Valencia

When any basketball coach is raving about an opposing player, that sets off an alarm bell for sportswriters to pay attention and investigate.

It turns out all the good things coaches are beginning to say about 6-foot-4 junior guard Donovan Webb of Golden Valley High are true. Canyon Country Canyon coach Ali Monfared said Webb might be the best player in the Foothill League, which held its media day at Canyon on Saturday.

Webb is one of those players who worked hard when nobody was watching. His focus was on improving his three-point shooting, and all those hours in the gym could pay off.

“I’m a gym rat,” he said.

Last season, he was moved to point guard and kept deferring to other players. This season, he got the message to take charge. “We put the keys to the car in his hands,” first-year coach Scott Barkman said.

With a 4.3 grade-point average, Webb said he understands what his role needs to be.

“I needed to take my game to the next level,” he said.

Golden Valley and Valencia will be the co-favorites because of the experience each team has with returning players.

Valencia has its own much-improved player in junior Steven Irons. Last season he was 6-5, 170 pounds. Now he’s 6-7, 210 pounds after eating lots of chicken and rice while working on strength.

“The day we lost the playoff game, I started lifting,” he said.

Said coach Greg Fontenette: “His development has been like night and day.”

Double-doubles are in his future, and it’s not about In-N-Out. He’ll be scoring and providing rebounds to support Valencia’s talented class of 2027 players.

Saugus returns Braydon Harmon, who had a 43-point performance against West Ranch last season.

Hart coach Tom Kelly is in his 26th season for the Newhall school and 36th overall (he was head coach at Burbank Burroughs for 10 years).

Canyon won a 2A championship last season and lost most of its players, but returning is standout point guard Isaac Yuhico, who delivered clutch baskets in the Cowboys’ triple-overtime championship game win over St. Bonaventure.

Former Golden Valley coach Chris Printz has become an assistant principal, but his son, Wyatt, remains on the team. Asked if his father got a pay raise, Wyatt said, “I hope so.”

Conner Peterson of West Ranch was asked about playing against friends in the league. “It’s the same thing playing against your brother,” he said. “You want to beat them.”

Castaic coach Louis Fernando offered optimism about his team, saying, “I don’t have to coach ego and I don’t have to coach effort this year.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

First Round

DIVISION 2
Bishop Amat 20, Cypress 19
Cajon 13, Redlands East Valley 7
Portola 7, Shadow Hills 6
Newbury Park 40, Tesoro 13
Ventura 46, Fullerton 14
Northwood 31, Woodbridge 25
Corona del Mar 20, Agoura 18
Linfield Christian 20, Palos Verdes 12
Downey 32, San Dimas 6
San Clemente 33, Yorba Linda 0
Beckman 33, Bonita 18
Westlake 32, Mater Dei 8
Aliso Niguel 39, Warren 6
El Toro 25, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 14
Upland 34, Western Christian 7
Gahr 31, Beaumont 21

DIVISION 3
La Serna 19, Mira Costa 7
Foothill 6, Ayala 0
Moorpark 19, South Hills 0
Sunny Hills 26, California 12
Norco 27, Hemet 6
Long Beach Poly 19, Villa Park 6
Millikan 7, Placentia Valencia 6
Glendora 13, Torrance 12
Mission Viejo 19, Irvine University 14
Corona Santiago 25, Patriot 12
El Modena 21, Santa Monica 0
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Kaiser 12
Eastvale Roosvelt 24, Sonora 7
Santa Paula 35, Channel Islands 34
Bellflower 25, Chino 7
La Habra 12, San Marino 6

DIVISION 4
Temecula Prep 27, Alta Loma 18
Canyon Springs 19, West Covina 8
Inglewood 27, Laguna Hills 0
West Ranch 18, Chaparral 12
Riverside King 28, Loma Linda Academy 20
Gardena Serra 34, Ramona 20
Schurr 37, North Torrance 6
Great Oak at Covina, Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Temecula Valley 19, Corona 18
St. Mary’s Academy 6, La Palma Kennedy 0
Riverside Poly 33, Temescal Canyon 26
Chaminade 21, Murrieta Mesa 18
Claremont 33, La Canada 6
Compton at Sierra Vista
Royal 22, Hart 20
Antelope Valley 19, Serrano 12

