INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I covered the Rialto Carter-Fontana Miller varsity football game on Friday night for the Riverside Press-Enterprise and came away thinking Miller is a very undisciplined football team.

Most striking? Miller emassed 118 yards on 12 penalties, including four personal fouls. And not only did Rebels players act foolishly in between the lines, Rebels players were fools on the sidelines. Starters groused, reserves payed little or no attention to the game.

That said, little stopped the undefeated Rebels from putting the wood to Carter, 45-7. But their lack of discipline could effect the team down the road, say on Oct. 31 at Citrus Belt League rival Redlands East Valley. Or even worse, in the playoffs.

As for the game… Miller QB Juan Flores was impressive. He completed two-thirds of his passes, half going for touchdowns. He was 10 of 15 for 175 yards and a career-high five TDs on the night. He also rushed for nearly 80 yards on nine carries.

Not much too look at, Flores (5-8, 170 lbs) is making the most of his physical attributes. He has nice touch on his throws and can even run the option or head up-field himself through holes created by Miller’s spread offense. He was far and away the best player on the field. Maybe not the most electric, but perhaps the most complete. I won’t go so far as to say he’s a Division-I prospect, but he’ll surely have the opportunity to play somewhere when he’s done at Miller.

Flores first touchdown pass went to the aptly-named David Dash. Dash (5-9, 170 lbs) can seriously run. He turned what-looked-to-be a botched kickoff return into an 85-yard ‘dash’ for touchdown. He finished the night with a couple of catches, a few carries and over 130 total yards. This kid will be an All-CIF player next season should he stay healthy.

And Miller’s defense! I haven’t seem a CBL side that dominant since watching Colton with Allan Bradford at LB and Shareece Wright at DB a few years ago. They controlled the line of scrimmage and swarmed every ball carrier. They must’ve had more than 10 tackles for loss.

They forced Carter QB Valtray Jackson (6-2, 200 lbs) into having the worst night of his football life. Jackson was 5 of 19 for less than 70 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked three times and hurried about a hundred more.

The most exciting moment of the game? Watching the two teams exchange kickoff returns for touchdowns in the third quarter.

Carter’s Damian Robinson was first. He bobbled the handle at his own goal line, had the ball drop to the ground and then picked it and went straight up the field, breaking three tackles en route to the end zone and Carter’s only score.

Not to be outdone, Dash returned the ensuing kickoff, allowing Miller fans to one-up the visitors on homecoming.