…South Hills looking to bounce back
Monrovia and South Hills high schools are in unfamiliar territory heading into tonight’s football showdown at Covina District Field. The programs have established themselves as area powers, but each enters tonight’s game with a 1-2 record and some regret to go with it.
“I would imagine you’ll see two angry football teams,” Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox said.
Indeed. Monrovia comes in off a 35-34 overtime loss to San Dimas in which the Wildcats blew a big fourth- quarter lead against a Saints team they’d been waiting the whole offseason to get revenge against after losing to it in last year’s Mid-Valley Division championship.
For South Hills, there was no lead to blow in last week’s loss to Tesoro. The Huskies saw a close game turn into a 10-point deficit just before halftime before things really snowballed in the second half of a 59-6 loss.
“It was two different halves of football,” Huskies coach Steve Bogan said. “We played a great first half, but then we got worn out in the second half. That’s part of the deal when you play up, school-size wise. We just have to keep improving every week.”
Neither coach is convinced the other team’s record is indicative of how good they truly are. For Monrovia, South Hills is another stop in a string of tough nonleague opponents set up by Maddox, who wanted to challenge his team before league started.
“They’re a good football team,” Bogan said of Monrovia. “Turnovers killed them against Glendora and against San Dimas; I think they just turned it down a knob. This team could very easily be undefeated.”
In addition to Tesoro, South Hills has faced one of the best West Covina teams in years and Baldwin Park. The Braves account for the Huskies’ only win, and Maddox doesn’t want to be their second victim.
“They’re just a good football team who has played some good football teams,” Maddox said of South Hills. “They’re huge up front. That’s what really stands out to me.”
If South Hills wants to stifle Monrovia, it will have to find a way to slow down quarterback Nick Bueno, who’s dangerous with his feet and arm.
Bogan said limiting Bueno’s big plays will be critical for his defense, which starts three sophomore linebackers.
“You can’t let him get in space, but that’s easier said than done,” Bogan said about Bueno. “Mobile quarterbacks are definitely a problem – ask Pete Carroll. They’re unique people. You don’t stop them, you contain them. If we can do that, we’ll be in a good place.”
South Hills’ offense also has proven effective on the ground and is led by running backs Jamel Hart and Jordan Gutierrez. Hart has 276 yards and three touchdowns while Gutierrez has 260 yards and one score.
Given the past success of both programs, being 1-2 is a major disappointment and going 1-3 would be unthinkable, but neither coach would go so far as to call today’s game a must-win. Whichever team shakes off last week’s setback quicker may find itself in position to even its record and finish nonleague the following week with a chance at a winning record.
“Kids are resilient,” Maddox said.
As for the Huskies, well, don’t expect them to be taking Monrovia lightly.
Read More: Aram Tolegian – http://www.sgvtribune.com/southhillshighpreps/ci_16212269