Azusa quarterback Juan Tapia Jr. (Escarcega)
Azusa High School
Coach: Alfred Zamora
League: Montview
2023 Record: 5-5
2023 CalPreps Rating: -56.8
2024 Calpreps Preseason Rating: -66.8 (5th best in the league)
Number of Returning Players: 17
Number of All-League Players Returning: 2
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Alfred Zamora
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 6
Number of OL Returning: 3
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 3
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Joshua Villarreal - 12th grade, RB
Noah Zamora - 12 grade, WR
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Juan Garcia - 12th grade, OG
Anthony Rojas - 12th grade, OT
Guillermo Bravo - 11th grade, C
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Alex Morua
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 3
Number of DL Returning: 1
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 2
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Noah Zamora - 12th grade, SS
Aramis De La Torre - 11th grade,CB
Joshua Villarreal - 12th grade, LB
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Juan Garcia - 12th grade, DT
Anthony Rojas - 12th grade, DE
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Juan Tapia Jr. - 12th grade, QB/CB
Emerson Juniper - 12th grade, WR/FS/LB
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER OFF/DEF LINEMAN
Anthony Meza - 11th grade - OT/DT
Michael Mendez - 12th grade - OG/DT
COMMENTS FROM COACH ZAMORA: “We are a young team, but we have some solid athletes. Our line is young, but they will make holes for our Running Back, Joshua Villarreal, who was one of the league MVPs last season. We also have some experienced players playing wideout for us with Noah Zamora and Emerson Juniper. Aramis De La Torre is coming along as well and will play a key role on both sides of the ball. Our quarterback, Juan Tapia, is athletic and has a nice arm, so he will give defenses a tough look. Offensive Line has returners Anthony Rojas and Juan Garcia leading the way for a few sophom*ores that we have high expectations for. We are expecting to see the Defensive side of the ball fly around and make plays. Joshua Villarreal will be playing a major role on both sides of the ball. Defensive lineman Micheal Mendez is expected to have a big impact on the game.
The Montview League is all new this upcoming season. Besides the name, almost every team is new. We will have our hands full going up a league and playing some bigger schools, but we are ready for the challenge. This is my first year being a Head Coach so that just adds another barrier. I’ve coached under a few head coaches, such as Citos Marinez, Ted Clarke, John Argo, and Phil Lopez, and have learned a thing or two from each to create my own vision. I think every team in the Montview League has a new head coach, so who knows what will happen this season. Former Long time coach Albert Sanchez is the A.D. here at Azusa High School and has been helping me along the way as well.”
2024 Schedule (with 2023 season records)
Please note: All home games are played at Citrus College
Week 0: at Duarte (6-5, CIFSS Div. 14 First Round)
Week 1: (Thurs.) vs. Ganesha (7-3)
Week 2: (Thurs.) vs. Century (1-9)
Week 3: at Keppel (0-10)
Week 4: vs. Temple City (3-7)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: at Wilson (9-2, CIFSS Div. 12 First Round)
Week 7: at Ontario (0-10)
Week 8: vs. Sierra Vista (2-8)
Week 9: vs. Pomona (4-6)
Week 10: (Thurs.) at Nogales (2-8)
CRYSTAL BALL: It is great to see coach Zamora showing that passion and energy as he starts his first year as the head coach at a school that should always be in the mix for a league title. One thing that was clear after watching his team at two passing league tournaments is that there is some meat on the bone when it comes to the talent on the team. Tapia seemed to be getting more confident at the quarterback position, and Zamora was fun to watch at the receiver position. The big question will be their back seven on the defensive side of the ball, but we trust that new DC Morua will get this unit vastly improved as the season progresses. As for the schedule, our computer models have this team as a five-win season, but after watching the squad in the summer, I think a six-win season is in the offing.
Projected Record: 6-4
Pasadena Poly High School
Coach: Ken Henderson
League: Rio Hondo
2023 Record: 4-6
2023 CalPreps Rating: -28.2
2024 Calpreps Preseason Rating: -39.5 (5th best in the league)
Number of Returning Players: 18
Number of All-League Players Returning: 1
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Ken Henderson
Number of Off. Returning Starters: 4
Number of OL Returning: 7
Number of Off Skill Players Returning: 5
Rushing yards: 984 Yards (5.8 Yards Per Carry, 98.4 YPG)
Passing Yards: 2,214 Yards (16.0 Yards Per Completion, 221.4 YPG)
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Connor Mallinger - 11th / 6'1"- 165 / WR
Maxwell Leaks - 10th / 6'3" -175 / WR
Noah Daniels - 12th / 6'1" -170 / WR
"TJ" Terrence McElrath-12th / 6'0" - 175 / WR
Charlie Broggi - 12th / 5'9"- 155 /WR
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Richie Stevenson - 12th / 5'11"- 200 / Center
Ben Dalany -12th / 5'11" -210 / Guard
Finn Anzalone - 12th / 5'11" -200 / Guard
JP Bryson - 12th / 6'2" - 200 / Tackle
Eli Axel - 11th / 6'1" -195 / Tackle
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Leon Williams
Number of Def. Returning Starters: 7
Number of DL Returning: 6
Number of Def. Skill Players Returning: 6
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Finn Anzalone - 12th / 5'11" -200 / LB ( Honorable Mention All-League )
Connor Mallinger - 11th / 6'1"- 165 / CB
"TJ" Terrence McElrath-12th / 6'0" - 175 / LB
Noah Daniels - 12th / 6'1" -170 / CB
Eli Axel - 11th / 6'1" -195 / LB
Charlie Broggi - 12th / 5'9"- 155 / S
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Bowe Lubin -10th / 6'1"-180 /DE
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Allister Chan -9th /6'0" -170 / QB
Kaiden Thorell -9th / 6'1" -160 / QB
COMMENTS FROM COACH HENDERSON: “Strengths of the team are the returning offensive line, although undersized, and the receiving corps.
The weakness of the team is the running back group.”
2024 Schedule (with 2023 season records)
Week 0: at Hoover (4-6)
Week 1: (Sat.) vs. Rio Hondo Prep (CIFSS Div. 9 Champions)
Week 2: (Sat) vs. Bosco Tech (4-6)
Week 3: at Beverly Hills (3-7)
Week 4: (Sat) vs. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (4-6)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: at South Pasadena (9-2, CIFSS Div. 9 First Round)
Week 7: at La Canada (4-6)
Week 8: vs. Temple City (3-7)
Week 9: at San Marino (8-3, CIFSS Div. 10 First Round)
Week 10: vs. Monrovia at Pasadena City College (6-4)
CRYSTAL BALL: This is the second year that Pasadena Poly is in the RHL, and they are quickly finding out that it's a little bit more competitive than in their previous league, which was the Prep League. But they’ll always compete, and that’s why they are always fun to watch. This season has “a work in progress” written all over it. New QBs, and new RBs, but a veteran WR group and a hefty OL will balance that out to a certain extent. The front seven on defense will also be a unit that will be under the microscope as the season progresses. It’ll be interesting to see how Anzalone leads that front seven group. The schedule could work in their favor in the preseason, but when it gets RHL time, our computer models project things could be a little bit on the rough end. However, never count out the Panthers, as they will always play four quarters of the ball and give you the best they've got.
Projected Record: 4-6
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