luck to him and wherever he winds up next, most likely a community college. I know we'll all be curious what he does at the next level with talent surrounding him. Is this the end, or just the beginning? We'll just have to wait and find out.

1. Bishop Amat (7-2) -- NBA writer Marc Stein explained why after making the Lakers No. 1, he switched back to the Celtics, even though the Lakers are undefeated and 5-0. "Sometimes you don't do anything to deserve a drop in the NBA Power Rankings," Stein said. "Sometimes you just get leapfrogged." That's the case here. No disrespect to undefeated Charter Oak, but Amat's victory over Crespi, and playing for a title in the Serra is too much for any over other locals to keep up with.
2. Charter Oak (8-0-1) -- Interesting to those who complain about Charter Oak's schedule. The Chargers' only tie on the road against Rancho Cucamonga is Rancho's only blemish too. Rancho is 8-0-1 and on top of the Central poll, ahead of second Los Osos, who beat Bishop Amat. This is a team winning by an average margin of 20 and with one of the top coaching staff's in the Valley. Umm, why aren't they No. 1 in the Southeast then? You got me.
3. South Hills (8-1) -- How many teams can absorb the loss of players like Chris Bowden and Wayne Goss and continue to look like they're improving? This is why coach Steve Bogan is who he is, he never lets doubt creep into his players' minds. They've beaten Ayala, Rosemead and Rowland, and have scored 30 or more in their last four wins.
4. Rosemead (7-2) -- I'm still trying to understand how Rosemead can be No. 5 in the Mid-Valley behind No. 1 Monrovia with the same 7-2 record. Didn't Rosemead pound Monrovia, 42-21? Hasn't the Mead played a much tougher schedule, only losses to Harvard-Westlake and South Hills? Aren't they winning by an average margin of 22? Monrovia also lost to 4-5 Arcadia and has beat one team with a winning record. Hey, at least we get it.
5. San Dimas (8-1) - Before Northview fans start screaming about the injustice of being ranked behind the Saints, remember it's the complete body of work that counts. The Saints looked at the big picture, rested Nico Barbone's in the VVL title game and has linebacker Kyle Withem returning in the second round. They'll be back.
6. Rowland (7-2) -- Will Rowland be a dangerous Southeast playoff opponent? I think so. Anytime you beat West Covina, Northview, and hang with South Hills, you've got a shot against anyone in the division. Kudos to coach Craig Snyder and the gang for bringing the program back to life.
7. West Covina (7-2) -- The Bulldogs got what they wanted, a chance to play for a piece of the San Antonio League at home against South Hills on Thursday. Now, what are they going to do about it? After the Bulldogs beat Glendora early in the season I said they would win the San Antonio. But the momentum since has switched to South Hills. But that could all change in an instant.
8. Glendora (6-3) -- If the Tartans are going to claim a piece of the Sierra, they have to do it the hard way, going to Ayala and getting a victory. The Tarts are dangerous and unpredictable. They could have won all three games they lost. They're the type of team that can get beat in the first round or go all the way to the finals. And we know this, if the game is on the line in the final seconds, Pasqy is going for it.
9. Northview (7-2) - -- Beating San Dimas was the Vikings' biggest victory in a long time and gives them the No. 1 seed from the VVL. I'm curious to learn what their newfound confidence will do for them? They've got a great defense and an offense that is finally clicking. Dangerous, very dangerous.
10. Bonita (7-2) -- You know you've got a great top ten when Bonita is No. 10. Seriously, this might be the best top ten we've had in years. The Bearcats have been world beaters since losing to San Dimas, but the real test comes on Thursday against undefeated Charter Oak. Man, a Bearcats victory would really shake things up.
Rounding out the top 33: 11. Azusa (8-1), 12. Diamond Ranch (3-6), 13. Pomona (6-3), 14. Duarte (4-5), 15. Walnut (5-4), 16. Diamond Bar (4-5), 17. Damien (2-7), 18. El Monte (4-5), 19. South El Monte (4-5), 20. Arroyo (3-6), 21. Baldwin Park (4-5), 22. Covina (3-6), 23. Workman (5-4), 24. Los Altos (0-9), 25. Western Christian (5-4), 26. Sierra Vista (3-6), 27. Gladstone (2-7), 28. Montain View (2-7), 29. Ganesha (2-7), 30. Nogales (1-8), 31. Wilson (0-9), 32. La Puente (1-8), 33. Bassett (1-8)

The final CIF-SS Polls were released on Monday. These are the final polls before Sunday's CIF-Southern Section pairings draw.

Mid-Valley Division: 1. Monrovia (7-2), 2. Azusa (8-1), 3. Northview (7-2), 4. San Dimas (8-1), 5. Rosemead (7-2), 6. San Marino (8-1), 7. Paraclete (6-3), 8. LA Baptist (6-4), 9. Cerritos Valley Christian (7-2), 10. Temple City (5-4).
Robledo's Mid-Valley thoughts: These pollsters never got it right. Seriously, if Monrovia or Azusa win the championship, I'm personally donating $100 bucks to their athletic programs. The top three teams are Rosemead, Northview and San Dimas, and if they're on opposite sides, Rosemead and San Dimas will play in the championship.

