Calhoun’s Games to Watch: Los Alamitos vs. La Habra
September 29th, 2009, 7:43 pm · · posted by Damian Calhoun
Taking a look at the top games on this week’s schedule:
No. 4 Los Alamitos (3-0) vs. No. 8 La Habra (3-0)
Thursday, 7 p.m., at Gahr High
Outlook: The competition level goes up a level for both of these teams.
The Griffins haven’t allowed a point through their first three games, outscoring their opponents by a combined 124-0. (Yes, you read that right – 124 to zero.) However, those opponents are a combined 2-10.
La Habra’s opponents so far are a combined 5-5, and they have outscored them, 136-38.
The Griffins have pummeled their opponents on the ground. Running back Nick Richardson has rushed for 420 yards and seven touchdowns.
First-year starting quarterback Dylan Cook has completed 20 of 29 passes for 320 yards.
Everybody knows about the work of La Habra running back Josh Quezada. There also seems to be a good connection developing between quarterback Cody Clements and Brett Bartolone. Clements, a junior, has completed 26 of 38 passes for 557 yards.
Bartolone, a sophomore, has 12 catches for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
This is La Habra’s third opportunity to beat a Pac-5 opponent. They lost to both Los Alamitos and San Clemente last season. Is the third time a charm?
Links to all of the Calhoun Six for Week 4:
No. 7 Mater Dei vs. No. 1 Edison
No. 10 Newport Harbor vs. No. 15 Dana Hills
No. 19 El Toro vs. No. 9 San Clemente
No. 17 El Dorado vs. No. 12 Tesoro
No. 6 Orange Lutheran vs. Narbonne of Harbor City
BONUS GAME: No. 3 Servite vs. Chaparral of Temecula
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los al is gonna be coming out trying to show that they are for real and i believe they are. its gonna be a good game.
This game is going to be make or break for both teams. However, Los Al has alot more at stake if they lose this one to La Habra. If Los Al wins it will be a good win against a quality opponent, and a move up in the OC standings. If they lose however, I think they’ll drop out of the top ten with having three wins against weak competition. The rest of the sunset league powers (Edison, San Clemente, Fountain Valley) will be licking their chops for a shot at the Griffins. So much for Los Als league intimidation factor.
La Habra is a very good team, they are disciplined and they know how to execute. But most of all they know how to win. If La Habra wins they move up in the OC ranking with four wins against quality opponents (who would have thought that La Mirada would be 3-1 at this juncture). This would really put the rest of the Southwest Div on notice, get ready to get served, because La Habra is on it’s way to winning a 3rd CIF Division championship in a row. If they lose, they lose to a good Los Al team, and there is no shame losing to a program like Los Al. Then they get another shot at a PAC-5 power with San Clemente next week at home. So the next two games for La Habra will be a challenge. If they win both, it would be good for the entire Southwest Div. the PAC-5 will be put on notice as well, beware the Southwest DIV, because they are rising fast.
UHwarrior speaks words of wisdom indeed…!!!
Is #2 gonna play?
Gotta disagree with the warrior, La Habra has ALOT to lose if they dont beat this Los Al team, the rap on La Habra is they are only as good as the Southwest Division has to offer which is some fine quality programs, la Habra has pretty much dominated in the division and really has not gotten the respect they earned and its because of losses to the Pac-5 schools which is the scar on their program, yes last year was the learning curve so to speak and they failed in both attempts to solidify their posistion as tthe best team in the Southwest, and also this club is not very disciplined at all their games this year have shown that, with at least 5 TDs being called baclk for stupid penalties and although their passing attack is solid Clements still is young and kinda throws the ball up in some cases,La Habra is not as good as last year they can be but at this point they are not and nobody really knows how good Los Al is since they have played no so good teams this year, look for a very tentative game early the key is Quezada he has looked forward to this game and if he plays as good as he is well La Habra will win but they got way more to lose than Los Al and if they dont win all the naysayers will STILL have the ammo to put La Habra program where they think they are ….just another good team but in a lower division….cmon La Habra go get some resapect and not by other teams getting beat win it and earn it the hard way!!
BigHS,
Great points. You must have been at the games. However, even if La Habra loses the next two games, they will still be the class of the Southwest DIV. right now I see them beating anyone of the other top three. We all know they’ll go deep into the playoffs. Not so much for Los Al. A loss to a “lower division” team will hurt their ranking in the PAC-5 DIV. Los Al needs this game to prove they are legitimate contenders, more so than La Habra. But, if La Habra wants respect in the overall OC rankings they need to win. They already have the respect of the Southwest Div.
