Zachary Green and St. Bonaventure are now in the Pac-5 Division. They're expecting a prolific run game to lead to success.
Photo by Josh Thompson
10-3
Head coach: Todd Therrien
Update: Keeping the ball on the ground with a potent rushing attack figures to be the first, second, and third option for the Seraphs this season. And why not? They have a workhorse in
Zachary Green. The 5-10, 217-pound senior and Arizona commit is capable of rushing for more than 1,000 yards and will have every opportunity to do so behind a sizable offensive line.
Nonleague of note: Tests don't get much tougher than a late-September game against Santa Margarita. The only benefit of playing the Eagles at that point is the Seraphs will have a few games underneath their proverbial belts.
Projection: St. Bonaventure will likely beat up on some of the Marmonte League teams this season. The Seraphs will also take their lumps against their competitive counterparts. The real question is will they have anything left for the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs?
17. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)2011 finish: 8-4
Head coach: Jason Negro
Update: They don't make them bigger, or much meaner, than
Nico Falah. That said, the Braves will run the ball behind the 6-6, 275-pound senior offensive lineman, bound for USC, a majority of the time. The plan has worked in the past. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Nonleague of note: Loyola (Los Angeles) presents some potential interesting matchup problems for St. John Bosco in mid-September. Falah and his teammates will need to figure out a way to use their muscle to counteract the speed and quickness of the Cubs.
Projection: If the Braves were in any other league, aside from the Trinity, they would have a chance to add some hardware to the trophy case. Problem is, they're not. Should St. John Bosco survive, the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs figure to be a daunting task.
18. Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley)2011 finish: 14-0
Head coach: Pete Duffy
Update: Demorea Stringfellow can do it all. The 6-2, 185-pound receiver can stretch the field vertically with his speed. The Washington commit is also fearless, willing to risk his body and catch passes over the middle. Stringfellow is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Nonleague of note: The Mustangs must remember to stay focused on the task at hand when they travel to the desert and face Las Vegas High in the middle of September. The Wildcats should not be taken lightly. MaxPreps ranks them No. 12 in the Silver State.
Projection: With Stringfellow in the fold, Rancho Verde will have a chance to be competitive in the Inland Valley League. And provided they take of business, there's a very good chance this group could win the CIF Southern Section Central Division championship.
19. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita) 2011 finish: 8-5
Head coach: Brian Barnes
Update: The Titans opened plenty of eyes last year when they pulled off a monumental upset against perennial powerhouse Servite (Anaheim) in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs. Tesoro returns more than a few players from that team: Seven starters on defense and eight more on offense. Chances are, the Titans will be the hunted this season, not the hunter.
Nonleague of note: Hart (Newhall) is one of the top teams from the Santa Clarita Valley. The Indians, however, might be overmatched in the season opener against Tesoro.
Projection: The Titans are out to prove that their postseason run last year was no fluke. The first step toward proving they're a legitimate threat is winning the South Coast League title. Beyond that, who knows? One thing is certain: This is a program on the rise in Southern California.
20. El Toro (Lake Forest)2011 finish: 12-2
Head coach: Rob Frith
Update: The Chargers don't get nearly enough credit for being a consistent program. Then again, hype has never mattered much to El Toro. And with a handful of important individuals returning on both sides of the ball this season, the Chargers figure to prove once again that a team is measured by wins and losses, not word of mouth. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
Nonleague of note: Taking a look at the schedule, the game that jumps off the page is an early-September showdown against Clovis, traditionally one of the CIF Central Section's more consistent teams. A win would provide the Chargers with some much-needed confidence.
Projection: The South Coast League is no joke and several teams could take home the title should things fall into place, including El Toro. The Chargers can't afford to peak too early though because qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 playoffs is the ultimate goal.
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