GAME OF THE WEEK: Norte Vista vs. Hillcrest
THE DETAILS:
Riverside Norte Vista vs. Riverside Hillcrest
CIF-Southern Section – Week 7
River Valley League
At Riverside (Calif.) Norte Vista High School
Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 11
RIVERSIDE NORTE VISTA (5-1 overall, 1-0 River Valley League) ran all over Ramona last week, spending the entirety of the first quarter with the ball, just pounding the rock for three- and four-yard gains and chewing up clock like it’s nobody’s business on the way to a 43-7 victory in the league opener. Sophomore RB Eddie Allain continues to lead the Braves’ rushing attack despite some early-season struggles, and now has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances for the first time this season. Fellow sophomore RB Jessie Carvajal has proved a fierce second option, and ran for an 81-yard touchdown last week to post his second 100-yard game of the season.
HEAD COACH: Ken Batdorf
ROSTER – QB: Daniel Gonzales, Sr. (5-foot-10, 185 pounds); RB: Eddie Allain, Soph. (5-10, 175); RB: Jessie Carvajal, Soph. (5-7, 180); RB: Jesus Gonzalez, Jr. (5-10, 190); TE: Emmanuel Rubio, Sr. (6-2, 210); OL: Adan Rodriguez, Jr. (6-2, 290); DT: Dustin Jamison, Sr. (6-1, 190); LB: Christian Jurado, Jr. (5-7, 160); DB: Josef Luckey, Sr. (5-11, 175); K: Fernando Salcedo, Sr. (5-7, 160)
RIVERSIDE HILLCREST (4-2 overall, 1-0 River Valley League) is four wins away from a second consecutive league title, and so these next two weeks will likely prove the mettle of this team. Junior QB Camren Payne can be stellar, sure, but the Trojans have yet to find a high level of consistency on offense and average less than 28 points per game. Junior RB Manny Robert (pronounced Ro-bear) has elevated himself to Option A out of the backfield, but might still be a year away from being a real difference maker. Defensively, this might be the program’s best group of defensive backs, as each of the team’s four wins have come while holding opponents to 14 points or less.
HEAD COACH: Travis Carter
ROSTER – QB: Camren Payne, Jr. (5-foot-11, 160 pounds); RB: Manny Robert, Jr. (5-9, 170); Anthony Correa, Jr. (5-3, 130); WR: Ryan Howard, Sr. (5-6, 150); Asanti Mokwala, Sr. (5-11, 165); OL: Miguel Valenzuela, Sr. (5-9, 370); DL: Armando Sosa, Jr. (5-10, 228); LB: Gabriel Dominguez, Sr. (6-1, 175); DB: Xavier Banks, Jr. (5-7, 155); DB: Bryan Chacon, Sr. (5-6, 170); K: Daniel Deanda, Soph. (6-2, 170)
THE DIFFERENCE:
Hillcrest has won the last two in this series, but with a new coach and a new plan the Trojans could get wrecked by Norte Vista’s steady, persistent attack.
THE FINAL SCORE (PROJECTED):
Norte Vista 26, Hillcrest 20
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 