INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I did the incredible last week — 15-0! I knew I could do it. Loads of great games this week all over the map, from Corona to Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga out to Redlands. I’m covering tonight’s Riverside Arlington-Riverside La Sierra game for the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Alvord District Stadium.

HIGH SCHOOL:

Norco at Corona Centennial — This game is so important that if Redlands East Valley were to lose, as unlikely as that sounds, the winner of this game would ascend into the No. 1 spot in the Inland Division. The seedings in this year’s playoffs also will be heavily effected by the outcome of this game.

“It’s a very good game. It’s for the league crown — I guess you would call it — but our goal, truthfully, is the 14th game so we’re going to play as hard as we can but win or lose our goal is 14. Don’t take this out of context. I want a league title but I want a CIF title moreso,” said Norco’s Todd Gerhart, in quotes exclusive to FOMB.

The Cougars (7-1 overall, 5-0 Big VIII) will lean on their two outstanding RBs — Deantre Lewis (6-foot, 197 pounds) and Kelsey Young (5-11, 192) — and hope Centennial has an off night. The Huskies (7-1, 5-0) will attack Norco with RBs Denzel Hawkins (5-7, 185) and Dion Bass (5-9, 190) and hope their QB combo of Michael Arredondo (6-0, 175) and Michael Eubanks (6-5, 220) can make enough plays.
CENTENNIAL 35, NORCO 32.

Watch video of Norco here. Watch videos of Corona Centennial here and here.

Riverside Arlington vs. Riverside La Sierra — Despite being located less than seven miles apart, Arlington and La Sierra had pretty much avoided one another throughout their football histories. Then they got clumped together in the new Inland Valley League last season and blam-o, we get this game every year. Junior RB Superiorr (yes, with two R’s) Reid (6-3, 215) ran for 336 yards and three TDs as the Lions (7-1 overall, 4-1 Inland Valley) downed Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 50-20, last week. The Eagles (5-3, 3-2) counter with junior RB/DB Johnnie Walker (5-10, 170), who ran for 122 yards, caught four passes for 67 yards and a TD and also had an interception as Eagles lost their second consecutive game, 34-27, to Moreno Valley Valley View in Week 8.
ARLINGTON 32, LA SIERRA 23.

Temecula Chaparral at Temecula Valley — The Pumas (5-3 overall, 2-1 Southwestern) absolutely need every victory to remain in position to receive a seeding in the Inland Division playoffs. Conversly, one more loss could mean missing the playoffs. They bounced back from their loss to Vista Murrieta in Week 7 to defeat Elsinore Temescal Canyon, 27-21, in Week 8. Senior Mitch Glasmann (6-4, 200) completed 9 of 11 passes for 186 yards and two TDs in the victory. The Golden Bears (1-7, 0-3) have had better seasons. Senior RB Ben Thompson (6-2, 218) has been a bright spot, though, avaging more than 100 yards rushing per game.
CHAPARRAL 28, TEMECULA VALLEY 0.

Chino Hills at Chino Hills Ayala — Canines of Chino Hills, howwwl! This game is getting plenty of play over on the blog of my boy, Clay Fowler. He breaks it down beautifully. I think junior Ifo Expre-olomu (5-10, 180) is one of the more exciting players in the area. He posesses a raw blend of speed and power but may be best suited for defense. He had 110 total yards, two TDs and five tackles as the Huskies (6-2 overall, 2-1 Sierra) lost a nair-biter to Glendora, 24-23, last week. Something went drastically wrong for Tom Inglima’s Bulldogs (6-2, 2-1) in Week 8. His team scored just once following a three-game streak in which the had scored more than 120 points. Big-armed senior transfer Ryan Orozco (6-5, 225) completed 16 of 26 passes for 216 yards but was intercepted twice as Ayala lost, 17-7, to La Verne Damien.
CHINO HILLS 31, AYALA 28.

Perris Citrus Hill at San Jacinto — If you get the chance, check out Citrus Hill’s Deontae Cooper. You can’t drive out to San Jacinto or Hemet Tahquitz the next two weeks? Well check out this video of Cooper here instead. The guy is a blue chip recruit headed to Washington on a full-ride scholarship. He has more than 6,000 career yards and is climbing the ranks of the all-time Inland Empire leaders. Former top backs like Marcus Guzman (Norco, RCC, Redlands) and David Dotson (Moreno Valley Valley View, USC) are among those still ahead of him. Cooper ran for 342 yards and three TDs as the Hawks (8-0 overall, 5-0 Mountain Pass) defeated Menifee Heritage, 28-7, last week. Senior QB Nigel Barksdale returns from a one-game suspension for the Tigers (6-2, 3-2), who lost, 28-0, to Hemet Tahquitz without their all-everything playmaker.
CITRUS HILL 45, SAN JACINTO 14.

