Football:

Editor’s Note: Torrance doesn’t post its stats online, so I was unable to compare individual player statistics in this preview.

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

The blueprint was there.

In 2020, three-time CIF-SS champion Mike Maggiore returned to the sidelines after three years away from the sport.

He got to coach his son Nate, but he was also taking over a program that had gone 5-25 the previous three years.

One of his former players and coaches, Matt Johnson, reached out to this writer and said, “in a year or two, West Covina is going to be playing for a CIF championship.”

I laughed and then replied to Johnson in colorful language that it would take far longer than that, and my opinion was buoyed even more by the fact that COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season.

They had limited opportunities to meet in anything larger than small groups, be that in the weight room or on the field.

The Maggiore era 2.0 started on March 19th of 2021 in a five-game, 27-day spring season.

WCHS went 1-4 and they were outscored by a combined margin of 116-57.

In spite of a fourth consecutive losing season, there was no panic among the West Covina coaching staff.

Fast forward 127 days, and the Bulldogs went 6-5 in the 2021 fall season, and that included a San Antonio League championship.

That gets us to late November of 2023, just two years and eight months since their first game together, Maggiore, his staff and their players host Torrance on Saturday night for the CIF-SS Division 10 championship.

The Bulldogs defeated Paloma Valley, 30-16, in the first round of the D-10 playoffs.

WCHS needed and got road victories at Beckman (14-10 in Irvine) and Xavier Prep (19-3 in Palm Desert) to earn Saturday’s home game.

It’s their first title-game appearance in 12 years, as well as a first CIF championship round contest being played on their field.

West Covina doesn’t do anything fancy and there is no one that fits the definition of ‘superstar,’ on its roster.

But that’s what makes this team special.

They’ve pulled together, accepted their roles and do their jobs.

The Bulldogs rely more on their defense.

Of their 13 opponents in 2023, only four have scored 10 points or more.

In the quarterfinal round win at Beckman, the offense was only able to put seven points on the board.

And it was a pick-six by Miles Reid that ended up sealing the 14-10 victory.

The offense has, however, had their moments during this historic run.

Last week in the pouring rain and some 100 miles from home, the Bulldogs offensive line and their running game wore down the Xavier Prep defense in a 19-3 win.

Zander Requena ran for two scores and Ezra Ortega had the other.

The WCHS defense held the boys from Palm Desert to a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter.

That gets us to Saturday’s D-10 title game against Torrance.

The Tartars (9-4) do not post their stats online, but they finished third in the Pioneer League after going 3-2.

Torrance has postseason victories over Segerstrom (30-7), Redlands (21-14) and Hemet (10-7).

From scouting reports:

Ryan Young (No. 22) is a quick running back, who is both elusive and has good speed.

Jake Silverman (No. 5) is an absolute stud, and someone that reminds Maggiore of South Hills’ Matt Moreno.

He’s big with good speed and excellent ball skills.

Silverman is also a nightmare for opposing offenses at linebacker, and is someone Maggiore said, “is one of the best players I’ve seen on film all year.”

Connor Shearing (No. 7) is a solid quarterback, and linebacker Anthony Bushmeyer (No. 3), is a talented linebacker for the Tartars.

West Covina has season-long advantages in points scored (353-265) and points allowed (165-213) over Torrance.

In the playoffs, both defenses have been masterful.

THS has surrendered just 28 points in three postseason games, while three WCHS opponents have scored 29 combined points.

Torrance is slotted 21 points higher than West Covina in the MaxPreps state rankings, 253-274.

The Tartars are 4-2 in road games and the Bulldogs are 5-1 at home.

Of their 13 opponents in 2023, Torrance faced seven programs at or above the .500 mark, as compared to four of 13 for West Covina.

West Covina quarterback Chris Perez has only attempted 95 passes all year, but he’s experienced and effective, and he has the support and confidence of his coaches and teammates.

One has to believe that if junior running back Zander Requena, who has rushed for 1,545 yards & 19 TD’s, and caught 13 passes for 266 yards and one score has a big night, the Bulldogs chances of earning a ring go up exponentially.

Lastly, a big crowd is expected, and parking is never a convenient experience at WCHS, so the school and program are encouraging their fans to arrive early.

West Covina Stat Leaders:

Quarterback:
Chris Perez: (61-of-95 for 814 yards, 6 TD’s & 2 INT)

Running Backs:
Zander Requena (224-1,545 & 19 TD’s)
Ethan Mendez (130-779 & 9 TD’s)
Ezra Ortega (52-387 & 7 TD’s)
Angel Murillo (53-322 & 2 TD’s)

Receivers:
Angel Murillo (18 rec for 266 & 3 TD’s)
Zander Requena (13-266 & 1 TD)
Daniel Carrillo Jr. (4-62 & 2 TD’s)
Nathan Munoz (9-58)

Defense:
Isaiah Ruiz (132 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 pick)
Miles Reid (75 tackles, 1 pick)
Daniel Carrillo (64 tackles, 12.5 sacks)
Felipe Hernandez (63 tackles, 1.5 sacks)
Adrien Munoz (50 tackles, 1 pick)
Sebastian Martinez (46 tackles, 3 picks)
Gage Ballum (45 tackles, 2 picks)
Jake Godinez (40 tackles)
Eddie Walker (32 tackles, 2 sacks)

Just below the statistical comparison are video interviews with members of the West Covina football program, and their coach, Mike Maggiore.

By the Numbers:
Records: T (9-4); WC (11-2)
Points Scored: T (265); WC (353)
Points Allowed: T (213); WC (165)
Average Points Scored Per Game: T (20); WC (26)
Average Points Allowed Per Game: T (16); WC (13)
Most Points Scored in a Game: T (41 vs Garden Grove); WC (41 vs Baldwin Park)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: T (29 vs Rio Hondo Prep & Lawndale); WC (41 vs Don Lugo)
League Finish: T (third in Pioneer); WC (second in San Antonio)
Torrance’s Road Record: 4-2
West Covina’s Home Record: 5-1
Current Streak: T (5W); WC (4W)
MaxPreps State Ranking: T (253); WC (274)
Calpreps Game Prediction: Torrance 17, West Covina 14

West Covina’s Schedule & Results:
8/18: WCHS 40, Alta Loma 3
8/24: Los Altos 35, WCHS 19
9/1: WCHS 24, Crescenta Valley 7
9/9: WCHS 21, South Hills 10
9/15: WCHS 20, Valencia 0
9/22: WCHS 28, El Rancho 27
9/28: WCHS 41, Baldwin Park 0
10/13: WCHS 12, Claremont 7
10/20: Don Lugo 41, WCHS 40
10/26: WCHS 35, Chaffey 6
11/3: WCHS 30, Paloma Valley 16
11/10: WCHS 14, Beckman 10
11/17: WCHS 19, Xavier Prep 3
11/25: Torrance at WCHS

Torrance’s Schedule & Results:
8/18: Torrance 10, Narbonne 7
9/1: Redondo Union 24, Torrance 14
9/8: Torrance 24, San Pedro 17
9/15: Torrance 41, Garden Grove 0
9/22: Rio Hondo Prep 29, Torrance 9
9/29: Lawndale 29, Torrance 7
10/6: Torrance 35, El Segundo 26
10/13: North Torrance 20, Torrance 10
10/20: Torrance 30, West Torrance 13
10/27: Torrance 24, South Torrance 20
11/3: Torrance 30, Segerstrom 7
11/10: Torrance 21, Redlands 14
11/17: Torrance 10, Hemet 7
11/25: Torrance at West Covina