Southeast Division: 1. South Hills (8-1), 2. Charter Oak (8-0-1), 3. Santa Fe (8-1), 4. Muir (8-1), 5. La Serna (9-0), 6. California (7-2), 7. West Covina (7-2), 8. Bonita (7-2), 9. Rowland (7-2), 10. Crescenta Valley (7-2).
Robledo's Southeast thoughts: Hard to argue with this. At least someone's doing their homework. The only change I would make is putting undefeated Charter Oak on top.

Central Division: 1. Rancho Cucamonga (8-0-1), 2. Los Osos (7-2), 3. Upland (8-1), 4. Ayala (8-1), 5. West Valley (8-1), 6. Cajon (8-1), 7. Chino Hills (8-1), 8. Chaffey (9-2), 9. Glendora (6-3), 10. Etiwanda (5-4).
Robledo's Central thoughts: Glendora has to be pleased being the highest third-loss team. I look at this division and dont see any word beaters. If the Tartans get hot, who knows?

Pac-5 Division: 1. Long Beach Poly (9-0), 2. Notre Dame (9-0), 3. Tesoro (9-0), 4. Orange Lutheran (7-2), 5. Los Alamitos (8-1), 6. Edison (7-2), 7. Mater Dei (7-2), 8. Mission Viejo (8-1), 9. Servite (6-3), 10. Bishop Amat (7-2).
Robledo's Pac-5 thoughts: What an accomplishment to go from 3-7 to being ranked tenth in the final Pac-5 poll and playing No. 2 Notre Dame for the Serra title on Friday. Even if the Lancers lose, hard to believe now they won't get the at-large.

SGV Football Standings
Serra League
San Antonio League
Sierra League
Miramonte League
Valle Vista League
Mission Valley League
Montview League

We'll post a Bishop Breakdown thread to evaluate Friday night's games, the players, coaching staff's, and the next opponent.

With the coaching staff in place, this feels like a make or break year at Bishop Amat. It's probably not fair to expect too much from Steve Hagerty and staff in their first season, but there's nothing like the excitement and emotions of a quick turnaround. Whatever happens, week-by-week, we'll follow the ride.

Last week: Bishop Amat 22, Crespi 21
Friday's: Bishop Amat (7-2, 1-1) at Notre Dame (9-0, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.
CalPreps prediction: Notre Dame 42, Bishop Amat 20

Notes: Bishop Amat High school's come-from-behind 22-21 victory over Crespi might have done enough to earn the Lancers a CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoff berth, but that is not the immediate concern of Lancers coach Steve Hagerty. Thanks to Notre Dame's 34-0 win over Loyola, the Lancers have a chance to play for a piece of the Serra League title on Friday. But that's a huge chore considering Bishop Amat (7-2, 1-1) needs to knock off undefeated Notre Dame (9-0, 2-0) to claim a share. Loyola (5-4, 1-1) finishes Serra action at Crespi (6-3, 0-2).
"It's going to be tough beating Notre Dame," Hagerty said. "They're darn-near perfect, but I've seen crazier things happen. They just took over the number one ranking in the state, and are No. 2 in the nation. These are the games we want to be in."
With only four teams in the Serra, only two get automatic playoff berths. In the event of a three-way tie for first, or three-way tie for second, coin flips will determine which two teams get automatic berths. The third and fourth place teams must submit at-large playoff applications to CIF on Saturday, then hold their breath until Sunday's annoucement. Only one team from the Pac-5 Division that consists of the Serra, Moore, South Coast and Trinity leagues will earn an at-large berth, and based on CIF's guidelines, there's a good chance the wild-card will come from the Serra. "We feel like it will either come from our league or the Trinity league, but right now our focus is on getting a win and taking care of it ourself," Hagerty said. "This is exactly where we wanted to be at this point in the season. If you told me we would be fighting for the league title in week ten, we would have been fired up."
The CIF-SS committe will utilize the following criteria in its selection process for the teams applying for an at-large berth:
(a) Head-to-head competition of teams under consideration (4 points)
(b) Overall strength of the league from which the team is entered (1 point)
(c) Overall win-loss record (1 point)
(d) Strength against common opponents (1 point)
(e) Strength of schedule (2 points, using overall win-loss record of opponents).

