Los Angeles Sports

Rashaun Haylock
(CBS) HERE WE GO!!!
 
 Oh yeah! ..its that time of year again.

High School Football is finally upon us.

We are now in the 3rd "Zero" Week of the season, which by the way is far more than I remember there being in recent memory, but the important thing is its here.

This final "Zero" Week of the season is packed with a slew of exciting games that will get the season kick started immediately.

Beginning tonight with a huge nationally televised Inter-sectional matchup between two of the state's most prestigious programs.

Last season's City Section runner up, Carson Colts and perennial Southern Section power, Mater Dei.

This game will feature a couple of future USC Trojans. One you know, the other, you'll surely get to know --Carson TE Morrell Presley.
 
At 6-4, 220 with 4.5 speed, Presley also has the ability to split out wide. He can catch anything thrown to him and his also a very capable blocker.
 
The other future Trojan is entering his 4th season as the starting QB at Mater Dei, Matt Barkley.
 
This early season game, forces me to ask the question, will the 2008 season be known as the year of the Barkley …Matt Barkley that is.

He returns for his final campaign as the top quarterback in the nation, and arguably the top player in the nation.
 
Its hard to argue after he won the award for the Nations Top Player a year ago …as only a junior and becoming the first to do so.

He is 2,591 yards away from passing former Mater Dei Monarch and USC Trojan QB, Todd Marinovich, as Orange County's all time career passing leader …Barkley has put himself in prime position to go down as perhaps one of the best signal callers in California State History. But there is one matter of business that eludes him …a PAC 5 Division Title.

Since the inception of the PAC 5 during Barkley's sophomore campaign, the Monarchs have suffered early outings.

A 1st round exit via Long Beach Poly in 06 and last years humbling at the hands of Crespi in the 2nd round.

Each year the PAC 5 final has featured a Trinity League team, but as we know it hasn't been Mater Dei but rather their league rival …Orange Lutheran.
 
A region we should keep a close eye on this season is the Inland Empire.

If you haven't noticed yet, let me be the 1st to tell you, they play some pretty good football out there.

I think this year could be a "coming out" party of sorts for the I.E.

Look out for the Big VIII League. And yes, I said the Big VIII league.
 
Think of it as the JV version of Orange County's Trinity League. The newly formed league features Corona Centennial, Santiago, Norco, and Corona formerly of the Mountain View League. ML King, JW North, and Riverside Poly formerly of the Ivy League. Rounding out the Big VIII is Roosevelt, a Freelance team a year ago. JW North won the Eastern Division a year ago, while Corona Centennial took the Inland Division knocking off the Santiago Sharks to do so.

Now the Sharks are a team I am going to watch very closely this season.

They came on the scene late last season, finishing the regular season with a record of 5-4. Just when I was heavily anticipating Corona Centennial v. Redlands East Valley matchup in the Inland Division Final, it was Santiago that upset Redlands East Valley and surprised everyone by making a berth in the Inland Division title.

This season, the word is out and they can't expect to sneak up on anyone. The Sharks return 15 starters from a year ago, including WR/DB Sean Murray who was 3rd on the team last year with 94 tackles and led the team with 3 INTs.

They get their first true test this Friday when they take on Esperanza of the Sunset League.

All in all it should be an exciting season ..can't wait to get out to the games!