Big Tony's Touts, Southeast Division Week Eight, Director's Cut with Playoff Bonus

Since we’re in the homestretch, I’ve decided to expand the touts to include the Hacienda and Pacific Leagues for the Mid Valley picks. The reason is simple; we’re two weeks from seeing the playoff picture set completely, so we better start looking at who the 16 teams advancing to the playoffs are and who will be the lucky school to earn the 16^th and final pick. With the exception of the six-team Del Rio, the other three leagues in the Southeast have four playoff slots, so it will come down to who has the best record amongst the fifth-place teams in the Pacific, Hacienda and Suburban and the fourth-place team in the Del Rio.

This is the “Money Week” for the Southeast Division, as no less than three games will either decide a league title or solidify a playoff spot. In the Suburban, Mayfair and La Mirada are squaring off in a battle of unbeatens to decide the League title. La Mirada had the bye week and Coach Mike Moschetti has been planning different ways to stop Evan Hunko. In the Hacienda, Bonita and West Covina will meet and the Bulldogs, Bearcats and the Panthers of Diamond Ranch all currently share first place. In the Del Rio, La Serna has one final major obstacle to overcome in Pioneer before they roll into the home stretch against Whittier and the “Mustang Bowl” against Cal. The Pacific’s top team, Burroughs, has a date with Crescenta Valley that would all but sew up the Pacific title.

This week, Bellflower has the bye week in the Suburban and Diamond Bar is off in the Hacienda

All Right, Week Eight, No whammies, No Whammies and…. STOP!!

WEEK 8

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010

Burbank Burroughs vs. Crescenta Valley (at Glendale High, Pacific League)

MATCHUP: The Indians are the last man standing, so to speak, in the Pacific, still undefeated. But the Falcons are not going to be a pushover for the Indians. They’re still smarting for a one-touchdown loss to Pasadena and this could be one of the worst things that could happen to Burroughs, getting a team looking for an upset.

Prediction: Burroughs 42, Crescenta Valley 24

Friday, Oct. 29, 2010

Hoover at Arcadia (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: Hoover’s been outscored 228-41 in the four league games so far. Except for the 21-14 overtime loss to Burroughs, the Apaches have been on the warpath in the league, taking down a previously surging Burbank last week. Hoover once again needs a miracle to get a win, but yet again, it’ll be the Tornadoes who will get caught in the updraft.

Prediction: Arcadia 49, Hoover 13

Burbank at Pasadena (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: If this game had occurred a week before, this would have been a trap game for the Bulldogs. As it is, thanks to the Apaches, the Bulldogs are no longer sitting on top of the Pacific. This is going to be a dogfight as this Bulldog brawl could end up costing the Burbank Bulldogs another slot in the standings.

Prediction: Pasadena 35, Burbank 31

Pasadena Muir at Glendale (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: Muir is in the Catbird seat right now. Although they sit in a three-way tie for fourth place in the league, they have the best chance to solidify their hold on the last playoff spot with a win over the Nitros. Glendale has nothing to lose, and scoring more than 14 points in this game would be a moral victory for the Nitros.

Prediction: Muir 52, Glendale 13

Bonita at West Covina (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: Bonita’s run has been nothing short of incredible, since earning the Smudge Pot back in September. But they face their biggest tests in the final three weeks of the season. First up are the Bulldogs, who haven’t lost since the 27-21 upset by Covina. Running back Chris Soloman and quarterback Greg Johnston are primed to keep the Bulldog scoring machine rolling. Meanwhile, the Bearcats are hoping that the Smudge Pot mojo holds out for three more weeks.

Prediction: Bonita 45, West Covina 42 (OT)

Diamond Ranch at Los Altos (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: The Panthers could look ahead to next week’s game against West Covina and still win by four touchdowns. Los Altos hasn’t been in a game since their 20-18 loss to Bellflower in Week One. Probably the biggest question for this game is when Coach Roddy Layton will call off the dogs and put in the reserves for garbage time.

Prediction: Diamond Ranch 56, Los Altos 7

Rowland at Walnut (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: What a fall from grace the Raiders have taken. The once mighty Raiders have struggled since starting their league schedule, going 1-3 in league, their only win coming at the expense of Los Altos. Walnut’s loss to Bonita last week came on the heels of their victory in the Branding Iron game. There’s a pattern so far and if it holds true to form, expect the Raiders to fall further into the cellar, but they only have two more games left, they have their bye week in week 10.

