ARAM’S PLAYOFF REACTIONS AND YOURS …
CENTRAL DIVISION: Kinda thought San Marino (10-0) would be the No. 2 seed in here. But you gotta remember (I guess) that the Rio Hondo League is likely viewed as the division’s weakest league. But still, wanted a scenario where San Marino played Glendora in the semis (if both made it). That won’t happen now. Got no problem with Charter Oak (9-1) as the top seed. Chargers played the toughest strength of schedule of any team and that win over Glendora (9-1) carries a lot of weight. EARLY PREDICTION: Charter Oak over San Marino in championship.
MID-VALLEY DIVISION: The draw that jumps off the page for me is Arroyo-Covina. The Knights (8-2) got a doable first-round game followed by a second-round game (if they win) against likely Montebello (9-1). Arroyo played Montebello earlier this season and lost 36-27 … but that’s when the Oilers had stud running back Isaac Mendibles. They don’t anymore. He’s lost for the season due to injury. Conversely, Covina (6-4), as an at-large, has to love that it doesn’t have to play a top-four seed. Instead, the Colts get an Arroyo team that isn’t that far off from themselves in terms of talent. Most people say this is Sierra Canyon and/or Paraclete’s division to lose. We’ll see. Northview has the skill players to beat anyone. Pomona may catch fire at any time. San Dimas is still dangerous. This is one deep division. EARLY PREDICTION: Sierra Canyon over Paraclete in championship.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION: After the first round, ALL bets are off. You could even make that case about the 3/4s of the firstr ound. What a beautiful division. Last year, rankings and seedings meant NOTHING. This year it could degenerate into another free-for-all. Personally, La Mirada is the favorite but if the Mats lost in the second round I wouldn’t be shocked. La Serna is always good for a deep run, but the Lancers have to watch out against Paramount. I’m just not sure about the SGV League. It’s not our coverage area and I don’t know the teams. EARLY PREDICTION: La Mirada over St. Francis.
PAC-5 DIVISION: The brackets played out exactly how most people figured. For Bishop Amat, things couldn’t have gone better. Doesn’t mean it will be easy (the first round will). But the upper bracket is clearly tougher than the lower (where Amat is). Serra, Centennial, O-Lu, Mater Dei, YIKES! After Norco, Amat has to get past an Oaks Christian team that looks good on paper, but this isn’t the same type of Oaks Christian juggnernaut of, say, the Jimmy Clausen days. Very obviously, Amat appears on a collision course with St. John Bosco in the semis. In that regard, I’d have rather played Centennial. But they’re both rough. EARLY PREDICTION: Centennial over St. John Bosco.
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations.
