We had previously mentioned Chaminade at Oaks Christian as the big game on Thursday, in the CIFss, plus Servite hosting Bakersfield. Now I will expand on my list of interesting week 0 games, sometimes the interest will be my own self-interest.
Kennedy of La Palma at Katella of Anaheim, why? Katella had a spectacular playoff season last year after going undefeated in league, they took the CIFss Division 11 crown beating Covina 55-49. Then managed to eek their way into the Division 5A state final by beating Monte Vista 36-35 before losing in the state final to Fortuna 54-33. Katella's only other blemish on a 14-2 season was an opening 14-0 loss to Kennedy of La Palma. I would assume that the Katella coaches are talking about the best way to get revenge on Kennedy is this week. Katella has a huge hole to fill in the graduation of QB Nathan Arrington, but the schedule is not one that should present a lot of challenges. Katella once again rates out as by far the best team in the Orange League and should be capable of exacting revenge on Kennedy. Actually they have a good shot at going undefeated in their regular season and almost certainly in league. The next biggest challenge for them may be there week 1 game against Westminster, a fellow Division 11 playoff team last year. Westminster has moved up to Division 9 and Katella to Division 8 and I am once again skeptical that Katella can get anywhere beyond the second round of the playoffs. Of course, I thought the same last year and they went all the way to state. And calpreps.com gives them a preseason rating of #3 in Division 8. Covina, the other team in the D-11 CIFss final last year comes in as the #1 ranked team in Division 9 by Calpreps.com and I think they may be right. That team was loaded with underclassmen talent last year and if they are all back, they will be a lot to handle.
Troy of Fullerton faces Fountain Valley on Thursday. Troy is currently the lowest rated team in the CIFss Division 7, a division I plan to follow closely since my Culver City Centaurs will be trying to reach the playoffs in Division 7 this year, a move up after their Division 11 semi-final loss to Covina.
La Salle of Pasadena has a week 0 game against Arcadia. La Salle is currently 13th ranked(by Calpreps.com) in Division 7 while Arcadia has moved up to Division 8 after a 6 point loss (41-35) to Katella in the second round of the D-11 playoffs last year. This is a Friday night game at Arcadia.
Bonita is at Arroyo of El Monte. Arroyo lost in the second round of the D-11 playoffs and got moved up to D-8. Arroyo should have the services of their excellent QB Ernesto Camacho, as he embarks on his senior season.
Bishop Amat is at Mater Dei.
Santa Barbara is at Buena. Santa Barbara is the early #3 ranked team in D-7. Santa Barbara got moved from D-9, to D-7 despite only going 5-5 last year. Buena is also in D-7. A move up from D-8 after managing to get to the D-8 playoffs last year, losing to Grace Brethren 48-38 in the first round.
Grace Brethren is facing Antelope Valley at Moorpark College on Friday
Golden Valley is at Highland
Hillcrest of Riverside, is at Arlington. Hillcrest lost by 1 point, 21-20, to Arcadia, in the opening round of the D-11 playoffs last year and has moved up to D-10.
Grand Terrace is at North(of Riverside). Grand Terrace is currently ranked 4th if D-7. Grand Terrace made it to the second round of the D-10 playoffs last year.
Lompoc is at Simi Valley, in Simi Coach Jim Benkert's premiere as the head coach of Simi Valley.
Kennedy of La Palma at Katella of Anaheim, why? Katella had a spectacular playoff season last year after going undefeated in league, they took the CIFss Division 11 crown beating Covina 55-49. Then managed to eek their way into the Division 5A state final by beating Monte Vista 36-35 before losing in the state final to Fortuna 54-33. Katella's only other blemish on a 14-2 season was an opening 14-0 loss to Kennedy of La Palma. I would assume that the Katella coaches are talking about the best way to get revenge on Kennedy is this week. Katella has a huge hole to fill in the graduation of QB Nathan Arrington, but the schedule is not one that should present a lot of challenges. Katella once again rates out as by far the best team in the Orange League and should be capable of exacting revenge on Kennedy. Actually they have a good shot at going undefeated in their regular season and almost certainly in league. The next biggest challenge for them may be there week 1 game against Westminster, a fellow Division 11 playoff team last year. Westminster has moved up to Division 9 and Katella to Division 8 and I am once again skeptical that Katella can get anywhere beyond the second round of the playoffs. Of course, I thought the same last year and they went all the way to state. And calpreps.com gives them a preseason rating of #3 in Division 8. Covina, the other team in the D-11 CIFss final last year comes in as the #1 ranked team in Division 9 by Calpreps.com and I think they may be right. That team was loaded with underclassmen talent last year and if they are all back, they will be a lot to handle.
Troy of Fullerton faces Fountain Valley on Thursday. Troy is currently the lowest rated team in the CIFss Division 7, a division I plan to follow closely since my Culver City Centaurs will be trying to reach the playoffs in Division 7 this year, a move up after their Division 11 semi-final loss to Covina.
La Salle of Pasadena has a week 0 game against Arcadia. La Salle is currently 13th ranked(by Calpreps.com) in Division 7 while Arcadia has moved up to Division 8 after a 6 point loss (41-35) to Katella in the second round of the D-11 playoffs last year. This is a Friday night game at Arcadia.
Bonita is at Arroyo of El Monte. Arroyo lost in the second round of the D-11 playoffs and got moved up to D-8. Arroyo should have the services of their excellent QB Ernesto Camacho, as he embarks on his senior season.
Bishop Amat is at Mater Dei.
Santa Barbara is at Buena. Santa Barbara is the early #3 ranked team in D-7. Santa Barbara got moved from D-9, to D-7 despite only going 5-5 last year. Buena is also in D-7. A move up from D-8 after managing to get to the D-8 playoffs last year, losing to Grace Brethren 48-38 in the first round.
Grace Brethren is facing Antelope Valley at Moorpark College on Friday
Golden Valley is at Highland
Hillcrest of Riverside, is at Arlington. Hillcrest lost by 1 point, 21-20, to Arcadia, in the opening round of the D-11 playoffs last year and has moved up to D-10.
Grand Terrace is at North(of Riverside). Grand Terrace is currently ranked 4th if D-7. Grand Terrace made it to the second round of the D-10 playoffs last year.
Lompoc is at Simi Valley, in Simi Coach Jim Benkert's premiere as the head coach of Simi Valley.
