By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Following is the 12th in a series of previews of the high school football leagues in California. Today the East Valley Division and Northeast Division of the Southern Section.
SOUTHERN SECTION
EAST VALLEY DIVISION
DeAnza
Last year Kris Proctor, one of the top small school athletes in the state, led Big Bear to a 14-0 record and the East Valley Division championship. He returns along with all-league running backs Max Dobis and Jesse Ceron and wide receiver Mike Asplotes, giving Big Bear a very potent offense. It's no surprise Big Bear is the top ranked team in the East Valley Division preseason rankings.
Team to Beat: Big Bear
Top MVP Candidate: Kris Proctor, Big Bear
Players to Watch: Kris Proctor, Big Bear, QB, All-League, league MVP, All-East Valley Division MVP, Cal-Hi Sports Small Schools All-State Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 3rd team, 1,591 yards passing; 1,465 yards rushing; Max Dobis, Big Bear, RB, All-League, All-East Valley Division, 90 points; Jesse Ceron, Big Bear, RB, All-League, All-East Valley Division, 96 tackles; Mike Asplotes, Big Bear, WR, All-League, All-East Valley Division; Montreal Harris, 29 Palms, Ut, Jr., All-East Valley Division, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores Honorable Mention, 660 yards receiving; Eddie Beaune, Desert Hot Spring, OL, All-League; Curtis Drake, Desert Hot Springs, RB, All-League; Ryan Roling, Yucca Valley, All-League; Chris Amburgey, Big Bear, RB, 2nd team all-league, 401 yards receiving, 4 Int; Kevin McCutcheon, Big Bear, WR, 2nd team all-league; Vince Bauer, Big Bear, WR, 2nd team all-league; Drew Martinez 29 Palms, RB, 2nd team all-league; Cody Ayon, 29 Palms, QB, 2nd team all-league; Daniel Horn, 29 Palms, FB, 2nd team all-league; Devon Frieson, Yucca Valley, RB, Jr, 2nd team all-league; James Gilliam, Yucca Valley, RB, 2nd team all-league; James Batin, Yucca Valley, OL, Jr, 2nd team all-league; Jorge Tizoc, Desert Mirage, RB, Jr., 2nd team all-league; Matt Kozell, 29 Palms, LB, 147 tackles.
Christian
The Amajoyi brothers are gone, but Aquinas (9-4) still has the talent necessary to make a run at another Christian League title. Two years removed from a Southern Section championship, Aquinas will look to Dwaine Radden to carry the load this year. He gained 950 yards rushing last year, but already has 225 after the first game of the season. Ontario Christian (9-3) is also in the mix with all-division defensive lineman Elijah Winton returning.
Team to Beat: Aquinas
Top MVP Candidate: Dwaine Radden, Aquinas
Players to Watch: Blake Kruk, Aquinas, OL, All-East Valley Division; Dwaine Radden, Aquinas, RB, 950 yards rushing; Andrew Alonzo, Aquinas, DB, 7 Int; Elijah Winton, Ontario Christian, DL, Jr, All-Inland Valley 2nd team, All-East Valley Division, 19 sacks; Dan Jansen, Ontario Christian, LB, 84 tackles; Bobby Nigg, Ontario Christian, DB, 3 Int; J.P. Ragan, Aquinas, LB; Jake Henley, Aquinas, LB; Tyler Vanderzee, Ontario Christian, QB; Justus Jones, Ontario Christian, WR
Mountain Pass
Expect a lot of competition between Notre Dame Riverside (9-3-1), Citrus Hill (7-4) and San Jacinto (11-3) this year. San Jacinto must replace 3,000-yard passer Chase Stengel, but it still has all-state nominees Ryan Dannewitz on the offensive line. Citrus Hill returns many of its skill players, including QB Caleb Herring, WR Will Howard and RB Samuel Long. Notre Dame has the league's best player in Kenjon Barner, who ran for 1,759 yards last year.
