By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor 2016 Pasadena Sports Now Football Honors Most Valuable Player: Amon Milliner, La Salle Offensive Player of Year: Michael Bonds, St. Francis Defensive Player of Year: Myles Cecil, La Salle All-Purpose Player of Year: Daniel Scott, St. Francis Coach of the Year: Jim Bonds, St. Francis St. Francis was without question […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
2016 Pasadena Sports Now Football Honors
Most Valuable Player: Amon Milliner, La Salle
Offensive Player of Year: Michael Bonds, St. Francis
Defensive Player of Year: Myles Cecil, La Salle
All-Purpose Player of Year: Daniel Scott, St. Francis
Coach of the Year: Jim Bonds, St. Francis
St. Francis was without question the area’s most consistent and successful football program in 2016.
The Golden Knights went 9-2, despite a schedule that had 10 playoff teams in their path.
It’s two losses came by a combined 8 points, and St. Francis led at some point in both of those games.
They also held a couple of those playoff teams to 30 points or more under their season’s average.
For the success it had, the discipline it displayed and the detail in which his team carried out a season’s worth of game plans, St. Francis coach Jim Bonds has been named the Pasadena Sports Now Football Coach of the Year.
Bonds has been lauded for his football IQ from friend and foe alike.
He is now 134-66 in 17 seasons at St. Francis.
His nephew and quarterback Michael Bonds called him “an offensive genius,” and the father of Cathedral star Jamire Calvin, who also serves as the Phantoms’ defensive coordinator, said, “no one is more of a challenge to prepare for than Jim Bonds.”
While it’s true that any coach is as good as the talent of his players, it can also be said that the way a team reacts to adversity, and in pressured situations, is just as much a reflection of its coach.
St. Francis was as focused and calm in big games and moments as anyone, and did so in a season that saw the Golden Knights pick up about a month’s worth of victories that were literally not determined until the game’s final play.
“This season was very special, because of the chemistry we shared and the lifelong relationships that were made throughout the journey,” Jim Bonds said. “Not once did we as a staff ever worry about our team practicing hard or being mentally prepared. That starts with the senior leaders, and we had a great group of guys. They loved each other and loved playing the game of football together, and when you have that, you can beat teams that may have more talent than you. I believe we did that a couple times this season by playing team football and sticking to our team motto: It’s amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit.”
That old-school quote they use as a team motto has been used by Presidents Truman and Reagan, legendary coach John Wooden and many others, and it does reveal much about this team.
It’s a group of intelligent, educationally-driven, humble young men, who let their play do their talking.
In several games this year, opposing sidelines and opposing fans made comments about St. Francis being less than “street,” inferring the Golden Knights weren’t tough enough, and yet in almost every case, St. Francis went home with a victory and a dignity that any school, parent or coach could be proud of.
Bonds refuses to take credit for all that success.
He made sure to praise assistants Mark Gibbons (def coordinator), Ted Corcoran (o-line/special teams), Joe Monarrez (wide receivers), Pat Carroll (tight ends/slot receivers), Mike Cesta (def backs), Scott Traver (linebackers), Bill Stewart (d-line), Tony Zarrillo (def-asst) and running backs coach Mike Russell.
“The thing I will remember most about this season is being coached by my uncle,” Michael Bonds said. This has been the highlight of my life to this point. He is an offensive genius and he makes playing quarterback so much fun. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you have a passion and enjoy what you are doing every day.”
Quotable:
Senior Daniel Scott: “He’s helped me all four years here at St. Francis. I think he’s one of the smartest coaches around, and he’s taught me things I could never even imagine, whether it’s the simple details of running a route or just becoming an overall man. He’s definitely one of my role models, and someone I look up to a lot.”
Senior Jace Harrick: “I’m very lucky to be able to share my senior season with such great individuals. Coach Bonds is as great a coach as one could have. He knows exactly what he’s doing but he doesn’t only make us better players, but better young men. He made us want to win so badly.”
Senior Gabriel Mathews: “Coach Bonds is a great coach. He inspired us every practice to go as hard as we could by proving it would show up in games. He knows how to bring the full potential out of his players and I admire that greatly. He is the reason I would love to be a coach when I get older.”
Maxx Jakeway: “I have played for Coach Bonds for three years and have nothing but the highest respect for him. As a player, all you want is a fair chance to play and coach has always made it clear that he wants the hardest workers on the field. I think his football program is one of the best and it’s been an honor to be part of it. As a coach, he really knows how to get the absolute best out of every player on the field and as a person. We trust in his coaching and that let us excel together as a team.”
