INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Corona Centennial-Corona varsity football game tonight, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, for The Press-Enterprise and PE.com.

The best part of this assignment is that it means I’m covering a Thursday night game for a third time this October.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Huskies (6-2 overall, 3-0 Big VIII) continue to roll along in league play after dispatching Rimpau Ave. rival Corona Santiago last week. The real questions remaining for this team are about a month away when Coach Matt Logan’s team advances to a CIF semifinal game for the umpteenth time with sights on an elusive Open Division bowl bid in the offing.

The Panthers (1-7 overall, 0-3 Big VIII) are coming of a heart-breaking 42-41 loss to Eastvale Roosevelt in Week 8, and are officially out of the playoffs. That should give Coach Stephen Hill plenty of opportunity to showcase one of the better young programs in the Big VIII, while the seniors will be playing with little to lose.

THE KEY PLAYERS:
Centennial — Nate Ketteringham (Sr., 6-foot-4, 190); Anthony Catalano (Jr., 5-10, 165); RB/KR J.J. Taylor (Jr., 5-6, 160); Greyson Bankhead (Sr., 5-11, 160); OL Sid Acosta (Sr., 6-2, 275); DL Tucker Robinson (Sr., 6-1, 215); LB Zach Brumbaugh (Jr., 5-11, 220); SS Jihree Stewart (Sr., 6-foot, 180); S Chacho Ulloa (Jr., 6-foot, 185).

Corona — QB Jason Kandler (Sr., 5-foot-11, 195 pounds); RB Adam Miles (Sr., 5-8, 160); WR Jacob Smevog (Sr., 5-10, 165); WR Ian Sutherland (Jr., 6-2, 185); OL/T Taylor Lindsey (St., 6-5, 260); SS/OLB Devante Sargent (Sr., 5-11, 180); SS/OLB Victor Cox (Sr., 6-foot, 205); DT Francisco Perez (Sr., 6-5, 225); DE/OLB Derek Snyder (6-2, 215).

THE DIFFERENCE:
Centennial’s defense, believe it or not. Both teams can score loads of points, but expect the Huskies D-line to get the key stops thereby preventing Corona from prolonging drives late in the game.
THE FINAL SCORE: Centennial 52, Corona 36