New goals, new hope for all Pacific League teams heading into the fall sports season.  

The 2025 High School football season is right around the corner, so this is a breakdown of where eight teams stand to start the brand new season. 

Arcadia Apaches 

2024 result 3-7 Overall 2-5 Pacific League (6th) 

Missed playoffs 

Head Coach Eric Elias 

Starting Quarterback AJ Pressnall

Attendees: Aiden Reyes (wide receiver), Timothy Morales (linebacker)

Eric Elias enters his second season as the Head Coach of the Apaches and will look to help continue the rebuild. Quarterback AJ Pressnall, wide receiver Aiden Reyes, and linebacker Timothy Morales will all look to be key players to help Arcadia get back to winning football. Arcadia will begin the 2025 season on the road against El Monte in a week 0 contest.  

Burbank Bulldogs 

2024 result 9-3 overall 6-1 Pacific League (2nd) 

Lost to Highland 28-42 in the CIF Southern Section Division 9 Quarterfinals 

Head Coach Hector Valencia 

Starting Quarterback DeShawn LaPorte 

Attendees: DeShawn LaPorte (quarterback), Elijah Pendleton (running back/wide receiver), Chase Miles (defensive back)

The Burbank Bulldogs went from worst to first a season ago in Hector Valencia’s first season back as the head coach of the program, and they will look to go even further in the CIF Southern Section playoffs this fall. Junior quarterback DeShawn LaPorte, who transferred from Narbonne High School prior to last season, will look to continue his elite play as he’s coming off a season where he was named the Pacific League’s Offensive Player of the Year. Senior running back and wide receiver Elijah Pendleton, who earned all First-Team Pacific League offensive honors, should be a big factor in the Bulldog offense, which is already a loaded group of receivers. Returning All-Defensive Pacific League Second Team player Chase Miles will also play a role in leading the Bulldog defense. Burbank will kick off the 2025 season on the road with San Dimas on Friday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. 

Burroughs Bears 

2024 result 6-4 overall 4-3 Pacific League (T4) 

Missed Playoffs 

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Jose Calzadilla 

Quarterbacks Brandon Chaparro and Sean Ghaman 

Attendees: Rizon Williamson (offensive & defensive lineman), Ryder Bowne (defensive lineman) Carson Shrode (running back/defensive back) 

Jose Calzadilla finally gets his time to shine as head coach after serving as an assistant on multiple staffs and will look to guide the Bears back into title contention. Although the starting quarterback position is still to be determined, Rizon Williamson, Ryder Bowne, and Carson Shrode should be key factors in getting Burroughs back to winning football after a disappointing finish to last season. The Bears went 2-3 in the final five games of the 2024 season following a 5-1 start, which resulted in losing the coin flip for fourth place in the Pacific League to Crescenta Valley and Pasadena. Burroughs will begin the 2025 season against Hart at College of the Canyons on Friday, August 29th at 7:00 p.m. 

Crescenta Valley Falcons 

2024 result 5-6 overall 4-3 Pacific League (T4) 

Lost to Dos Pueblos 27-35 in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 Playoffs 

Head Coach Hudson Gossard 

Starting Quarterback Xavier Thompson

Attendees: Torn Blunt (left tackle/defensive end)

The Falcons will look to compete for a top-four finish in the Pacific League after a season in which they made the CIF Southern Section Playoffs on a coin flip win over Burroughs. Quarterback Xavier Thompson and two-way player Torn Blunt will look to be key players for CV in 2025. Crescenta Valley will begin the 2025 season on the road with Knight on Friday, August 29th, at 7:00 p.m. 

Glendale Nitros 

2024 Result 1-9 overall 0-7 Pacific League (8th) 

Missed Playoffs 

Head Coach Manuel Lemus 

Starting Quarterback Elijah Venegas 

Attendees: Rudy Cuella (wide receiver/safety), Margo Stoychev (safety), Brady Aldrete (defensive end) 

The Nitros are still facing a lengthy rebuild, but they will look to have better results in 2025. Rudy Cuella, Margo Stoychev, and Brady Aldrete should help them compete in a very tough Pacific League that runs through Burbank and Muir. Glendale will begin the 2025 season at home with Marshall (Los Angeles) on Friday, August 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. 

Hoover Tornados 

2024 result 1-9 Overall 1-6 Pacific League (7th) 

Missed Playoffs 

Head Coach Jordan Ward 

Starting Quarterback AJ Francisco 

Attendees: Arman Asaduriyan (defensive back), Alejandro Gomez Hadad (inside linebacker)

The Jordan Ward era officially begins for the Tornandos as he takes over for Azad Herabidian, who recently stepped down from coaching to focus on his athletic director duties at the school. Senior quarterback AJ Francisco will look to help carry the offense for Hoover, while Arman Asaduriyan and Alejandro Gomez Hadad will also be contributors on the defensive side of the football. Hoover will begin the 20235 season with an August 22 home game against Marshall (Pasadena), with kickoff slated for 5:00 p.m

Muir Mustangs 

2024 result 9-3 Overall 7-0 Pacific League (1st/Champions) 

Lost 27-28 to St Francis in the CIF SS Division 6 Quarterfinals 

Head Coach Lance Mitchell 

Starting Quarterback Tre Gamble 

Attendees: Alijah Parker (running back/safety), Zion McDonald (running back/wide receiver/defensive back), Aaron Simon (offensive lineman)

The reigning Pacific League champions have a lot of championship-level expectations heading into the 2025 season as they will look to not only be legitimate title contenders in the league and in CIF, but they also enter the new season with one of the most talented rosters in the San Gabriel Valley. Allijah Parker, Zion McDonald, and Aaron Simon should be vocal leaders on and off the field for this team. The Mustangs will begin the 2025 season with a home contest against Bonita on Friday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. 

Pasadena Bulldogs 

2024 result 8-7 overall 4-3 Pacific League(3rd)

Won CIF Southern Section Division 13 Championship over Gahr 37-0 

Lost 21-42 to Monte Vista in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6A State Playoffs 

Head Coach Ron Jones 

Starting Quarterback Dutch Burbidge 

Attendees: Zyon Mynor (offensive lineman), Kyle Robinson (wide receiver) 

The defending CIF Southern Section Division 13 champion Pasadena Bulldogs will look to run it back in 2025, as Ron Jones guided the Bulldogs to an incredible playoff run after an average regular season. Jones enters year two coaching the Bulldogs and is determined to contend with Muir and Burbank as the Bulldogs will look to be a top three team in the Pacific League this season. Pasadena kicks off the 2025 season at home with Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary on Friday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. 

This will be the final season of the eight-team Pacific League format. It will expand to 16 teams next fall. Football season kicks off on Friday, August 22nd, and Friday, August 29th. Stay tuned for coverage of the 2025 High School football season for all Pacific League teams.