Inland Area Prep Football Top 10
1. Vista Murrieta (3-5) — The Broncos bounce off a teeming scandal with grace, humility and a huge victory. Seriously, was there any doubt? Coach Coley Candaele has crafted a dynasty at Vista no bungled paperwork can crumple.
LAST RANKED: No. 1. LAST GAME: d. Temecula Great Oak 45-24 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Murrieta Valley on FRIDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (7-1) — The Huskies chewed up their intra-city rival, but it was mere flesh on the carcass of another CIF Inland Division title. Senior QB Hayden Gavett (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) has emerged a pack leader, with 27 total TDs thus far.
LAST RANKED: No. 1. LAST GAME: d. Corona 49-6 on Oct. 28
WEEK NINE: vs. Eastvale Roosevelt on FRIDAY.
3. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (8-0) — The Mustangs continue to pile up yards and points en route to another undefeated regular season. Senior WR Breon Redman (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) looks more and more like a Division I player.
LAST RANKED: No. 3. LAST GAME: d. Riverside Ramona 49-14 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. MoVal Canyon Springs on FRIDAY.
4. Redlands East Valley (8-0) — The Wildcats managed a victory over one of the bottom feeders in the CBL. Then again, this team usually plays to the level of its competition.
LAST RANKED: No. 4. LAST GAME: d. Rialto Eisenhower 34-14 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Fontana at Redlands Citrus Valley HS on FRIDAY.
5. Upland (8-0) — The Highlanders/Scots (what’s the deal with that, anyway?) continue their torrid pace through the Baseline League. Whatever it is Coach Tim Salter’s crew calls themselves, it’s working.
LAST RANKED: No. 5. LAST GAME: d. Glendora 49-3 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos on FRIDAY.
6. Riverside North (7-1) — If the Huskies’ only hiccup this season remains its shootout loss to Centennial in Week 5, Coach Mark Parades team will be looking at a pretty sweet seed in 14 days time.
LAST RANKED: No. 6. LAST GAME: d. Corona Santiago 37-21 on Oct. 27.
WEEK NINE: vs. Riverside North at Riverside City College on FRIDAY.
7. Yucaipa (8-0) — The Thunderbirds won the first of three consecutive games against the “other” best teams in the Citrus Belt League. Is is possible Coach Justin Price’s team takes on REV in a “battle-of-undefeateds” come Week 10?
LAST RANKED: No. 8. LAST GAME: d. Redlands 21-6 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Fontana Miller on FRIDAY.
8. Rancho Cucamonga (7-1) — The Cougars managed to keep their heads above water thanks to a massive kickoff return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Junior DB Chris Hawkins (6-foot, 170 pounds) scored his second TD of the season when he returned a kickoff 99 yards with less than 3 minutes remaining.
LAST RANKED: No. 7. LAST GAME: d. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda 30-27 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Glendora at Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos HS on FRIDAY.
9. San Bernardino Cajon (7-1) — The Cowboys got back to basics and back to winning, even if they had to do so without their starting QB. Senior Edwin Martinez (6-foot, 200 pounds) will be out until the second round of the playoffs with strained knee ligaments.
LAST RANKED: No. 9. LAST GAME: d. Colton 31-13 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. San Bernardino Arroyo Valley on FRIDAY.
10. Elsinore (7-1) — Somehow, someway, the Tigers scored a ton of points in Week 8. Maybe Coach Tony Peralta’s team should’ve saved at least of few of them, though, as they play their most important league fixture this week.
LAST RANKED: No. 10. LAST GAME: d. Perris 62-23 on Oct. 28.
WEEK NINE: vs. Menifee Heritage on FRIDAY.
JUST MISSED: Fontana Summit (7-1), Perris Citrus Hill (8-0), Riverside La Sierra (7-1).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 