DIVISION 5
Lancaster at Quartz Hill, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Moreno Valley 38, Jurupa Hills 14
Rancho Alamitos 30, Lawndale 22
San Gorgonio 18, Rialto 6
Norte Vista 27, Orange 6
Northview 6, El Segundo 0
Hacienda Heights Wilson 26, Montclair 0
Castaic 25, Highland 24
Don Lugo 13, Elsinore 7
Azusa 7, Valley View 0
Anaheim 42, San Jacinto Valley 13
Long Beach Jordan 13, Costa Mesa 6
Westridge 21, Windward 6
Vasquez 18, South El Monte 15
Buena Park 25, St. Paul 12
Vista Murrieta 6, Garden Grove 0

DIVISION 6
Brentwood 48, Pioneer 22
Leuzinger 18, Norwalk 13
Montebello 25, Westminster La Quinta 20
Cerritos 25, Saddleback 6
Garey 37, Miller 12
Loara 33, Bell Gardens 6
Artesia 27, Tahquitz 6
Adelanto 36, Los Amigos 6
El Rancho 26, Ramona Convent 6
Estancia 33, Palm Springs 6
Alemany 39, SEED LA 6
Paramount 12, Fontana 7
Gabrielino 31, Workman 13
Palm Desert 18, Indian Springs 9
Godinez 12, Rosemead 0
Hillcrest 46, Pomona 14

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)

First Round

DIVISION 1
Trabuco Hills at JSerra
Anaheim Canyon at Santa Margarita
Edison at Newport Harbor
Etiwanda at Dos Pueblos
Esperanza at Huntington Beach
Oxnard at Camarillo
Lakewood St. Joseph at San Marcos
Redondo Union at Orange Lutheran

Note: Second round (Divisions 2-6) Sat. Oct. 25; Quarterfinals (Division 1) Mon., Oct. 27; Quarterfinals (Divisions 2-6) Tues., Oct. 28; Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 1; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 7-8 at Fred Kelly Stadium.

MONDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Birmingham 12, Cleveland 6

Crenshaw 37, Hawkins 14

Crenshaw 19, Washington 0

Dorsey 20, View Park 0

Dorsey 15, Fremont 0

Eagle Rock 41, Bernstein 0

El Camino Real 38, Chatsworth 6

Franklin 20, Mendez 6

Fremont 18, View Park 2

GALA 55, Dymally 0

Hollywood 24, Annenberg 0

Huntington Park 22, L.A. Roosevelt 19

Huntington Park 27, South Gate 0

Jefferson 26, Angelou 0

Jefferson 48, Los Angeles 0

King/Drew 6, Carson 6

L.A. Hamilton 26, LACES 6

L.A. Roosevelt 25, South Gate 0

L.A. Wilson 40, Roybal 0

Narbonne 6, Wilmington Banning 0

Narbonne 34, Port of LA 0

San Pedro 27, Carson 0

Santee 33, Foshay 0

Santee 44, Stella 0

Stern 33, Animo De La Hoya 0

Venice 50, Fairfax 0

West Adams 12, Manual Arts 6

Wilmington Banning 52, Port of L.A.