Prediction: Walnut 38, Rowland 24

Mayfair at La Mirada (Suburban League)

MATCHUP: This is for all the marbles. Evan Hunko and the Monsoons have been rolling since the start of the league. Shane Blood and the Matadores rolled through Camp Cupcake to start the league schedule. Both schools went 1-3 in their non-league games, but all of that goes out the window. One thing is certain. Whoever wins this game will have the inside track to one of the top two seeds in the playoffs.

Prediction: La Mirada 42, Mayfair 41 (OT)

John Glenn at Artesia (Suburban League)

MATCHUP: Both schools have been the epitome of “punching bag” this season. Only Artesia’s Bye week has prevented both teams from having the same record. However, as is always the case in games like this, someone has to come out on top. But when both schools have been outscored by a combined 784-114, it’s hard to think this game could be anything but a ol’ fashioned slobber knocker.

Prediction: Glenn 17, Artesia 14

Cerritos vs. Norwalk (at Excelsior Adult School, Norwalk, CA, Suburban League)

MATCHUP: The Lancers had the misfortune of being the Monsoons’ first victim in league this season, but since then they’ve held their own with two wins, including one over Bellflower. The Dons are only a game behind but are in fifth place. If the Lancers make a mistake and look past Cerritos towards the Buccaneers next week, they could find themselves pulled back into a three-way tie with both the Dona and the Bucs.

Prediction: Cerritos 31, Norwalk 28

Cal at El Rancho (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: The Dons got some momentum back with their win over Pioneer last week. They get a still struggling Condor team who managed to move into the four-way tie for second place by barely knocking off perennial doormat Whittier. Adam Contreras is continuing to come back to form but the Dons’ defense is ready to shut him down.

Prediction: El Rancho 35, Cal 21

La Serna at Pioneer (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: The Lancers have been rolling since losing to Downey in Week Two, not to mention holding opponents to seven points or less in four of those wins. The Titans suffered a heartbreaking loss against El Rancho last week but are the last obstacle between the Lancers and a possible sweep of the Del Rio. Andrew Buenrostro has managed to keep the offense rolling, and despite an ugly win at El Rancho, the penalty issues seemed to have dissipated.

Prediction: Pioneer 35, La Serna 34

Santa Fe at Whittier (at Whittier District Field, Whittier, CA, Del Rio League)

MATHCUP: The Chiefs were shut out for the first time this season last week after steamrollering Cal the previous week. This week, Whittier District Field will be nicer as they get a Cardinal team just going through the motions. The 14-0 shutout by Pioneer two weeks ago was the only gasp of competitiveness the Cardinals have shown. Odds are Justin Rincon and Alex Mirola will sit down after halftime and quarterback heir apparent Nathan Rojo to get more playing time in another easy game.

Prediction: Santa Fe 37, Whittier 0

BYE WEEK: Diamond Bar

BYE WEEK: Bellflower

BONUS TIME: Since we’re almost to the playoffs, I’m going to include my predictions for the playoff seedings this week. Based on all information, here are my guesses for which teams will make the final 16. I’ll list the guaranteed slots first, remember, the Del Rio is the only league that has three slots guaranteed, while the Hacienda, Pacific and Suburban each get four. I’ll name the wild card last:

Del Rio: La Serna, El Rancho, Santa Fe

Hacienda: Bonita, West Covina, Diamond Ranch, Walnut

Pacific: Burroughs, Burbank, Pasadena, Muir

Suburban: Mayfair, La Mirada, Norwalk, Bellflower

Wild Card: Pioneer

Big Tony's Touts, Southeast Division Week Seven, Director's Cut

Wow, what a week for upsets and blown predictions. But the Suburban was perfect, and only La Serna kept me from being perfect in the Del Rio as well. Now we’re getting into the meat of the season as the playoff picture starts to come into focus. To borrow a phrase from “Bad News” Barker, The Matadores have finished “Camp Cupcake” and have a bye this week before they slog into the final three weeks against the other three powerhouses in the league, Mayfair, Bellflower and Norwalk.

So where do we stand with our schools in the Southeast? In the Del Rio, there’s a three-way tie for first between, Pioneer, La Serna and Santa Fe, but like last week, two of those teams, La Serna and Santa Fe, are facing off for what could be either sole possession of first place or a first place tie with Pioneer, assuming the Titans knock off the Ranch at Titan Stadium on Friday.

Over in the Suburban League, La Mirada and Mayfair are sitting on top of the standings and are meeting on the 29^th in a game that probably will decide the league champion, but this week, the Matadores have a bye, while Mayfair faces a potential trap game against third-place Bellflower. Norwalk is a game behind in fourth, but will have an opportunity to move into third place with a win and a Lancer loss to the Monsoons.

