Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

There’s something about Northview athletes and their coaches.

They find ways to mold what many would consider average-sized kids into game-changing football players.

It all starts with a commitment to one another, and a relentless work ethic seems to be the first key ingredient to their collective success.

And while the Vikings have a number of athletes that are featured in starring roles in 2023, two-way starter Angel Barraza has been described by area coaches as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Northview football team.

For the last three years, Barraza has been listed as 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds on the Vikings’ MaxPreps roster.

Whether those measurements are accurate or not, Angel Barraza plays more like a guy that is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds.

He’s been a four-year contributor on Marcel Perez’s football team, but Barraza started to turn heads in 2021.

As a sophomore, Barraza didn’t get a lot of opportunities to run the ball (10 carries for 50 yards and no TD’s).

But he was third to Lewis Madrigal (89) and Ronal Tebo (82) in tackles.

He finished 2021 with 78 tackles and two sacks in a season that was nothing short of historic.

NHS started the year 2-5 and didn’t appear to be a threat to anyone.

The Vikings got their injured players back, and fought their way into relevance, and in a position to win the outright Valle Vista League championship.

All they needed was a win in the regular season finale at 1-8 Los Altos to secure a league championship and a first-round home game in the CIF-SS playoffs.

Northview received the ultimate kick in the stones when the Conquerors rallied for a 29-28 victory.

It cost the Vikings that mentioned home game, and instead, they made a 35-mile trip to Orange County.

Not to worry.

Northview would defeat Garden Grove (30-14), Kaiser (42-13), Palmdale (28-14) and claimed a CIF-SS Division 10 championship after a 27-20 victory over St. Anthony at Covina District Field.

Eight days later, NHS won the school’s first-ever CIF-State Division 4A So Cal Regional title, as they rallied for a 27-26 victory at Colony.

The Vikings outscored the Titans, 20-6, in the second half, and earned a spot in the state finals in San Francisco.

Northview would fall short to a Sacred Heart Cathedral program with more talent, but their reaction to the loss told everything about the family atmosphere that Marcel Perez and his staff have built at NHS.

It was a cold, dark and rainy Sunday morning (December 12th, 2021), and instead of riding home with their parents in more comfortable cars, the Northview players made a decision that they wanted to make the 401-mile drive home together in a bus.

And so they did.

That gets us to 2022, which was Angel’s junior season.

This is when Barraza began to make his name as a two-way star.

The Vikings went 8-2 in the regular season, including an undefeated run (3-0) to a Valle Vista League championship.

Barraza led Northview in rushing TD’s (16) and his 1,035 yards on the ground were just 11 yards back of sophomore Keanu Tauvao, who finished his sophomore campaign with 1,046 yards and nine TD’s.

Barraza also caught eight passes for 101 yards and that included a pair of TD receptions.

What had to make that season memorable was being able to play with his older brother, Julian Barraza, who was a senior.

On defense, Barraza’s 114 tackles was second to Adrien Gonzales, who led the program with 124.

Barraza tallied three sacks that year, and that ranked third to his brother Julian (5) and Raymond Esparza, who had seven.

The new playoff formula sent an 8-2 Northview program that went 3-0 in league on the road, and the Vikings fell at Ramona, 27-17, in the first round.

In 2023, the Vikings are off to their best start in Barraza’s four years at the Covina school.

Northview is 7-1, they’re considered to be the favorites to win another VVL title, and their only loss was an eight-point setback to Sierra Vista in Las Vegas.

The Mountain Lions, who are ranked 18th in the state of Nevada, claimed a 34-26 victory in week one over their visitors from Southern California.

Since then, NHS has won six straight games, including notable victories over Covina (37-35), Bonita (14-13) and a 26-12 triumph at San Dimas last Friday.

In the two-point conquest of Covina, Northview’s Perez secured career win No. 100.

For the season, Barraza has 113 carries for 787 yards, and a team-best 14 TD’s.

He is now just 128 rushing yards from the prestigious 2,000-yard club.

Tauvao leads the Vikings with 820 yards on 117 carries, and he’s scored 10 times.

Barraza also has a pair of receptions for 36 yards and one TD.

Dwayne Thompson is having a monster year at receiver.

Thompson has 41 receptions for 798 yards and nine TD’s.

His 41 catches are 30 more than the next closest Viking (Dylan Ochoa with 11) and his nine scores are eight more than Donovan Perez, Dylan Ochoa and Barraza, who have one receiving TD apiece.

Erik Jimenez has also been vital to NHS’ success in 2023.

The junior QB is 77-of-116 for 1,387 yards.

Jimenez has thrown for 12 TD’s, and he’s been picked just twice.

Through the first eight games, Barraza leads NHS with 62 tackles, which is five more than Byron Tovar’s 57.

Coach Perez said after Friday’s game that Tovar doesn’t get enough credit for all he contributes to Northview’s success.

