INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Lancaster Paraclete-Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World varsity football game tonight for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment will not be the drive up the mountain. Weather forecast is for “light snow,” whatever the hell that is. Snow’s snow, right?

THE LOW DOWN:
The Spirits (10-2 overall) have been conjured to win a CIF title, or so it looks anyway. This Lancaster parochial school have won both of its playoff games by the score 42-7. If that’s not enough to make you a believer, then howabout…. their only two losses are to teams still playing (Phelan Serrano, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon). Spooky, right? It’s like fate has intervened for Coach Norm Dahlia’s team, which has scored 45.7 points per game in November. They run the ball three times more often than they pass, averaging 32 carries against just 11 pass attempts per game. Junior RB Antoyne Hutcherson and senior FB Ryan Davis have combined for 1,546 yards and 24 TDs, while junior QB Tyler Carvalho has passed for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs. Junior LB Bryan Rodgers leads the team with 51 solo tackles.

Despite their third-place finish, the Fighting Scots (7-5 overall) are the only Mountain Valley League team left standing. Pretty sure it has something to do with junior RB Jacob Taylor, the state’s second-leading rusher, and a punishing offensive line that doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Taylor has run for more than 175 yards nine times this season, and has 2,392 yards and 26 TDs to show for it. The Scots may have just four players over 200 pounds, but they sure get the job done, averaging more than 316 rushing yards per game. Sophomore FB Chase Bodor has been rave reviews for his ability to move mike linebackers, and tiny Dyllan Bratton has been in spot situations spelling Taylor, adding 10 TDs and nearly 700 yards.

KEY PLAYERS:
Lancaster Paraclete — QB: Tyler Carvalho, Jr. (5-foot-11, 165 pounds); RBs: Antoyne Nutherson, Jr. (6-foot, 180); FB: Ryan Davis, Sr. (5-9, 205); WR: Braydon Maish, Sr. (5-11, 170); Elijah Gutierrez, Sr. (5-10, 190); TE: Will Pretty, Jr. (6-2, 215); OL/DL: Mason VanKirk, Soph. (6-4, 245); D’errick Chambers, Soph. (6-1, 250); Jey Alvarez, Jr. (6-foot, 220); Connor Rush, Sr. (6-1, 205); Joshua Adams, Sr. (6-foot, 195); Leroy Lealancon, Jr. (6-4, 270); LB: Phillip Grove, Sr. (5-10, 180); Bryan Rodgers, Jr. (6-1, 205); ; DB: James Regan, Sr. (5-7, 170); Anthony Blanco, Sr. (5-9, 150); Joel Estrada, Sr. (5-10, 160); K: Mathayo Huma, Sr. (6-4, 210).

Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World — QB: Brandon Downey, Sr. (5-foot-8, 148 pounds); RBs: Jacob Taylor, Jr. (5-11, 166); Dyllan Bratton, Jr. (5-5, 134); FB: Chase Bodor, Soph. (5-8, 165); WRs: Joseph Marquez, Jr. (5-9, 150); Trevor Woolery, Sr. (5-9, 164); TE: Jeremy Jackson, Sr. (6-4, 186); OL/DL: Brandon Carpenter, Sr. (5-10, 174); Matt Swim, Sr. (6-foot, 229); Kyle Coney, Sr. (6-foot, 223); Eduardo Chavez, Sr. (5-11, 195); Austin Smith, Sr. (5-11, 172); Austin Gradillas, Sr. (6-foot, 166), Lucas Ehe, Sr. (6-foot, 178); LBs: Jobani Barrios, Jr. (5-8, 168); Blake Decker, Soph. (5-10, 198); DBs: Brennan Wiest, Sr. (5-8, 171); Ryan Sanchez, Sr. (5-9, 163).

THE DIFFERENCE:
The Fighting Scots are riding a four-game winning streak, and are looking for their first title game appearance in 35 years. That’s a lot of pressure but playing at home — in the fog and (gulp) snow — in Lake Arrowhead can create a huge mental edge. Paraclete, the No. 3 seed in the East Valley Division, seems up for the task and has a physical advantage, at least on paper.
PREDICTION: Paraclete 32, Rim of the World 27