Photos by Yen Benton

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

After conducting interviews with both teams that night, I can vividly recall walking off the West Covina football field on March 26th of 2021.

I was headed towards the parking lot on Cameron Avenue, which is located just east of the south end zone.

Glendora had just dominated the Bulldogs, 33-7, in the five-game COVID-shortened spring season.

At that time, Mike Maggiore was in just his second game back since returning from a three-year hiatus.

The Tartans victory dropped WCHS to 0-2.

And as I got closer to the lot, I heard a player in a West Covina uniform saying, “f*** this, why are we even out here? These coaches don’t know what they’re doing.”

I remember instantly thinking to myself, ‘you have no (bleeping) idea what you’re talking about. With a little time and patience, Maggiore and his staff will get this turned around sooner rather than later. He isn’t a three-time CIF-SS champion by accident.’

In the three years (2017-2019) that Maggiore was away, the Bulldogs went 5-25.

Since his return, West Covina has won 22 games in 3.5 seasons. (2021 spring season only had five games).

In conversations we had during the 2021 spring and fall seasons, Maggiore told this reporter that he and the program hoped to weed out the malcontents, and that they needed to find those character guys like Walter Thurmond, Nick Field, Shaun Rosenthal and so many others who were key in molding a foundation that led to CIF title runs in 2004, 2010 and 2011.

During his first run, Maggiore’s program earned playoff spots every year between 1999-2014.

Fast forward to November of 2023, and West Covina (10-2) is making its seventh appearance in a CIF semifinal game.

And it’s their first playoff run this deep in 11 years.

West Covina’s 10 wins is the program’s best since 2011.

For as much credit as Maggiore deserves/gets, none of this could have happened without a loyal, tireless and dedicated coaching staff, along with players that were willing to work their asses off, take leadership roles, and hold their fellow teammates accountable so they were able to return this program to prominence.

While this 2023 WCHS team has countless contributors, there are two guys that have spearheaded the mission of changing the culture and the trajectory of West Covina High School football.

Two-way starters, Daniel Carrillo Jr., and Edward Walker are those leaders.

This will be one of the most unique features I’ve written since beginning this line of work in 2000, because neither Carrillo nor Walker has their value based on individual statistics.

In fact, they are a pair of seniors who line up at defensive end, get some work at offensive tackle, and play tight end for a team that has thrown the ball just over 100 times all season.

On the offensive side of the ball, Carrillo and Walker do their part by blocking for a running game that averages 248 yards per game.

They both play key roles for a defense that has pitched two shutouts, and they’ve held eight of their 12 opponents in 2023 to 10 points or less.

It’s not the numbers they do or don’t put up, it’s all about what they do, when they do it, and the way in which they go about their business in the weight room, at practice and on Friday nights that has earned them the respect of their coaches and teammates.

Carrillo and Walker are big boys.

Carrillo is listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, and Walker is 6-foot-2 and 235.

Aside from their on-the-field prowess, the respect and trust they’ve garnered from their peers, and the leadership roles they’ve accepted have helped the Bulldogs persevere through some challenging times late in this 2023 season.

West Covina was 6-1 as they entered San Antonio League play, and their narrow 12-7 victory over winless Claremont had a lot of people scratching their heads.

The following week, the 2-6 Don Lugo Conquistadores stunned WCHS, as they drove 75 yards in the final 30 seconds to claim a 41-40 road victory.

The Bulldogs closed out their regular season with a 35-6 victory over Chaffey, but one had to wonder how much damage had been done to their collective psyche.

By all accounts, this is the part where Carrillo and Walker demonstrated their true value to this program better than any statistic ever could.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the WCHS duo held their teammates and themselves accountable for what went wrong.

They turned a lemon into lemonade by demanding that the Don Lugo loss serve as a wake-up call or a kick in the stones.

Carrillo and Walker reminded their teammates how disappointing that moment felt, and that none of them want to experience that again.

The solution to that scenario, they said, was to play as clean and disciplined as possible, and if they’re able to do that, the West Covina football program would like their chances against anyone.

Daniel Carrillo Jr. was a part-time starter as a sophomore, and he’s always had tons of ability, according to Coach Maggiore. Carrillo has played inside and out on the defensive line.  He is a very good athlete and he’s become a dominant defensive lineman.

Carrillo’s technique and toughness have grown through a very strong work ethic, and his desire to be the best he can be.  He ran track, worked on his speed, and he’s really improved using his hands and playing lower.

He has four catches for 62 yards and two of his four receptions went for TD’s.

On defense, Carrillo has 60 tackles and an insane 11.5 sacks for the Bulldogs.

“Daniel has been a solid student the entire time and has a strong desire to play the highest level of college football he can,” Maggiore said. “With his combination of size, athleticism and work-ethic, there is no doubt he can play at the highest level of college.  He is a worker and will do whatever is necessary to get to where he wants.”

As mentioned above, Daniel and Edward are not stat sheet stuffers.