WISH Academy 13, West Adams 12

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alhambra 18, Keppel 13

Anaheim 26, Savanna 0

Anaheim Canyon 34, Cypress 33

Bellflower 6, Mayfair 0

Bishop Amat 38, Ramona Convent 0

Brentwood 19, Windward 18

California 12, Whittier 6

Canyon Springs 12, Vista del Lago 6

Castaic 12, Valencia 7

Cerritos 32, Whitney 0

Compton 26, Millikan 18

Corona del Mar 14, Los Alamitos 0

Corona Santiago 20, Corona Centennial 7

Covina 26, Northview 12

Desert Hot Springs 38, Banning 20

Downey 46, Gahr 6

Eastvale Roosevelt 24, Riverside King 14

El Rancho 25, Santa Fe 19

Esperanza 24, Crean Lutheran 13

Etiwanda 19, Upland 13

Glendora 32, Claremont 7

Great Oak 16, Chaparral 8

Hart 36, Golden Valley 6

Huntington Beach 18, Newport Harbor 12

Knight 32, PACS 6

La Canada 40, Temple City 6

Lakewood St. Joseph 46, Bishop Montgomery 20

La Mirada 6, Norwalk 0

La Palma Kennedy 33, Tustin 6

La Serna 12, Villa Park 7

Linfield Christian 40, Aquinas 0

Loma Linda Academy 12, Norte Vista 6

Long Beach Wilson 13, Long Beach Cabrillo 6

Los Osos 47, St. Lucy’s 31

Montclair 6, Chino 0

Montebello 12, San Gabriel 2

Moreno Valley 25, Riverside North 19

Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 2, Fairmont Prep 0

Norco 30, Corona 6

Orange 25, Westminster La Quinta 0

Palm Springs 7, La Quinta 6

Patriot 39, La Sierra 12

Placentia Valencia 27, Segerstrom 0

Portola 50, Rosary 12

Ramona 31, Redlands Adventist Academy 25

Saddleback 18, Los Amigos 14

San Dimas 21, Alta Loma 12

San Marino 53, Rio Hondo Prep 0

Santa Ana Foothill 19, La Habra 13

Saugus 19, West Ranch 6

Schurr 20, Bell Gardens 0

Shadow Hills 31, Indio 0

South El Monte 39, Arroyo 6

St. Bernard 24, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 0

St. Mary’s Academy 20, St. Anthony 12

Sunny Hills 13, Brea Olinda 0

Temecula Prep 33, San Jacinto Valley Academy 0

Vasquez 15, Canyon Country Canyon 0

West Covina 33, Hacienda Heights Wilson 12

Western 18, Magnolia 0

Western Christian 25, Ontario Christian 0

Westminster 20, Laguna Hills 12

Westridge 27, Monrovia 18

Woodbridge 26, Laguna Beach 6

Yorba Linda 21, El Dorado 6

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Aquinas 33, Indian Springs 7

Arroyo Valley 28, Colton 0

Beaumont 39, Redlands East Valley 6

Beckman 41, Capistrano Valley 0

Bishop Amat 32, Don Lugo 0

Bonita 20, Ayala 13

Brentwood 26, Providence 6

Cajon 26, Citrus Valley 7

Canyon Springs 27, Valley View 20

Cerritos 34, Glenn 0

Citrus Valley 26, Cajon 6

Eastside 13, Palmdale 0

Elsinore 22, Tahquitz 6

Fountain Valley 30, Lakewood 6

JSerra 18, Orange Lutheran 7

Kaiser 32, Jurupa Hills 8

Knight 39, Littlerock 12

La Canada 26, Westridge 20

Murrieta Valley 13, Temecula Prep 7

Newbury Park 57, Calabasas 0

Norte Vista 12, La Sierra 0

Oxnard 40, Oxnard Pacifica 6

Patriot 12, Ramona 0

Quartz Hill 7, Antelope Valley 6

Rancho Cucamonga 48, St. Lucy’s 6

Rialto 46, Rim of the World 6

Rio Mesa 39, Santa Barbara 12

San Dimas 13, South Hills 12

San Gorgonio 12, Summit 6

SEED LA 21, Shalhevet 6

Simi Valley 41, Oak Park 34

St. Mary’s Academy 28, Peninsula 0

Temecula Prep 19, Murrieta Mesa 0

Temescal Canyon 12, West Valley 6

Upland 27, Chino Hills 6

Ventura 33, Buena 0

Western Christian 39, Serrano 0

INTERSECTIONAL

Redondo Union 13, Narbonne 6

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Annenberg 20, Rise Kohyang 6

