Six-team football-only leagues in Mt. SAC area get going this week

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Bonita’s Noah Mikhail gets through San Dimas’ defense during the Smudge Pot game on Sept. 13. Bonita and San Dimas are expected second-place finishers in their leagues. PHOTO BY TREVOR STAMP

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By Fred Robledo

frobledo@scng.com

Most of the high school football teams in the San Gabriel Valley begin league play this week.

Maybe the most intrigue is with the new six-team, football-only leagues in the Mt. SAC area. For the past four seasons, the Mt. SAC area was comprised mostly of four-team leagues. The only four-team league in the Mt. SAC area this season is the Gano League, which starts in a few weeks.

Here are our predictions for the new Mt. SAC-area leagues that begin this week

BASELINE LEAGUE >> Prediction: Damien (3-2) should win its first league title since 2010. It won’t be easy, but the Spartans have looked the part in their nonleague games and have the best quarterback with junior Isaiah Arriaza. If Damien doesn’t win the Baseline, look for our second pick, Rancho Cucamonga (3-2), to get it done. The Cougars were able to beat Bishop Amat in their final tuneup, even after losing their starting quarterback in the first quarter. Those are the top two teams and Etiwanda (2-2-1), Chino Hills (3-2) and Upland (2-3) will battle it out for third place and a guaranteed playoff bid. Ayala (2-3) has struggled and figures to finish last.

Projected finish: 1. Damien; 2. Rancho Cucamonga; 3. Upland; 4. Etiwanda; 5. Chino Hills; 6. Ayala.

HACIENDA LEAGUE >> Prediction: Covina (4-1) is the closest team to a sure thing. The Colts’ only loss was to undefeated Northview, and they have the most firepower with quarterback Jake Duronslet and running back Kwame Parrish. You want an upset second-place pick? Let’s go with winless Diamond Bar (0-5), which has played the toughest nonleague schedule of all and has been in many close games. Brahmas quarterback Quinton Mendoza and linebacker Matthew Galvan are game-changers. South Hills (2-3) gets the edge over Los Altos (3-2) for third place and Walnut (3-2) and Chino (0-5) are in tough spots to make playoff pushes.

Projected finish: 1. Covina; 2. Diamond Bar; 3. South Hills; 4. Los Altos; 5. Walnut; 6. Chino.

MIRAMONTE LEAGUE >> Prediction: The league title will come down to a Week 10 game between undefeated La Puente (5-0), led by quarterback Ezekeil Zamora, and undefeated Duarte (5-0), led by senior QB Avenn Ortiz. They both should be 9-0 when they square off with the edge going to La Puente, which already has three shutouts this season. Ganesha (1-4) is a wild card and Garey (2-3) could be a hard out. Bassett (1-4) and Workman (0-4) figure to miss out on playoff spots.

Projected finish: 1. La Puente; 2. Duarte; 3. Ganesha; 4. Garey; 5. Bassett; 6. Workman.

MONTVIEW LEAGUE >> Prediction: The league title goes through Wilson (4-1) and senior running back Dominic Ezeonye, who feasts on teams with smaller-than-average linemen, which is what he will face in the Montview. Nogales (2-3) with senior transfer quarterback Tyler Lewis, is the next best as long as Lewis stays healthy. Azusa (2-3) is the wild card in the group and you can never count out Pomona (1-4), which has played a fairly tough nonleague schedule. Sierra Vista (0-4) and Ontario (0-5) just don’t have it.

Projected finish: 1. Wilson; 2. Nogales; 3. Azusa; 4. Pomona; 5. Sierra Vista; 6. Ontario.

SIERRA LEAGUE >> Prediction: One of the most anticipated games of the year comes in Week 9 when undefeated Bonita (5-0) visits Charter Oak (4-1). The Chargers have played a tougher schedule with their only loss coming on the final play against Yorba Linda, which made a 2-point conversion to beat the Chargers. The Bearcats have held opponents to seven points or less in four games and boast the area’s best two-way players with Dylan Robinson and Noah Mikhail. But the Chargers’ trio of QB Corin Berry and receivers Legends Lyons and Marquis Bradley should ultimately prevail in the fireworks show. Los Osos (5-0) is undefeated, but hasn’t played a tough schedule. Glendora (3-2) is tested and has improved over its past two games. Colony (1-4) is capable of a surprise and could finish third. Claremont (3-2) looks like it will struggle against this competition.

Projected finish: 1. Charter Oak; 2. Bonita; 3. Glendora; 4. Los Osos; 5. Colony; 6. Claremont.

VALLE VISTA LEAGUE >> Prediction: If you don’t take Northview (5-0), you’re not serious. The Vikings have dominated on both sides of the ball and crushed Glendora and Covina. Vikings RB Keanu Tauvao is just one of several weapons they have, and they look complete with the addition of transfer receiver Isaiah Lucero. However, never count out San Dimas (4-1) and its vaunted rushing attack, especially after what it did to Monrovia last week, winning 42-14 and rushing for nearly 500 yards. The Saints might scare Northview, but won’t beat them. The race for third will be a tight one and we’re going with a surprise choice, winless Diamond Ranch (0-5). It has played a tough schedule and nearly knocked off Covina. West Covina (2-3) will be in a fight to make the playoffs and must hold off Alta Loma (3-2) and Baldwin Park (2-3) to stay in the playoff chase.

Projected finish: 1. Northview; 2. San Dimas; 3. Diamond Ranch; 4. West Covina; 5. Baldwin Park; 6. Alta Loma.