In the Pacific, the Burbank schools are sitting on top of the standings, while C-Valley and Arcadia share third place, the Pasadena schools are tied for fifth and the Glendale schools mired in the cellar, winless in league, with Hoover holding onto a slim one-win advantage over Glendale.

The Hacienda is a little more muddled at the moment. Bonita has the only perfect record so far but Diamond Ranch has one more win than the Bearcats and West Covina is tied with them. At the other end of the standings, Los Altos is winless but has one less league loss than Diamond Bar. What’s worse is the meaty middle of the pack that has all the intrigue and trouble.

Let’s Play the Week Seven Predictions!!!

WEEK 7

Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010

Santa Fe vs. La Serna (at Whittier District Field, Whittier, CA, Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: The Chiefs called off the dogs against the Condors after getting out to a 30-0 lead last week, but it still kept them on top of the Del Rio standings. This week, they head back to Whittier District Field and face off against one of the other first place teams, the Lancers. LA Serna Head Coach Margarito Beltran better hope that quarterback Andrew Buenrostro's pocket protection holds up under the Chiefs' defensive pressure, if he's picked off more than twice in this game, the Lancers will be in trouble. Also, rumor has it that the “VTD Jinx” could rear its’ Bengal-loving head on the Lancer sideline as VTD, Big Boss Joe T. and “Bad News” Barker are making the trek out to Cal High. That’s a scary image on the sidelines and it’s not even Halloween weekend yet.

Prediction: Santa Fe 31, La Serna 21

Glendale at Burbank Burroughs (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: It’s funny how the four schools that sit at the top and bottom of the Pacific come from adjoining cities. Burbank and Burroughs sit on top, while Glendale and Hoover are mired at the bottom. It gets no better for the Nitros, who have only managed 83 points scored so far this season, while the Indians, cited by the Mid Valley’s Top 20 poll as being the most physical team in the Pacific, are continuing to ramp up for the season finale against their cross-town rivals in what I’m calling the “Media Center Melee.”

Prediction: Burroughs 37, Glendale 10

Friday, Oct. 22, 2010

Cerritos at Artesia (Suburban League)

MATCHUP: There are few positives to a game that has “the stench of the Devil” to it. And this one is downright putrid. The winner of this game will more than likely end up with a 2-5 record in league, since both the Pioneers and the Dons, along with Glenn, comprise what ol’ “Bad News” Barker has referred to as “Camp Cupcake.” Artesia probably will end up on the short end since Cerritos did one thing Artesia couldn’t do, win a game this year.

Prediction: Cerritos 39, Artesia 7

Mayfair at Bellflower (Suburban League)

MATCHUP: Everything about this game reads like it could be a trap game for the Monsoons. Although the Monsoons are undefeated, they could be caught looking ahead to next week’s showdown against La Mirada and the Buccaneers are just itching for a rumble. If Evan Hunko gets stopped, then the Bucs have a chance at the upset, otherwise, the Monsoon season keeps rolling towards the showdown next week.

Prediction: Mayfair 41, Bellflower 38 (OT)

Norwalk vs. John Glenn (at Excelsior Adult School, Norwalk, CA, Suburban League)

MATCHUP: Whither Norwalk, how dost they fair? So far they have but one loss in league, but that was to Mayfair, and they’re about to run through “Camp Cupcake” starting with the Eagles this week, but before their close out with Artesia on Nov. 12, they get a chance to play spoiler to La Mirada’s bid at a league sweep, assuming they beat Mayfair on the 29^th. But the Lancers have Elijhaa Penny running like his hair was on fire and his backside was catching. He’s already cracked the 1,000 yard plateau, and seems destined to be their go-to guy on offense. My money says he’ll crack 300 this week in a “cupcake” contest.

Prediction: Norwalk 56, Glenn 6

Whittier at Cal (at Whittier District Field, Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: There are some serious rumblings down on Mills Avenue form the Condor faithful that the current Condors seniors don’t have the intestinal fortitude the squad needs to get them over this prolonged slump, poised to become the worst streak in Cal High history should the unthinkable happen Friday, AKA a loss to Whittier. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are rarely competitive, especially with this current losing streak. Their only positive note in last week’s loss at Pioneer is that they held the Titans to only two touchdowns and Tony Botello to 116 rushing yards, his third-lowest output this season.

Prediction: Cal High 17, Whittier 10

El Rancho at Pioneer (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: For weeks now, certain people have been disrespecting the Titans’ improvement as “cupcake wins,” and that they haven’t beaten anyone. And Lo and Behold, in comes a Dons team that had to deal with the same disrespect last year, just missing out on the playoffs because of a coin flip. But where Pioneer has Botello as their main weapon, Troy Campos has four running options, including himself, to gain yardage for the Ranch. Not only is staying in first place on the line for the Titans, they’re also playing to earn some long-overdue respect.

