Prep Preview: Norco at Etiwanda
I’m covering the Norco-Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda varsity football game tonight for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment is sure to be measuring the Cougars, FOMB’s top-ranked team this week, on the road against a stout opponent.
THE LOWDOWN:
Norco (1-0 overall) are the darlings of the Inland Area after defeating Los Angeles Crenshaw 21-20 in a regionally televised game on Fox Sports West. Running back Joseph Ajeigbe totaled 50 yards on the game-winning drive — including the scoring run — as the Cougars took advantage of mistakes from Crenshaw to come back from a 20-14 deficit in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Coltin Gerhart continues to mature with every snap. The coach’s kid was a part of Norco’s first two TDs, running for the first one and passing for the second.
Etiwanda (1-1 overall) scored 49 points in a win over Fontana Summit in Week 0, and 28 points in a loss to Vista Murrieta in Week 1. Both those opponents were CIF finalists last season. It would seem coach Stephen Bryce has the Eagles running a gauntlet before Baseline League play begins, and with it tests against both Rancho Cucamonga and Upland. Quarterback Larry Cutbirth has completed better than 60 percent of his pass attempts for four TDs and more than 500 yards in the first two game, but threw three INTs in last week’s loss.
KEY PLAYERS:
Norco — QB: Colton Gerhart, Soph. (6-foot-1, 211 pounds); RB: Joseph Ajeigbe, Jr. (5-8, 198); WR: Cameron Hemmings, Sr. (6-1, 197); OL: Joshua Robertson, Sr. (6-6, 293); LB: Scott Starr, Sr. (6-4, 235); DB: Evan Latham, Sr. (5-10, 185).
Etiwanda — QB: Larry Cutbirth, Sr. (6-foot-5, 190 pounds); RB: Tacory Spencer, Soph. (5-8, 165); WR: Raphael Barr, Sr. (6-1, 185); DL: Dave Vaughn, Sr. (6-3, 225); LB: J.J. Everard, Sr. (6-1, 225); DB: James Solarzano, Sr. (5-10, 160).
THE DIFFERENCE:
The Cougars’ beefy offensive line. Robertson is this biggest in a trio of massive seniors — Dustin Stanton (6-4, 285), Roy Faulkinbury (6-2, 250), et al — that must have Inland Area coaches scratching their heads as to how to match their physicality, nevermind their experience.
PREDICTION: Norco 31, Etiwanda 28
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 