Prep Impressions: Week 7
Rubidoux senior Robert Taylor (8) runs in a 36-34 loss to Vista del Lago in Week 7. / Photo by MILKA SOKO for The Press-Enterprise
Call it over-confidence, but Rubidoux players stopped perfecting their assignments while Vista del Lago’s did not. In the process, a 21-0 lead was down to 21-14 at halftime, and after a wide-open third quarter the scored was tied 28-all in the fourth quarter just long enough for the Ravens to swoop away with two more TDs and a 35-34 victory.
The Falcons (6-1 overall, 1-1 Mountain Valley) went from unbeaten somebodies to vulnerable every-bodies in less than 30 minutes of football. Surprisingly found out that senior RB Robert Taylor is a strong, upright runner with some moves.
The Ravens (6-1 overall, 2-0 Mountain Valley) made the moves necessary to win the game the may have well decided the MVL champion. Coach Art Giovannini and his staff exploited Rubidoux’s small defensive backs for big plays over the top, and senior RB John Lacey Jr. is a load — a real tough tackle.
Vista del Lago head coach Art Giovannini:
“I think when our running game started to click in the second quarter they went to a ‘zero’ coverage. We have a couple good wide receivers so we just started picking on them left, right and middle. We knew we were going to be successful, and in the second half it was our ‘H’ guy that was successful over the middle, so that’s what we went to. We’re the returning league champions so we’re just trying to play like that. These guys had practiced well all week. They really worked hard and this shows a lot of character, to go down 21-nothing and come back. We got to find some things for (Mykal Riley) to be confident in. He starts executing a little bit. Sometimes we have to figure our what teams are giving us, and today they gave us the middle so that’s what we took.”
Rubidoux head coach Patrick Thompson:
“We knew it was going to be a tough one, coming in, and I tip my hat to them. They did a very good job. We had a couple of injuries that put us in the hole. Again, Vista del Lago played one heck of a football game. We knew it was going to come down to a couple of points. We got to execute. We have to make sure our 3s and 4s are up to par, and they’re ready to rock and roll.”
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 