Workman High School sophomore Cezar Guerrero won his appeal to the state board, making the highly touted guard eligible to play for the Lobos basketball team this season.
Over the summer Guerrero applied for a "hardship transfer," from St. John Bosco, but his hardship was denied by CIF, citing "undue influence." Workman coach Martin Flores had also coached Guerrero in club basketball, which led to the "undue influence" ruling, which was overturned last week. "What it means is that he (Guerrero) took the appeal in front of the state board and a hearing panel overturned the (CIF) commissioner's (James Staunton) ruling," CIF spokesperson Thom Simmons said. Guerrero, one of the best young prospects in the Southern Section, is a 5-foot-11 playmaker that made an immediate impact as a freshman at powerful St. John Bosco. He averaged nearly 17 points while playing in the tough Trinity League, which features some of the state's best teams like Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Serra. Guerrero scored 22 points against Serra and 19 against eventual state champion Mater Dei in league games last year.

Steve Ramirez and I will go head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the Tribskin Pick'em thread.

Robledo: Last week - 14-4; Season - 149-38
Ramirez: Last week - 13-5; Season - 141-46

Notes: In a so-so week of picking winners, I still picked up another victory on Stevie R., pushing my lead to eight heading into the final week of the regular season. Northview surprised us both by beating San Dimas, though Nico Barbone might have something to say about it in the playoffs. We both picked Crespi over Bishop Amat , and we know how that turned out. Neither of us picked Damien to beat Diamond Bar or Pomona over Baldwin Park. Where I picked up my win was picking South El Monte to end Arroyo's three-game league winning steak.

This week: It doesn't get much better than having five league titles decided. After saying early in the season I would pick West Covina over South Hills, I'm not doing it. the Huskies have proved enough and will get it done. Charter Oak and Bonita are playing for the Miramonte, but the Chargers are too good and will pull away. Expect Glendora to take advantage of its good fortune and beat Ayala for a three-way tie in the Sierra. Rosemead will pound Arroyo for the outright MVL title, and Notre Dame will beat Bishop Amat, then we'll see if the Lancers get in the playoffs on Sunday. Hey boys in blue, Stevie R., is picking the upset.

This week's games and predictions
Thursday's games
Charter Oak at Bonita, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (COak); Ramirez (COak)
South Hills at West Covina, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SHills); Ramirez (SHills)
Walnut at Rowland, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Rowland); Ramirez (Rowland)
Glendora at Ayala, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Glendora); Ramirez (Ayala)
Wilson at Los Altos, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Los Altos); Ramirez (Los Altos)
Diamond Bar at Chino Hills, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (CHills); Ramirez (CHills)
Nogales vs. Diamond Ranch at Ganesha, 7 p.m. (DRanch); Ramirez (DRanch)

Friday's games
Rosemead at Arroyo, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Rosemead); Ramirez (Rosemead)
Bishop Amat at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (NDame); Ramirez (BAmat)
Baldwin Park vs. Covina at CDF, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Covina); Ramirez (Covina)
El Monte at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (El Monte); Ramirez (Gabrielino)
Ganesha at San Dimas, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SDimas); Ramirez (SDimas)
Northview vs. Pomona at Ganesha, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (NView); Ramirez (NView)
Azusa at Bassett, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Azusa); Ramirez (Azusa)
La Puente at Duarte, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Duarte); Ramirez (Duarte)
South El Monte at Mountain View, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SElM); Ramirez (SElM)
Gladstone vs. Sierra Vista at Citrus College, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SVista); Ramirez (SVista)
Western Christian at Ontario Christian, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (OChrist); Ramirez (OChrist)
Damien at Chino, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Damien); Ramirez (Damien)

Coach Andrew Gate's Damien Spartans received the No. 2 seed in Division III.

The pairings for the CIF-Southern Section divisional playoffs were announced Sunday morning, and the big local winners were Damien and Walnut.
The Spartans, who won another Sierra League title, received the No. 2 seed in Division III and will play host to Yucaipa in Wednesday's first round.
Walnut, which scored first in the San Antonio League, received the No. 4 seed in Division VI. The Mustangs will have a bye in Tuesday's first round and will host the Pacific-Chadwick winner in the second round on Thursday.
The area's other top team was Bonita. The Bearcats, who won the Miramonte League, did not receive a top four seed, but they did receive a bye in Division V. Bonita will play host to the El Rancho-La Quinta winner on Wednesday.
The other area representative in Division V is Charter Oak, which plays host to Whittier in Tuesday's first round.
Rowland, which finished second to Walnut in the San Antonio League, also received a bye in Division VI. The Raiders, a former section power during the 1990s, play host to the Oxnard Pacifica-Lompoc winner on Thursday.
West Covina, which was third in the San Antonio League, plays at Ocean View on Tuesday.
The finals are scheduled for Saturday Nov. 22 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine.