Crenshaw 18, Bernstein 13

New Designs University Park 26, Locke 0

Orthopaedic 12, Collins Family 6

South East 34, Maywood Academy 6

South East 33, Marquez 0

South Gate 18, LA Jordan 0

Sotomayor 6, Huntington Park 0

Stern 38, Camino Nuevo 0

Sun Valley Magnet 32, Chatsworth 0

USC Hybrid 22, Simon Tech 0

Verdugo Hills 46, Chavez 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

Antelope Valley 7, Bakersfield Christian 0

Aquinas 14, Ontario Christian 6

Arroyo 33, Mountain View 0

Banning 35, Rancho Mirage 12

Beckman 32, Dana Hills 25

Bonita 27, Glendora 6

California 44, El Rancho 0

Castaic 26, Canyon Country Canyon 13

Channel Islands 31, Santa Paula 18

Compton 32, Lakewood 0

Corona Santiago 20, El Modena 20

Costa Mesa 15, Ocean View 7

Cypress 21, Crean Lutheran 12

Desert Hot Springs 22, Cathedral City 0

Downey 67, La Mirada 0

Eastside 53, Littlerock 7

Eastvale Roosevelt 38, Victor Valley 0

Edison 21, Los Alamitos 20

El Dorado 13, Troy 6

Esperanza 20, Sonora 6

Fairmont Prep 12, Whittier 7

Garden Serra 13, St. Anthony 6

Golden Valley 19, West Ranch 12

Hart 33, Vasquez 8

Huntington Beach 47, Fountain Valley 0

JSerra 26, Corona del Mar 7

Kaiser 7, Rialto 0

Laguna Beach 31, Irvine 14

Laguna Hills 19, La Palma Kennedy 18

La Serna 19, Santa Fe 7

Long Beach Jordan 34, Long Beach Wilson 8

Los Amigos 6, Saddleback 0

Montclair 14, Chaffey 0

Montebello 36, Alhambra 13

Newport Harbor 27, Marina 7

Northview 13, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0

Orange 24, Bolsa Grande 6

Portola 26, Irvine University 20

San Gabriel 30, Bell Gardens 6

Santa Monica 31, Leuzinger 0

Saugus 6, Valencia 0

St. Mary’s Academy 28, Bishop Montgomery 0

Valley View 27, Vista del Lago 8

Warren 20, Dominguez 0

Western 18, Magnolia 8

Westminster 13, Segerstrom 12

Westridge 27, Monrovia 20

Woodbridge 27, Sage Hill 6

Yorba Linda 19, Villa Park 6

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Franklin 45, Elizabeth 0

Jefferson 35, Elizabeth 0

Jefferson 27, Franklin 6

Narbonne 26, El Camino Real 0

Panorama 12, San Fernando 6

Panorama 31, Sylmar 25

San Fernando 27, Sylmar 19

West Adams 6, Stella 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

Agoura 60, Calabasas 0

Aliso Niguel 18, Mission Viejo 12

Antelope Valley 34, Knight 0

Artesia 38, Glenn 6

Beverly Hills 18, Compton Centennial 0

Camarillo 47, Oak Park 14

Chaminade 26, Bishop Alemany 12

Culver City 19, Hawthorne 13

El Toro 26, Trabuco Hills 19

Inglewood 19, Lawndale 6

La Serna 12, St. Paul 0

Los Alamitos 50, Loara 0

Newbury Park 26, Thousand Oaks 7

North Torrance 27, West Torrance 19

Oxnard 41, Buena 12

Palos Verdes 32, Mira Costa 0

Placentia Valencia 20, Bolsa Grande 12

Quartz Hill 19, Highland 14

San Marcos 40, Oxnard Pacifica 0

Schurr 35, Sacred Heart of Jesus 0

Shalhevet 6, Providence 0

Ventura 40, Rio Mesa 13

Westlake 33, Oaks Christian 12

INTERSECTIONAL

Eagle Rock 7, Corona 6

Ryan Salcedo scored his fifth touchdown of the night on a 79-yard run up the right sideline with 1:07 to play, lifting visiting Bishop Amat to a 42-38 victory in a wild shootout with Valencia, spoiling a night in which the Vikings got a 50-yard field goal from Matteo Petroski.

Valencia had a final chance to win the game, driving inside the Bishop Amat 15-yard line with nine seconds to play. But Viking quarterback Brady Bretthauer overthrew a wide-open Hudson Sanders in the end zone then had his third-down pass batted down as time expired.