Prediction: Pioneer 42, El Rancho 41 (OT)

Walnut at Bonita (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: This is the most intriguing match, in my opinion, of the week in the Hacienda. Both teams earned major rivalry trophies so far this year, Bonita getting the Smudge Pot and Walnut claiming the Branding Iron. So, now we will see which trophy has the stronger mojo. Bonita wins and they’ve all but locked up a playoff berth. Walnut wins and they keep their playoff chances alive.

Prediction: Walnut 34, Bonita 31

Diamond Bar at Rowland (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: If this was any other year, this would be a battle for first place in the league, or for a playoff berth. And while they have identical overall records (4-3), Rowland has suffered two losses in league, while the Bar is winless in league, having lost both the Diamond trophy and the Branding Iron this season. It hasn’t helped that the Brahma defense has allowed 128 points in the three league games, while the offense has been held to 27 points in those same three. Michael Ball is licking his chops.

Prediction: Rowland 35, Diamond Bar 10

Los Altos at West Covina (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: Patty Cake, Cupcake, call it what you will. But for every incredibly good team you have, you’ll have an equally horrible squad. Worse if that team has a history of success in the past. The Bulldogs could look ahead to the playoffs and still win this one, no contest.

Prediction: West Covina 63, Los Altos 10

Arcadia vs. Burbank (at Burroughs High, Burbank, CA, Pacific League)

MATCHUP: Were it not for an overtime loss to Burroughs, the Apaches would be tied with the Burbank for first place. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have been on a tear since getting plastered by Chaminade back in Week 1. They outscored the city of Glendale 112-8 over the last two weeks, but have a tougher road ahead before the Media Center Melee on Veterans’ Day. Probably the biggest question will be if the Apaches can contain the “King of Pain.”

Prediction: Burbank 31, Arcadia 28

Pasadena vs. Crescenta Valley (at Glendale High, Pacific League)

MATCHUP: There’s no truth to the rumor that the real reason why the Falcons have become a factor in the Pacific race is because the band has been playing Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” like the USC band plays “Tribute to Troy,” i.e. annoyingly and repetitively. What is true is that the Bulldogs have been a feast or famine team in terms of their scoring, when they get score less than 10 points, they’ve lost every game, score more than 24 and they’ve won. In the unlikely event they hold the Falcons to under 17 points, they’ll take the game.

Prediction: Crescenta Valley 34, Pasadena 7

Hoover at Pasadena Muir (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: Speaking of scoring droughts, the Mustangs have also been a feast-or-famine team like their cross town rivals. However, they managed to stun the Falcons last week in a game that echoed their opening week win over San Gabriel. Hoover, on the other hand, has been outscored in league play, 175-41, and only has their win over Mountain View to show for the season so far. But it could be worse for the Tornadoes, they could be winless Glendale/

Prediction: Muir 49, Hoover 14

BYE WEEK: Diamond Ranch

BYE WEEK: La Mirada

Del Rio Rewind, League Week 1

So the first week of the Del Rio League play has come and gone, so let’s look back briefly at the opening week of play and who sits where in the Standings.

On top of the league La Serna, Pioneer and Santa Fe all sit tied for first right now, their overall records establishing the pecking order. El Rancho, Whittier and California are tied for fourth place with a league loss apiece, but by virtue of their 4-2 overall record, the Dons are poised to recover from their loss to La Serna, while Cal and Whittier are mired in six-game losing streaks each. Here’s the current breakdown for the league, based on the current standings:

1. La Serna (5-1, 1-0): So far the Lancers have not suffered from their trademark collapse in league as in years past. Since their 48-21 victory over Pac-5 perennial power Long Beach Wilson, the Lancers have rattled off four straight wins, including the last two where they held both Warren and El Rancho to one touchdown. Andrew Buenrostro has been on target so far, holding a .586 completion percentage from behind center and has thrown eight touchdowns against only one interception, coming in the loss to Downey in Week 2. However, the Lancers still need to take out both Santa Fe and Pioneer in order to lay claim to the League title. This week, they face the Chiefs at Whittier District Field on Thursday night.

