A budding SGV-OC rivalry? Nahhhhh ...

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Please...stop!

San Gabriel Valley fans, you’re making me laugh too hard.

SGV vs The OC...a brewing rivalry?

I’m sorry, but in order for something to be a rivalry, don’t both side of the rivalry need to win games? I mean,the Chargers and Raiders are no longer a rivalry, are they?

When it comes to the SGV-OC rivalry(?), the the OC usually wins. This year was no exception, with the OC winning 16 of 22 games between teams within the regions. In the playoffs, things have been a little more interesting, with SGV winning four of 11 games.

I’m originally from San Diego (by way of Tijuana, if you want to get technical) and when I moved to the area I lived in South Orange County. One of the first things I was told was, high school football in Orange County was as close as you are going to get to high school football in Texas, west of New Mexico. And it’s true. It’s true in terms of talent, booster support, money that is thrown at a program and pressure to win. A lot of the times people from the OC get annoying with their ‘we are the best, you are not’ attitude, but it’s true a lot of the time.

I don’t mean to be a buzz kill, but if Mater Dei were to play Bishop Amat what do you think would happen? What if Charter Oak (I team I voted to be included in The Times’ Top 25 Poll in the last week of the regular season) were to play Mission Viejo (I team I did not vote for). What do you think would happen? The Diablos, even in a down year, would easily handle the Chargers.

Having said all that...

I think El Dorado vs South Hills in a Southwest Division semifinal is going to be a tremendous game and I can’t wait for Saturday. There’s no need to hype this game with talk of rivalry. Let’s talk about South Hills’ offense, which is on fire in the postseason, going up against El Dorado’s defense, which was beyond good during the regular season.

I think Charter Oak will easily take care of Trabuco Hills...yes, Artie Casas of the OC Register, easily, in the division’s other semifinal on Friday.

See you guys at the games, and please, let’s keep talk of a rivalry on the down low.

-- Jaime Cardenas

P.S. Check back tomorrow for a preview of the games with Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton, who has been the Times’ special guest analyst from the SGV.

-- Image from www.slate.com