INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Fontana Kaiser-Jurupa Valley varsity football game tonight for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment is that this game represents the possibility of a power-shift in the Sunkist League.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Cats (4-2 overall, 1-0 Sunkist) are still the Cats, they’re just a very young version. Sophomore QB Ryan Mota is a sturdy runner and an explosive change-up to the TB duo of Taleeb Isom and Marquette Washington, who have combined for more than 1,400 rushing yards in ’11. Toby Rainwater has been excelled on special teams, and in names that reference naturally-occuring phenomena.

The Jaguars (5-0-1 overall, 2-0 Sunkist) have cranked up the dial on offense, with more than 2,000 yards and 20 TDs coming from two seniors — QB Martin Mercado and RB Santana Gonzalez. Has all that recent losing (3-27 the last three years) forged winner? Mercado, now in his third varsity season, has thrown for 1,064 yards and 10 TDs, while Gonzalez, also a third-year varsity player, has rushed for 950 yards and 11 TDs.

KEY PLAYERS:
Fontana Kaiser — QB: Ryan Mota, Soph. (6-foot-2, 195 pounds); RB: Marquette Washington, Jr. (5-10, 205); Taleeb Isom, Jr. (6-foot, 180); WR: Desmond Ferrer, Jr. (5-9, 185); OL/DL: Aisea Hanson, Sr. (6-5, 307); Nick Aguirre, Sr. (6-1, 225); LBs: Anthony Flores, Sr. (6-foot, 215); Kevin Trujillo, Jr. (6-foot, 220); Anthony Seanz, Jr. (6-1, 230); DB: Kyle Parchment, Sr. (6-1, 175).

Jurupa Valley — QB: Martin Mercado, Sr. (6-foot-2, 224 pounds); RB: Santana Gonzalez, Sr. (5-10, 190); WR: Dalton Boughton, Sr. (5-10, 165); OL/DL: Adrian Contreras, Sr. (6-2, 230); Trent Williams, Jr. (6-3, 320); Jonathan Miranda, Sr. (6-foot, 198); Darien Pule, Sr. (5-11, 230); LBs: Alex Beam, Sr. (6-0, 240); Coley Halandras, Sr. (5-9, 182); Sergio Camacho, Sr. (5-8, 178).

THE DIFFERENCE:
Jurupa Valley is staring at a playoff spot with a victory tonight, and I think they’ll get it… barely. If the Jaguars, playing at home, can utilize their superior offensive balance — and avoid being counter-scratched (sorry) — they’ll be in line for their first postseason berth since ’07. Cuts left unattended lead to infection, though, so the Jags should be ready for an alley fight. Bring lots of gauze.
PREDICTION: Jurupa Valley 24, Kaiser 21