By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Following is the final installment of a series previewing the high school football leagues in California. Today is the Western Division of the Southern Section.
SOUTHERN SECTION
WESTERN DIVISION
San Gabriel Valley
With both Maurice Simmons, the Western Division MVP, and brother Marquise Simmons returning, the Dominguez Dons (13-1) are the favorites to repeat as the division champions. The Dons also have some game-breaking talent on offense in RB Marcus Darden and WR Aaron Hester.
Team to Beat: Dominguez
Top MVP Candidate: Maurice Simmons, Dominguez
Players to Watch: Maurice Simmons, Dominguez, LB, Western Division MVP, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass, Long Beach Dream Team; Marquise Simmons, Dominguez, LB, Jr., Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores; Marcus Darden, Dominguez, RB, Jr., Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores Hon. Mention; Aaron Hester, Dominquez, WR; Manoah Wesson, Dominquez, RB; Jeremiah Higgins, Downey, RB; Eric Hayes, Downey, RB; Vincet Huitt, Downey, OL; Donyae Coleman, Lynwood, WR; Mike Allen, Lynwood, WR; Charles Harris, Lynwood, WR; Ellis Barfield, Lynwood, QB; Jonathan Garcia, Paramount, QB; Edward Prado, Paramount, OL; Leo Gonzales, Paramount, RG; Raymond Pettigrew, Paramount, LB; Alphonso Gonzalez, Warren, QB; Patrick Pellegrino, Warren, RB; Nate Colbert, Warren, RB.
Ocean
Darius Banks of Culver City (9-2-1) had one of the best seasons in state history last year, throwing for 4,115 yards. He has over 6,000 yards passing for his career and could become one of the few passers in national history to throw for over 10,000 yards. Culver City should be the favorite in the Ocean League this year with Beverly Hills (7-2-1), Santa Monica (6-4), Morningside (6-5) and Inglewood (7-3) all expecting solid seasons as well.
Team to Beat: Culver City
Top MVP Candidate: Darius Banks, Culver City
Players to Watch: Darius Banks, Culver City, QB, All-Western Division, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass; Sae Bin Park, Beverly Hills, LB; Ryan Hardy, Culver City, OL; Marcus Allen, Hawthorne, RB; Oscar Arevalo, Hawthorne, LB; David Freeman, Inglewood, RB All-Western Division; Eddie Wade, Inglewood, C; Shaquelle Evans, Inglewood, WR; Marlon Johnson, Inglewood, WR; Travis Harvey, Morningside, QB; Brian Nam, Morningside, RB; Latron McDowell, Morningside, WR; Ramon Judkins, Beverly Hills, RB, All-Western Division; Dominique Sandifer, Beverly Hills, WR All-Western Division; Caylin Hauptmann, Beverly Hills, OL; Antwon Moutra, Culver City, WR, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Hon. Mention; Lowell Rose, Culver City, SS; Ryan Hardy, Culver City, G; Max Monbouquette, Santa Monica, LB; Ryan Katz, Santa Monica, QB; Charlie Poland, Santa Monica, T; Charles Jefferson, Culver City, LB, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores Hon. Mention.
Golden
Palmdale (9-2) looms as the favorite again this year thanks to the return of David Coleman, Ronald Scott and all-division receiver Malcolm Culver. Lancaster (6-5) will also be in the running behind RB Taveion Burke and WRs Travis Williams and DeVon Whitson.
Team to Beat: Palmdale
Top MVP Candidate: Malcolm Culver, Palmdale
Players to Watch: Kene Martin, Antelope Valley, RB; Michael T. Davis, Antelope Valley, QB; Chad Ellis, Highland, DE, 11 sacks; Doug Burnside, Highland, RB; Luis Castaneda, Knight, P, All-Western Division, Taveion Burke, Lancaster, RB; Travis Williams, Lancaster, WR DeVon Whitson, Lancaster, WR; Jonathon La Ricca, Littlerock, QB, 855 yards passing; Malcolm Culver, Palmdale, WR, All-Western Division, David Coleman, Palmdale, All-Los Angeles Daily News Hon. Mention; Ronald Scott, Palmdale, All-Los Angeles Daily News Hon. Mention; Connor Bradford, Palmdale, OL; Kristian Guillory, Palmdale, DB; Derrin Ford, Palmdale, WR; Lorenzo Atkins, Palmdale, DB; Clark Steele, Quartz Hill, TE; Cameron Knapp, Quartz Hill, OL; Damian Taylor, Quartz Hill, OL.