Team to Beat: Notre Dame/Riverside
Top MVP Candidate: Kenjon Barner, Notre Dame
Players to Watch: Ryan Kessman, San Jacinto, RB, All-League, special teams MVP; Ryan Dannewitz, San Jacinto, OL, All-League, All-East Valley Division, Cal-Hi Sports Small Schools All-State 2nd Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd team; Cody Brown, San Jacinto, OL, All-League; Will Howard, Citrus Hill, WR, All-League, 514 yards rushing; Caleb Herring, Citrus Hill, QB, Jr, All-League, 1,117 yards passing; Esteban Murguia, Citrus Hill, OL, All-League; Samuel Long, Citrus Hill, RB, All-League; Greg Smith, Citrus Hill, TE, All-League, All-East Valley Division, 14 sacks; Kenjon Barner, Riverside Notre Dame, RB, All-League, All-East Valley Division, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Small Schools, 1,759 yards rushing; Christian Juarez, Banning, OL, All-League; Michael Ford, Banning, WR, Jr., All-League; Gordy Cooper, San Jacinto, WR, 2nd team all-league, All-East Valley Division, 876 yards receiving; Rene Marmolejo, San Jacinto, DL, 2nd team all-league; Ivan Lopez, Citrus Hill, RB, 2nd team all-league, 71 tackles; David Adams, Citrus Hill, RB, Jr., 2nd team all-league; Salvador Gutierrez, Citrus Hill, OL, 2nd team all-league; Domenic Betts, Banning, RB, Jr., 2nd team all-league.
High Desert
Bishop (9-3) will be extremely tough on defense with LB Brandon Griffiths, DL Frank Shoshone and DL Jake Robertson all back. However Frazier Mountain (8-3) might have the edge on offense were league MVPs Tony Lenz (RB) and John Burns (QB) both return.
Team to Beat: Bishop
Top MVP Candidate: Tony Lenz, Frazier Mountain
Players to Watch: Terrence Wells, Desert, QB, Jr., All-League, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention; Phillip Pleasant, Desert, LB, All-League, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention, 133 tackles; AJ Hall, Desert, K, All-League; Dorian Smith, Desert, DB, Jr., All-League; Tony Lenz, Frazier Mountain, RB, All-League, League MVP, All-Bakersfield Californian, All-East Valley Division, 1,462 yards rushing, 214 points, 153 tackles; John Burns, Frazier Mountain, QB, All-League, League MVP, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention, All-East Valley Division, 1,804 yards passing; Sam Teare, Frazier Mountain, DL, All-League, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention; Ethan Fausto, Frazier Mountain, OL, Jr., All-League, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention; Bennie Carillo, Frazier, Mountain, DL, All-League; Mack Campbell, Frazier Mountain, LB, All-League; Jacob Stevens, Bishop, OL, All-League; Brandon Griffiths, Bishop, LB, All-League, 149 tackles; Frank Shoshone, Bishop, DL, All-League; Jake Robertson, Bishop, DL, All-League; Kevin Emery, Kern Valley, QB, All-League, 1,236 yards passing; Pablo Anzaldo, Kern Valley, DB, All-League; Kevin Felgenhauer, Kern Valley, P, All-League; Coty Madrona, Mojave, RB, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention, 1,108 yards rushing; Damien Joseph, Mojave, DB, All-League; Jerime Gorse, Rosamond, OL, All-Bakersfield Californian Hon. Mention.
Prep
Rio Hondo Prep (8-2) has the edge going into the seson thanks to the return of RB Trevor Finchamp. Pasadena Poly (9-2) is ranked 10th in the division in the preseason polls, but must replace a number of starters from last year. Can't overlook Chadwick (8-2), which returns 2,835-yard passer Andy Magee.
