GLENDALE — The following are previews of the area’s upcoming high school football games.
To the tune of a 7-1 record, St. Francis High football Coach Jim Bonds and his Golden Knights have all along held strong to the party line of one game at a time.
Alas, the Golden Knights currently find themselves preparing to face defending Mission League champion Alemany on the road Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
With a share of the league title on the line and a fierce and much-ballyhooed rival awaiting, however, nothing has changed with the Golden Knights’ approach, or at least that’s what Bonds is trying to convey anyhow.
“We’ve tried not to talk about that too much,” said Bonds about winning the program’s first league title since 1997. “We’ve tried to almost de-emphasize that.
“We want to take it one game at a time.”
And it’s certainly a game with plenty of focus, as Alemany (5-3, 1-0 in league) is ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Western Division but has been as high as No. 1 already this year, and St. Francis (7-1, 1-0 in league) comes in as the No. 2 team in the division. For both teams, though, it’s the latest in a parade of big games this season.
“We’ve been in some big arenas already,” said Bonds before specifically pointing out the atmosphere and attention surrounding prior contests with Crescenta Valley, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Loyola. “It’s gonna be rocking at Alemany on Friday night.”
One detriment to St. Francis, however, is the likely absence of two-time reigning All-Area Player of the Year Dietrich Riley with an injured hamstring, who Bonds said is doubtful.
“We need him for the long haul,” Bonds said. “We want him at full strength when he comes back.”
Alemany running back Malcolm Marable looks healthy and sound, though, as he scored four touchdowns and ran for 188 yards in 23 carries during the Warriors’ 48-21 win against Chaminade last week.
“That’s the key,” Bonds said. “We need to slow him down. …We feel if we can slow him down then we’ve got a good chance.”
No doubt leading the charge in that respect will be senior captain and linebacker Chris Cabrera, who leads the Golden Knights with 96 tackles, averaging 12 per game.
