Inland Area Prep Football Top 10
THROUGH WEEK THIRTEEN
1. Vista Murrieta (12-1) — Bronco’s one-hit wonders Coltin Gerhart and Kwesi Mashack must be emotionally spent after returning to Norco. Just how much is left in the tank?
THIS SEASON: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Southwestern League. LAST SEASON: 13-1 overall, 5-0 Southwestern League.
LAST RANKED: No. 1.
LAST GAME: def. No. 4 Norco 56-19 in a CIF-Southern Section Inland Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: at No. 2 Corona Centennial in the CIF-SS Inland Division Championship game on FRIDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (11-2) — Huskies set national records in a colossal victory at Upland, with Tre “Titan” Watson leading the way with over 500(!) rushing yards.
THIS SEASON: 11-2 overall, 5-0 Big VIII League. LAST SEASON: 14-2 overall, 5-0 Big VIII League.
LAST RANKED: No. 2.
LAST GAME: def. No. 7 Upland 86-56 in a CIF-SS Inland Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: vs. No. 1 Vista Murrieta in the CIF-SS Inland Division Quarterfinal Championship game on FRIDAY.
3. Menifee Heritage (12-1) — Can any Inland Area defense stop the Patriots potent rushing attack? Seriously. Senior RBs Limihai Hifo and Sione Takitaki are a load.
THIS SEASON: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Sunbelt League. LAST SEASON: 11-2 overall, 5-0 Sunbelt League.
LAST RANKED: No. 3.
LAST GAME: def. Ontario Colony 57-31 in a CIF-SS Central Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: vs. No. 6 MoVal Rancho Verde in the CIF-SS Central Division Championship game on SATURDAY.
4. Norco (9-4) — Cougars proved too one dimensional in the end, and super scheming (with a few exceptionally recognizable playmakers) the deciding factor.
THIS SEASON: 9-4 overall, 4-1 Big VIII League. LAST SEASON: 7-5 overall, 3-2 Big VIII League.
LAST RANKED: No. 4.
LAST WEEK: lost, 56-19, to No. 1 Vista Murrieta in a CIF-SS Inland Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: Season complete.
5. Perris Citrus Hill (12-1) — Hawks must have “back-to-back” on the front of their minds this week after posting 60 points in the semifinals, and thereby securing Eric Zomalt’s coaching legacy.
THIS SEASON: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Mountain Pass League. LAST SEASON: 14-0 overall, 5-0 Mountain Pass League.
LAST RANKED: No. 6.
LAST GAME: def. Moreno Valley 60-10 in a CIF-SS Eastern Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: at No. 10 Riverside Norte Vista in the CIF-SS Eastern Division Championship game on FRIDAY.
6. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (11-2) — Mustangs have not allowed more than seven points in three playoff games (just 13 overall), but can they stop Heritage’s seemingly unstoppable run game?
THIS SEASON: 11-2 overall, 6-0 Inland Valley League. LAST SEASON: 10-4 overall, 5-1 Inland Valley League.
LAST RANKED: No. 8.
LAST GAME: def. Elsinore 42-7 in a CIF-SS Inland Division Quarterfinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 22.
WEEK THIRTEEN: vs. No. 9 Fontana Kaiser in a CIF-SS Inland Division Quarterfinal Round game on FRIDAY.
7. San Bernardino San Gorgonio (12-1) — Spartans speared themselves in the foot with penalties in the semifinal vs. Norte Vista, despite 300-plus total yards from senior QB Tahir Rasheed-Mills.
THIS SEASON: 12-1 overall, 5-0 San Andreas League. LAST SEASON: 8-3 overall, 4-1 San Andreas League.
LAST RANKED: No. 5.
LAST GAME: lost, 38-37, to No. 10 Riverside Norte Vista in a CIF-SS Eastern Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: Season complete.
8. Upland (9-4) — The ‘U’ said adieu to the 2013 season with 56 points — a season high — in a fantastic Inland Division semifinal that’ll likely go down as the Area’s event of the year.
THIS SEASON: 9-4 overall, 3-2 Baseline League. LAST SEASON: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Baseline League.
LAST RANKED: No. 7.
LAST GAME: lost, 86-56, to No. 2 Corona Centennial in a CIF-SS Inland Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: Season complete.
9. Rancho Cucamonga (10-2) — Cougars’ season accomplishments — and the teams they beat — speak columns, but Coach Nick Baiz still needs to find a way to get past the Big 2.
THIS SEASON: 10-2 overall, 4-1 Baseline League. LAST SEASON: 10-3 overall, 4-1 Baseline League.
LAST RANKED: No. 10.
LAST GAME: lost, 23-21, to No. 4 Norco in a CIF-SS Inland Division Quarterfinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 22.
WEEK FOURTEEN: Season Complete.
10. Riverside Norte Vista (5-8) — Braves forfeited seven victories to 2-8 — and with it the River Valley League title — but have won three playoffs games and will host a fourth.
THIS SEASON: 5-8 overall, 2-3 River Valley League. LAST SEASON: 6-5 overall, 5-0 River Valley League.
LAST RANKED: Not Ranked.
LAST GAME: def. No. 7 San Bernardino San Gorgonio 38-37 in a CIF-SS Inland Division Semifinal Round game on Friday, Nov. 29.
WEEK FOURTEEN: vs. No. 5 Perris Citrus Hill in the CIF-SS Inland Division Championship game on FRIDAY.
DROPPED OUT: Fontana Kaiser (10-3).
JUST MISSED: Fontana Jurupa Hills (11-2) Moreno Valley (11-2), Phelan Serrano (10-2), Hesperia Oak Hills (10-2), Menifee Paloma Valley (10-2), Ontario Colony (9-4), Riverside Poly (9-3), La Quinta (9-3), Temecula Chaparral (8-5), Chino Hills (8-3), Rialto Eisenhower (8-3), Temecula Great Oak (7-4), Corona Santiago (6-6), Murrieta Valley (6-4).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 