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Kickoff 2012: Garden Grove League preview
Find the coaches' poll, individual previews for all six schools, players and teams to watch and much more.
COACHES POLL:
(Click on the links below to go to the individual team previews.)
1. Rancho Alamitos 9-2 in 2011, 32 poll points
2. Garden Grove 4-7, 28
3. Los Amigos 9-3, 26
4. Bolsa Grande 4-6, 17
5. Santiago 1-9, 12
6. La Quinta 2-8, 11
*Teams receive 6 points for a first place vote, 5 for a second-place vote, etc.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Rancho Alamitos. The defending league champions are the favorite to repeat after going undefeated against their Garden Grove League opposition last year. The Vaqueros won those five games by an average of 31 points. They return six all-league performers, including defensive MVP Keanu Duquet. Rancho Alamitos has reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
La Quinta. The consensus amongst league coaches is that La Quinta will finish at the bottom of the standings. Conversely, Coach Andy Diaz picked his Aztecs to make the playoffs. They first need to earn a league victory, as they went 0-5 last year in his inaugural season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Keanu Duquet, Rancho Alamitos, RB/LB – The league’s best defensive player last season will also start at running back this season.
Noe Perez, Los Amigos, WR – He had 32 catches for 478 yards last year to earn all-league first-team honors.
Josh Huff, Garden Grove, TE/DE – This potential college prospect caught 11 passes last year while also making all-league first-team defense.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS:
Bolsa Grande: QB Josh Borbon; RB Michael Marquez
Garden Grove: RB C.J. Del Real; RB/LB Bryan Quexel; WR/K Gabe Carillo; OT Jeremiah Ailes; CB Simaj Bilal; FS Alejandro Ceja
La Quinta: QB Don Tran; OT Oscar Perez; RB Vincent Dinh; SS Ardle Tenorio
Los Amigos: OG Oscar Ramos; DB Angel Palencia; LB Daniel Olague; WR Anthony Magana
Rancho Alamitos: OT/DT Gary Lemus; TE/LB Falani Fiaseu; OG/DT Alafou Sauta; DE Xavier Payan; WR Robert Torres
Santiago: QB/SS Richard Segastume; OG Martin Bui
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Rancho Alamitos at Garden Grove, Oct. 26. The Vaqueros handled the Argonauts, 41-14, last year. But this year’s meeting between the fierce rivals will be at Garden Grove High. And it might be with a league title on the line.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE:
Garden Grove. No team in the league plays anyone near the caliber of El Toro, which the Argonauts conclude their nonleague slate on the road with. They also open the season with 2011 CIF-qualifiers Westminster and Woodbridge.
SEE PREVIEWS FOR OTHER LEAGUES AND OTHER FOOTBALL PREVIEW COVERAGE.
