Establishing a favorite in the Almont League football race might be as simple as looking at who’s got the top quarterback.
That would be Schurr High School, the defending league champion.

With senior Aaron Cantu (6-3, 190), the league offensive MVP, returning, coach Ben Negrete has a good building block as the Spartans (9-2-1, 5-0) look to repeat. Cantu threw for 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns a year ago, but will have to find a new favorite receiver in 2010 since last season’s leader, Carlos Arredondo (79 catches, 1,191 yards, 12 TDs) has graduated.

Cantu’s new favorite receiver figures to be  Chris Chiaramonte, who caught 14 passes for 338 yards and five TDs  last season. Matt Contreras, Alejandro Castro and Ray Ortega are other receivers. Tight ends Chris Jordan and Trevor Kuresa will also be targets.
With Nick Castillo’s 1,343 rushing yards gone to graduation, the running back spot will be shared by a number of players.

Albert Perez (6-0, 255), the league’s lineman of the year, is back to lead that unit. Alvin Garcia (6-2, 225) is another standout on the line.
San Gabriel (6-5, 4-1), which finished second a year ago, loses starting quarterback Isaac Valdez to graduation, but has other veteran talent to lean on.

Coach Jude Oliva will be counting on the likes of wide receiver Mark Covarrubias (57 catches for 815 yards, six TDs) and running back Arthur Brown (46 carries for 252 yards, four TDs) to carry more of the offensive load. Chris Brown (6-1, 240) anchors both lines.

The Matadors return eight starters on offense and defense.

Scott Williams (6-1, 215), a receiver last year (he caught 13 for 236 yards), moves to quarterback for his senior year at Bell Gardens (6-4, 2-3). Bell Gardens, coached by David Ramos, also returns tight end/linebacker Chris Gutierrez (5-8, 220) and center/defensive tackle Chris Rincon (5-10, 175). Gutierrez averaged an amazing 40 yards on nine receptions last season.

Ramos predicts the Lancers will be strong on offense and special teams. The defense  is young.

Lou Torres takes over for long-time coach Gil Ruedaflores at Alhambra (6-4, 3-2), which must replace the potent passing combination of quarterback Darrian Cazarin and wide receiver Mitchell Crockom.

The top players for the Moors are two-way lineman Chris Salgado (6-2, 275), fullback/linebacker Jacob Carabello and defensive lineman/tight end Dominic Gonzalez (6-1, 230).

Sophomore Joshua Mendoza steps in at quarterback and will be throwing to the likes of Oscar Gayton and James Martin. Jacob Carabello could be the top runner in the Moors wing-T attack.

Alhambra returns only four starters on each side of the ball. There is strength on both lines.

Montebello (3-7, 1-4) and Keppel (1-9, 0-5) will be looking to crack the top four in the league.

Montebello loses two productive running backs in Joseph Marron (1,068 yards) and Eric Espinoza (768) to graduation, so there’s some big shoes to fill. Attempting to do that will be senior Marcus Owens and junior LaShawn Howard. Gabriel Guevara is the fullback.

Fernando Hoffens, who played on the JVs a year ago, is the quarterback. Dylan Gomez, Christian Pinzon and George Romero are the wide receivers.

Senior Matthew Martin Del Campo (5-9, 225) anchors both lines.

Junior linebacker Robert Garcia and safety Gabriel Cardenas were second-team all-league a year ago.

Keppel, under second-year coach Bobby Madrid, has a sophomore-dominated roster.
The only seniors are two-way linemen James Yee and Johnny Tran and wide receiver-defensive back Matt Chidez.

Mission Valley League
Defending champion Arroyo (8-3, 5-0) will be tough to unseat since it returns standout junior quarterback Steven Rivera (1,941 yards, 25 TDs) and all-league running back Mikey Vasquez (1,326 yards, 14 TDs). Also returning is two-way lineman Vinny Martinez (5-11, 250).

Rosemead (5-6, 4-1) returns seven starters on each side of the ball, led by quarterback Matt Macias (1,050 yards, 12 TDs) and running back Matt Fregoso. Defensive tackle Sal Chavarin (6-2, 325) also returns.

Del Rey League
Cantwell Sacred Heart (5-5, 2-2) has plenty of experience (nine offensive, eight defensive returning starters) to build around.

Offensively, the Cardinals look to quarterback Christian Espinoza (1,692 yards, 12 TDs). Linebacker/fullback James Becerra (5-10, 210) and two-way lineman Steven  Silva (6-2, 255) are other key returnees for coach Kim Taylor.

Bosco Tech (4-6, 0-4) should be more of a factor in the race based on experience.

Best of the returnees are the brother duo of junior quarterback Dillon Welsh (812 yards, seven TDs passing) and senior tailback Devon Welsh (571 yards rushing). C.J. Alvarez and Jeren Cuevas (eight catches for 135 yards) return at wide receiver.

Christian Reveles (6-1, 280), John McDonald (5-10, 251) and Cesar Pena (5-11, 255) anchor both lines. Linebacker Adam Uballez had 62 tackles as a sophomore.