CLOSER LOOK: Norco’s Julian Medina
Take a closer look at Norco senior Julian Medina and you’ll see a leader looking for the recognition he deserves.
Medina, already Norco’s single-season passing leader, threw for five touchdowns as the Cougars (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big West Upper) opened the 2026 season with a blowout victory over Roosevelt on Friday, Aug. 21.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound quarterback completed his final 13 pass attempts in the rout. Medina is coming off a 2025 where he completed 65 percent of his attempts and had 35 touchdowns.
His big season flew under the radar because Norco didn’t make the playoffs for the third consecutive years, but he certainly has his sights set doing something in the CIF-SS playoffs this year.
We caught up with Medina walking off the field after Norco’s 55-14 win over Roosevelt, and he was ready to talk.
InlandFieldhouse.com: What was working so well tonight?
Julian Medina: “We just had to settle down. Guys were a little amped up for the first game of the year but once we settled down, locked in and everyone got on the same page, we were just able to click as a team (and) put our emotions to the side and put our pride to the side, and we just need to eliminate penalties.”
IF: Why do you think there was so much extra emotion tonight?
JM: “I feel like we were taking it like just another game. We’re just trying to build a championship team, a winning team and just take it week by week.”
IF: Are you feeling confident about your weapons this season?
JM: “I’m feeling very confident. We all just trust coach (Dan) Barlage and his blueprint, and know that we’re out there every day, putting in the work, and there’s been a lot of preparation to get to this moment. We’re all on the same page at the moment and we want to get used to a high-scoring game everytime.”
IF: What the deal with the blinged-out cleats?
JM: “My mother actually made these, custom, and I really appreciate her. She was working hard on them.”
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 