2. Pioneer (4-2, 1-0): The Titans have not had a season like this in a while, and there’s no bigger reason for that than the rushing prowess of running back Tony Botello. Botello, the senior rusher, cracked the 1,000-yard mark Friday night against Whittier, but wasn’t a factor in the 14-0 shutout of the Cardinals. He has six straight games with more than 100 yards on the ground, and only two of those, the win over Whittier and the 21-13 loss to Salesian in week two were the only games he didn’t reach the End zone. Pioneer is better than the statistics show so far. They might have forced overtime against Sunny Hills in week three were it not for a sack of Daniel Castro that resulted in the safety that was the margin of victory. The Titans are in the middle of their three-game homestand as El Rancho comes into Titan Stadium on Friday night.

3. Santa Fe (3-3, 1-0): As usual, longtime head coach Jack Mahlstede spread his offense all around. Even though the Chiefs came into league play with a 2-3 record, the losses are not as devastating as one might assume. The blocked field goal against Bonita showed that they could come back from a deficit. The loss to Esperanza showed that they could hang with a grinding team, and despite getting shut out by Charter Oak, last year’s Southeast Division Champs, they held the Chargers to 17 points, their lowest output all season, including their two losses so far. Plus they did something La Serna couldn’t do this year, beat both Downey schools. Justin Rincon is showing his leadership at quarterback, and even though he doesn’t have the options he had last year, he’s showing that he can keep the Chiefs in a game with his arm if necessary. The Chiefs return to Whittier District Field on Thursday to take on La Serna for a first-place showdown.

4. El Rancho (4-2, 0-1): The Dons have been building up their street cred with wins over Northview and a struggling Montebello. But their two losses have hurt, especially the 24-7 loss to La Serna. The flag-filled loss at home could have been closer had the Dons capitalized on two interceptions off Lancer quarterback Andrew Buenrostro. Nevertheless, the Dons are on pace to contend for the title. The Dons’ best bet for scoring is the ground game, where five players have more than 150 yards rushing so far. The Dons take the short trip to Titan Stadium Friday to take on Pioneer. A win for the Ranch could create a four-way tie for second in the standings.

5. California (0-6, 0-1): This is an unprecedented year for the Condors. There have been two previous times where the Condors lost six in a row, in 2002 the Condors lost six straight before winning the last two games of the season for a 4-6 record then the Condors dropped the last five games of the 2004 season then opened up 2005 with a loss to Rowland. But the Condors have never opened a season winless. It hasn’t helped that senior quarterback Adam Contreras needed four weeks to recover from a shoulder injury he suffered in the season opener at Rowland. Although sophomore Drew Castro has been effective, there’s a feeling amongst the Condor faithful that the current team leaves a lot to be desired in terms of bringing the attitude needed to get over this slump. This week Whittier comes to Cal on Friday night in a battle to determine who gets left in the cellar all alone.

6. Whittier (0-6, 0-1): You would think that Coach Larry Scott would finally find a mix of athletes that could pull the Cardinals out of this persistent inability to produce wins. In fact, going into this year, the Cardinals have an overall record of 11-34 in league since 2001, of which only four seasons, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009 had the Cardinals finishing with a .500 or better regular season record, including their two playoff appearances in ’04 and ’06. There’s little that can be done short of a complete overhaul of the football program that can right this ship. Whittier heads to Whittier District Field to take on the other cellar dweller, Cal High, Friday night to see who moves up and who stands alone in last place.

Big Tony's Touts, Southeast Division Week Six, Director's Cut

If you're just joining us, I do a weekly prediction of picks in the Southeast division for the Mid Valley Sports website. However, since there are four leagues in the Division and I'm only asked to pick for two of the leagues, I have been posting my complete picks here. This week marks a turning point in the season, not only that it's the start of the second half of the season, but also that all four leagues are finally in their league portion of their schedules, thanks to the six-team Del Rio League finally completing their non-league season. So if you're new to High School football or you want a chuckle as I try to play Swami, enjoy this week's picks...

Well, we’ve finally reached the half-way mark of the season, and now it’s all downhill from here. So let’s take a look at where the Southeast Division teams are right now.

In the Pacific, it’s a case of all or nothing at all for the eight schools. Four schools are 2-0, and the other four are 0-2. Three of the four undefeated teams are facing winless teams this week, while Arcadia and Burroughs will face off and the winner could end up on top of the standings at the end of the night. We’ll discuss the match-ups in a minute.

The Hacienda had a major upset as WestCo went into the hills and finally calmed the Autumn Wind, AKA Rowland. Meanwhile, Bonita continues to roll and is the only school in the league with an overall perfect record, which won’t change since this is their “Patty Cake Week,” and they have Los Altos this week. D-Ranch will host Rowland at Ganesha High and see if they can do to these Raiders that the ones in Oakland did to the Chargers. Diamond Bar and Walnut are getting together to see who will escape the Hacienda cellar. West Covina is taking the week off but they get their “Patty Cake” next week.

