INLAND FIELDHOUSE

1. Temecula Chaparral at Corona Centennial, Sept. 23 — A potential Inland Division championship game preview, this non-league tilt will feature the Inland Area’s best QB (Chaparral’s Matt Morin) against the reigning champs. The hype for this game, if it hasn’t started already, starts now.

2. Upland at Norco, Sept. 28 — These two have clashed in the playoffs in recent years. For the Highlanders, who play at Phelan Serrano the week before, a victory would mean avenging postseason woes. For the Cougars, a victory is crucial in their third of what is likely the most difficult non-league schedules (L.A. Crenshaw, Etiwanda, Upland).  

3. San Bernardino Cajon at Temecula Chaparral, Sept. 3 — The Cowboys travel more than 50 miles to Temecula in Week 0 to play the Pumas in coach Ryan Tukua’s debut. Cajon, led by University of Washington commit Damontae Kazee (5-foot-11, 170), may be driving into a mean and motivated Chaparral buzzsaw.  

4. Corona Santiago at Vista Murrieta Sept. 16 — It seems like the Sharks scheduled non-league games in waters far too deep this season. Coach Jeff Steinberg’s team plays Dana Hills, Chino Hills and the Broncos in what looks like a trial of fire for junior QB Michael Darr (6-foot-1, 185 pounds). Vista Murrieta is deep and talented, per usual.

AND MORE: Riverside King at Riverside Ramona, Sept. 3 — In the wake of an excellent feature by Will Holden of the Press-Enterprise, this game has way more going on then the two middling teams on the field would suggest. Ramona senior QB T.J. Miller (6-foot, 180 pounds) has emerged into something special — despite his difficult surroundings early in life — and is hungry to break the Rams’ long losing streak. The Wolves have a new coach, Kevin Corridan, who has proven to be an excellent defense coach. Can he toughen King, both mentally and physically?