Barraza’s three sacks are tied for the team lead with Nathan Warner.

It took him four years to pick off a pass, but in 2023, Barraza has two interceptions.

Matthew Martinez has a team-high four picks, while Juan Alcaraz has three.

Barraza and Deontrey Thompson have two interceptions apiece.

Where did it all start?

Barraza credits his brothers Christian, Raymen and Julian for “playing a big role in me becoming the person and player I am today. They always motivate me and push me to my limits to go out there and be better than they were, and to make everyone who ever believed in me proud, because they know my talents and how good I can be. They taught me to never be satisfied with the outcome and to always push myself even when I don’t want to.”

When you’re Barraza’s size, one has to fight all the preconceived bulls*** notions that you can’t contribute or even dominate like someone 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.

His numbers, actions and the respect he’s garnered over the past four years speak for themselves.

Angel Barraza is described as fearless, humble, hard-working and a great teammate.

Barraza’s on-the-field adversaries are just as respectful.

Bonita’s co-head coach, Bo Beatty, described Barraza this way: “Angel Barraza plays football the way it should be played. He goes to work every play and has no let-up in him. He is all dawg! He runs the ball and plays defense as if every play was going to be his last. I have nothing but respect for this kid on a football field. I pray that God continues to bless him on his journey.”

And after rushing for 198 yards and four TD’s against Covina in a 37-35 victory, the Colts star quarterback, Jake Duronslet, had this to say:

“I grew up playing with Angel at the Covina Vikings. He’s always been a great competitor who isn’t afraid of anybody. I admire his relentless attitude when he is on the field. I always enjoyed playing against him in high school, because I knew I was going to get his best and it always made me better. I wish him the best of luck on the rest of the season, and I hope everyone recognizes his hard work and what a great player he is.”

Barraza said that when his playing days are over, he wants to be a PE teacher and football coach to give back to the community and sport that he loves.

Angel saved his best for his mother and father, Martha and Angel Barraza.

“Mom and dad, I want to thank you for all the sacrifices that you’ve made for me, whether it was buying me new cleats to making time to take me to practice. You sacrificed your own time and money just for me to be in the situation I’m in today, and I’m so appreciative of your continuous support. I work hard every day to be the best person and teammate that I can be, and most importantly, I want to make you proud. I love you both very much.”

Lastly, I asked Barraza what makes him most proud to be part of the program, how he hopes to be remembered after his playing days at NHS are over, as well as his favorite individual and collective moments as part of the Northview football program.

Said Angel Barraza: “What makes me proud is how everyone I ever played with became family. Coach Perez does a fantastic job of having everyone buy into the program and not needing any transfers. I’m just so proud of everyone for believing and for all the hard work we put in over the summers in each of the last four years. We really are building something special at Northview. When my playing days are over, I hope to be remembered as someone who was a good teammate and who motivated his team. I hope they thought of me as a player who never cared about who we went up against and that I just always went out and did my thing and just balled out doing the best that I could. My favorite individual moment is when I scored four touchdowns to beat our crosstown rival (37-35 vs Covina), and my favorite team moment is winning a CIF championship in 2021.”

Just below are quotes about Angel from his head coach, as well as the head coaches of Covina and South Hills, and three of his Vikings’ teammates.

To view a photo gallery of Barraza, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook

Quotable:

Northview coach, Marcel Perez: “Angel Has been a leader since his junior year. He plays both sides of the ball and he always has to be on. He dictates the pace of our practice and is always going full speed. Angel is a tough runner. He’s not the biggest or fastest player, but his heart makes up for any deficiency. He plays with so much passion and he never goes down on first contact. He bounces off people and continues to fall forward for more yards. On defense, he is all over the field, and any time we need a big play or a big tackle, he is there to make it happen. Angel is a competitor like no other. He is fearless and works hard to be successful. I appreciate his ability to stay the same person who showed up as a freshman just a tough, hard-working kid. The success has not gotten to his head.”

Covina coach, Kevin Glaspy: “Most coaches that watch other teams play can tell who “the guy” is on the other team. The guy that leads them, carries them, and motivates them. It’s the player’s demeanor, their game play, body language, and the way they interact with their teammates. Angel is that guy from Northview. He has a motor that doesn’t quit and when they need to make a play on offense or defense, he’s usually the one in the mix. He’s another guy that plays much bigger than his looks. I’m just glad that he’s a senior and we’re done having to deal with him as an opponent.”

South Hills coach, Jacob Calderon: “Angel Barraza is a force on the football field at running back. His speed, agility, the ability to break tackles, and determination made him a standout player and tough to defend.”

