Schurr High School wide receiver Angel Sanchez outruns the Bell Gardens defense on a 31-yard scoring play in last Friday’s 38-6 victory. Schurr hosts El Rancho Friday in the first round of Southeast Division playoffs. (Photo by Mario Villegas)
Story Published:
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM PDT
Almont League champion Schurr High School has drawn a home game, while fellow league schools San Gabriel and Alhambra hit the road Friday in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division football playoffs.
The Spartans (8-1-1) host Del Rio League third-place team El Rancho (5-5), while San Gabriel (6-4) is at West Covina (6-4) and Alhambra (6-3) takes on Burbank (8-2) at Burroughs. All have 7:30 p.m. kickoffs.
Quarterback Aaron Cantu, who has completed 132 of 213 passes for 1,986 yards and 25 touchdowns, leads Schurr. He was 17 of 25 for 294 yards and five TDs in last Friday’s 38-6 win over Bell Gardens to close the regular season.
Carlos Arredondo and Angel Sanchez have been favorite targets of Cantu. Arredondo has 61 catches for 967 yards and 11 TDs after grabbing eight for 174 yards and two scores last week. Sanchez, who turned three of his four receptions into TDs against B.G., has 19 catches for 358 yards.
Nicholas Castillo, who has 1,221 yards and seven TDs rushing, gives them balance.
El Rancho, coming off a 24-7 loss to Whittier, is led by quarterback Josh Perea, who has passed for 793 yards and eight TDs. Perea and receiver Anthony Ayala, who had six catches for 58 yards, were the offensive mainstays last week.
Ronnell Lone scored the only TD for the Dons.
San Gabriel, the league’s runnerup, faces another second-place team in West Covina of the San Antonio League.
Isaac Valdez, who has thrown for 2,534 yards and 18 TDs, paces the Matadors. He passed for 311 yards and three scores in last week’s 38-6 win over Montebello.
Alex Lopez caught eight passes for 145 yards and a TD in that one and goes into the playoffs with 33 catches fo 438 yards. Mark Covarrubias, who caught a scoring pass and ran for another last week, is the leading receiver with 48 for 706 yards.
Alhambra, a 31-12 winner over Keppel last week, is led by quarterback Darrian Cazarin, who has thrown for 2,022 yards and 16 TDs, and receiver Mitchell Crockom, who has 36 catches for 598 yards and eight scores. Joseph Becerra (40 catches for 680 yards, four TDs) is the leading receiver.
Northeast Division
Santa Fe League champion Salesian (4-6) hosts Animo Leadership (5-5) Friday in the first round of the Northeast Division playoffs.
Salesian, which defeated St. Genevieve, 16-10 for the league title Friday, has a balanced attack.
Quarterback Frank Beltran, who threw for 227 yards and a TD against St. Genevieve, has passed for 898 yards and eight TDs for the season.
Andrew Romero, who ran for 155 yards and a TD on 18 carries last week, has run for 774 yards and five TDs for the season. Tyquion Ballard has run for 604 yards and two scores.
Animo Leadership, the third-place team from the San Joaquin League, features quarterback Manny Gaxola (610 yards) and running back Dwayne West (692 yards) as its top players.
Northwest Division
Although it knocked off Camino Real League champion Verbum Dei, 31-20 Friday, Cantwell Sacred Heart was left out of the Northwest Division playoffs.
The Cardinals finished 5-5 overall and 2-2 in league, but the final berth from the CRL went to La Salle, which travels St. Joseph-Santa Maria Friday.
Jonathan Mesa carried 37 times for 243 yards and two TDs and Christian Espinoza was 12 of 16 for 142 yards and a TD to lead the upset of Verbum Dei (6-4), which hosts Nipomo in a first-round game Saturday. Mesa’s 51-yard run broke a 7-7 tie in the second quarter and his five-yarder with 1:38 left in the third period gave the Cardinals a 28-20 lead.
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