The CIF-SS playoff pairings were released today at noon. There are some interesting first-round matchups, including Bishop Amat traveling to St. Lucy's in Division II-AA. Below is the local schedule

Wild-Card round
III-A
Monday
Rosemead at Montebello
Westridge vs. Northview at Covina HS
Rancho Alamitos at Mountain View
First-Round
Tuesday
II-AA
Torrance at Diamond Bar
La Salle at South Hills
West Covina at University
Glendora at El Segundo
Rialto at Walnut
Bishop Amat at St. Lucy's
III-AA
Knight at Bonita
Los Altos at Palm Desert
La Quinta at Charter Oak
III-A
Santiago/Garden Grove at Ganesha
Covina at Orange
La Quinta/Westminster at Arroyo
Ocean View at San Dimas
IV-A
Bassett at Nordhoff
Cal Lutheran at Gladstone
Azusa at Grace Brethren
Vistamar at La Puente

Comments: Bonita was the lone area team to make it to the semifinals last season, it's going to be a tough road for an area team to match that. I can see South Hills, possibly St. Lucy's and maybe Bonita getting to the quarterfinals. But then they will have to step up big time if the top four seeds in most divisions hold form. Was there any bigger coin flip then the one Diamond Bar lost to St. Lucy's. The Regents win, and get a decent draw with a chance to breathe for a few rounds. Diamond Bar loses and draws Torrance in the opening round. A chance at victory, but never count out the beach schools, no matter their placement in league. And the reward if the Brahmas advance? How does top-seeded Redlands East Valley suit you?

Your thread to blog about anyone and anything you want

With Sherman Oaks Notre Dame's 34-0 win over Loyola on Saturday, it brings the total to five league championships that will be decided this week. There are a lot of possible two-and-three-way ties, which could make the playoff match-ups very interesting depending on the dreaded coin flips. BTW, there will be a Trib Top ten shake-up come Tuesday.

Thursday Night
Sierra League
Ayala's 18-17 win over undefeated Chino Hills gives Glendora a chance to defend its title. If Glendora (6-3, 3-1) beats Ayala (8-1, 4-0), they finish in a two or three-way tie. BTW, South Hills' win over Ayala didn't seem so impressive at the time. But it does now.

San Antonio League
South Hills (8-1, 3-0) can win the title outright with a victory over West Covina (7-2, 2-1), but a Bulldogs win probably sets up a three-way tie. Can you imagine that? South Hills could go from No. 1 in the Southeast to a possible third league entry with a loss and bad coin flip results.

Miramonte League
Ah, finally, a true championship, winner take all. Bonita (7-2, 3-0) hosts unbeaten Charter Oak (8-0-1, 3-0) for all the marbles. Has game of the week written all over it.

Friday Night
Serra League
Bishop Amat (7-2, 1-1) jumped back to No. 14 in the Times after beating Crespi, 22-21, and will play for a share of the Serra against undefeated Notre Dame (9-0, 2-0). They could also fall into a three-way tie for second. The question now is have they already done enough to secure a Pac-5 berth?

Mission Valley League
Though Arroyo (3-6, 3-1) lost to South El Monte, they can still claim a share of the title with a win over undefeated Rosemead (7-2, 4-0), though that seems highly unlikely.

Friday's results
South Hills 45, Rowland 38 -- Huskies show why they deserve No. 1 ranking in Southeast Division, and will play West Covina for the outright San Antonio league title next week.
Bishop Amat 22, Crespi 21 -- Lancers rally from 20-6 third quarter deficit, and win on a gutsy call by coach Steve Hagerty. After Brent Seals' potential game-tying touchdown with 4:42 left, the Lancers went for the two-point conversion and got it on QB Jerry McClanahan's mad dash to the corner for a 22-21 lead. If Notre Dame beats Loyola on Saturday, the Lancers can play for a piece of the Serra next week.
South El Monte 35, Arroyo 32 -- Instead of playing for the outright Mission Valley league title, the Knights will play for a share of it next week against Rosemead. Good win for the Eagles, but too little, too late for the playoffs.
Glendora 49, Chino 14 -- With Ayala's upset over undefeated Chino Hills, the Tartans get to play Ayala next week for a share of the Sierra League title.
Charter Oak 45, Los Altos 20 -- The Chargers' win sets up next week's Miramonte League championship at Bonita.
Azusa 42, Workman 14 -- The Aztecs clinch a share of the Montview league title, and continue to show that they might be real players in the Mid-Valley playoffs.
Bonita 31, Walnut 7 -- It was just a nonleague game, but important for the Bearcats to stay sharp heading into next week's showdown against undefeated Charter Oak.
West Covina 48, Nogales 20 -- The night worked just as the Bulldogs hoped. With South Hills beating Rowland, the Bulldogs will play the Huskies for a share of the San Antonio league title on Thursday.
Diamond Ranch 48, Wilson 0 -- The Panthers clinch the playoff with this and officially become the wounded animal nobody wants to face in the postseason.
Rosemead 36, Gabrielino 6 -- The Panthers can win the MVL title outright next week against Arroyo. It will be interesting to see where they get seeded in the playoffs. In my opinion they deserve the Mid-Valley's top-ranking.
El Monte 21, Mountain View 6 -- This goes a long way toward an MVL playoff berth.
Pomona 24, Baldwin Park 21 -- It would take a miracle for the Braves to make the playoffs now. That's a tough loss at home.
Duarte 54, Bassett 0 -- Falcons roll while coach Wardell Crutchfield serves a mandatory suspension.
Damien 31, Diamond Bar 6 -- The Spartans finally put it all together. Too bad its week nine.