Team to Beat: Rio Hondo Prep
Top MVP Candidate: Andy Magee, Chadwick
Players to Watch: Andy Magee, Chadwick, QB, All-League, 2,835 yards passing; Trevor Finchamp, Rio Hondo Prep, RB, All-League; All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention, 683 yards rushing; Josh Leibovitch, Viewpoint, DL, All-League, 72 tackles; Garrett Wymore, Chadwick, Jr., LB, All-League, 135 tackles, 11 sacks; Jamie Wheeler, Viewpoint, RB, 866 yards rushing; Josh Goldstein, Chadwick, RB;
NORTHEAST DIVISION
Academy
St. Margaret's already had a bunch of players returning from last year's 14-0 squad that won the Northeast Division title. Add in legendary coach Harry Welch, who left Canyon after leading the Cowboys to a CIF Division 1 Bowl championship to go to St. Margaret's, and you have all the makings for a repeat performance. Hunter Steffien will lead the ground attack while Cameron Hiller is also back to lead the passing game. The league is blessed with several strong passers, including Sage Hill's Jamie McGee and Capistrano Valley Christian's Andre Argaez.
Team to Beat: St. Margaret's
Top MVP Candidate: Hunter Steffien, St. Margaret's
Players to Watch: Hunter Steffien, St. Margaret's, RB, All-League, All-Northeast Division, 17 TDs; Cameron Hiller, St. Margaret's, QB, All-League, All-Northeast Division, 1,610 yards passing; Jamie McGee, Sage Hill, QB, All-League, 1,650 yards passing, 8 Int on defense; Joey Puishys, Sage Hill, DT, All-League, 6.5 sacks; Max Torres, Sage Hill, RB, All-League, 563 yards rushing, 5 sacks; Andre Argaez, Capistrano Valley Christian, QB, All-League, 1,466 yards passing, 612 yards rushing; Mike Jacobs, Capistrano Valley Christian, TE, All-League, 481 yards receiving, 129 tackles; Kevin Howe, Capistrano Valley Christian, RB, All-League, 627 yards rushing; Daniel Morrison, St. Margaret's, WR, 2nd team all-league; Elmer Flores, St. Margaret's, DL, 2nd team all-league; Matt Lyman, St. Margaret's, G, 2nd team all-league; Patrick Lydon, St. Margaret's, G, 2nd team all-league; Cody Gates, Sage Hill, DL, 2nd team all-league; Michael Higgins, Sage Hill, S, 2nd team all-league; Dan Kernan, Sage Hill, LB, Jr., 2nd team all-league; Craig Jackson, Sage Hill, LB, 2nd team all-league; Mike Christansen, Capistrano Valley Christian, Jr., RB, 2nd team all-league, 82 tackles; Jarred Gardner, Capistrano Valley Christian, G, 2nd team all-league; Chris Hinkley, Brethren Christian, DE, 2nd team all-league; Drew Fabrigas, Brethren Christian, DL, Jr., 2nd team all-league, 109 tackles; Adam Cutts, Brethren Christian, WR, 2nd team all-league.
Big Sky
The Big Sky is a new league with Calvary Chapel and Hamilton leaving the Christian League and Linfield Christian leaving the Academy League to form the Big Sky, along with first-year school Riverside Christian. Hamilton (9-2) figures to be the preseason favorite based on its solid finish in the Christina League last year. Hamilton also returns a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Daniel Edwards and Chappelle Bell.
Team to Beat: Hamilton
Top MVP Candidate: Daniel Edwards, Hamilton
Players to Watch: Daniel Edwards, Hamilton, RB, All-East Valley Division, 1,210 yards rushing, 138 points; Chappelle Bell, Hamilton, RB, 1,008 yards rushing, 104 points; Javier Martinez, Hamilton; Collin Von Bruggen, Linfield Christian, LB, All-League, 81 tackles;
Ashton Christian, Linfield Christian, DB, All-League.
San Joaquin
It won't be hard to figure out who has the ball when Saddleback Valley Christian takes the field. QB Brendan Chambers ran for 1,143 yards last year and threw for 2,106 yards while earning all-division honors and leading SVC to a 12-1 record. SVC is favored again this year with Bloomington Christian (7-4) getting a few votes in the preseason rankings.