At last, the nearly endless non-league season for the Del Rio has finally come to an end, and lo and behold, look who’s sitting in the catbird seat? The Ranch is tied with La Serna for the top spot, although that will change as both teams open up against each other on Friday. Meanwhile, Pioneer and Tony Botello are looking to show the impressive 3-2 record in their non-league play was no fluke.

Meanwhile, down in the Suburban league, La Mirada and Mayfair are tied for the top spot, but Bellflower and Norwalk are both a game behind and plotting to take a shot at the top spot. The Buccaneers are in action while the Lancers have the week off.

With the leagues all in play now, the picks have condensed.

So, as the man once said…

LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S THE WEEK SIX PREDICITIONS!!

WEEK 6

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010

Hoover vs. Burbank (at Burbank Burroughs High, Pacific League)

MATCHUP: The only negative facing the Bulldogs is that the Tornadoes are not winless. Aside from that, it’s a second “Patty Cake” week for the Bulldogs, and there’s little, short of Adam Colman getting his legs cut off, that the Tornadoes can do to win.

Prediction: Burbank 45, Hoover 28

Friday, Oct. 15, 2010

Artesia at Bellflower (Suburban League)

MATCHUP: You would think that the Pioneers could have managed to be competitive in any of their five games, but they still haven’t been able to get more than two touchdowns in a game so far. It gets worse as the Buccaneers prepare to keel haul them after they were knocked off by Norwalk last week. Artesia’s the right way to joining Glenn as the Suburban’s “Patty Cake” teams.

Prediction: Bellflower 48, Artesia 17

La Mirada vs. Cerritos (at Gahr High, Cerritos, CA, Suburban League)

MATCHUP: The Matadores got themselves righted after a less-than-stellar non-league season with two wins in league over both the Pioneers and the Eagles. This week, they travel to meet the Dons, and look to continue their streak on their way to a showdown with the Monsoons next week.

Prediction: La Mirada 52, Cerritos 10

Mayfair vs. John Glenn (at Excelsior Adult School, Norwalk, CA, Suburban League)

MATCHUP: The Monsoons have been rolling since knocking off Valley Christian, while Glenn has one more loss than Artesia so far this season. Expect another blowout for Mayfair before they get two tough teams the next two weeks before closing out against Artesia on Nov. 5.

Prediction: Mayfair 63, Glenn 14

Bonita at Los Altos (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: Now we can tell how big winning the Smudge Pot has been for the Bearcats. Bonita has been perfect since beating San Dimas to open the season. This week, they could sit the first-string for the whole game and STILL score six touchdowns. Los Altos is in for a world of hurt.

Prediction: Bonita 56, Los Altos 3

Walnut at Diamond Bar (Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: It’s time for the “Branding Iron” game between the Brahmas and Mustangs. But this year’s battle will have more than just the Iron at stake; both teams are coming off two losses to start the league schedule. Whoever wins this not only gets the Branding Iron, but they also get out of the cellar.

Prediction: Diamond Bar 34, Walnut 31 (OT)

Arcadia at Burbank Burroughs (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: This is the only game in the Pacific that features two undefeated teams facing each other. Since getting a 30-spot dropped on them by M-Town, the Apaches have carved up the competition, winning by no less than three touchdowns in their three straight wins. The Indians shook off being a “Foothill punching bag” and swept the Pasadena schools. One winning streak is ending for sure, but whose streak ends will come down to possession time.

Prediction: Arcadia 38, Burroughs 35

Crescenta Valley at Pasadena Muir (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: The Falcons have been on a roll since getting grounded by St. Frank’s. They rolled through Glendale with two straight wins, and after Muir got trounced last week by Burroughs, are hoping to catch them off-guard. The Mustangs got broken by both tribes in the first two weeks of the league season, and need a quality win against C-Valley to get out of their funk. It won’t be pretty, that’s for sure.

Prediction: Crescenta Valley 49, Muir 21

Pasadena at Glendale (Pacific League)

MATCHUP: What do you get when a 1-4 team meets the only winless team in their league? If you’re the Bulldogs, you get off the schnide and get your second win of the season. If you’re Glendale, you pray for a miracle, or hope that Alex Yoon doesn’t add another fumble to the three he’s surrendered already.

Prediction: Pasadena 45, Glendale 10

Santa Fe at Cal (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: This could not have been a worse season for the Condors, coming off a winless non-league season. The Chiefs, coming off their sweep of the schools in Downey (Warren and Downey), are hoping to get an early boost into the league title chase. Condor coach Jim Arnold needs a miracle or a time machine to get Terris Jones back.

