Football: D-Ranch on the prowl for big things in 2008
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Now that the 2007 season season is officially over, we can look to ’08.
(I say the 2007 season is now over because we staffers here at the Times just completed our voting for the All-Southland team today. No one from the SGV made it, but Charter Oak’s Kanaan Snowden did get some consideration.)
With that in mind, here’s an early look at a pre-preseason top 5 for 2008.
No. 1 -- Diamond Ranch: The Panthers are playing Bishop Amat, Northwest Division champion Oaks Christian, Central Division champion Colony, Chino Hills, Louisville, Colorado Monarch HS (4-A state finalist that’s looking for national recognition) and they are still looking to add one more game (Troy, Muir, a team from the city section or a team from the San Antonio League are all possibilities).
Coach Roddy Layton wants to open a lot of eyes in 2008 and that schedule certainly does that. Returning players include All-Miramonte first-team selections Bryan Bonilla (80-plus tackles and 13 sacks) on defense and Brian Spirling (848 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games) on offense. Also back will be the team’s leading tackler, linebacker Kyle Lengyel, who averaged 10 tackles a game, and shutdown corner back Brandon Sermons. Their JV team was 11-0, and Layton is high on a couple of players from that squad as well.
No. 2 -- South Hills: Quarterback Cameron Deen and ‘Krazy’ Chris Bowden will be back for the Huskies. Both were All-San Antonio first-team selections and Deen (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) was easily the best quarterback I saw from the San Gabriel Valley. The duo will be the nucleous for next year’s team. Their preseason schedule is going to be strong also, though not as ambitious as Diamond Ranch’s.
No. 3 -- St. Francis: More than 50% of the Golden Knights’ roster were underclassmen this past season. St Francis’ youth movement is led by 6-foot-1 sophomore Deitrich Riely, an All-Mission first-team selection who combined for 972 yards and six touchdowns and also had two sacks and one interception. He played running back, wide receiver and defensive back in nine games. According to Scout.com, Riely (No. 4, pictured right) is drawing interest from all of the top schools in the nation.
No. 4 -- Charter Oak: The Chargers don’t rebuild, they reload. And the reloading process starts with quarterback Chris Allen, a two-year starter, sophomore running back Adam Muema and defensive lineman Evan Williams, an All-Miramonte first-team selection. Muema broke the 100-yard barrier three times, scored nine touchdowns, and once rushed for more than 200 yards in a game, despite being the backup running back.
No. 5 -- Muir: Always athletic and always fun to watch, the Mustang return quarterback Reuben Thomas, who passed for 1,313 with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions and also rushed for 830 yards and 10 touchdowns. Thomas was not the Pacific League QB of the year, but the coaches put him on the All-Pacific first team by naming him the ‘all-purpose’ player.
Others to watch: Glendora, Arcadia, Northview, Pasadena, Bishop Amat and Damien.
-- Jaime Cardenas
-- Images www.ontheprowl.net and www.sfhs.net