Inland Area Prep Football Top 10
1. Vista Murrieta (2-5) — So the CIF has taken away each of their five very solid non-league victories. So what? So long as Su’a Cravens, Nicholas Stevens and the rest of Coach Coley Candaele’s talented team lines up every Friday night, take the Broncos.
LAST RANKED: No. 1. LAST WEEK: d. Temecula Valley 41-3 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Temecula Great Oak on FRIDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (6-1) — The Huskies’ defense played bend-but-don’t-break, allowing 438 yards but just 18 points in a rivarly-game victory that all but assures them the 2011 Big VIII League title.
LAST RANKED: No. 2. LAST WEEK: d. Norco 45-18 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Corona on FRIDAY.
3. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (7-0) — The Mustangs move up this week after smashing another league opponent. We get it. Coach Pete Duffy’s team is the one to beat in the Central Division, again.
LAST RANKED: No. 4. LAST WEEK: d MoVal Vista del Lago 63-0 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Riverside Ramona on FRIDAY.
4. Redlands East Valley (7-0) — The Wildcats fall this week because a unconvincing performance in their Smudge Pot victory. This program seems to relish close games, and has won its fair share, but luck and good favor don’t last forever.
LAST RANKED: No. 3. LAST WEEK: d. Redlands 21-14 (OT) on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Rialto Eisenhower on FRIDAY.
5. Upland (7-0) — The Highlanders jump five spots this week after defeating previously undefeated Rancho Cucamonga in the battle for the Baseline League. Is this team really ranked No. 2 in California by MaxPreps.com?
LAST RANKED: No. 10. LAST WEEK: d. No. 7 Rancho Cucamonga 31-17 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: vs. Glendora at Citrus College on FRIDAY.
6. Riverside North (6-1) — The Huskies continue to put up big offensive numbers behind senior QB Justin Gheorghe, but the defense needs to tighten its screws if this team has expectations of a deep playoff run.
LAST RANKED: No. 7. LAST WEEK: d. Eastvale Roosevelt 49-35 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: vs. Corona Santiago at Riverside CC on THURSDAY.
7. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1) — The Cougars failed to defend its place among the Inland Area elite, and will now have to rebound quickly to avoid losing this week to a very talented team.
LAST RANKED: No. 5. LAST WEEK: lost 31-17 to No. 5 Upland on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda and Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos HS on FRIDAY.
8. Yucaipa (7-0) — The Thunderbirds move up this week after a big win over an old rival. The offense is clicking out there near Crafton Hills; Coach Justin Price’s team is averaging 37.8 points per game, tops in the Citrus Belt League.
LAST RANKED: No. 10. LAST WEEK: d. Fontana 34-9 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Redlands on FRIDAY.
9. San Bernardino Cajon (6-1) — The Cowboys stumbled on the road, perhaps the result of not having played a playoff team in a month. It doesn’t get any easier for Coach Kim Battin’s team; Surprise San Andreas League contender Rialto Carter awaits in Week 10.
LAST RANKED: No. 6. LAST WEEK: lost 27-25 to Rialto on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: vs. Colton on FRIDAY.
10. Elsinore (6-1) — The Tigers find a way to hang around for another week after Coach Tony Peralta’s team posts their first shutout of the season. They’ll face their biggest test, against Menifee Heritage, in two weeks.
LAST RANKED: No. 9. LAST WEEK: d. Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon 10-0 on Oct. 21.
WEEK EIGHT: at Perris on FRIDAY.
JUST MISSED: Fontana Summit (6-1), Perris Citrus Hill (7-0), Riverside La Sierra (6-1), Rialto (6-1).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 