INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Bloomington-Riverside Patriot varsity football game tonight for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment will be the pressure I’m going to feel from putting together a 10-inch story about two teams at the bottom. And by 10 p.m.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Bruins have not won a game since Sept. 30, meaning Coach Tom Connor’s team has lost four consecutive games heading into November. At 3-5 overall and 0-3 in the Sunkist League, what’s left of this team’s seniors will be playing for pride, which can be even more powerful than playing for a playoff spot. Senior QB Demetreus Moore looks interesting but Bloomington’s roster is so scattered it’s hard to tell who does what since the Bruins don’t provide stats.

The Warriors (2-6 overall, 0-0 Sunkist) are similarly out of playoff contention, and will be playing for what’s left of the regular season only. Second-year coach Scott Pearne is now 6-12 and without a playoff appearance since moving over from Riverside North. Things may begin to change though as a couple of huge interior lineman are still underclassmen. Senior RB Nano Martinez continues to carry the load as he’s done the better part of the last three seasons, and should finish his career Patriot’s all-time leading rusher.

KEY PLAYERS:
Bloomington — QB: Demetreus Moore, Sr. (6-foot-3, 210 pounds); RB: Johnta Carter, Sr. (5-8, 190); WR: Ezekiel Herndon, Sr. (6-1, 175); Joe Miranda, Sr. (6-foot, 180); TE: Corey Brown, Sr. (6-2, 185); OL/DL: Eric Burns, Sr. (6-2, 310); Roberto Arellano, Sr. (6-foot-, 195); LB: Alex Gutierrez, Sr. (6-foot, 170); Nikk Baker, Sr. (6-foot, 175); Julian Camarena, Sr. (6-2, 205); DB: Stephen Davis, Sr. (5-8, 150); K: Billy Blythe, Sr. (5-7, 155).

Riverside Patriot — QB: J.D. Hernandez, Soph. (5-9, 170); Andrew Fierro, Soph. (5-6, 145); RB: Nano Martinez, Sr. (5-8, 200); WR: David Godoy, Sr. (5-7, 165); TE: Fernando Bracamontes, Sr. (6-3, 210); Andrew Yzaguirre, Sr. (6-foot, 180); OL/DL: Roman Ontiveros, Sr. (6-3, 260); Stephen Mendoza, Sr. (5-10, 245); Armen Quintinar, Sr. (6-foot, 280); DB: Joseph Paz, Sr. (5-7, 160).

THE DIFFERENCE:
Who knows which team is going to win the this game?!? Bloomington has scored and average of 22 points per game; Patriot 14. The Bruins have allowed 31 per game; the Warriors 32. To put it bluntly… both teams kinda stink, so the answer lies somewhere in between.
PREDICTION: Bloomington 24, Patriot 18.