Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club: Team MVPs, scholar-athletes named for local squads
The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 75th year, meets Tuesdays at the Elk’s Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the 11th and final meeting of the year
COACHES HAND OUT INDIVIDUAL HONORS
For the last time this season, the four local high school football teams affiliated with the Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club showered praise upon their teams. Each program handed out their team awards Tuesday.
St. Francis, which will meet second-seeded Citrus Hill in a CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinal road contest at 7 p.m. Friday after a 31-27 first-round road victory against La Serna, had three players receive plaques from coach Jim Bonds. Senior receiver/linebacker Blake Howard was tabbed the team’s most valuable player. Senior receiver/defensive back Patrick Gibbons (4.28 grade-point average) earned the team’s scholar athlete award. Sophomore running back Jordan Johnson was selected the junior varsity team’s MVP.
Crescenta Valley, which saw its season finish Friday with a 13-12 Division VI home defeat to Mira Costa, chose senior linebacker/tight end Brian Erickson as its most valuable player. Crescenta Valley Coach Paul Schilling announced senior running back Joe Suh (4.31 GPA) as the team’s scholar athlete award winner. Sophomore tight end/defensive end Chuck Meyer and sophomore running back/linebacker Lautaro Ibarra Rocco were named co-MVPs from the JV team.
Hoover first-year coach Terrance Jones selected senior quarterback/linebacker Quran Bouldin and senior center/nose guard Azad Markosian as the Tornadoes’ co-MVPs. Senior defensive end Allen Melikyan (3.85 GPA) earned the team’s scholar athlete award. Hoover’s JV MVP went to freshman receiver/linebacker Jayden Williams.
Glendale’s MVP was senior receiver/linebacker Jaasiel Santiago. Glendale coach George Maiale handed out the team’s scholar athlete award to senior linebacker Santino Espiritu (4.3 GPA). Sophomore receiver/quarterback Ethan Aldrete was named the JV MVP.
Each award winner received a monetary scholarship from the Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club.
VAQUEROS RECEIVE POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
Glendale Community College, which saw its season conclude Saturday with a 31-0 American Metro Conference defeat versus East L.A., had a pair of athletes pick up postseason recognition.
Sophomore offensive lineman Guadalupe Arevalos received the team’s scholar athlete award (3.35 GPA) from coach John Rome.
Glendale’s MVP was freshman linebacker Teddy Gallagher, who finished with 44 tackles and two sacks in 10 contests for the Vaqueros, who finished 2-8, 2-4 in conference.
KNIGHTS, FALCONS IN CIF PLAYOFFS
St. Francis and Crescenta Valley were the only local teams to qualify for the playoffs this season. The Golden Knights notched a 31-27 CIF Southern Section Division III win against La Serna and Crescenta Valley fell, 13-12, to Mira Costa in a Division VI contest.
“It’s not easy to beat a team twice in a season,” said Bonds, whose team posted a 49-20 nonleague win versus La Serna on Sept. 15. “We had our hands full and both teams battled out there.
“We got a great interception at the end from Kevin Armstead, who also scored two touchdowns, late in the fourth quarter. You come to realize there are no easy paths in the playoffs, especially after the first round.”
Third-seeded Crescenta Valley held a 12-0 lead, but couldn’t add to the advantage.
“We just couldn’t generate any offense in the second half,” Crescenta Valley coach Paul Schilling said. “To lose by one point is very tough.
“It was a rough finish to our season. We were 7-0 and then we lost three of our last four games.”
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