And yet their leadership, the example they set for the younger players, and their work ethic that is displayed on a daily basis makes them as valuable as a quarterback that throws for 2,500 yards and 20-plus TD’s.

I asked them to answer the following: How do you see your roles on both the team and in their success? How has your role grown over the years? What does it mean to help lead this program back to a prominent level? Who has played a large role in your life? What has been key to West Covina winning 10 games in 2023? Which teammates do you want to mention for their contributions and what has Maggiore and the coaching staff meant to you?

Said Daniel Carrillo Jr: “I think my role on the team is helping others, especially the underclassmen that need help or have questions, and I think the role that I play in our success is making some big plays when we’ve needed them. I started one game at defensive line during my sophomore year, and I got hurt. But I bounced back and started all 11 games at defensive line in 2022, and now, as a senior, I’m starting at tight end and defensive end. I’ve made a lot of improvements as a player and a teammate, and it means a lot to all of us to do our part in bringing this program back to where it should be. Coach (Brian) Ybarra, who was the freshman coach, told us every day that our class would be the team to put West Covina back on the map and I feel like he was right. But we’re not done yet. We still have a lot more to prove. I feel like my mom (Brenda Clarkson) and my grandpa (Dave Carrillo) are the reasons why I’m doing so well right now. They both motivate me to do well in the classroom and on the football field.

One of the reasons for our success is because of the winning mentality that we’ve adopted as a team. We are all focused on doing our parts, accepting our roles and not caring about individual stats. Last year, after our first-round exit, we all spent time over the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks in the weight room together, and that really brought us closer as a unit, as well as our communication on the field. Zander Requena is one of the most unselfish players on the team. One week, he gets 37 carries and breaks the school record for most yards in a game with 287 yards, and the next week, he gets about 10 carries and blocks for most of the game. Miles Reid (OLB), Isaiah Ruiz (MLB) and Gage Ballum (CB) are the hardest working guys on our defense, and they are always trying to get better no matter if it was during Christmas or Spring break. Edward Walker (DE/OT) is the best pass rusher on the team, and he is a very unselfish teammate. Coach Maggiore has meant a lot to this program. He gives fair opportunities to everyone, and he always says that we’ll start the four best defensive lineman, whether you’re a four-year player or in your first year. He puts the best people out there and all of the other coaches do the same thing.”

Edward Walker doesn’t have any offensive stats, because his job is opening holes for Zander Requena (196 carries for 1,420 yards & 17 TD’s), Ethan Mendez (112-for-740 yards & nine TD’s) and the rest of the Bulldogs’ running backs that have combined to rush for north of 3,000 yards and 37 TD’s.

As mentioned, Walker is a defensive end and tight end/tackle.

So far in 2023, he has 35 tackles and two sacks.

He started a few games in 2021 and one year later, Walker was an all-league defensive end, because of the improvement in technique and doing what the West Covina defense needed from him.

“Eddie could also play college football, but he’s chosen to go into the United States Navy after he graduates,” Maggiore said. “The way he has developed as a person makes me really proud of him.  He is going to be a success, and to think that him playing football at WCHS was a part of that is really gratifying.  This is why I love to do what I do.  Eddie, Daniel and I have good relationships.  We joke around and have a lot of fun, but they know when it is time to work, it’s time to work.  I also hope they both understand two things. 1) It has been a true pleasure to coach them both.  To see the young men that they have grown to become, is awesome for me.  I hope they know how truly proud I am of them. Secondly, whenever they need me, I will always be available for them.  That goes for life well beyond high school.”

Walker also answered the same questions as Carrillo.

Said Edward Walker: “I see myself as a guy who leads by example and not so much verbally. I do what my coaches say, and I do it the way it’s supposed to be done, so if younger guys watch me, they will see an example of what needs to be done. I went from playing strictly defense to having to step up by contributing on offense, and playing tight end and tackle. With the injury of our starting right tackle, I had to step up in the second half of the first-round game against Paloma Valley, and in our quarterfinal win over Beckman. Though going both ways can be tough from time to time, I knew I had to play hard and leave it all out on the field. I have become someone my team can depend on. It means a lot to me to help lead the team back to the forefront, because for 11 years, the program had bad or mediocre records, and we hadn’t done much in terms of the playoffs. But to see how far we have come as a collective unit under Coach Maggiore, Coach Ybarra and the rest of the coaching staff is truly amazing. All the hard work and dedication has brought us to this point. A 10-2 record is a great accomplishment, but to be on the doorstep of a possible championship game appearance for the first time in a decade is very exciting.

My mother (Jennie Walker) has absolutely played the biggest role in my life. She’s always had my back through good or bad, and she’s always supported all of my dreams and aspirations. I am very grateful that she is a great and tough woman who has helped me become the man I am today. If it wasn’t for her signing me up for football with the Covina Vikings in seventh grade, I don’t know what I’d be doing. I’m so grateful that she did, because the sport of football has really taught me a lot of life lessons, and it has helped me create a lot of friendships. The brotherhood and the camaraderie made me fall in love with the game, and I would’ve never had that opportunity had she not told me to give it a chance and try it out. I would say the key to WC being 10-2 this is year would be the work ethic and mindset we’ve approached this year with. We grinded hard on the field and in the weight room over the summer with that lingering memory of a 5-6 record paired with the heartbreaking first round exit that we experienced last season.