Team to Beat: Saddleback Valley Christian
Top MVP Candidate: Brendan Chambers, Saddleback Valley Christian
Players to Watch: Aryan Meknat, Fairmont Prep, QB, 1,683 yards passing; Richard Johnson, Fairmont Prep, WR, Jr., 812 yards receiving; Osa Aikhionbare, Ribet Academy, WR, 786 yards receiving, 84 tackles; Glenn Maher, Ribet Academy, LB, 100 tackles; Raymond Torres, Sherman Indian, 1,157 yards rushing; Charles Fortis, Bloomington Christian, QB, So., 716 yards passing; Curtis Holthaus, Bloomington Christian, LB, 62 tackles; Patrick Weeks, Bloomington Christian, DL, 5 Sacks; Brendan Chambers, Saddleback Valley Christian, QB, All-Northeast Division, 2,106 yards passing, 1,143 yards rushing, 7 Int
Desert Mountain
Both Boron (10-4) and Mammoth (10-2) are coming off 10-win seasons and should be amog the favorites in the division again this year.
Team to Beat: Boron
Top MVP Candidate: Devan Mattox, Boron
Players to Watch: Devan Mattox, Boron, DB, All-Northeast Division, 422 yards receiving; Marty Powers, Boron, 621 yards passing; James Climer, Lucerne Valley, RB, 959 yards rushing; Shane Farley, Mammoth, 856 yards rushing; Matt DeSalvo, Mammoth, LB, 126 tackles; Patrick Phelps, Mammoth, LB, 100 tackles.
Santa Fe
Two teams that didn't finish with a winning record last year, Salesian (6-6) and Bell-Jeff (4-6) are among the favorites to win the Santa Fe League this year. Bell-Jeff returns the league's top rusher in Jorge Chaidez while Salesian has one of the league's best linebackers in Ernie Brandts-Buys.
Team to Beat: Salesian
Top MVP Candidate: Jorge Chaidez, Bell-Jeff
Players to Watch: Jorge Chaidez, Bell-Jeff, RB, All-Northeast Division, All-Glendale Area, All-Los Angeles Daily News Hon. Mention, 1,632 yards rushing; Eric Ruelas, Bell-Jeff, RB, All-Glendale 2nd team; Francisco Garza, Bell-Jeff, DB, 7 Int; Daniel Radoccia, Bell-Jeff, DB, 5 Int; Ernie Brandts-Buys, Salesian, LB, All-Northeast Division; Austin Muhleka, St. Anthony, QB, 1,132 yards passing; Nick Daziel, St. Anthony, RB, 692 yards rushing; Sergio Gonzalez, St. Anthony, OL.
Alpha
Maranatha (8-5) gained the edge in the preseason polls over league rival Brentwood (11-2), thanks in part to a 31-20 in the semifinals of last year's section playoffs. Maranatha also returns one of the league's best running backs in Mark Love, who ran for 1,659 yards last year. Alex Clash returns at QB while Robert Sharpe will run beside Love. Brentwood should be solid again with Mason Moss (1,344 yards) back at quarterback and Ian Shaw manning the defense at linebacker.
Team to Beat: Maranatha
Top MVP Candidate: Mark Love, Maranatha
Players to Watch: Ben Oliva, Brentwood, WR, All-Northeast Division, 750 yards receiving; Manny Benton, Brentwood, RB, All-Northeast Division, 1,147 yards rushing; Ian Shaw, Brentwood, LB, All-Northeast Division, 97 tackles; Mason Moss, Brentwood, QB, 1,344 yards rushing; Mark Love, Maranatha, RB, All-Northeast Division, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention, 1,659 yards rushing; Tom Fleweling, Maranatha, OL, All-Northeast Division, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention, 85 tackles; David Vanderlann, Maranatha, DL, All-Northeast Division, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention, 16 sacks; Jared Moberg, Maranatha, LB, All-Northeast Division; Robert Sharpe, Maranatha, RB, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention; Alex Clash, Maranatha, QB, All-Pasadena Star News Hon. Mention, 1,087 yards passing; Jack Morgan, Whittier, Christian, OL, All-Northeast Division; Austin Robbins, Whittier Christian, LB, 88 tackles; Kyle Clark, Whittier Christian, DB, 7 Int; Zack Kaplan, Campbell Hall, QB, 1,252 yards passing.
Players to Watch based on all-league and all-area teams from 2006. Some players may have transferred or were misidentified as underclassmen.