Salcedo scored on an eight-run carry in the first half but went wild in the second, rushing for more than 170 yards and scoring on carries of 48, 11, 3 and 79 yards. Each touchdown either tied the score or put the Bishop Amat (2-1) ahead.

Bishop Amat’s only other touchdown came on Kanan Khansarinia’s 95-yard kickoff return just before halftime. But Khansarinia sustained an injury early in the third quarter and left the stadium on a crutches, a brace on his knee left.

Bretthauer passed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns for Valencia (2-1), hitting Caleb Larson and Brian Bonner on touchdown strikes of 21 and 85 yards in the first half and Anthony Vernon on a 23-yard score with 67 seconds to play, giving the Vikings their final lead of the night. Bonner and Bretthauer also had rushing touchdowns,

On defense Elias Holloway had a big night with a fumble recovery and an interception for Valencia.

Each team attempted just one punt with Bishop Amat’s Mac Naughtin blocking Valencia’s try with less than four minutes to play, setting up the Lancers’ penultimate touchdown.

Running back Brian Bonner of Valencia High was handed the ball at the five-yard line and halted by Chaminade tacklers at the two. That’s when the pushing began. First there were three teammates, led by quarterback Brady Bretthauer, pushing the pile from behind. Soon there was five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 teammates offensive players joining in making sure Bonner recorded a touchdown.

“That was fun,” Bonner said. “I didn’t have to do any work. They just pushed me into the end zone.”

It was that kind of a night for Valencia (2-0) in a 34-20 road victory over Chaminade. The Vikings got physical. Bonner, who has committed to Washington, rushed for 159 yards in 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. Bretthauer completed 12 of 16 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another.

“Win the push. That’s what we are all about,” Bretthauer said.

Coach Larry Muir pulled off a trick play his team had been practicing all week. Named “Snake,” Bretthauer took the snap, faked a handoff on a fly sweep, faked a handoff on a reverse and found a wide open Nico Funez for a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter for a 27-14 lead.

Caysen Badawi led Valencia’s defense with two interceptions. Chaminade got some big plays, including touchdown receptions of 83 and 50 yards from Beau Lindus, but the physicality of the Vikings up front along the offensive and defensive lines made Muir scream to the players in a postgame huddle, “Listen — we got physical.”

Chaminde drove 80 yards at the end of the first half with less than one minute left to cut its deficit to 20-14 at halftime. Marquis Jones caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Pooley, who had 267 yards passing in the game. Jones rushed for 82 yards.

Otherwise, it was the Bonner show. He had a 32-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He had a 44-yard run in the second half in which he turned on his afterburners.

The duo of Bretthauer and Bonner is going to be difficult to deal with all season. Bretthauer’s ability to run and pass, and make decisions when to give the ball to the speedy Bonner, offers options on offense.

“I think he’s a million bucks,” Muir said of Bretthauer. “He does everything well. Every intangible he’s off the charts — competitiveness, leadership, work ethic.”

Valencia is the clear favorite to win the Foothill League and gets a matchup against Bishop Amat next week.

It was a night of intriguing scores. Sierra Canyon’s defense continues to produce shutouts. The latest was a 63-0 win over Oaks Christian. Orange Lutheran rallied for a 27-24 win over Rancho Cucamonga. Orange Lutheran and Sierra Canyon meet Sept. 18. Chaminade (1-1) will next play Servite (1-1), a winner over Murrieta Valley.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Bell 13, Franklin 7

Bellflower 47, WISH Academy 13

East Valley 38, Valor Academy 6

Granada Hills Kennedy 27, Arleta 6

Kennedy 33, Arleta 0

Narbonne 43, Sherman Oaks CES 6

Panorama 27, Sherman Oaks CES 6

Panorama 6, Narbonne 0

San Fernando 32, Chatsworth 0

Sun Valley Magnet 32, AMIT 0

Verdugo Hills 18, San Fernando 6

Verdugo Hills 30, Chatsworth 6

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alhambra 19, Ramona Convent 18

