L-R: Elijah Washington, Kevin Armstead, Cameron McFarlane, Christian Henderson, Kwon Peterson, Awan Parker. By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor There is nothing St. Francis wants more than to get out on the field Friday night to not only open the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs, but to also remove the brutal and sour taste left from last […]
L-R: Elijah Washington, Kevin Armstead, Cameron McFarlane, Christian Henderson, Kwon Peterson, Awan Parker.
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
There is nothing St. Francis wants more than to get out on the field Friday night to not only open the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs, but to also remove the brutal and sour taste left from last week’s first loss of the season.
The Golden Knights are licking their wounds after that 28-16 loss to visiting Cathedral in a game that determined the Angelus League championship.
As mentioned, it was the only loss of the season for St. Francis (9-1), and they struggled all night to protect quarterback Darius Perrantes and for the first time all season, the Golden Knights running game was extinct.
More credit than not goes to Cathedral and their efforts, but to a man, each St. Francis player would acknowledge they didn’t play their best or most disciplined game.
Unlike last year though, a 9-1 regular-season record did earn SF a home game.
On top of that, they are hosting a La Serna team they already defeated, 49-20, back on September 15.
SF took a 42-7 lead into the half in that game, and the Lancers (6-4) scored two late TD’s to make the score look closer than it really was.
Obviously, coach Jim Bonds wants to re-establish their offensive balance of Perrantes’ throwing game and for Elijah Washington and Kevin Armstead to stretch drives on the ground.
If Washington and Armstead get back on track, look for big plays for the receiving corps of Greg Dulcich, Blake Howard, Andrew Monarrez and Isaac Cordova.
If the Golden Knights were to down La Serna for a second time this year, they would likely face Citrus Hill (9-1) of Perris in the second round.
Poly (8-1-1), despite being the Prep League champions, will never get a first-round ‘gimme’ because the Panthers are competing against schools in CIF-SS Division 10 that have six to seven times the total of students and athletes.
They will host Montebello (6-4) on Friday at 7 at South Pasadena High School.
Poly earned the Prep League championship last Friday afternoon with its 20-13 victory over second-place Rio Hondo Prep.
The running game with Cameron McFarlane and Jackson Treister has been consistent all season.
But not many would argue with saying that Poly will go as far as Graham Olson and the passing game will take them.
Poly has relied so heavily on its running game, and defense, but in the postseason, with bigger and better teams in front of them, the Panthers will have to establish Olson and the passing game to keep an opposing defense honest.
Christian Henderson and Jackson Hayes are willing, able and ready to make big plays if Olson can find his comfort level and assuming he gets the necessary protection from his offensive line.
Maranatha (6-4) had to wait 10 days after ending their regular season schedule back in ‘Week 9′ to see if they had earned a playoff spot.
And while the Minutemen are more than happy to be in the playoffs, they got the toughest of draws.
MHS travels to San Bernardino to take on top-seeded Aquinas (10-0) on Friday at 7, and against a Falcons team that has not trailed at any point or in any game this season.
In their 10 wins this season, Aquinas’ average margin of victory is 54-8.
Coach Steve Bogan knows his big-play seniors will need to play beyond their best game of the season if the Minutemen are to compete Friday night.
Senior quarterback Kwon Peterson has an area-best 21 TD passes and just 6 interceptions.
Senior Awan Parker leads MHS with 34 catches for 590 yards and 8 TD’s, and he’s rushed for 327 yards and five scores on the ground.
Nobody is giving Maranatha much of a shot, at least on paper.
But all season, the Minutemen, more times than not, have defied expectations.
Friday’s CIF Football Playoff Schedule:
La Serna at St. Francis at 7
Maranatha at Aquinas at 7
Montebello vs Poly at South Pasadena High School at 7
“CalPreps’ Website Projections”:
CIF Division 3: St. Francis 40, La Serna 17
CIF Division 9: Aquinas 56, Maranatha 10
CIF Division 10: Poly 28, Montebello 24
*** Note: CalPreps has no relation to Pasadena Sports Now and their projections are their “guesses” not those of Pasadena Sports Now. Pasadena Sports Now do not make projections.
