Football: 

There are a number of San Gabriel Valley area athletes that have flown somewhat under the radar over the last couple of years.

They don’t get nearly the praise or publicity they deserve and have earned.

Damien quarterback Isaiah Arriaza is one of those guys.

And he’s certainly a player to watch as the 2025 season gets underway tonight.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, No. 7 in green plays well above his size.

He’s been known to make game changing plays with his right arm and his legs.

Isaiah is also a highly intelligent young man and a valued teammate.

Arriaza is the kind of competitor that Baseline League rivals respect and have to game plan for.

He has dramatically raised expectations and the success rate at Damien since taking over the quarterbacking duties in 2023.

In just two years behind center, Arriaza has won more games (16) than the program did in 2019-2022 combined.

Arriaza and DHS have pieced together identical 8-3 season records in both 2023 and 2024.

It was the first time the Spartans had won eight or more games since 2006.

Moreover, Arriaza is the only Damien quarterback to secure consecutive eight-win (or more) seasons in at least 21 years, as MaxPreps only dates back to 2004

He’s also the first Spartans’ QB to lead the program to a Baseline League championship.

Before 2024, Damien had never finished better than third place since becoming a member of the Baseline League in 2014.

It was their first league title since 2009 (Sierra League shared w/Chino Hills) and DHS’ first outright championship in 19 years (5-0 in Sierra).

The Spartans are 7-2 in Baseline League games since Arriaza’s arrival.

In the previous five seasons, Damien went 6-14 in Baseline League play.

Among the 25-plus football programs this site covers, Arriaza was second to Charter Oak’s Corin Berry in completions (184) and passing yards (2,892).

He was fourth (28) in TD passes to Berry (33), Bonita’s Travis Lippert (30) and San Marino’s Brady Beck (29).

Arriaza also rushed for 189 yards on 37 carries, and that included four TDs.

He had nearly a 3-to-1 TD-to-interception ratio in 2024.

Isaiah’s consistency is insane.

In 2023, he threw for 2,891 yards, which was one less yard than what he totaled last season.

Arriaza had one more TD pass two years ago, and a 6-to-1 TD-to-interception ratio.

Without a scintilla of hyperbole, Arriaza’s biggest win came in the regular season finale last year.

The Spartans junior (at the time) outlasted his Rancho Cucamonga counterpart, Jacob Chambers, in a 34-31 road victory to secure the outright Baseline League championship.

Both Arriaza and Chambers carried their programs in a back-and-forth dramatic and thrilling shootout.

Arriaza completed 15-of-26 for 262 yards and four TDs.

Isaiah did not turn the ball over, and he gained 66 yards on six carries.

It was for his stewardship of the program that Arriaza earned the Baseline League MVP honor.

Arriaza would be the first to tell you that each of his teammates contributed equally over the last two seasons.

Some of the returning key Spartans include Malachi McFarland (64 carries for 360 yards & two TDs; 12 catches for 65 yards & one TD in 2024), Travon Garrison (46 receptions for 978 yards & 13 TDs), Gavin Williams (11 catches for 264 yards & three TDs), Raymond Ahumada (48 catches for 610 yards & three TDs) and Xavier Keyzers (22 receptions for 299 yards & one TD).

On the defensive side of the ball, Declan Becher (53 tackles & a team-high nine sacks) is back.

Gavin Williams was fourth in tackles (44) and first in interceptions (4).

Miles Schirmer finished last season with 32 tackles and a pair of sacks.

Damien will open their season on Friday at Aquinas.

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Isaiah Arriaza’s Career Stats at Damien:
2024: 184-of-316 for 2,892 yards, 58-percentage completions, 28 TDs & 10 INT; 37 carries for 189 yards & 4 TDs
2023: 193-of-303 for 2,891 yards, 64-percent completions, 29 TDs & 5 INT; 63 carries for 208 yards & 6 TDs
Totals: 377-for-5,783 yards, 61-percent completions, 57 TDs & 15 INT; 100 carries for 397 yards & 10 TDs

Isaiah Arriaza’s Individual Game Stats in 2024:
8/22: DHS 42, La Serna 21: 10-of-17 for 217 yards & 3 TDs; 3 carries for 3 yards & 1 TD
8/30: DHS 30, Loyola 29: 21-of-32 for 357, 4 TDs & 1 INT
9/6: DHS 37, St. Paul 10: 16-of-22 for 308 & 3 TDs; 2-for-9
9/13: Mira Costa 34, DHS 30: 22-of-42 for 340, 2 TDs & 1 INT; 4-for-minus-7
9/20: JSerra 49, DHS 21: 18-of-38 for 276, 3 TDs & 1 INT; 1-for-2
10/4: DHS 45, Etiwanda 10: 13-of-18 for 191, 1 TD & 1 INT; 6-for-47 & 2 TDs
10/11: DHS 34, Upland 33 (2 OT): 19-of-38 for 249, 2 TDs & 2 INT; 9-for-43
10/18: DHS 20, Chino Hills 17: 15-of-24 or 190, 2 TDs & 1 INT; 2-for-8
10/24: DHS 38, Ayala 7: 17-of-28 for 260, 3 TDs & 1 INT; 4-for-18
11/1: DHS 34, RCHS 31: 15-of-26 for 262 & 4 TDs; 6-for-66
11/8: San Clemente 42, DHS 7: 18-of-31 for 242, 1 TD & 2 INT

