Well, to quote the late, great Francis Albert Sinatra, “And Now, the end is here, and so I face, the final curtain...” Yes that time has come once again, the end of the regular season. Time to thank the Cardinals and the Dons and all of the rest of the cellar dwellers in the Southeast Division for participating this season but more importantly, time for the “Four Weeks of Fury,” the playoffs.
Of course, what makes this final week more interesting is not only the fact that this is the end of the regular season and that 16 teams are going to move on to the knock-out stages, but that there are a number of Rivalry Games that are showing up. We’ll highlight this week’s ones with the name the game is known by.
For the last week of the season, Mayfair gets the bye in the Suburban and a week to prepare for the Southeast Playoffs next week. Meanwhile, the Hacienda’s bye week goes to Rowland, who ends the school’s most disappointing season in recent memory
WEEK 10
Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010
La Serna vs. Cal (at Whittier District Field, Whittier, CA, Del Rio League)
RIVARLY GAME: “The Mustang Bowl”
MATCHUP: Normally, when it comes to Cal and La Serna, you usually throw the record book out the window. However there are two big stats to remember going into Thursday’s game. Until their win against Whittier, the Condors were on a six-game skid and now are 3-1 in league and have all but locked up a playoff spot. The Lancers, on the other hand, have won seven straight since losing to Warren in September. If history tells us anything, the Condors always finds a way to win over the Lancers, winning six out of the last nine meetings. A Condor win would also cause a tie for the league title, something Lancer Head Coach Margarito Beltran wants to avoid.
Prediction: La Serna 35, Cal 31
Santa Fe at Pioneer (Del Rio League)
RIVALRY GAME: “The Super Chief Bell Showdown”
MATCHUP: Four weeks ago, The Titans were on their way to their best record in recent history, but three straight losses, including an embarrassing 70-0 shellacking at the hands of La Serna doomed Pioneer. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are in the playoffs and actually have an outside chance of earning a tie for the league title, should Cal pull off a miracle and beat La Serna. Jack Mahlstede’s Chiefs have got their running game ready for their final tune-up before the playoffs.
Prediction: Santa Fe 28, Pioneer 24
Friday, Nov. 12, 2010
Whittier at El Rancho (Del Rio League)
MATCHUP: This one is pretty much for pride. The Dons had been hoping to contend for a playoff spot, but a three-point loss to Cal and a 21-0 shutout by Santa Fe in the last two weeks killed their chances. They can salvage a respectable season with a win over Whittier. There’s not much that Whittier could look to hang their hat on. They were 12 minutes from pulling off a major upset over Santa Fe but lost it.
Prediction: El Rancho 38, Whittier 10
Norwalk at Artesia (Suburban League)
MATCHUP: Norwalk got caught in a Matador stampede last week, while Artesia… well, the good news for Artesia is that the season is over after this week. Expect the Lancers to rebound from their loss in the same way Santa Fe did on El Rancho. If Artesia gets more than a touchdown this week, they should consider that a moral victory.
Prediction: Norwalk 56, Artesia 10
Cerritos vs. John Glenn (at Excelsior Adult School, Norwalk, CA, Suburban League)
MATCHUP: Who would have expected Cerritos would be in position to win a playoff berth, but after a 12-7 upset over Bellflower, they’re sitting in a tie for fourth in the Suburban with the Bucs and a win over the Eagles and a Bucs loss to La Mirada will guarantee them the fourth spot.
Prediction: Cerritos 42, Glenn 13
La Mirada at Bellflower (Suburban League)
MATCHUP: The Buccaneers can still reach the playoff s as the wildcard with a win over the Matadores. The Matadores, on the other hand, need only a win to lock up the Suburban League title and most likely one of the top four seeds in the league. The Buccaneers are facing their biggest challenge, and “Captain Blood” doesn’t surrender easily.
