What started as a plea on social media for an all-star football game has turned into the inaugural San Gabriel Valley Bowl, which is bringing together the best senior football players from the East and West parts of the SGV for a game Friday night that will give players one more chance to play in front of their family and friends in their high school uniforms.
Bishop Amat running back Aiden Ramos is the one who put out the call for an all-star game on social media. Two assistant coaches from this past season, Bishop Amat’s Matt Villasenor and Pasadena’s Robert Maxie, got together and made it happen along with Charter Oak head coach Dominic Farrar.
The East will take on the West on Friday at Charter Oak High School at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children.
With the Feb. 1 college signing period looming for seniors, this is also a great opportunity for players still searching for a college scholarship to get a final look.
“Coach Maxie and I saw the call for a game and we went right to work putting together the best staff and rosters we could,” said Villasenor. “It was incredible how fast this came together and how much players wanted to be part of it.”
Villasenor will be the head coach of the East team and Maxie will serve as head coach of the West. Both coaches have assembled big staffs with head coaches and assistant coaches to join them.
Part of the game’s proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society in the name of three legendary coaches who have died in recent years, Charter Oak’s Lou Farrar, St. Francis’ Jim Bonds and Don Lugo’s Greg Gano, who also coached many years at Los Altos where he won four championships. There will also be a 50/50 with proceeds donated to the American Cancer society.
“This has turned into a great event for players and a chance to raise some money in the names of great men and legendary coaches who have given so much to the San Gabriel Valley and their communities,” Dominic Farrar said. “Matt and Robert deserve so much credit for organizing this. They’re both aspiring head coaches who have done an incredible job organizing great coaching staffs and bringing together super-talented rosters for both teams. We’re expecting a great event.”
There will also be three awards, the Jim Bonds offensive player of the game, Greg Gano defensive player of the game and the Lou Farrar MVP.
Both teams have had several practices, and Maxie, who is a finalist for Baldwin Park’s head coaching job, said he’s enjoyed the process.
“It’s been a lot of fun being able to coach with some of our best coaches in the area,” Maxie said, “and getting players together from other schools and seeing talent that you don’t always get to see during the season but you just read about. Having this game always shows that things like this can be put together quickly with the right support and commitment. We have had full attendance at practices, you don’t normally see that for all-star games. Now all we need is a great game on Friday.”
Joining Maxie on the West coaching staff are San Gabriel’s Kevin Encinas, Arroyo’s Chuck Leonardis, and Pasadena assistants Reggie Williams, Eric Holland, Ron Jones, Kevin Guyton and Anthony Washington.
Joining Villasenor on the East coaching staff are several head coaches: West Covina’s Mike Maggiore, San Dimas’ Mark Holman, Diamond Bar’s Matt Castaneda, Covina’s Kevin Glaspy and Northview’s Marcel Perez. The staff includes assistants Travis Brown (Bishop Amat), Sheldon Price (Bishop Amat) and Aaron Vaughns (Charter Oak).
EAST ROSTER
Quarterbacks: Hunter Watson (Bishop Amat), Richie Munoz (Charter Oak), Drew Knight (Baldwin Park)
Running backs: Aiden Ramos (Bishop Amat), Isaiah Young (Diamond Bar), Ridge Lalau (Baldwin Park), Oscar Urista (Bassett), Daniel Zarzosa (Wilson), Zach Requena (West Covina)
Wide receivers: Maddox Bernardino (Diamond Bar), Jayden Alexander (Charter Oak), Aaron Silva (Northview), Isaiah Ariza (Baldwin Park), Ryan Boultwood (Damien), Giovanni Alvarez (Bassett), Ronnie Ropke (Covina), Julian Borrayo (Bishop Amat), Nathan Alvardo (Charter Oak), Braedon Kai Simonian (St. Paul), Devon Groves (Los Altos)
