El Rancho

“Who hasn’t played yet?” — Joe Monarrez St. Francis assistant during last week’s blowout   With a dominant three-touchdown performance to speak of and the likes of Notre Dame and USC personnel, including Trojans Coach Pete Carroll, there to see him put on a show, St. Francis High standout Dietrich Riley was most excited about the fact that everyone got to play. Riley’s name has likely appeared in newspaper articles more times than some of his teammates have tallied snaps on the field.

WRESTLING Hoover in CIF Southern Section Eastern Division Individual Championships : Both Arthur Ghukasyan and Gio Martinez advanced to the second day of the elite tournament Friday at Oak Hills High. “They both wrestled really well. ... It's a first step,” Hoover Coach Mark Bitetti said. “They've got to win two tomorrow to be in medal contention, so they can't really lose their first match tomorrow.” Ghukasyan, a 145-pounder, came out strong in his first two matches.

The following are playoff previews of Friday's events involving local teams. BOYS' SOCCER Crescenta Valley at Placentia Valencia, 5 p.m. : After winning the CIF Southern Section Division IV championship last season, the Falcons will try to win a Division III title. Crescenta Valley is 20-3-7 after taking second in the Pacific League. Valencia, which finished second in the Empire League, is 15-5-5. The winner of the Crescenta Valley-Placentia Valencia match will meet Century or Murrieta Valley in a second-round match Wednesday.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Shortly after last season concluded, Justin Posthuma found himself seeking advice. The St. Francis High quarterback often appeared in Coach Jim Bonds’ office ready to soak up any information about the art of signal calling. Posthuma had an inkling that he might be the next starting quarterback for St. Francis. He also knew that Bonds would be a suitable mentor, as Bonds was a former quarterback at Hart High and UCLA. Those visits have paid immediate dividends for Posthuma.

LA CRESCENTA — In making its deepest playoff run in program history, the Crescenta Valley High boys' soccer team did so by catching a few breaks. On Friday afternoon, in the middle of a steady downpour, the breaks went against the Falcons. From a slick field to an own goal to a red card that resulted in the Falcons playing more than half of their CIF Southern Section Division IV quarterfinal match shorthanded, their luck ran out. Crescenta Valley saw its season come to a close with a 3-1 loss to second-seeded El Rancho.

Charles Rich The atmosphere inside the tiny Flintridge Prep gymnasium wasn't the same. It lacked a rollicking crowd, thanks in large part to students being scattered around the world on early summer vacations. The Rebels were also without two of their elite players in Ramses Barden and Tim Mercer, who each graduated after helping the squad reach the CIF Southern Section Division IVA championship game in March. However, something didn't elude the Rebels on Friday night: a victory.

BOYS' SOCCER Flintridge Prep 1, St. Bonaventure 1: Mike Martel had five saves for the Rebels, who had 13 shots on goal, in Friday's pool-play match of the Laguna Blanca Tournament. Alex Kipling scored Flintridge Prep's lone goal. The Rebels (2-4-1) advanced to the championship match of the tournament, and will play for the title at noon today at Laguna Blanca High. Hoover 2, Alemany 1: Juan Mundo scored the winning goal with about 10 minutes remaining to lift the Tornadoes (2-2)

From Staff Reports Can't be two places at once: By the time the Crescenta Valley High girls' water polo team competed in their first match this season, other squads had played in as many as five or six contests. But, that wasn't the half of it for the Falcons. CV opened its season Thursday with an 11-2 loss to J.W. North in a pool-play match of the Villa Park Tournament. The Falcons, who won the Pacific League championship last season, were originally slated to compete in the El Rancho Tournament in Pico Rivera.

TODAY BOYS' BASKETBALL Australian high school team at Crescenta Valley, 7 p.m. La Canada vs. Duarte in Arroyo Tournament at Arroyo High, 7:30 p.m. Hoover at La Habra in El Rancho Tournament, 7:30 p.m. GIRLS' BASKETBALL Burbank at Hoover, 3:30 p.m. Australian high school team at Crescenta Valley, 5:30 p.m. BOYS' SOCCER San Marino at Flintridge Prep, 3:15 p.m. Glendale at...

GLENDALE — The threat of rain is predicted in the forecast today. While it might be a factor when the St. Francis High and Crescenta Valley boys' soccer teams compete in CIF Southern Section playoff quarterfinal matches at 3 p.m. today, the Golden Knights and Falcons will look to leave their respective home fields with sunny dispositions and continued championship aspirations once the final whistles blow. St. Francis will face San Clemente in a Division I match, and Crescenta Valley will meet second-seeded El Rancho in a Division IV contest.