Colton at San Bernardino San Gorgonio — The Yellowjackets (7-1 overall, 3-0 San Andreas) have emerged as the second-best team in San Bernardino County this season. A loss here could put their postseason position in jeopardy. Highly sought senior RB Derrick Malone (6-2, 205) ran for 260 yards and four TDs as Colton defeated San Bernardino Cajon, 38-9, in Week 8. The Spartans (2-6, 1-2) have been competitive but allow far too many points – almost 32 per game.
COLTON 23, SAN GORGONIO 7.

Corona at Corona Santiago — I can’t imagine the 2009 season containing very many more bright spots for the Panthers (2-6 overall, 1-4 Big VIII). Watch a video of Corona here. A win here is necessary for the Panthers simply because the chances of a win in Week 10 vs. Corona Centennial aren’t very good. Senior LB Chidera Uzo-Diribe (6-3, 227), a Colorado commit, had 13 tackles and a sack in last week’s 49-8 loss to Eastvale Roosevelt. The Sharks (3-5, 2-3) are battling for their playoff lives following consecutive losses to Norco and Centennial, respectively. Senior QB Brandon Connette (6-2, 190) was intercepted three times but also ran for two TDs in the 52-21 loss to Centennial.
SANTIAGO 27, CORONA 18.

Fontana Miller vs. Redlands East Valley — The whole “Citrus Belt League Showdown” theme now out the window, the only way hyberbole could again surround this game is if the Rebels (4-4, 4-1) are able to pull off a huge upset. Senior QB Juan Flores (5-9, 175) would have to play out of his mind to get it done. Watch a video of Flores and Miller here. Something he didn’t do in the second half of a 28-27 loss to Redlands last week. I think The Wildcats (8-0, 5-0) are just too balanced to lose this game. Senior QB Tyler Shreve (6-4, 220) and senior RB A.J. Fernandez (6-0, 205) have combined for more than 2,400 yards and 32 TDs this season.
REDLANDS EAST VALLEY 36, MILLER 34.

Riverside Norte Vista at Fontana Summit — The Braves (7-1 overall, 2-1 Sunkist) must feel as though a blowout loss to Fontana Kaiser in Week 7 is ancient history following their 24-0 win over Riverside Patriot last week. Coach Ken Batdorf better keep this game close to his vest — the SkyHawks (4-4, 2-1), a team averaging more than 25 points per game, lost Kaiser in Week 8.
SUMMIT 17, NORTE VISTA 14.

Riverside North at Eastvale Roosevelt — The Huskies (3-5 overall, 1-4) won for the first time in six weeks, 44-30, over Riverside Poly. Watch a videos of North here. Senior RB E.J. Schexnayder (hamstring) returned from a one-game absence to run for four TDs in the victory. The Mustangs (6-2, 3-2) have defeated every opponent except Norco and Centennial and look to be on firm playoff ground. A win here would all but secure a spot.
ROOSEVELT 33, NORTH 27.

Riverside Poly at Riverside King –The battle between to two most affluent public schools in Riverside. The Bears (3-5, 1-4) have lost three consecutive since I watched them defeat Corona, 32-27, in Week 5. King (3-5, 2-3) also has just one league victory — over Corona — and lost to Norco by more than three TDs last week. Junior QB/K was spot-on with his kicks, though, going 2 for 2 on field-goal attempts, including one that can be seen in the video here.
POLY 25, KING 20.

Moreno Valley Rancho Verde at Riverside Ramona — The Mustangs (8-0 overall, 5-0 Inland Valley) are a vision and a blur on offense. I’ve read that coach Pete Duffy keeps a very disciplined house. I’m not surprised given their recent results — two consecutive 70-plus-point shutouts. That has to be some sort of record. The Rams (2-6, 1-4) won their first league game last week, a 28-22 victory over Moreno Valley Canyon Springs.
RANCHO VERDE 68, RAMONA 3.

Victorville Silverado at Apple Valley Granite Hills — The final game of the regular season for the Hawks (7-2 overall, 3-0 Desert Sky), who have played every week since Week 0. With a victory, senior QB Jemeryn Jenkins (6-2, 190) will probably receive at worst a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division playoffs. That’s a long wat from last season, when Jenkins had to win the last three games of the season to qualify for the playoffs with a 3-7 record. The Cougars (6-2, 1-1) enter their toughest stretch (Silverado, Barstow) having won just two of their last four games.
SILVERADO 24, GRANITE HILLS 16.

Upland at Rancho Cucamonga — The Highlanders (7-1 overall, 2-1 Baseline) had a chance to make this game more meaningful but a loss to upset-minded Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 18-16, last week spoiled the party. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1) are back on track and a win here could cement at least a No. 4 seed in the Inland Division playoffs.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA 26, UPLAND 21.

Vista Murrieta at Temecula Great Oak — I just can’t see the Broncos (8-0 overall, 3-0 Southwestern) laying an egg here — there’s too much at stake. Coach Coley Candaele should have his team on spoiler alert. The Wolfpack (6-2, 2-1) had played well — winning four consecutive — until losing last week, 49-37, to Murrieta Valley.
VISTA MURRIETA 37, GREAT OAK 17.

LAST WEEK: 15-0. SEASON: 62-21.