For quarter-by-quarter updates of tonight's games, click link

South Hills-Rowland Highlight Video

Final Score: Northview 40, San Dimas 39
Northview (7-2, 4-0); San Dimas (8-1, 3-1)

What happened: Have we been sleeping on this Kamaron Germany kid. The Vikings junior rushed for 278 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Vikings cement their first signature win in years, knocking off undefeated and Mid-Valley Division's No. 1 San Dimas, 40-39, at the District Field. Leading 34-33, the Vikings stretched it on a clutch call. On 4th-and-5 from the 11, Oscar Robles pitched to Andrew Rodriguez, who threw an 11 TD pass to Joey Martinez, giving the Vikes' a 40-33 lead with time winding down in the third quarter. In the fourth, San Dimas quarterback Mick Kalmar scored on a two-yard run on fourth and goal. The Saints went for two, but Kalmar was stopped just inches away. The Vikings got gutsy again. On fourth-and-five they fake punted, and Andrew Rodriguez bulldozed his way for five yards and a first down with 2:52 left. Rodriguez closed it out on another big fourth-down play, getting a couple yards on 4th-and-one with 1:35 left to close the show.

Fred's thoughts: If it's a soccer game its 6-6, as in both teams scored six touchdowns. It went back-and-forth and special teams played a huge role, especially on extra points. But the Vikings made the big plays, got the big stops, and I thought were more emotional from start to finish. Would it have been different if Saints all-everything Nico Barbone played? It doesn't matter, he wasn't there. The Vikings deserve their moment, but I keep thinking of what San Dimas coach Bill Zernickow told me after saying Barbone couldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Quote: "No matter what happens, we'll probably see them again." Wouldn't that be a nice playoff sequel? Question is, what will this do to the Mid-Valley Division rankings? That will be interesting come Monday.

How they scored tonight
NV: Kamaron Germany two yard TD run, (7-0 Vikes)
SD: Daniel Joseph 67 TD run (7-6, Vikes)
SD: Gio Mantilla 17 TD pass from Mick Kalmar (12-6 Saints)
SD: Joseph 5 TD run (20-7 Saints)
NV: Germany 6 TD run (20-14 Saints)
NV: Oscar Robles 17 TD pass (20-20)
SD: Erek Brown 11 TD pass from Kalmar (26-20 Saints)
NV: Anthony Farmer 17 TD pass from Robles (26-26)
Halftime
SD: Joseph 16 TD run (33-26 Saints, 9:52 3rd quarter)
NV: Germany 14 TD run, Germany two-pnt conv (34-33 Vikings, 6:09 3rd)
NV: On option, Andrew Rodriguez 11 TD pass to Joey Martinez, kick missed (40-33 Vikings, 1:32 left in 3rd)
SD: Kalmar 2 TD run, Kalmar comes up foot short on two-point conversion, (40-39, 5:41).

Thursday's Results
Northview 40, San Dimas 39
Gladstone 21, La Puente 0
Covina 21,Ganesha 20

Hi all:

I just wanted to let know of my latest update on Prep Stars: Where are you now?
I write about former Mt. SAC linebacker Antonio Pierce, now of the New York Giants, being the top NFL player with local ties.

Over the next few weeks some of you will play for league championships, and those fortunate enough will get CIF title shots. But for most seniors the next two weeks are it, so enjoy it and soak it all up because you'll never have a time like this in your life again, just ask the old-timers. This is why I love this video. It takes you back to when you were a kid and how it all began. It will end soon enough, but don't forget what got you here.

Your thread to blog about anyone and anything you want. The CIF Southern Section playoff pairings will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 16. The Mid-Valley Division pairings will be at Covina High School at 11 a.m., while the Southeast will be at the CIF offices in Los Alamitos. The Central Division will be at Kaiser High in Fontana. The good news is the Southeast championship will be on Friday, Dec. 12, and the Mid-Valley title game on Saturday, Dec. 13. This should give the Valley two big nights of championship football. I would tell you where the Pac-5 pairings will be at, but Bishop Amat has to clinch a spot first. It's Crespi or bust on Friday.

Once again, a local coach has stepped up and offered to help give insight to what's going on in cross country. This comes from Glendora assistant coach Bob Ramsey

Cross country season comes to its climax this week, with all of the local schools participating in their League Finals meets. These meets will determine league champions and who advances to the CIF Championship Preliminaries. In advance of these meets, several local school's took part in last Thursday's Apache Invite at Arcadia Park and the Cougar Two-Miler on the track at Azusa Pacific University.