We knew we had to approach this year with a newfound focus and determination to avoid experiencing another heartbreaking loss. l would like to mention Daniel Carrillo, Miles Reid, Adrien Munoz, Gage Ballum and Isaiah Ruiz. I specifically chose to mention them, because they, along with myself, are the main group of guys who have worked so hard to come together and create the amazing defense we have. Ruiz, Munoz, and Carrillo, along with myself, have be anchors against the run. Reid and Ballum have held down the secondary. They’ve been amazing this year, and they’ve come up big in crucial moments, with interceptions and pick sixes.

Also, I can’t forget our two defensive tackles, Felipe Hernandez and Josiah Joseph. They are both sophomores who have stepped up greatly and held their own. They’ve helped Daniel and I create a very dominant and fearless defensive line that can blow up the run and get relentless pressure on any quarterback we face. Coach Maggiore and Coach Ybarra, along with the rest of the staff have meant a lot to not only the program, but to us players. Both Maggiore and Ybarra have helped each of us develop as players and understand how good we truly are, not only as individuals, but more so, we came together as a team. They laid the blueprints on what it takes to get to a championship, and we are currently in the process of getting that done.”

Whether West Covina goes on to win another championship in the next 10 days or so has yet to be determined, but there is one thing cemented in stone.

And that’s the fact that Daniel Carrillo and Edward Walker will have left this program in a much better place than they found it.

Up next: The Bulldogs (10-2) travel 99 miles to Palm Desert to battle Xavier Prep on Friday night at 7.

The Saints (8-4) edged Kennedy, 10-7, in their quarterfinal round contest.

Best of luck to Coach Maggiore, his staff and their players.

Obviously, every member of the WCHS program wants to win two more games and earn a ring.

But regardless of what happens on Friday night, this senior class will be remembered for raising the bar for both expectations and success, and that’s something that should make each of them beam with pride.

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Just below are stat comparisons for the WCHS-Xavier Prep game, and individual stat leaders for the Bulldogs.

By the Numbers:
Records: WC (10-2); Xavier Prep (8-4)
Points Scored: WC (324); XP (247)
Points Allowed: WC (162); XP (143)
Average Points Scored Per Game: WC (27); XP (21)
Average Points Allowed Per Game: WC (14); XP (12)
Passing Yards Per Game: WC (66); XP (109)
Rushing Yards Per Game: WC (248); XP (107)
Most Points Scored in a Game: WC (41 vs Baldwin Park); XP (69 vs Notre Dame)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: WC (41 vs Don Lugo); XP (24 vs Aquinas)
League Finish: WC (second in San Antonio); XP (third in Desert Empire)
West Covina Road Record: 5-1
Xavier Prep Home Record: 5-2
Current Streak: WC (3W); XP (2W)
MaxPreps State Ranking: WC (304); XP (316)
Calpreps Game Prediction: West Covina 17, Xavier Prep 14

WCHS Stat Leaders:

Offense:

Quarterback:
Chris Perez (sophomore): 67-of-100 for 880 yards, six TD’s & one INT.

Running Backs:
Zander Requena: 196 carries for 1,420 yards & 17 TD’s
Ethan Mendez: 112-for-740 yards & nine TD’s
Ezra Ortega: 50-for-385 & six TD’s
Angel Murrillo: 55-for-350 & two TD’s

Receivers:
Zander Requena: 15 catches for 300 yards & one TD
Angel Murillo: 20-for-250 yards & three TD’s
Daniel Carrillo: 6-for-85 & 2 TD’s

Defense:

Isaiah Ruiz (115 tackles, 3 sacks)
Miles Reid (68 tackles, 1 interception
Daniel Carrillo (60 tackles, 11.5 sacks
Felipe Hernandez (55 tackles)
Adrien Munoz (55 tackles, 1 interception)
Gage Ballum (46 tackles, 2 interceptions)
Sebastian Martinez (40 tackles, 3 interceptions)
Edward Walker (35 tackles, 2 sacks)
Daniel Martinez (35 tackles)
Jake Godinez (35 tackles)
Nicholas Moore (30 tackles, 2.5 sacks)

West Covina 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 (10-2) at Xavier Prep (8-4)

West Covina’s Records After Maggiore’s Resignation:
2019: 1-9
2018: 3-7
2017: 1-9
Total: 5-25

West Covina’s Record Since Maggiore’s Return:
2023: 10-2, 2-1
2022: 5-6, 2-1
2021 Fall Season: 6-5, 3-0
2021 Spring Season: 1-4, 0-3
Total: 22-17, 7-5