Prediction: Santa Fe 28, Cal High 21

La Serna at El Rancho (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: The Lancers are on a three-game win streak since losing to Downey. The Dons are on a two-game roll since stumbling at Bell Gardens. If the Ranch wants to show that this surge is for real, they need to shut down Buenrostro. If the Lancers are going to prevent the collapse that seems to plague them during the League portion of their schedule, they need this win. First place in the DRL is at stake.

Prediction: El Rancho 30, La Serna 28

Whittier at Pioneer (Del Rio League)

MATCHUP: Usually, this is the cellar-dweller showdown between the Del Rio’s worst teams. Not this year. The Titans are coming off their best non-league record in a while, thanks to Tony Botello’s rushing prowess. Don’t be surprised if Botello breaks 300 yards before the end of the third quarter in this “Patty Cake” game.

Prediction: Pioneer 56, Whittier 7

Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010

Rowland vs. Diamond Ranch (at Pomona District Field, Hacienda League)

MATCHUP: The Ranch is coming off two big wins, a shut-out of Diamond Bar for the Diamond Trophy and an overtime victory over Walnut. The Raiders were upset by West Covina, who held them to 17 points. The Ranch has an opportunity to take down a wounded Raiders team, but you know what they say about wounded animals, that’s when they’re most dangerous.

Prediction: Rowland 38, Diamond Ranch 35 (3OT)

BYE WEEK: West Covina

BYE WEEK: Norwalk

Big Tony's Touts, Southeast Division Week Five, Director's Cut

Well, it wasn’t exactly my most stellar week last week as a few of my predictions went the way of Texas’ reputation in College Football. However, I still managed to get 10 games so the streak continues. This week, the JDR concludes their non-league season, while the rest of the Southeast Division gets deeper into their respective league schedules. La Serna concludes the bye weeks for the Del Rio League while Los Altos is off for the Hacienda League.

Week Five Predictions, COME ON DOWN!

WEEK 5

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010

Pioneer vs. Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos (at Bolsa Grande High, Garden Grove, CA)

MATCHUP: The Titans managed to escape their game against Cerritos last week with a one-point win, but their non-league finale won’t be as difficult as they face a Vaqueros team who were shut out by those very same Dons. Look for the Titans to head into the Del Rio schedule with something they haven’t experienced lately, a winning record.

Prediction: Pioneer 35, Rancho Alamitos 14

Burbank at Glendale (Pacific League Contest)

MATCHUP: The Bulldogs must have borrowed some of that same “no-quit” spirit the Bruins had Saturday against Washington State. After proving last year was no fluke, (which I graciously concede my pick) they get their own punching bag in an ineffective Nitros team who has had little zip in their game against Crescenta Valley. Welcome to the Bulldogs’ “Patty Cake Week.”

Prediction: Burbank 42, Glendale 10

Friday, Oct. 8, 2010

Montebello at Cal

MATCHUP: Who knew that two previously powerful teams in the Almont and Del Rio, respectively, would fall on such hard times this season like the Oilers and the Condors have? If there’s a silver lining with these dark clouds, it’s that Cal has been slowly improving since their season opener against Rowland, which cost the Condors Adam Contreras for a few weeks. As for the Oilers? Well, at least Homecoming is over already.

Prediction: Cal 31, Montebello 21

Fontana at El Rancho

MATCHUP: On paper, maybe a decade ago, this would have been a epic clash of high-flying programs. But we’re a long way from the Fo Hi I used to cover back in the days of the late, great Inland Valley Our Times, and so far this year, the Steelers are going through a feast-or-famine type of performance each week. The Dons, coming off a pounding of Montebello and a bye week, are rested and ready to go into league with a tie atop the leaderboard and a real chance of being a factor in the title chase.

Prediction: El Rancho 42, Fontana 21

Downey vs. Santa Fe (at Pioneer High, Whittier, CA)

MATCHUP: Okay, maybe that heart-breaking loss to Bonita in Week 2 affected the Chiefs’ offense more than I anticipated. The Defense, however, seems to have gelled, having held Charter Oak, last year’s Southeast Champs, to only 17 points last week. It would have helped if Justin Rincon could throw for more in one game than he has in the previous four, a combined 131 yards. The Vikings are looking to plunder one more team before they start up in the San Gabriel Valley league, and the Chiefs are looking ripe.