Bay
West Torrance (12-1-1) is given the best chance to unseat Dominguez at the top of the division. WT lost to Dominguez 28-21 in last year's finals, but returns all-division running back Brian Baucham and QB Marc Oslund. Leuzinger's Uona Kaveinga is the league's best defensive player at linebacker. He's joined on the defense by fellow all-division pick Dany Lavatai.
Team to Beat: West Torrance
Top MVP Candidate: Brian Baucham, West Torrance
Players to Watch: Brian Baucham, West Torrance, RB, All-Western Division, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd team; Uona Kaveinga, Leuzinger, LB All-Western Division, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd team; Joey Trappy, Peninsula; Mario Alvarado, West Torrance, WR; Marc Oslund, West Torrance, QB; Marc Clampitt, West Torrance, OL, Jr.; Sean Kelley, Mira Costa, QB; Jon-Mikail Perosnnius, Mira Costa, WR; John Cleator, Mira Costa, WR; Vincenzo Iaia, Mira Costa, OL; Crye Penn, Redondo, WR; Jerron Lee, Redondo, OL; Kyle McManus, Redondo, OL; Joey Esposito, Palos Verdes, OL; Matt Templin, Palos Verdes, FB; Nick Pisano, Palos Verdes, DT; Kevin Hawke, Peninsula, WR; Ryan Reese, Peninsula, OL; Harry Sherwood, Peninsula, QB; Joey Trapp, Peninsula, DT; Glynn Toliver, Leuzinger, QB; Rosaki Hilt, Leuzinger, RB; Joshua Brown, Leuzinger, RB; Danny Lavatai, Leuzinger, DL, All-Western Division,
Mission
Chaminade (9-4) will ride the arm of Ryan Griffin, who was the league MVP after throwing for 3,128 yards. He'll have the benefit of a strong defense, led by all-division DB Cory Perkins and all-league linebacker Warren Chaminade and all-league defensive linemen Mykel Durr and Sean Davies. St. Paul (7-6) also figures to challenge behind DL Ryan Rosenthal. St. Francis will depend on WR Dietrich Riley, the league's top receiver.
Team to Beat: Chaminade
Top MVP Candidate: Ryan Griffin, Chaminade
Players to Watch: Ryan Griffin, Chaminade, QB, All-League, League MVP, All-Los Angeles Daily News 2nd team, 3,128 yards passing; Brooks Porter, Alemany, OL, All-League, All-Los Angeles Daily News Hon. Mention; Garrett Hershey, Chaminade, OL, All-League; D.J. Krattenmaker, St. Paul, OL, All-League; Dietrich Riley, St. Francis, Jr, All-League, All-Glendale Area, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention; Malcom Marable, Alemany, RB, Jr., All-League; Mykel Durr Chaminade, DL, All-League; Sean Davies Chaminade, DL, All-League; Ryan Rosenthal St. Paul, DL, All-League, All-Western Division, 8 sacks; Chris Warren Chaminade, LB, All-League; Cory Perkins Chaminade, DB, All-League, All-Western Division; Matt Lopez St. Paul, DB, All-League; Adrian Gallegos St. Paul, DB, All-League; Kyle Strazzeri Alemany, P, All-League; Daniel Scheper, St. Francis, OL, All-Glendale Area All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention; Kyle Morgan, St. Francis, All-Glendale Area All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention; Kyle Wong, St. Francis, WR, All-Glendale Area All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention; Kevin Garcia, St. Francis, WR, All-Glendale Area; Austin Heyworth, St. Francis, DB, All-Glendale Area;