INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I shot play-by-play streaming video of the Inland Empire All-Star Classic for HSGameTime.com on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, and came away thinking I had just seen an outrageous comeback, or a complete collapse. I cannot tell which.

Viewing the game from atop Corona High School’s press box, and from behind a very large and very expensive video camera on a 6-foot tripod, was unable to watch any aspect of gameplay that did not involve the ball. Yeah, I got the touchdowns runs, passes and returns, but I didn’t get much of where the game is actually played — the line of scrimmage.

And that’s unfortunate because Riverside County had the guile to win a game in overtime after trailing by four touchdowns at halftime. It may have only been an exhibition, but it was an exhilarating exhibition.

San Bernardino County was the better, faster team in the first half. Led by Cajon QB Thomas Carter (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), the white shirts made all the plays and led 28-0 at halftime. He completed six consecutive passes in the second quarter, including a TD connection with Fontana Summit WR Devon Blackmon (6-3, 210) that would have been the play of the game had it ended after 24 minutes.

Then somehow, at halftime, a fire was seemingly lit under the collective arse of Riverside County and the team started moving the ball. The redshirts scored on their first possession of the third quarter, the scored again, and again and again. All without allowing San Bernardino County to score in retaliation.

Vista Murrieta QB Derrick Brown (6-5, 240) was electric over the final two quarter, scrambling, running with the ball and delivering hits on would-be tacklers. He didn’t throw it very well, but made the plays “when he needed to,” as the axiom goes.

Riverside County’s backfield trio of Centennial Corona RB Barrinton Collins (5-8, 186), Riverside Arlington RB Superiorr Reid (6-3, 218) and Eastvale Roosevelt RB Joey Legere (5-6, 170) may have been as fine a grouping as has ever played in this game. Each ran for at least one touchdown, with Reid running for one in the third quarter and the game-winning score in overtime.

For as lopsided as the first half had been, the second half was equally lopsided. It was, and as my good friend David Zink said at the time, “a tale of two halves.”

PHOTO COURTESY: TERRY PIERSON / THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE