L-R: Amon Milliner, Jace Harrick and Michael Bonds. By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor What: SGV All-Star Game When: Friday, 7 p.m. Where: West Covina High School Cost: $10 For anyone who is having football withdrawals, this writer included, you have one last chance to see them play. La Salle running back Amon Milliner, St. Francis […]
L-R: Amon Milliner, Jace Harrick and Michael Bonds.
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
What: SGV All-Star Game
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: West Covina High School
Cost: $10
For anyone who is having football withdrawals, this writer included, you have one last chance to see them play.
La Salle running back Amon Milliner, St. Francis quarterback Michael Bonds and Golden Knights’ running back Jace Harrick, will all be in action tonight at 7 in the San Gabriel Valley All-Star game.
West Covina coach, Mike Maggiore, a San Gabriel Valley legend in the coaching field will be hosting the event at his school.
Maggiore recently announced his retirement from coaching and is a 3-time CIF-Southern Section championship coach.
“There were over 100 nominations on both sides,” Maggiore said. “The West (team) has 44 players from 31 different schools. The East has 42 players from 25 schools.”
Maggiore knows all about this game, having played in the 1985 version and West Covina has hosted for the last 7 years.
It’s a chance for coaches and scouts to see the 2017 graduates play one last time against the best possible competition.
Milliner was the Pasadena Sports Now Most Valuable Player after his record-setting season for a La Salle program that won its first two Angelus League games in the three-year history in the league, and a CIF-SS victory, which hadn’t happened in nine years.
Milliner rushed for 2,406 yards on 301 carries. He scored 25 touchdowns, had at least 100 yards in all 12 games this season, and went over the 200-yard mark five times.
Milliner’s season high was a 342-yard, 4 TD game at Harvard-Westlake, in an Angelus League contest.
Michael Bonds was the Pasadena area’s best quarterback and was named the Pasadena Sports Now Offensive Player of the Year.
Bonds is as good as he is humble, intelligent and likable.
He finished with 25 touchdowns thrown against just 4 interceptions.
Bonds completed 159 of 249 passes for 2, 201 yards. He also rushed for 228 yards and scored an additional 4 touchdowns on the ground.
He and Harrick and the entire Golden Knights’ roster led St. Francis to a 9-1 record in the regular season.
“I am looking forward to getting back under the Friday night lights one last time before college,” Bonds said. “It has been challenging and fun. I have had to learn a new offense in just five practices, and met a bunch of new teammates and coaches. I have loved every minute of it, and am very grateful that Coach (Pete) Gonzalez asked me to play.”
Harrick was one-half of the Golden Knights backfield with junior Elijah Washington.
The grandson of former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick, the last Bruins coach to win a national championship in basketball, was a bruising and durable player all season.
Harrick rushed for 754 yards on 141 carries, which included 7 touchdown runs. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and caught 7 passes for 22 yards.
“I am looking forward to being on the field with all these great players from all their great programs, and leaving it all out on the field one last time,” Harrick said.
La Salle lineman Noel Beltran will also join Milliner as the Lancers’ two representatives.
Ticket prices are $10 for anyone over the age of 7, and free for those six and under.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight.
West Covina High School is located at 1609 E. Cameron Ave.