For this week's schedule and other news, click thread

St. Lucy's defeats Diamond Bar on Tuesday to force a possible tie in the Sierra League

South Hills blocked Walnut from moving to the top of the rankings.
Tribune Top 10
Girls Volleyball

1. Diamond Bar (19-3)
Brahmas move up to the penthouse, but can they survive the jinx?
2. South Hills (15-4)
Huskies played one of their better matches of the season, rallying for a five-game victory over Walnut to move into a first-place tie in the San Antonio League.
3. Walnut (19-5)
The Mustangs were a point a way from all but securing an outright league title and moving up to the top of the rankings, then ....
4. Bonita (14-5)
The Bearcats have a tough week, facing Walnut tonight and then put first place on the line in the Miramonte League with a home match against hard-Charging Charter Oak on Thursday.
5. Glendora (15-3)
The Tartans drop four slots after what appeared like they were going through the motions before losing to St. Lucy's in four. The question is will they be rooting for their rival tonight?
6. Charter Oak (16-2)
The Chargers have been one of the area's most-improved units, and now they can earn a share of the Miramonte League title. All they have to do is beat Bonita at the Bearcats' cave.
7. St. Lucy's (16-9)
The thought of the Regents getting a piece of a league title seemed like a pipe dream two weeks ago, but a win tonight against Diamond Bar will give them a piece of the Sierra League pie.
8. Ganesha (18-6)
The Giants looked large in beating San Dimas in four games last week, which put Ganesha in a first-place tie with the Saints. Now the Giants need to take care of business this week.
9. San Dimas (15-4)
The Saints slumped against Ganesha, but they also need to take care of business this week to be co-champs with the Giants.
10. La Puente (20-1)
The Warriors completed their reign in the Montview League by sweeping former champ Gladstone. La Puente has given up just one game in league play.
Note: Rankings are based through matches played on Nov. 1

Huskies coach Steve Bogan says despite their injuries, they will compete for the San Antonio and Southeast titles.

The South Hills High School football team is on top of the CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division poll entering the toughest part of its schedule. The Huskies (7-1, 2-0) play for sole possession of first place in the San Antonio League on Friday against Rowland (7-1, 2-0), then finish with rival West Covina.
But there are more worries.
Starting linebacker Chris Bowden injured his knee during the Huskies' 41-7 win over Walnut last Friday and is out indefinitely. Huskies coach Steve Bogan said Bowden is having an MRI, but the injury could keep him out a long time. The Huskies, already without standout linebacker Wayne Goss, must continue without two of their best defensive weapons. "It's not the end of us," Bogan said. "Last year Los Altos lost two guys and they were done. They didn't have the depth to absorb it. We've got depth and guys who can step up. I've got two or three options in terms of moving kids around or giving other kids their shot. I'm going to compete like (heck) to put the best team on the field." The Huskies also might be without starting running back Marcus Schneider.
Sophomore Jordan Gutierrez replaced Schneider after he rolled his ankle Friday.
"He did a great job," Bogan said of Gutierrez. "You can't do anything about (the injuries). You have to turn scars into stars. The issue is are you good enough? We're good enough. We might not have been able to absorb this in other years, but we have the players." Bogan said this is his most challenging season since 2002, when the Huskies lost Stephano Smith and Kyle Dealbut still won the Division VII title. Smith and Deal returned from injuries to join the title chase. The Huskies are hopeful to get Goss back by the second round of the playoffs but are unsure about Bowden.
"It raises the stakes," Bogan said. "Everyone knows how valuable those two (Goss and Bowden) are to us. But again, it comes down to are you good enough?"

1. Charter Oak (7-0-1) -- Lou Pa's Chargers reclaim the top spot, and not just because of Bishop Amat's dismal offensive showing against Loyola. The Chargers' lone tie against Rancho Cucamonga looks mighty good after Rancho defeated Los Osos on Friday, the same team Amat lost to. Also, you can argue the Chargers beat Diamond Ranch more convincing than the Lancers. Case closed.

2. Bishop Amat (6-2) -- We weren't as tough as the L.A. Times, who dropped the Lancers from their Top 25 poll. It's been a great season, no question about it, but how disappointing will it be if they finish 0-3 in the Serra. This week's game against Crespi is as do-or-die as it gets, because they're not beating unbeaten Notre Dame on the road the next week.

3. San Dimas (8-0) -- Considering they didn't have Nico the Linebacker in Friday's 56-46 victory over Baldwin Park, we're not dropping the Saints after their defenseless effort against the Braves. They're still the top dog in the Mid-Valley, and something tells me they're going to prove it on Thursday against surging Northview.

4. South Hills (7-1) -- The loss of defensive stalwarts Wayne Goss and Chris Bowden (to injuries) is difficult to replace, regardless of how much depth the Huskies have. Coach Steve Bogan says they can absorb it, but history tell us otherwise. The Huskies meet Rowland to clinch a share of the San Antonio on Friday, then finish with West Covina and the playoffs to follow. Obviously, these injuries are happening at the wrong time.