BTW, Go Highlanders!
separated shoulder can be a nagging injury, if the other team knows, holding onto the ball with defenders trying to strip while getting hit, may be a short game for LH #2, hope he will be able to go, by far the he is the hardest hitting rb anyone has seen in a long time…..LH is a less threatening team without him on the field!!! he is a stud.
San Clemente isnt in the sunset league. Edison will pound Los Al. We have the BEST defense in the county. Los Al has played a lot of cupcakes.
KIR,
Thanks, for the correction, I believe San Clemente is in the Seaview league? However, I believe Los Al will have trouble with another Sunset league opponent the up and coming Newport Harbor squad.
South Coast League with Mission and Tesoro actually.
bighsfootballfan has some good points. Both teams have a lot to gain with a win. I do think L H has an edge if they play mistake-free ball. I believe L H has played tougher teams thus far. The size and aggressive play by Downey last week was a good warm-up to Thursday’s match-up.
not close to make are break game 14 is make will show how they line up in top ten.other than that goodv test for postseason josh q not 100% could be factor los al should win
big hischool says not as good as last year,at least not yet. not as good – 3 returning starting db’ 2 defensive line studs,lb’s are way better especially with porter and have depth.the offense is actually better and in a greater situation too, with more talent and speed at every skill position plus even if you stop the juice you have the best qb in along time.penalties can be corrected and they have a solid young and experienced o-line. to at least not yet,alot tougher 1st 3 when you replace westminister with la mirada. maybe those teams look not so tough because clan is really that good.
Any update on Quezada?
This is going to be a good game. I’ve been waiting for this game. If La Habra wants to compete with the big boys then they need to beat them.
if the “JUICE” doesnt run wild down the throats of losal on thursday, than there is unfortunately no way the highlanders have a chance of pulling out the victory. lahabra also tends to shoot themselves in the foot alot by commiting way too many penalties. losal is a much better disciplined team, and if they can swallow the “juice” than they’ll be the ones claiming the victory….
quick note: on whittier daily news coach mazzota of lahabra anounced that quezada did not hurt his shoulder… he actually just sprained his ankle and should be ready to go on thursday…with that said sorry GUY, but looks like your prediction of a losal victory wont stand…!!!
why take off your shoulder pads for a spained ankle ?
More like 3 strikes and they’re out!
Hey whathisname….Peppard,Casey,Arteaga,Spada,Mayoral,Nygren,Pagano,HILLMAN these are jusyt a few of the players veteran players guys who have been in the trenches that La Habra has lost to graduation, yes i agree that this set of linebackers will be awesome at some point but they bite on everything right now they are young and are overreacting a bit which isnt a bad thing but it may catch up to them in big game with more talent on the other side of the ball the defensive backs well not bad but boy does Sierrea lok al;ot better with David Arteaga with him along with Acevedo who is also gone, Sierra has to step up and play better no ifs and or butts about it, and i absoloutely stand by my statement, tis La Habra club is really good but not as good as last years squad not yet at least, but Los Al is down some also so i look for La Habra to win but at this point i really dont know but we willl see and just a footnote if La Habra does win it does not mean there better than last year, they have a shot but not yet go Highlanders !!!
LHHS D-Secandary will be exposed for the next two weeks,its LH one true achilles heel is the secondary, a good passing team could take advantage of this 4-some.
Los Al isn’t exactly a pass happy offense nowadays. Which is odd to see.
what is your take on LH D-Secondary? you seem very knowledgeable about the LH Football Team
with that safety of theirs hawaii bound i think theyll par out just fine…
Yes he is Hawaii bound and is a very good player, they just don’t seem to play as a secondary unit, maybe little miscommunication when it comes help on coverages, they seem to give up some big recs against average throwing teams…
I watched last years game, and it was a lot closer than many think. A single score by Los Al was the margin of victory. The Highlanders have a terrific defense, holding tough teams this year to minimal scores. The arm on Cody is a threat to defense from anyplace on the field.
I think Josh will be fine. I think he took off the pads for the ladies. All of them around me were impressed.
I think there is a degree of bragging rights for the Clan if they are blessed with wins in the next two games. I think they have a good chance. Hard work and team play will determine the winner. I really don’t think a single loss will damage the standings of either team. They are pretty well matched.
I wish the players of both teams good luck. I want all the players to return home healthy, but I want the Highlanders to be on the “Happy” bus.
still dont get this defensive back critique. sparling,willy pep and sierra are returning starters on cif champs so they have the experience. havent seen them beat on the long ball yet and any bubble or quick outs arent going any where.which means when they get in red zone ther is no threat. cant critisize them for coverage called and coach v and porter been pretty sucessful for a decade. so all you arm chair qbs and pop warner cheifs need to relax,and did they even know how to win until they got to lhhs.