INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Phelan Serrano-Rubidoux CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division Quarterfinal Round playoff football game tonight, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, for The Press-Enterprise, pe.com & @pecom_preps.

The best part of this assignment is the matchup of two distinctly hard-nosed defenses against two different rushing attacks.

THE LOW DOWN:
Serrano (9-2 overall) has lost only one game on the field this season — Week 5 at Norco — and has scored 47 or more points each of the last five weeks entering yet another playoff quarterfinal. Senior RB Sultaan Sullivan remained among state leaders all season and currently has 40 rushing TDs and more than 2,400 yards after gained 100-or-more yards in every game so far, and the defense is allowing just 15.4 points per contest. It’s hard to beat the Diamondbacks when they’re missing pieces, but this may be the next Serrano team that completes the puzzle.

Rubidoux (9-2 overall) got a resounding 24-7 victory over Riverside Ramona in the 1st Round. The Falcons pounded the rock for 220 total yards, and senior CB/RB/KR Roosevelt Carroll was nothing short of fantastic with two rushing TDs, and an INT and a blocked FG on defense. His younger brother, Brandon Carroll, is the lynch pin in the middle of the defense as well as the go-to guy in short-yardage situations. Even moreso than Roosevelt, Brandon Carroll moves this team.

THE KEY PLAYERS:
Serrano — QB David Forbes (Sr., 6-foot-2, 170 pounds); RB Sultaan Sullivan (Sr., 5-9, 165); WR/SS Andrew Valencia (Sr., 6-foot, 180); MLB John Bryan (Sr., 5-9, 165); MLB Luis Chavez (Jr., 6-2, 205); MLB Tyler Drake (Sr., 6-3, 175); K Tylor Wappler (5-10, 155).

Rubidoux — QB Ryan Parker (Sr., 5-foot-11, 165 pounds); RB Robert Taylor (Sr., 6-foot, 185); CB/RB/KR Roosevelt Carroll (Sr., 5-7, 165); CB/RB/FS Devante Martin (Sr., 5-8, 160); TE/SS/K Jonathan Garibay (Jr., 6-2, 210); SS/FB/RB Joey Ornales (Sr., 5-10, 190); DE/TE/FB Paul Garcia (Jr., 6-foot, 220); LB/FB Brandon Carroll (Jr., 5-9, 225); DE/T/G Jasobeam Reyes (Sr., 6-2, 240).

THE DIFFERENCE:
Serrano’s experience, both among players and coaches, will be a deciding factor. D’backs head coach Ray Maholchic has been here before. He knows what to do.

THE FINAL SCORE:
Phelan Serrano 32, Rubidoux 21