By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor Muir gets a 2-for-1 opportunity on Friday night when it hosts Arcadia. The Mustangs get a chance to not only avenge last week’s 21-20 loss to La Salle, they’ll have an opportunity to open Pacific League play with a victory. The Mustangs (2-1) will get some of their key injured […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
Muir gets a 2-for-1 opportunity on Friday night when it hosts Arcadia.
The Mustangs get a chance to not only avenge last week’s 21-20 loss to La Salle, they’ll have an opportunity to open Pacific League play with a victory.
The Mustangs (2-1) will get some of their key injured players back,” coach Antyone Sims said.
“Last week was tough, and the night before the game, our kicker got in a car accident and that prevented us from being able to attempt extra-points, and it really affected the game,” Sims said. “The mind set is good and it’s a new week and a new mission.”
Arcadia faced La Salle in Week Zero and the game turned on a Pick-6 by the Apaches’ Rolandiss Whitener in the fourth quarter.
Whitener snagged an errant CJ Montes pass and brought it back 88 yards for the score, and the Lancers never regained the lead.
Brian Love and Tyquise Solomon will share time at quarterback for the Mustangs.
“We focused this week at practice on finishing drives and we feel confident with our game plan,” Sims said.
The focus of Muir’s defense will be on Arcadia senior quarterback Max Davila.
Davila won’t ‘wow’ you with super athleticism, but he is a very stable, smart and competent game manager that doesn’t make many mistakes.
Whitener has been one of his favorite targets, and as mentioned, Whitener also makes his presence felt on defense as well.
Damario Strong, Aulonzo Bailey and Jalique Stephens will anchor the Mustangs’ rushing attack.
“We’re going to be looking to put pressure on Max (Davila) and slowing down the passing game,” Sims said. “Last week was just a bump in the road, but we hope to get that taste out of our mouths. We’re all excited to start league play.”
St. Francis will travel to Santa Clarita to take on Saugus (2-2).
The Centurions have been outscored 141-95 thus far this season.
St. Francis has been on a roll since about the third series in the season opener.
Darius Perrantes has been incredibly steady at quarterback with a 60-percent completion ratio.
Perrantes has 9 TD’s and 2 interceptions, and his numbers would be much higher, but with three consecutive blowouts, the Golden Knights’ starters have averaged about two quarters of play each week.
Elijah Washington and Kevin Armstead will anchor the rushing attack.
Greg Dulcich, Blake Howard, Isaac Cordova and Andrew Monarrez all make big plays at receiver.
La Salle will host Notre Dame Prep of Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Lancers traveled out to Scottsdale last year and came back from a 25-0 deficit to win 28-25 in triple overtime.
CJ Montes is coming into his own at quarterback and La Salle is coming off a 21-20 road victory over previously unbeaten Muir last week.
Justin Lockhart had a breakout game last week and he hopes that continues tonight.
The Lancers look to enter their bye week with a two-game winning streak.
Maranatha travels to Brentwood on Saturday afternoon at 3.
The Minutemen are looking to stay unbeaten and become the first area team to reach the 5-win mark.
As always, Maranatha will ride the strong right arm of three-year starting quarterback Kwon Peterson, who has been nothing short of remarkable to start his senior season.
Maranatha (4-0) is coming off a 7-3 victory over Campbell Hall last week in a game they were held scoreless until the fourth quarter.
Peterson was able to find Sumner Ortlund on a 60-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter for what turned out to be the game-winning score.
Poly travels to Rosamond Saturday with a late 8 p.m kickoff.
The Panthers hope to keep the momentum from last weekend’s 60-0 shelling of Mary Star of the Sea.
In that game, Poly quarterback Graham Olson threw for 3 TD’ and the Panthers saw Cameron McFarlane, Jackson Hayes and Jackson Treister all score two TD’s apiece.
Thomas McConnell has played especially well on defense of late for the Panthers.
The diversity and versatility among the Panthers core skilled players make them a very difficult team to stop, but far too often thus far, penalties have hurt Poly’s offense more than any defense has.
But with the intellect and character the Panthers’ players possess, it’s just a matter of time before that is fixed.
Pasadena Area Week 4 Schedule:
Friday: Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale, Az) at La Salle at 7
Friday: St. Francis at Saugus at 7
Friday: Arcadia at Muir at 7
Friday: Marshall at Rosemead at 7
Friday: Pasadena at Burroughs at 7
Saturday: Maranatha at Brentwood at 3
Saturday: Poly at Rosamond at 8
Pasadena Area Football League Standings:
Angelus League:
Harvard-Westlake (4-0)
St. Francis (3-0)
Cathedral (3-1)
La Salle (2-2)
Salesian (1-3)
Mission Valley League:
South El Monte (4-0)
Arroyo (4-0)
Mountain View (3-1)
El Monte (2-2)
Gabrielino (1-2)
Marshall (1-3)
Rosemead (0-4)
Olympic League:
Maranatha (4-0)
Heritage Christian (3-0)
Valley Christian (2-2)
Whittier Christian (2-2)
Pacific League:
Crescenta Valley (3-0)
Muir (2-1)
Glendale (2-1)
Burroughs (1-1)
Burbank (1-2)
Hoover (1-2)
Arcadia (1-2)
Pasadena (0-3)
Prep League:
Rio Hondo Prep (2-1)
Poly (2-1-1)
Trinity Classical Academy (1-2)
Firebaugh 1-3)