Prediction: La Mirada 38, Bellflower 35
Diamond Ranch at Bonita (Hacienda League)
MATCHUP: Nothing’s come easy in the Hacienda this season, but Bonita’s run is still worth mentioning. Diamond Ranch was last year’s dark horse in the playoffs, reaching the Finals only to fall under the thundering hooves of Don Lou Farrar’s Chargers. Now we see one more slugfest from a league that has not disappointed this season. If the Bearcats have had their holes fixed, they stand a puncher’s chance.
Prediction: Diamond Ranch 42, Bonita 41 (OT)
Diamond Bar at West Covina (Hacienda League)
MATCHUP: The Bulldogs are headed for the playoffs regardless of the outcome, but the Brahmas want a shot at the 16th and final playoff spot, and quarterback Henry Omana has stabilized the team behind center. A win over the ‘Dogs would go a long way to earn that spot. It’s doubtful that West Covina would be looking past Diamond Bar, but stranger things have happened with Hacienda League teams this year, just ask Bonita about the Smudge Pot Mojo.
Prediction: West Covina 49, Diamond Bar 38
Walnut at Los Altos (Hacienda League)
MATCHUP: Hmmm, what to say about this game? Walnut needs this win to guarantee their playoff spot, something they missed out on for a long time when they were mired in the San Antonio League. Los Altos just wants a win, any win. Too bad both things won’t happen.
Prediction: Walnut 56, Los Altos 10
Crescenta Valley at Arcadia (Pacific League)
MATCHUP: Arcadia not only is in the playoffs but has a shot at actually swiping the Pacific League title out of the city of Burbank. But they are going to need help from Burbank to get it. Meanwhile, the Falcons are not going to just lay down for the Apaches. Someone’s going on the warpath.
Prediction: Arcadia 38, Crescenta Valley 28
Burbank at Burbank Burroughs (Pacific League)
RIVALRY GAME: “Media City Showdown”
MATCHUP: As mentioned by a colleague of mine, “The Boss Man” Joe Torosian, the Pacific League title will go through Burbank, one way or the other. A Burroughs win will lock it up for the Indians. A Burbank win hands the title to the Apaches, who holds the tie-breaker over the Bulldogs.
Prediction: Burbank 45, Burroughs 42 (OT)
Hoover at Glendale (Pacific League)
RIVALRY GAME: “Battle for the Victory Bell”
MATCHUP: All over Glendale, there are people referring to Friday as “BGD” and “BHD,” i.e., Beat Glendale Day and Beat Hoover Day. Both teams, for lack of a better term, stink. But Hoover has the one thing that has so far eluded the Dynamiters this season: a win. Good luck getting one next year, Glendale, maybe you can schedule a City Section team next season.
Prediction: Hoover 35, Glendale 14
Pasadena Muir vs. Pasadena (at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, Pacific League)
RIVALRY GAME: “The Turkey Tussle”
MATCHUP: It’s been a long time, according to my sources, since the Tussle held so much playoff importance. Muir has been the 900-pound Gorilla in the league this season. They are on a four-game tear and nobody wants the “honor” of facing them in the first game of the playoffs. Pasadena, on the other hand, needs to beat the Mustangs in order to steal that final playoff spot. Last year, the Bulldogs lost out on the playoffs but this year could be their year.
Prediction: Pasadena 28, Muir 27
BONUS PICK: South East High at Garfield
MATCHUP: The Bulldogs are one win away from clinching the Eastern League outright and running the table. But standing in their way to that perfect league record is South East High. Interestingly enough, Coach Roger Satti’s Jaguars have been very competitive so far this season, with their only losses coming at the hands of last-year’s Division I runner-up Narbonne and a four-point loss to Roosevelt at the start of the League season. This is not going to be an easy game for the Bulldogs, but after this season, they wouldn’t want it any other way. The Jaguars are going to be contenders for a long time to come.
Prediction: Garfield 27, South East 24
BYE WEEK: Rowland
BYE WEEK: Mayfair
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