5. Rowland (7-1) -- The Raiders proved they belonged by knocking off West Covina; their lone loss came against once-beaten California; and they're tough defensively, allowing an average of just 11 points. Is this enough to topple South Hills? Yes, but don't expect the Huskies to be caught off guard like the Bulldogs.

6. Rosemead (6-2) -- The Panthers are rolling through the Mission Valley League, but still can't crack the top five of the Mid-Valley Division polls. I don't know what else they can do. In all their wins they've scored 40 or more points, and their only losses have come against South Hills and Harvard-Westlake.

7. West Covina (6-2) -- The Bulldogs are South Hills' biggest fans this week, hoping Bogan's Huskies knock off Rowland, which would give the Bulldogs a chance to play South Hills next week for a three-way tie in the San Antonio. Of course, West Covina needs to beat Nogales this week for that to happen. And of course, we know they will.

8. Glendora (5-3) -- The Tartans shouldn't fall too far after a close loss to undefeated Chino Hills. A victory over Chino this week pretty much locks a playoff spot, and keeps them in the hunt for a Sierra League title. If Ayala knocks off Chino HIlls this week, the Tartans would play Ayala in the finale for a chance to finish in a three-way tie.

9. Bonita (6-2) -- Charter Oak may be the favorite to win the Miramonte, but the Bearcats are in the drivers seat, already 3-0 with a nonleague game against Walnut this week. Bonita will host the Chargers in the league finale, and the way they're playing of late, they've got a real good shot.

10. Northview (6-2) -- They've finally got some offense to go with that great defense. After struggling early in the season to score points, the Vikings have found their groove and can shake up the Mid-Valley Division with a win over San Dimas in Thursday's Valle Vista League title game.

Rounding out the top 33: 11. Azusa (7-1), 12. Walnut (5-3), 13. Diamond Bar (4-4), 14. Diamond Ranch (2-6), 15. Arroyo (3-5), 16. Pomona (5-3), 17. South El Monte (4-4), 18. Damien (1-7), 19. Duarte (3-5), 20. El Monte (3-4), 21. Workman (5-3), 22. Baldwin Park (3-5), 23. Covina (2-6), 24. Western Christian (5-3), 25. Los Altos (0-8), 26. Sierra Vista (3-6), 27. Mountain View (2-6), 28. Wilson (0-8), 29. Ganesha (2-6), 30. Nogales (1-7), 31. Gladstone (1-7), 32. La Puente (1-7), 33. Bassett (1-7).

The lines were growing when I left my polling place this morning. It's always a great experience to vote and if you're like me, you will be glued to the television tonight watching it all unfold. I guess the only thing we can do is have our own prep sports informal exit poll. Figuring I'll get the San Gabriel Valley vote, I put myself on the ballot!

The new CIF-Southern Section boys and girls basketball playoff divisions were released on Monday. There are many changes, so go through it and tell us what you think. L.A. Times chief Eric Sondheimer gives his take in today's story.

What happened to the Mission Valley League champions? South El Monte was the story of perseverance in 2007, rallying from an 0-4 record to win seven straight, advancing to the second round of the divisional playoffs. They had the Tribune's quarterback of the year, Jose Garay returning, and started the season No. 2 in the Mid-Valley Division pre-season polls. Now it appears the defending champs won't even make the playoffs. Gabrielino's 24-16 victory over the Eagles on Friday dropped them to 3-5 and 0-3 in the MVL. Even if the Eagles win their final two games, a lot of almost-impossible scenarios have to unfold for them to make the playoffs. How quick this game humbles you.

Steve Ramirez and I will go head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the Tribskin Pick'em thread.

Robledo: Last week - 16-2; Season - 135-34
Ramirez: Last week - 15-3; Season - 128-41

Notes: After losing to Stevie R., by one stinking game last year, I feel myself pulling away, wondering where I'm going to choose for my free dinner once its over. Both of us picked Bishop Amat and South El Monte, which both lost. I can understand the Lancers' loss, but the Eagles' free-fall is puzzling. I gained a game on Steve by taking Chino Hills while he took Glendora.

This week: Obviously Thursday night's San Dimas-Northview game is a monster, followed by Friday's Rowland-South Hills showdown. Let's start with the Valle Vista league title game. We're always told that defense wins championships, but this year offense will have to win the title for the Saints, and it will. I've watched San Dimas rise to the occasion in big games, and feel like their defense will be good enough to allow them to outscore the Vikes in a thriller. South Hills will also restore order in the San Antonio. I thought about picking Rowland, but the Huskies' recent surge has me believing Bogan's in their ear and getting them ready for November. As far as Bishop Amat-Crespi, sorry Lancers, I can't see how you beat either Crespi or Notre Dame. It looks like a 6-4 season is inevitable.