Aliso Niguel 34, Corona Santiago 14

Antelope Valley 66, PACS 0

Arroyo 27, Mountain View 12

Baldwin Park 60, Edgewood 0

Bellflower 47, WISH Academy 13

Bell Gardens 25, Hawthorne 0

Bolsa Grande 31, Garden Grove Santiago 6

Brea Olinda 41, Sonora 20

Castaic 13, Valencia 6

Corona Del Mar 21, Marina 8

Costa Mesa 26, Estancia 0

Desert Hot Springs 34, Banning 8

Downey 32, Westminster 0

Fullerton 14, La Palma Kennedy 7

Garey 20, Chaffey 14

Gahr 25, Buena Park 13

Glendora 13, Azusa 0

Hart 26, Golden Valley 0

Highland 32, Fillmore 0

Huntington Beach 14, Edison 12

Inglewood 18, Corona 13

JSerra 27, San Juan Hills 0

Katella 34, Whitney 0

La Habra 14, California 7

Lakewood St. Joseph 20, Bishop Amat 0

Long Beach Jordan 34, Long Beach Cabrillo 0

Mater Dei 33, Beckman 27

Millikan 12, Anaheim 0

Montebello 28, Pioneer 0

Newport Harbor 21, Los Alamitos 0

Norco 31, Chino Hills 0

Northwood 24, Irvine 6

Orange 42, Western 0

Placentia Valencia 13, Laguna Hills 7

Rialto 13, Artesia 0

Rosary 6, Irvine University 0

Saddleback 26, Santa Ana Valley 20

San Clemente 41, Troy 0

San Dimas 19, Bonita 6

Santa Ana Foothill 6, Dana Hills 0

Segerstrom 26, Tustin 0

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 16, Royal 12

Sierra Vista 20, Rowland 13

Simi Valley 31, Santa Paula 19

South El Monte 7, Rosemead 6

St. Anthony 22, Mayfair 13

St. Paul 26, South East 12

Vasquez 7, Canyon Country Canyon 6

Villa Park 44, Paramount 0

Warren 18, La Serna 12

West Ranch 20, Saugus 8

Westridge 24, Duarte 0

Whittier 12, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 7

Windward 38, Compton Early College 12

Woodbridge 10, Portola 12

Xavier Prep 18, Rancho Mirage 6

INTERSECTIONAL

St. Paul 26, South East 12

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Legacy 28, Lincoln 6

Wilson 53, Torres 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

Bolsa Grande 18, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 6

Buena 12, Santa Barbara 6

Cerritos d. Buena Park, forfeit

Channel Islands 44, Knight 21

Dos Pueblos 53, Rio Mesa 0

Edison 19, San Clemente 13

El Toro 33, Millikan 13

Fountain Valley 39, Garden Grove 6

Highland 32, Fillmore 0

Magnolia 33, Glenn 6

Mater Dei 45, Traduco Hills 40

Mira Costa 13, Santa Monica 7

Orange Lutheran 52, Esperanza 6

San Jacinto Valley Academy 13, Hemet 6

San Marcos 33, Oxnard 6

Torrance 27, El Segundo 7

Vasquez 13, Eastside 6

Ventura 46, Oxnard Pacifica 14

Westlake 34, Moorpark 12

The Foothill League doesn’t have to take a back seat to any league when it comes to tradition and success, from producing state champions to being the league where Hall of Fame coaches Harry Welch and Mike Herrington once saw huge success.

All seven schools that are part of the William S. Hart Union High School District took part Saturday in the first Foothill League media day at Saugus High. There’s much to admire about the league, including that all seven schools have athletic trainers and six of the seven head coaches are also full-time teachers.

Hart, Canyon and Valencia have produced their share of NFL players. And this season, Valencia has the talent to make a run in Southern Section Division 2 or 3 with the return of running back Brian Bonner, a Washington commit, and quarterback Brady Bretthauer.

Coach Larry Muir is entering his 20th season as head coach and still teaching four classes of U.S. history each day. “He’s a lot nicer in the classroom,” Bretthauer joked. “He picks on the football player.”

Bretthauer also revealed how he motivates his linemen to block. “If I get sacked, no In-N-Out,” he said.

