INLAND FIELDHOUSE

INLAND DIVISION (CIF-SS Division II)
Temecula Chaparral (10-3) at Vista Murrieta (13-0)
A first for the Southwestern League: two of its teams are playing for a CIF title in a sport other than tennis or water polo. The Pumas, coached by Tom Leach, are currently ranked ninth in the section, 13th in the state, 94th nationally. They’ve averaged 38.1 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 93-75 heading into the title game. They’re led by senior QB Mitch Glasmann (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), who has passed for 27 TDs and more than 2,700 yards. He’s also scored another 15 TDs rushing, giving him more than 40 TDs on the season. The Broncos, coached by Coley Candaele, are currently ranked fifth in the section, fifth in the state, 32nd nationally. They’ve averaged 32.8 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 105-56 heading into the title game. They’re led by junior QB Derrick Brown (6-2, 190), who has passed for more than 1,600 yards, ran for another 900 and accounted for 32 TDs. Vista defeated Chaparral, 32-13, in their Week 7 matchup. I expect a tighter game but the same outcome.
BRONCOS 38, PUMAS 35

CENTRAL DIVISION (CIF-SS Division V)
Upland (11-2) vs. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (9-4)
Another intra-league matchup. This time it’s the Baseline League. The Highlanders, coached by Tim Salter, are currently ranked 21st in the section, 33rd in the state, 266th nationally. They’ve averaged 26.4 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 64-30 heading into the title game. Balance is the key for Upland, which had two QBs — senior Harrison Stewart (5-11, 185) and junior Justin Nunes (6-0, 180) — split time under center as well as four ball carriers gain more than 300 yards this season. Senior LB Timothy Helton (6-1, 205) led the team with 145 tackles (85 solo). The Grizzlies, coached by Tom Martinez, are currently ranked 22nd in the section, 44th in the state, 360th nationally. They’ve averaged 33.9 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 117-83 heading into the title game. They’re led by the big-play combination of senior QB Blake Loncar (6-4, 220) and senior WR Sean Alston (5-10, 175), who have connected for 10 TDs this season. The Grizzlies also pound the ball with junior RB Cody Rogina (6-1, 200) and senior Kailen Wright (6-0, 185), who have combined for more than 800 yards and 22 TDs this season. Upland shut out Los Osos, 17-0, in their Week 6 matchup. The Grizzlies have benefitted from a fortunate playoff draw but their luck ends here.
HIGHLANDERS 14, GRIZZLIES 7

EASTERN DIVISION (CIF-SS Division VIII)
Phelan Serrano (11-2) at Palm Springs (10-2)
High Desert vs. Hiawatha. The Diamondbacks, coached by Ray Maholchic, are ranked 46th in the section, 82nd in the state, 700th nationally. They’ve averaged 25.8 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 85-36 heading into the title game. They’re led by an outstanding defense (two playoff shutouts, four total) and senior RB Dionza Bradford (6-0, 200), who has rushed for 10 TDs and more than 800 yards this season. The Indians, coached by Steve Fabian, are ranked 44th in the section, 77nd in the state, 674 nationally. They’ve averaged 33.0 points per game this season and have outscored playoff opponents 114-26 heading into the final. They, too, are led by an outstanding defense (two playoff shutouts) and have held opponents to 14 points or less in nine of 12 games this season. Senior QB Michael Karls (5-11, 195) carries the bulk of the load on offense for the Indians, totaling more than 1,000 yards of offense and 20 TDs. This game will come down to turnovers and which team is able to capitalize most often.
DIAMONDBACKS 20, INDIANS 16