This week's games and predictions
Thursday's games
Northview vs. San Dimas at CDF, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SDimas); Ramirez (SDimas)
Gladstone vs. La Puente at Citrus College, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Glad); Ramirez (Glad)
Western Christian at Arrowhead Christian, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Arrow); Ramirez (WC)
Covina at Ganesha, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Covina); Ramirez (Covina)

Friday's games
South Hills vs. Rowland at CDF, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SHills); Ramirez (SHills)
Crespi at Bishop Amat, 7:30 p.m. -- Robledo (Crespi ); Ramirez (Crespi)
Arroyo at South El Monte, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (SELM); Ramirez (Arroyo)
Glendora vs. Chino at Citrus College, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Glen); Ramirez (Glen)
Los Altos at Charter Oak, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (COak); Ramirez (COak)
Workman vs. Azusa at La Puente, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Azusa); Ramirez (Azusa)
Bonita at Walnut, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Bonita); Ramirez (Bonita)
West Covina at Nogales, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (WC); Ramirez (WC)
Diamond Bar at Damien, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (DBar); Ramirez (DBar)
Diamond Ranch at Wilson, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (DRanch); Ramirz (DRanch)
Gabrielino at Rosemead, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Rose); Ramirez (Rose)
Mountain View at El Monte, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (ElM); Ramirez (ElM)
Bassett at Duarte, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Duarte); Ramirez (Duarte)
Pomona at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. -- Robledo (Bpark); Ramirez (BPark)

Well, not my vote for Tuesday's Presidential Election, though that's my first priority when I wake up on Tuesday. These are my votes for this week's CIF Polls, which I am participating in for the first time this season. We'll see if these picks shake up the polls.

Mid-Valley Division ballot: 1. San Dimas, 2. Rosemead, 3. Northview, 4. San Marino, 5. Azusa, 6. Monrovia, 7. LA Baptist, 8. Paraclete, 9. Pomona, 10. Temple City.

Southeast Division ballot 1. Charter Oak, 2. South HIlls, 3. Muir, 4. Santa Fe , 5. California, 6. La Serna, 7. Rowland, 8. West Covina, 9. Bonita, 10. Burroughs.

Central Division ballot: 1. West Valley, 2. Rancho Cucamonga (9)
3. Chino Hills, 4. Upland, 5. Los Osos, 6. Ayala, 7. Cajon, 8. Etiwanda, 9. Glendora, 10.
10. Chaffey.

The votes are tallied and the CIF polls have been released. Looks like I didn't shake it up that much.

CIF polls, Monday, Nov. 3
Mid-Valley Division
1. San Dimas (8-0), 2. Monrovia (6-2), 3. Azusa (7-1), 4. San Marino (8-0), 5. Northview (6-2), 6. Rosemead (6-2), 7. Paraclete (6-3), 8. L.A. Baptist (5-4), 9. Village Christian (6-2), 10. Temple City (4-4).

Southeast Division
1. South Hills (7-1), 2. Charter Oak (7-0-1), 3. Santa Fe (7-1), 4. Muir (7-1), 5. California (7-1), 6. La Serna (8-0), 7. Rowland (7-1), 8. West Covina (6-2), 9. Bonita (6-2), 10. Crescenta Valley (6-2).

Central Division
1. West Valley (8-0), 2. Rancho Cucamonga (7-0-1), 3. Los Osos (6-2), 4. Upland (7-1), 5. Ayala (7-1), 6. Cajon (7-1), 8. Etiwanda (5-3), 9. Chaffey (6-2), 10. Glendora (5-3).

Should Bishop Amat fall from the top spot after its less-than-stellar offensive showing in a 17-6 loss to Loyola? Is it undefeated Charter Oak's (7-0-1) turn to take over? And how about at No. 3? Should South Hills (7-1) move past San Dimas (8-0) after the Saints won, but gave up 46 points against Baldwin Park? As of today, I'm on the fence in picking Thursday's Valle Vista League showdown between San Dimas and Northview. Who do you like?

Final Score:
Bishop Amat ... 0 0 6 0 -- 6
Loyola .......... 0 14 0 3-- 17

First Quarter
No score, end of first

Second Quarter
LO: Brett Ackerman 20-yard pass from Stephen Rokus (kick good), 3:59.
LO: Anthony Barr 68-yard run (kick good), 1:47

Third Quarter
BA: Jesse Prieto returns block punt 21-yards for TD, 4:49 (run failed).

Fourth Quarter
LO: Mauricio Alfonso 28 field goal, 7:16

Serra League standings
Notre Dame (8-0, 1-0)
Loyola (5-3, 1-0)
Crespi (6-2, 0-1)
Bishop Amat (6-2, 0-1)

The live blog game plan: I'll update the box with each score and share my thoughts and keep you up to date in the comments section. If you have a question during the game, ask and I'll do the best I can to answer it. I'm here and I've got a signal.

Video highlights of Bishop Amat-Loyola