< The Latest 2025-10-16T17:07:42+0000
The Pasadena Star-News | Thu 10/16 09:13am PST | Fred Robledo
Previews and predictions for Friday’s top high school football games in the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier and Pasadena area. Dates, sites and times are subject to change.
Bishop Amat (3-2, 1-1) at Loyola (3-2, 1-1), 7 p.m.: The Lancers and Cubs both pulled off stunners last week and now find themselves locked in a four-way tie for second place in the Mission League. Bishop Amat’s Ryan Salcedo had a game for the history books in a 36-29 victory over Notre Dame, rushing for 351 yards to go with five touchdowns, including the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter. At a school known for great running backs like Eric Bieniemy and Daylon McCutcheon, Salcedo’s performance was the third best in school history. Loyola is winning with defense, as it showed in a 13-10 victory over Serra. The Cubs won on a night where they rushed for only 35 yards as a team. They have a trio of steady running backs in juniors Xavier Wimbley, Kane Casani and sophomore Jayden Rogers. Bishop Amat hasn’t won two straight games all season. They’ve usually followed a great win with a clunker. But this time, they answer the call.
The pick: Bishop Amat
Northview (6-1, 2-0) at San Dimas (4-3, 1-1), 7 p.m.: Every game looks like a tough pick in the Valle Vista League, and this is no different. Though Northview is clear the favorite and has started to click in all phases, you can never discount the Saints. The Saints are coming off a brutal loss, 23-20, to West Covina, which made a last-minute, 37-yard field goal. The Saints’ Jacob Gallegos leads their rushing attack, but to have a chance they need quarterback Brandon Meredith to have a better game than he did last week. The Vikings are finally healthy on the offensive line and it shows. They beat Diamond Ranch 47-14 last week. Running back Aaron Guillen, a transfer from Bishop Amat, led them in rushing with 88 yards to go with a touchdown. They ran for 241 yards as a team. They can still lean on quarterback Robert Lucero and his trio of star receivers if they need to.
The pick: Northview
Baldwin Park (4-3, 0-2) at West Covina (5-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.: Through two weeks in the Valle Vista League, it’s looking like Baldwin Park might be the odd team out in the battle for CIF-SS playoff spots. The Braves followed their league-opening loss to Northview with a 35-6 loss to Alta Loma. They desperately need a road win at West Covina. They have a talented QB in Valentino May and impact players in Choyce Hampton, Billy Carr, Jacory Coleman and Jayden Maxie, but have yet to put it together. The Bulldogs have been a mild surprise, beating Alta Loma 28-26 in the league opener and following it with Isaiah Rodriguez’s 37-yard field goal in the final minute to beat San Dimas 23-20. Sophomore Vance Davis and QB Elias Irvin are a handful. So who wins? We expect a surprise in this league every week, and this is it.
The pick: Baldwin Park
Rio Hondo Prep (7-0) at Viewpoint (7-0), 7 p.m.: This battle of undefeated teams might not be as juicy as you think. Rio Hondo Prep is a projected Division 5 team based on the HSratings.com rankings that will decide playoff divisions. Viewpoint is projected for Division 13. The Kares are projected by HSratings.com to win 56-6. Still, it’s undefeated vs. undefeated, and you have to respect that. Rio Hondo Prep is coming off its bye week after Noah Penunuri racked up 261 yards to go with five touchdowns during a trip to Texas where they beat First Baptist. Viewpoint beat Redwood Christian 21-6 last week. This is the Gold Coast League opener. It’s just a three-team league with only one automatic playoff spot. No way the Kares trip up here.
The pick: Rio Hondo Prep
La Cañada (7-1, 1-1) at Monrovia (5-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.: The Spartans’ undefeated season came to a shocking end in a 23-22 loss to South Pasadena. It didn’t look like anything would stop the Spartans’ train, especially not a four-loss South Pas squad, but the Tigers have turned it on in league play. The Tigers also beat Monrovia to open the RHL and is suddenly closing in on a league title. So this game between La Cañada and Monrovia is likely for second place. Expect Spartans quarterback Joe Bell and running back Dash Paper to dominate on the ground and grind out a victory. We liked Monrovia’s chances a few weeks ago when quarterback Jesse Saucedo was healthy. But Saucedo tore his ACL just before league play and his loss makes a huge difference. The Wildcats can compete with versatile Troy Grise at quarterback, and Byron Bell is a dangerous two-way threat. But LC is the choice here.
The pick: La Cañada
St. Pius X-St. Matthias (3-4, 1-1) at St. Paul (1-6, 1-1), 7 p.m.: The Swordsmen’s future looks much brighter after last week’s 21-16 victory over St. Francis, which was their first win of the season. After playing a daunting schedule over their first six games, the Swordsmen were finally able to dominate the line of scrimmage, and it resulted in 254 rushing yards. Jordan Lauago led the way with 96 yards and QB Gabriel Castaneda rushed for 77. With a win over St. Pius, the Swordsmen would likely just need a win against struggling Alemany to punch a ticket to the playoffs. Incredibly, their chances in the playoffs would soar as a projected Division 5 squad. So, there is a lot riding on the this. St. Pius is coming off a tough 38-29 loss to Paraclete and appears to be more athletic. But this is why St. Paul played such a tough schedule, to grind out wins like this.
The pick: St. Paul
FRIDAY’S OTHER GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
ALMONT LEAGUE
Alhambra at Schurr
Montebello at Bell Gardens
San Gabriel at Keppel
ANGELUS LEAGUE
Alemany at St. Francis
CAMINO REAL LEAGUE
Mary Star of the Sea at Bosco Tech
DEL REY LEAGUE
La Salle at St. Anthony
DEL RIO LEAGUE
El Rancho at Whittier
California at La Serna
EPSILON LEAGUE
La Habra at Crean Lutheran
GANO LEAGUE
Chaffey at Rowland
GATEWAY LEAGUE
Dominguez at La Mirada
HACIENDA LEAGUE
Walnut vs. South Hills at Covina District Field
IOTA LEAGUE
Sonora vs. Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium
MESQUITE LEAGUE
Arrowhead Christian at Maranatha
Whittier Christian at Western Christian
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Duarte at Bassett
Workman at Ganesha
MISSION VALLEY LEAGUE
Arroyo at Gabrielino
Marshall at South El Monte
Rosemead at Mountain View
MONTVIEW LEAGUE
Sierra Vista at Pomona
Wilson at Nogales
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Arcadia at Glendale
RIO HONDO LEAGUE
San Marino at South Pasadena
SIERRA LEAGUE
Bonita at Claremont
Charter Oak at Los Osos
Colony vs. Glendora at Citrus College
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Diamond Ranch at Alta Loma