Tight ends: Connor May (Damien), Aiden Valdez (Bishop Amat)
Offensive line: Francisco Molina (Bishop Amat), Marcus Blake (La Serna), Charles Herrara (Garey), Noah Martinez (Northview), Luke Moe (Diamond Bar), Daniel Santillan (Northview), Jorge Lopez (Covina), Rey Valenzuela (West Covina), Ryan Castillo (Bishop Amat), Benjamin Leal (Los Altos)
Defensive line: Nate Maggiore (West Covina), Raymond Macias (Bishop Amat), Jason Nwaka (Covina), Raymond Esparza (Northview), Damien Burgueno (Damien), Dom Rausch (Glendora), Freddy Lujan (Bishop Amat), Justin Contreras (St. Paul), Chase Bernal (La Serna)
Linebackers: Thomas White (West Covina), Adrien Gonzales (Northview), Julian Lopez (Bishop Amat), Angel Diaz (EL Rancho), Evan Ikaika-Ke’Aloha Lizarrage (St. Paul)
Defensive backs: Carlos Alvarez (Bishop Amat), Ethan Acosta Elizalde (Walnut), Langston Taylor (Charter Oak), Luke Clay (La Serna), Alexis Juarez ( Azusa), Tyler Lopez (South Hills), Jimmy Romo (Azusa), Troy Mejia (San Dimas), Carlos Alvarez (San Dimas), RayJohn White (Bishop Amat), Corey Johnson (Bishop Amat)
Kicker: John Norell (Glendora) Long Snapper: Alexzander Martinez (St. Paul)
WEST ROSTER
Quarterbacks: Aidan Moss (Cathedral); Jacob Muniz (San Gabriel) , Jackson Freking (South Pasadena)
Running backs:Anthony Balurdi (La Salle), Ryan Singhal (San Marino), Elijah Muniz (San Gabriel), Myles Lugo (Rosemead), Micah McGavin (Pasadena), Marcel Jones (Monrovia)
Wide receivers: Troy Le (San Gabriel), Antonio Merlos (St.Francis), Richard Conti (South Pasadena), Victor Rodriquez (Cantwell Sacred Heart), Hector Ceballos (Franklin), Jett Mccullough (St.Francis), TJ Daley (San Gabriel), Nathan Daum-Smith (San Gabriel)
Offensive Line: Justin Picasso (Schurr), Josh Gomez (Pasadena), Andrew Barron (Monrovia), Julian Navarrete (San Marino), Jake Adkins (La Canada), Angel Marquez (Rosemead), Roger Sanchez (Arroyo), Jeff Del Santos (Keppel).
Defensive line: Andrew Boecking (La Salle), Sylus Fuentes (Rosemead), Ethan Bowser (Muir), Darean Byrd (Pasadena), Jasun Ridley, (Pasadena), Josh Meza (Pasadena), Mikel Wallace (Pasadena), Elijah Zertuche (Arcadia), Matthew Garcia (San Gabriel), Hakim Kent (Muir), Wesley Ekpo (Muir), Arron Hampton (San Gabriel)
Linebackers: Torriq Brumfield (Pasadena), Adrian Ramirez (Muir), Nico Banuelos (Rosemead), Sean Lin (Keppel), Nate Guardado (Arroyo), John Meza (Pasadena), Jalen Birdsong (Muir), Tyrelle Wilson (Cathedral), Jacob Calnon (Monrovia)
Defensive backs: Donovan Beckom (Cathedral), Ivan Can (San Gabriel), Kayden Williams (Muir), Gabbriel Delgado (Arroyo), Ruben Munoz (Arroyo), Idrique Carmichael (Pasadena), Jack Zin (Monrovia).
PK:Gustavo Valencia (Cantwell Sacred Heart)
The SGV Bowl East Media Day 🗣️ With @brahmafootball Very Own 3⭐️ @MaddoxBernardin #TheSGVBowl pic.twitter.com/L2eYW1jUK3
— TheMatt_V (@TheMatt_V) January 14, 2023
Great night of practice tonight for the West Team. Intense,Physical and Competitive. Can’t wait for Friday Night. #SGVBowl pic.twitter.com/IkywD6PeiU
— Coach Maxie (@Coach_Maxie626) January 13, 2023
#SGVBowl next Friday at 7pm at Charter Oak High School @SGVNSports @James_Escarcega @tspeterson40 pic.twitter.com/Le1HnpiKVS
— Coach Maxie (@Coach_Maxie626) January 11, 2023
The SGV Bowl East QB’s @ Practice #1 🎯🎯🎯 @Richieboyqb12 @K04Drew 😤😤😤 @SGVNSports @tspeterson40 @James_Escarcega pic.twitter.com/5odcjZ3HSq
— TheMatt_V (@TheMatt_V) January 11, 2023
Thank You @bbqpizzachalet , Cam & Diane For Sponsoring The SGV Bowl. Pizza Chalet Is A Huge Supporter Of The SGV Community. @SGVNSports @tspeterson40 @James_Escarcega @Coach_Maxie626 pic.twitter.com/vfSofqiTBw
— TheMatt_V (@TheMatt_V) January 6, 2023
🚨 SGV Bowl Special guest Alex Porter @Alex_PorterEnt will be Singing the National Anthem at the SGV Bowl 🚨 Thank you Alex. #SGVBowl @TheMatt_V @SGVNSports @James_Escarcega @tspeterson40 pic.twitter.com/duIZIpa2RM
— Coach Maxie (@Coach_Maxie626) January 12, 2023