Even though Muir is challenged daily to balance his time and commitment from teaching to coaching football, Muir said he wouldn’t want it any other way. “I love being in the classroom,” he said. “I literally don’t feel I go to work. “

The rivalries in the league guarantee the sports-crazed Santa Clarita Valley weekly entertainment. About the only issue is a lack of stadiums. Canyon and Valencia have stadiums and College of the Canyons also hosts games.

“It’s playoffs every week,” Golden Valley coach Dan Kelley said. “There are no slouches.”

Golden Valley will have a four-year starter in lineman Evan Nye, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior.

Castaic is turning to junior Aidan Mojica, a former tight end, as its new quarterback. There’s a promising sophomore linebacker in Lucas Duryea, who will be eligible at the end of September after transferring from Chaminade.

West Ranch has a first-year head coach in TJ Yonkers. Its top returning defensive player is Max Piccolino, who had 15 1/2 sacks last season.

Carson Soria, a former receiver, is moving to quarterback for Canyon. He’s also the punter, so beware of trick plays.

Hart quarterback Jacob Paisano will be trying to get the ball to junior Matix Frithsmith in a variety ways, whether Frithsmith is playing running back or slot receiver. Two of Hart’s players are the sons of principal Jason D’Autremont.

Saugus has the son of Valencia principal Kullen Welch playing for them, which should make for an interesting game when those two schools play. Beckham Welch is an offensive lineman for the Centurions.

Saugus coach Jason Bornn, who organized the media day, wondered how many championships would be won if the talent in the area was concentrated at one or two schools rather than seven.

“If we only had one or two high schools, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco wouldn’t have a chance,” he said.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Aliso Niguel 50, Corona 0

Anaheim 37, Garden Grove 6

Banning 43, Cathedral City 6

Beckman 26, Segerstrom 0

Bellflower 7, St. Paul 0

Bishop Amat 13, Bonita 6

Buena 38, Calabasas 6

Burbank Burroughs 18, Valencia 12

Chino 32, Los Altos 0

Corona Centennial 25, Hillcrest 18

Crean Lutheran 32, Capistrano Valley 0

Desert Hot Springs 20, Xavier Prep 0

Downey 37, Western Christian 6

Edison 72, Rialto 7

El Dorado 25, Marina 0

Estancia 20, Saddleback 7

Fullerton 13, Troy 0

Gahr 54, Long Beach Cabrillo 0

Garey 31, Workman 6

Glenn d. Alhambra, forfeit

Hacienda Heights Wilson 25, Alemany 6

Hemet 20, Great Oak 0

Indio 19, Ontario Christian 12

Kennedy 25, Katella 0

La Habra 21, La Serna 19

Lakewood St. Joseph 31, Warren 7

Linfield Christian 12, Roosevelt 0

Long Beach Wilson 6, Norwalk 6

Los Alamitos 40, Mayfair 0

Los Osos 19, Nogales 6

Montclair 24, Fontana 6

Newbury Park 26, Simi Valley 0

Orange Lutheran 34, Woodbridge 0

Patriot 21, Chaffey 6

Placentia Valencia 25, Loara 7

Portola 19, Laguna Hills 6

Rowland 31, Arroyo 0

San Clemente 31, University 0

San Gabriel 34, El Monte 0

Sierra Vista 52, West Covina 20

Sonora 32, Westminster La Quinta 0

South Hills 25, Santa Fe 6

Sunny Hills 8, Villa Park 8

Tesoro 25, Irvine 0

Thousand Oaks 18, Chaminade 2

Whittier 13, Bell Gardens 12

Windward 26, Compton Early College 0

Yorba Linda 13, Ayala 6

INTERSECTIONAL

Imperial 43, La Quinta 12

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Anaheim Canyon 31, El Dorado 6

Azusa 41, Los Altos 0

Buena 21, Del Sol 0

Camarillo 36, Ventura 31

Corona Del Mar 26, Trabuco Hills 13

Covina 25, Baldwin Park 15

Cypress 20, San Clemente 12

El Toro 12, Santa Ana Foothill 0

Fullerton 13, Crean Lutheran 7

JSerra 45, Corona Santiago 6

Lakewood St. Joseph 27, Long Beach Wilson 0

Montebello 40, Mountain View 0

Knight 12, West Ranch 7

Oak Park 27, Newbury Park 26

Oxnard 49, Channel Islands 0

Placentia Valencia 25, Rosemead 12

Santa Paula 20, Santa Barbara 14

Sonora 30, Fountain Valley 12

San Dimas 54, Keppel 0

Temecula Valley 25, Elsinore 0

Vasquez 12, Quartz Hill 7

Second in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Brian Bonner, Valencia running back.