Damien Records w/Isaiah Arriaza:
2024: 8-3 overall, 5-0 in Baseline League
2023: 8-3, 2-2

2025 Damien Schedule:
8/22: Damien at Aquinas
8/29: Damien at JSerra
9/5: St. Paul at Damien
9/12: Tustin at Damien
9/19: Damien at Salesian
10/3: RCHS at Damien
10/10: Damien at Etiwanda
10/16: Upland at Damien
10/24: Damien at Chino Hills
10/30: Damien at Ayala

2024 Baseline League Standings:
Damien (8-3, 5-0)
Chino Hills (7-4, 4-1)
RCHS (6-5, 3-2)
Upland (4-6, 2-3)
Etiwanda (3-6-1, 1-4)
Ayala (2-9, 0-5)

210 Prep Sports Quarterback Stat Leaders in 2024:
Completions (minimum of 90):
Corin Berry (COHS): 198
Isaiah Arriaza (Damien): 184
Luke McNulty (Maranatha): 170
Avenn Ortiz (Duarte): 168
Brady Beck (San Marino): 166
Alex Medyn (CHHS): 166
Alex Way (Ayala): 166
Brady Beck (San Marino): 163
Jerred Pocock (Claremont): 149
John Sanders (St. Francis): 148
Jake Duronslet (Covina): 145
Keegan Campuzano (Etiwanda): 142
Travis Lippert (Bonita): 131
Lequand Jackson (Upland): 120
Jesse Saucedo (Monrovia): 111
Dutch Burbidge (Pasadena): 104
Sebastian Lawrence (Glendora): 103
Charlie Krappman (La Salle): 101
Erik Jimenez (Northview): 94
Jacob Chambers (RCHS): 90

Passing Yards (minimum of 1,000):
Corin Berry (COHS): 3,034
Isaiah Arriaza (Damien): 2,892
Avenn Ortiz (Duarte): 2,752
Jesse Saucedo (Monrovia): 2,358
Brady Beck (San Marino): 2,344
Alex Medyn (CHHS): 2,271
Jake Duronslet (Covina): 2,164
Travis Lippert (Bonita): 2,129
Alex Way (Ayala): 2,072
Luke McNulty (Maranatha): 1,969
Keegan Campuzano (Etiwanda): 1,966
John Sanders (St. Francis): 1,877
Dutch Burbidge (Pasadena): 1,679
Jacob Chambers (RCHS): 1,677
Jerred Pocock (Claremont): 1,651
Lequand Jackson (Upland): 1,601
Erik Jimenez (Northview): 1,364
Joe Bell (La Canada): 1,312
Max Barroso (Chino): 1,266
Keyon Mills (Muir): 1,184
Charlie Krappman (La Salle): 1,175
Sebastian Lawrence (Glendora): 1,043

Passing Touchdowns (minimum of 12):
Corin Berry (COHS): 33
Travis Lippert (Bonita): 30
Brady Beck (San Marino): 29
Isaiah Arriaza (Damien): 28
Luke McNulty (Maranatha): 23
Jesse Saucedo (Monrovia): 23
Jake Duronslet (Covina): 22
Dutch Burbidge (Pasadena): 20
Avenn Ortiz (Duarte): 20
Jacob Chambers (RCHS): 18
John Sanders (St. Francis): 18
Alex Medyn (CHHS): 18
Keegan Campuzano (Etiwanda): 17
Alex Way (Ayala): 14
Joe Bell (La Canada): 14
Erik Jimenez (Northview): 13
Jerred Pocock (Claremont): 13
Lequand Jackson (Upland): 13
Max Barroso (Chino): 13
Keyon Mills (Muir): 12
Charlie Krappman (La Salle): 12

Damien Records (2004-2024):
2024: 8-3 overall, 5-0 in Baseline League
2023: 8-3, 2-2
2022: 3-7, 2-2
2021: 3-7, 0-4
2020: 5-1, 2-0
2019: 4-7, 1-4
2018: 4-7, 1-4
2017: 7-5, 2-3
2016: 6-5, 2-3
2015: 4-6, 1-4
2014: 4-6, 1-4
2013: 5-5, 3-2
2012: 4-6, 1-4
2011: 7-4, 3-2
2010: 6-4, 3-2
2009: 5-6, 4-1
2008: 3-7, 2-3
2007: 5-5-1, 3-2
2006: 9-3, 5-0
2005: 6-5, 2-3
2004: 2-8, 2-3