South El Monte High School’s football team, powered by a lockdown defense and a tightknit roster of longtime teammates, capped a stunning playoff run that drove them to capture their first-ever CIF-Southern Section Div. 14 title, defeating Pioneer High School with a score of 14-6 on Nov. 28. This marks South El Monte’s second CIF title in less than a month, following the Lady Eagles volleyball team, which won the CIF Div. 9 championship on Nov. 6.
 
The key moment in the Eagles run was their decisive 45-7 first-round win against Channel Islands, ending a yearslong CIF playoff first-round losing streak, boosting the team’s confidence, and setting them on the championship path. South El Monte outscored their opponents 86-27 in the four CIF Div. 14 games.
 
“This is a team that is not scared to play big games. They believe in themselves and their capabilities,” South El Monte coach Frank Gallardo said. “Our offensive and defensive lines have been outstanding, and the entire roster plays smart. These kids have grown up playing youth football together, and they’re not done yet. We have a lot of players coming back next year.”
 
South El Monte junior and two-way lineman Abraham Martinez, known to his teammates as “The Bull,” epitomizes the toughness brought forth by the Eagles during the 2025 football season. Martinez, who was named Mission Valley Lineman of the Year as a sophomore, plays offense and defense, working hard to honor the former players who instilled him with confidence and high expectations. 
 
“I came in as a freshman and took over a senior’s position, which was a lot of pressure,” Martinez said. “My older brother Isaiah and other players taught me I could lead. This team is a brotherhood. I’m not the biggest or strongest, but I love football – I even told coach Gallardo in the fifth grade that I’d start for him someday. With God, anything is possible.”
 
South El Monte junior linebacker Anthony Mirano, the Eagles’ captain who calls the defense and plays on both sides of the ball, grew up under the guidance of his father, a former Youth League coach to Mirano and several of his current teammates, while the offense was led by quarterback Michael Maldonado, receiver Gabriel Canchola, and running backs Damian Cordova and Fernando Freire.
 
“My dad pushed me to be a leader, and now it’s my job to push my teammates,” Mirano said. “Our turning point came after the Gabrielino High loss. We finished the season strong, focused on stopping the run and forcing turnovers, including two fumble recoveries against Indian Springs that helped us pull out a tough win.” 
 
The CIF Championship is also a first for Gallardo, who has served as South El Monte’s football coach since 2015. Like his players, who have known each other for years, Gallardo enjoys a camaraderie with his fellow football coaches, including Pioneer High coach Ramon Juarez, who Gallardo has known since starting his coaching career at Whittier High School in 1985.
 
Pioneer High won its first CIF Div. 14 championship in 2024, and was looking to make it two straight titles before playing South El Monte. 
 
“I’ve known Ramon for years and have so much respect for him,” Gallardo said. “We went head-to-head for the title this year. I told him I was happy to see him win last year but this time I wanted my team to take it. Ramon said we’d settle it on the field. That’s what I love about this game. The relationships make it special – with my players, with fellow coaches.”
 
South El Monte’s playoff run extended into the CIF Div. 7-A State Football Championship finals after the Eagles defeated Santee High School in the semifinal round before ending with a loss to Balboa High School in the title game. Despite falling short in the state championship game, the Eagles’ season stands as one of the most successful and memorable in the history of the program.