Round 1 Review  

This week proved that some teams just don't belong in the post season, and others proved that they are here to stay. I look for the semifinals to be as follows: La Mirada vs. Laguna Hills, and on the other side of the bracket, Garden Grove vs. Norwalk. These teams have been near the top of the brackets all season for a reason, and each team can state its case to be the Division champion.

Round 1 Results 

Norwalk 63 Rancho Alamitos 8: Talk about an absolute thrashing. This one, from the opening whistle, was not even close. The Lancers offense just ran over any of the visiting Vaqueros in their way. The Vaqueros defense looked helpless as Norwalk's backfield was just too much for them to stop. The wild- card all season and in my opinion the best of the bunch is Junior Elijhaa Penny who uses every bit of his 6'2'' 245 lbs frame when he is running over defenders. He led all Lancer running backs with over 160 yards and two TDs. The kid is deceptively fast and is going to be one of the keys to helping Norwalk continue their run to the RING. The Lancers rushing attack is steady by three other players-Junior Billy Moore and Seniors Daveon Edwards and Adrian Goznales who is the smallest of all the running backs, but he runs just as hard as the others. 

La Mirada 44 Santa Ana 3: The Matadores started slow, but they closed with blazing fashion, as they manhandled the Saints all night. The Saints looked to be in control after they went ahead 3-0 early in the second, but the Mats answered back with a 97-yard kickoff return by Aaryn Bouzos. After that it was all Matadores. The theme this season for the Mats has been balance, and they certainly have been adding to it lately; where they are led on the ground by a running back-by-committee with JT Torres, Max Gama, and Matt Haltom. All are getting carries, and each of the backs brings something different to the table. They are definitely not an easy team to prepare for. Their passing game is lethally accurate and it is executed very well by QB Daniel Poncedeleon. They are led by receivers Ralph Gramajo, Julian Matta, and TE Keith Coty.  

Garden Grove 41 Bellflower 13: The Buccaneers squandered opportunities and it just did not help their cause, as they got pounded by the Argonauts. This one was ugly, and was decided early, as the Bucs made too many mistakes, falling behind 27-6 at one point in the contest. The lone bright spot was QB Jeremy Allen; congratulations to him, he accounted for both TDs. He did exactly what a senior QB should do, led his team to the playoffs, and was their most consistent weapon. 

Segerstrom 41 Mayfair 35 (OT): The Monsoons just could not stop the running attack of the Jaguars. They didn't score any points starting overtime, and that was crucial as they would not get another possession. The running game for the Jaguars was led by running back Matt Navarro, as he led their ground game with four TDs. The Monsoons defense just could not hold as they gave up over 200 yards on the ground. 

Quarterfinals Preview 

La Mirada @ Garden Grove Santiago: The host Cavaliers are led by a host of RB's who have accounted for over 2,000 yards on the ground including main threats Brian Perez and Salvador Ceja. Their QB Chris Ortega is very balanced as he is the general on the field and makes sure that things go the way they are supposed to. When he throws the ball his favorite target is Juan Sanchez. On the defensive side of ball, they are led by MLB Joseph Carrera. The Cavaliers have averaged 25 points a game this season while their defense has surrendered only 16 points a game.  The Matadores have the advantage in this one in my opinion, because their offensive line is so strong and physical at the point of attack. My hat is off to Coach Cardona for the way he has worked these boys into shape. The line plays bigger than it is, and it's scary that five juniors and one senior rotate on the line. I am a firm believer in that a game is won in the trenches, and Coach Cardona has his boys ready for war. La Mirada wins big on Santiago's home field. 

La Mirada 42 Santiago 14 

Norwalk @ Westminster: The host Lions will be looking to continue their post season run, however they get to encounter a roadblock in the shape of a bulldozing running game and a relentless defense known as the Norwalk Lancers. Westminster is led by QB Nick Anderson, however he is very inaccurate, throwing more Interceptions than TDs. They do have a solid ground game that is led by RB Jose Ortiz who has rushed for over 1400 yards; however, he is prone to putting the ball on the turf. Unfortunately for the Lions, they can't make that kind of mistake, because the Lancers seem to capitalize on all of them. Looking at how the rosters stack up, it is tough to see the Lions slowing down Elijhaa Penny, as he weighs more than almost 80% of the team. I look for him and Daveon Edwards to have a big game, as they will both go over 100 yards. Norwalk wins another one in a blowout. 

Norwalk 56 Westminster14 

Final Thoughts

It is unfortunate to see that only two of the Suburban League teams are left but I think that those two teams (Norwalk & La Mirada) are going to meet in the final. I find it ironic that these two teams are led by second year coaches, and both are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs. It is interesting to me that at this point two years ago it was clear that all three schools in the district where looking for head coaches, and now two of them have led their respective teams deep into the post season. Good luck this week to all of the players. I wish you all much success; and stay injury free.

Players to Watch

I look for the following players to have big games for their teams this week: 

La Mirada: RB Max Gama is looking to have that break-out 100-yard game, and this is a great week for him to do it. He has been a very consistent player but nothing that has wowed anyone; yet this week he will. 

Norwalk: RB Billy Moore his name was not heard very often last week, but I look for him to be the steady force that propels the Lancers this week. They will need a compliment to Edwards, and Penny and he is it. 

Westminster: If the Lions are going to have a shot against the Lancers, WR Tarik Rayford has got to deep and be a consistent deep threat for them to threaten a suspect secondary of the Lancers. 

Santiago (Garden Grove): If the Cavaliers are going to have a chance Missael Lagunas is the guy that can do it. He has over 800 all-purpose yards, and he leads the team with eight INT's. He is their do-everything player; if he has a big game then the Matadores are in trouble.