There are many ways Brian Bonner of Valencia High impacts a football game. As a running back, using his 10.48-second speed in the 100 meters, any kind of opening creates the opportunity for a touchdown.

Ditto catching a ball out of the backfield and being allowed to improvise as he makes defenders miss. And then there’s kickoff returns, where he builds up speed like a locomotive and heads to the end zone faster than putting mustard on a hot dog.

“I think being versatile is very important,” he said. “A lot of teams in college look for a running back that can do more than run the ball. They want you to be able to catch and block.”

At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Bonner is ready to take a place among the many great Valencia backs of the past, from Manuel White to Shane Vereen to Steven Manfro, all of whom made it to the college ranks.

“It’s really cool to learn about the history of the other running backs and it would be an honor to be part of that group,” Bonner said. “I’ve learned all the great things they’ve done at Valencia.”

No one has been faster in Valencia history than Bonner, who started attracting attention when he ran 100 meters in 10.85 seconds during his last race as a freshman. A stampede of football offers started coming after his 10.48 time last year.

Brian Bonner of Valencia runs for yardage against West Ranch during his sophomore season.

(Craig Weston)

“My recruitment started to blow up,” he said. “They were really impressed by speed and my football form backed up my speed. The best way to determine how fast someone is by track times. People can see how fast you are as a player and it shows how important speed is to coaches.”

Bonner rushed for 1,493 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and also caught 40 passes for 498 yards and four touchdowns. He committed to Washington last month.

His combination of speed, size and versatility makes him a valuable offensive weapon. Add to that his patience and youth. He just turned 17 in July and was perfectly fine with playing junior varsity football as a freshman.

“I think everybody wants to play varsity as freshman,” he said. “Now that I look back, it was good. I learned things that I brought to varsity. I knew what to expect instead of being a freshman and not knowing what to expect.”

Valencia coach Larry Muir is plotting how to best use Bonner’s versatility and quickness.

“When you’re special, you have a skill set to catch the ball out of the backfield and he does that as well as anyone,” Muir said. “His speed is incredible, but when you get him in the open field and get him in open space, it’s fun to watch.”

It’s Bonner’s senior year, and he has no intention on relying what he’s done in the past or what 100-meter time he ran.

“You have to work hard, because everyone is going to get better,” he said. “You have to stand out and do things a lot of people won’t do to be the best. Putting in extra hours, learning the plays, learning defenses, becoming a student off the game.”

Thursday: St. John Bosco receiver Madden Williams.

Running backs to watch

Maliq Allen, St. John Bosco, 5-8, 180, Jr.: Showed flashes of brilliance with 1,003 yards rushing

Brian Bonner, Valencia, 6-0, 190, Sr.: Speed and hands make him explosive weapon

Justin Lewis, Mater Dei, 5-10, 195, Sr.: Thousand Oaks transfer gained 1,306 yards as junior

AJ McBean, Mira Costa, 5-11, 208, Jr.: Big back with speed and power

Sean Morris, Orange Lutheran, 5-10, 195, Sr.: Northwestern commit transfers from Loyola

Deshonne Redeaux, Oaks Christian, 6-0, 185, Sr.: USC commit has high expectations for senior season

Edward Rivera, Compton, 6-0, 185, Jr.: City Section transfer gained 1,843 yards and 21 TDs last season

Ceasar Reyes, Garfield, 5-11, 175, Jr.: Rushed for 1,520 yards, 22 TDs with relentless energy in 2024

Journee Tonga, Leuzinger, 5-8, 175, Sr.: Rushed for 2,267 yards, 29 TDs last season

Jorden Wells, Servite, 5-7, 150, So.: Let’s see what track speedster can do in first varsity season