INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Jurupa Valley Patriot-Riverside Ramona varsity football game tonight, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, for The Press-Enterprise, HSGametime.pe.com & @PEcom_preps.

The best part of this assignment will be the opportunity to see whether or not Ramona bounces back from its narrow loss last week. Oh, and the Rams are 0-6 vs. Patriot all-time and the game’s at Riverside Unified School District Stadium.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Warriors (2-5 overall, 1-1 River Valley) have not had the kind of start they had hoped but a 31-7 victory over Riverside La Sierra last week might be the turnaround for which coach Chris Fowler has been searching. Senior RB Miguel Alvarez dusted La Sierra for 281 yards and three TDs, and junior DB/WR Reggie Patterson had a pick-six, but senior QB John Holder was intercepted twice and completed just five passes against LSHS, one of the RVL’s weaker teams. Beyond just their second win of the year, however, is the defense; it’s allowing a whopping 32 points per game. Hard to win many when you spot your opponent four-and-a-half touchdowns.

The Rams (5-2 overall, 1-1 River Valley) held Riverside Norte Vista to its lowest point total (16) since the Braves scored 18 vs. Riverside King in the ’14 season opener. Vinny Fazio’s defense has really shown up the last three weeks, with back-to-back shutouts in Weeks 5 and 6 before the tough loss. They have nine interceptions as a group, caused seven turnovers and recovered 10. Junior QB Noah Anderson is passing at just under a .500 clip while the running game averages 6.1 yards per carry.

THE KEY PLAYERS:
Patriot — QB John Holder (Sr., 6-foot, 185 pounds); RB Miguel Alvarez (Sr., 5-7, 165); WR/CB Julian Martinez (Sr., 6-1, 185); WR/DB Marcelino Garcia (Jr., 5-10, 160); WR/DB Noah Cervantes (Sr., 5-9, 160); DB/WR Reggie Patterson (Jr., 6-foot, 170); WR/DB Cortez Samuel (Sr., 5-10, 155); OLB Luis Acuna (Sr., 5-11, 176); DL Franky Ortega (Sr., 5-11, 190); MLB Steven Martinez (Sr., 5-8, 175).

Ramona — QB Noah Anderson (Jr., 6-foot-3, 175 pounds); RB/DB Paul Garcia (Sr., 5-9, 195); RB/WR/CB Omri Edwards (Soph., 5-9, 160); WR/SS Andrew Morning (Sr., 6-3, 190); RB/DB David Avila (Jr., 5-7, 175); LB/RB/WR Taiwo Olawuyi (Jr., 5-11, 205); TE/LB/P Joey Parra (Sr., 6-1, 213); DB/WR Nate Williams (Sr., 6-foot, 170); OL/DL Jeremiah Wilson (Sr., 6-4, 220); DL/TE Kevin Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 245).

THE DIFFERENCE:
Ramona’s defense is giving up 15.4 points per game. Defensive coordinator Skip Fazio has tightened the screws in Year 2, with Oct. 2015 being the Rams’ best month of the new regime.

THE FINAL SCORE:
Ramona 34, Patriot 16