Prediction: Downey 28, Santa Fe 24

Whittier at Salesian

MATCHUP: To paraphrase a line from a song in the 80’s movie “Streets of Fire” the Cardinals are going nowhere fast. Four straight losses and a total of 28 points scored in all four games tell you all you need to know about this week. Add to that, the Mustangs are coming off two close losses to two of the Mid-Valley’s contenders in Maranatha and Whittier Christian. Hide your eyes, Martha, this ain’t gonna be pretty.

Prediction: Salesian 56, Whittier 7

Artesia at Westminster

MATCHUP: In the lone non-league game in the Suburban league this week, the Pioneers are praying for a close game, something they haven’t had all season, and chances are they aren’t getting it from the Lions. Ironically, the Lions came close to beating Marina in week 2, losing by only two points, but everything else has been a blowout. The only sure outcome of this game is that someone will no longer be winless, but other than that, it’s a crap shoot.

Prediction: Artesia 21, Westminster 20

Bellflower vs. Norwalk (at Excelsior Adult School, Suburban League Game)

MATCHUP: Last week, the Buccaneers strung the Eagles from the Yard arm, while the Lancers were swamped by the Monsoons. This week, the Buccos want revenge for last year’s 51-point shellacking at the hands of the Lancers. However, Elijhaa Penny, who has been sidelined for a while with an injury, is back and looking to test the Bucs’ resolve. All hands on deck for this one.

Prediction: Bellflower 38, Norwalk 35

Cerritos vs. Mayfair (at Bellflower High, Suburban League Game)

MATCHUP: As mentioned above, the Monsoons swamped the Lancers in their league opener last week, while the Dons dropped a one-point loss to Pioneer up at Titan Stadium. Cerritos is hoping for something like their last two games, a win over Rancho Alamitos and the close loss to Pioneer, rather and a repeat of their first two games, blowouts to Tongva Nation and the Gladiators of Gahr High.

Prediction: Mayfair 42, Cerritos 21

Glenn at La Mirada (Suburban League Game)

MATCHUP: Glenn lost by 50 last week, La Mirada won by 50 last week. ‘Nuff Said…

Prediction: La Mirada 63, Glenn 3

Bonita at Diamond Bar (Hacienda League Contest)

MATCHUP: Round and Round, the Bearcat Bandwagon rolls, where it stops, probably where the 57 splits off from the 60 Freeway. Nothing will motivate the Brahmas more than last week’s 41-0 shutout by Diamond Ranch for the Diamond Trophy. Even the power of the Smudge Pot may not be enough to overcome that kind of motivation.

Prediction: Diamond Bar, 45, Bonita 42

Diamond Ranch at Walnut (Hacienda League Contest)

MATCHUP: Two important questions need to be answered here. One, Can Diamond Ranch stretch the winning streak to three with a win over the Mustangs? Two, does Walnut continue the see-saw pattern of wins and losses by knocking off a Panther team still flush with victory? Whichever question is answered, the game will be an early indication of who’s on the inside track for the Hacienda League crown.

Prediction: Diamond Ranch 28, Walnut 24

West Covina at Rowland (Hacienda League Contest)

MATCHUP: The ol’ San Antonio League is still alive and well this week as the Bulldogs take on another old rival, this time heading into the Hacienda Hills to face off against the Raiders. As usual, Michael Ball will be the focus of the defense, but the Bulldogs might take a look at what Claremont did to hand the Raiders their only loss of the season and use that to their advantage.

Prediction: West Covina 38, Rowland 31

Muir at Arcadia (Pacific League Contest)

MATCHUP: The Mustangs are in a world of hurt, especially after losing to Burbank to open the league schedule. The Apaches are on the warpath after two straight wins, opening league play with a dominant win over Pasadena. Muir needs a miracle to keep from sinking further in the Pacific since Crescenta Valley are standing in the way of the two “gift wins” against Hoover and Glendale.

Prediction: Arcadia 35, Muir 28

Hoover vs. Crescenta Valley (at Glendale High, Pacific League)

MATCHUP: The Falcons blew the doors off the Nitros last week, while the Tornadoes were blown back to Kansas with their loss to Burroughs. This week, it’s more of the same for C-Valley as they get their “Patty Cake Week” win this week.

Prediction: Crescenta Valley 49, Hoover 21

Burbank Burroughs at Pasadena (Pacific League Contest)

MATCHUP: The Indians endured three painful beatings from the Foothill League then took a week off before opening up league play with a win over Hoover. The Bulldogs are regrouping from their scalping at the hands of Arcadia. Look for Burroughs to stay focused on Pasadena rather than look ahead to Arcadia next week.

Prediction: Burroughs 38, Pasadena 35