Northview senior, Zuhdi Kisswani: Angel is a leader. He is that guy that everyone wants on their team. He plays the game with passion and wants to win no matter what, and he always pushes people to be great, just like him. He plays a big role in our team’s success on both sides of the ball. He’s the guy you can count on to make a big play every time. He makes tackles, he can run the ball, he can score, he does it all. What can I say? He’s a dawg I respect his leadership, his passion for the game, him just being a dawg on the field, him being humble and showing his teammates love, especially his offensive linemen. He is always there for his teammates when there’s ups and downs. He’s always got our backs and he will do anything to help our team succeed. Angel Barraza has so much success on both sides of the ball, because he is always grinding and putting the extra work in when no one is watching. He is always striving to be great He is also so successful on both sides of the ball because he buys into what our coach Marcel Perez says.”

Northview junior, Erik Jimenez: “Angel is an important teammate and he’s always bringing energy and is willing to being coached up. His competitiveness is without a doubt through the roof. Angel has a role as a leader on the team. He also has a verbal role and he is effective at anything he is asked to do. I respect Angel as an athlete because his time management is all for football. Also, he has a great attitude and an amazing sportsmanship. As my teammate, he is a great leader and is willing to be coached and is respectful. As my friend, he gives advice to football and outside of football. Angel has tons of success on both sides of the ball because he is always putting in work. He is always putting work in on the field, he is always making the right choices in the classroom as well. This leads to how he is in the field, and with no doubt, Angel is a great player all around. He runs the ball hard and he can also lay a hit whether he’s running or tackling someone. The dedication he has is something you would never see. Angel is a great person all around. He is respectful and is a great young man, and how he carries himself is even better. Others love being around a kid like Angel because of his personality, and his success he’s had.

Northview junior, Keanu Tauvao: “Angel is a true leader. He’s that kind of teammate to where everything is competitive. It doesn’t matter what it is, Angel will push you outside of your comfort zone, and if you’re not producing, he’ll let you know. he’ll push you outside of your comfort zone and if you’re not producing like you should, he’ll let you know. Angel’s role on the team is a huge part of our success, because he’s just a dawg on both sides of the ball. He’s always flying around on defense, and he pounds the rock on offense. What I respect about Angel is his attitude for the game, because seeing someone else who wants it just as much as me makes me want it more. I’d say Angel has so much success because of his football IQ and his ability to make a big play happen.”

Northview Stat Leaders:

Passing:
Erik Jimenez: 77-of-116 for 1,387 yards, 12 TD’s & two interceptions

Rushing:
Keanu Tauvao: 117 carries for 820 yards & 10 TD’s
Angel Barraza: 113 carries for 787 yards & 14 TD’s

Receiving:
Dwayne Thompson: 41 catches for 798 yards & nine TD’s
Donovan Perez: six catches for 188 yards and one TD
Dylan Ochoa: 11 catches for 216 yards & one TD
Keanu Tauvao: nine catches for 58 yards
Matthew Martinez: five catches for 45 yards
Angel Barraza: two catches for 36 yards & one TD

Tackles:
Angel Barraza: 62
Byron Tovar: 57
Rudy Velazquez: 43
Nathan Warner: 37
Gabriel Velasco: 30
Dylan Cano: 27
Matthew Martinez: 26

Sacks:
Angel Barraza: 3
Nathan Warner: 3
Dylan Cano: 2

Interceptions:
Matthew Martinez: 4
Juan Alcaraz 3
Angel Barraza: 2
Deontrey Thompson 2

Angel Barraza Career Stats:
2023: 113 carries for 787 yards & 14 TD’s; two catches for 36 yards & one TD; 62 tackles, three sacks & two interceptions
2022: 134 carries for 1,035 yards & 16 TD’s; eight catches for 101 & two TD’s; 114 tackles & three sacks
2021: 10 carries for 50 yards; 78 tackles, two sacks
2021: 8 tackles
Career: 257 carries for 1,872 yards; 10 catches for 147 yards & three TD’s; 262 tackles, eight sacks & two interceptions

Northview’s Schedule-Results:
8/17: Northview 41, Muir 6
8/25: Sierra Vista (Las Vegas) 34, Northview 26
9/1: Northview 49, South Hills 14
9/8: Northview 37, Covina 35
9/14: Northview 54, Monrovia 35
9/22: Northview 35, Harvard-Westlake 10
9/28: Northview 14, Bonita 13
10/13: Northview 26, San Dimas 12
10/20: Los Altos at Northview
10/26: Diamond Ranch at Northview

Valle Vista League Standings:
Northview (7-1, 1-0)
Diamond Ranch (7-1, 1-0)
Los Altos (5-3, 0-1)
San Dimas (4-4, 0-1)

This Week’s VVL Schedule:
San Dimas at Diamond Ranch (Thursday)
Los Altos vs Northview at Covina District Field (Friday)

Northview records w/Barraza:
2023: 7-1, 1-0
2022: 8-3, 3-0
2021: 9-7, 2-1