This week’s local college games

RIVERSIDE (2-6, 0-4) at CHAFFEY (4-3, 1-2)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

About Chaffey: The Panthers need a win to keep even a remote shot at
a bowl bid alive. The Panthers have damaged their own cause with
penalties. They had 185 yards called against them in last week’s
costly 27-20 loss to Citrus. Chaffey continues to use two
quarterbacks buy Greg Sprowls will get the start this week. DT David
Williams is the latest injury casualty. The Panthers have some depth
there with Garrett Haro and Chris Ramos, both out of Claremont,
likely to see more action. RB Mark Chase and WR-KR Aaron Mays
continue to be the bright spots for coach Carl Beach.

About Riverside: The Tigers have found the going tough in the
National Division Central Conference. They have lost six straight
games, the last four all conference games. Cedric Foster (366 yards,
5 TDs) is the team’s leading rusher. Redlands High product Coy Glass
(1,246 yards, 11 TDs) directs an offense that averages 312 yards per
game. Miller grad Jacob Slouka is the top receiver. RCC has big-play
potential on special teams with James Calhoun on punt returns and
Corey Ham on kick returns. Sophomore SS Jamell Murry and Anthony
Caruthers (Redlands East Valley) lead the defense.

SOUTHWESTERN (5-2, 4-0) at SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY (0-7, 0-4)

Kickoff: 6 p.m.

About Southwestern: The Jaguars had traditionally been a bottom tier
team in the old Foothill Conference but have emerged as the
frontrunner in the new American Division Mountain Conference. They
have won five straight games, the eye-opening one a 14-10 win over
nonconference foe Grossmont. The rushing game revolves around Kenslow
Smith (694 yards, 9 TDs) with QB Ryan Nelson (1,820 yards, 16 TDs)
directing the aerial game. His favorite target is George Bell (847
yards, 8 TDs). David Ferris (51 tackles) is the team’s top defender.

About SBVC: The Wolverines came up just short last week, falling to
Mt. San Jacinto 34-28. Freshman QB Danny Laugen(434 yards, 5 TDs)
has made great strides since taking over for injured Mike Stadler
three weeks ago. Other key offensive players arew RB Devon Libran and
WR Eric Charles. Freshman SS Dexter Reed had 12 tackles and two
interceptions to earn conference defensive player of the week honors.
Freshman SS Ricky Pesquera and freshman LB Shawn Borden are the
team’s leading tacklers.

VICTOR VALLEY (2-5, 2-2) at SAN DIEGO MESA (3-4, 3-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Radio: 910-AM

About Victor: The Rams are looking to bounce back from a 41-19 loss
to conference leader Southwestern. Starting QB O’Ryan Bradley has
been sidelined with a hip flexor but is expected back this week. The
Rams rely on balance with Deandre Glasper (234 yards, 3 TDs) and Mel
Carmichael (204 yards, 4 TDs) sharing the workload out of the
backfield. Kenyatta Smith (383 yards, 2 TDs) is the top threat in
the passing game. Joshua Hudson (70 tackles) is the top defender. The
kicking game has been a bit inconsistent as well.

About Mesa: The Olympians have won three of their last four. Included
in that streak is a 31-27 win over L.A. Harbor, a team the Rams lost
to. Mesa averages 194 yards through the air with Philip Staback
directing the attack. Other prominent players in the offense are WR
Michael Medina (36 catches, 570 yards, 9 TDs) and RB Braxton Welford
(450 yards, 2 TDs). Sophomore LB Michael Johnson and ophomore DB Matt
Collins lead the defense. Mesa is in contention for a playoff berth
in the Mountain Conference (American Division).

REDLANDS (5-1, 3-1) at POMONA-PITZER (2-4, 1-2)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Radio: KMET (1490-AM)

About Redlands: The Bulldogs boast a balanced attack, led by junior
QB Steve Smith who is coming off his best game as a starter. Zack
Schafer (602 yards, 9 TDs) is second in the SCIAC in rushing while
Jeff Stewart (403 yards, 4 TDs) is fifth. The Bulldogs rank second in
the country in total defense led by senior DE Brock Arndt, freshman
LB Ian Sluss and sophomore DB Mike Nicolini. The teaqm had six sacks
last week with Arndt getting three of those. Special teams are also
solid with punter Wes Norris and kicker Joe MacMillan.

About Pitzer: The Sagehens are all about the pass as QB Jacob Caron
(1,637 yards, 10 TDs) leads the conference and wide receivers Kevin
Kelley (51 catches, 729 yards, 5 TDs) and R.J. Maki (43 catches, 572
yards, 3 TDs) are 1-2 in receiving. Pitzer ranks sixth of seven teams
in rushing although Russell Oka is coming off a good showing in last
week’s win over Whittier. Senior TE Robert McNitt (ankle) is out for
the second week. Senior DB Taylor Barbour is second in the
conference in interceptions (4).

LA VERNE (1-5, 1-3) at WHITTIER (1-5, 0-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

About La Verne: La Verne’s losses are to teams with a combined record
of 25-8. The Leopards are coming off a 40-27 loss to unbeaten
Occidental. Despite that loss coach Andy Ankeny was pleased with his
team responded down 34-0. Backup QB Christian Winnewisser played well
in relief of starter Anthony Andre. Seniors WRs Charles Lacy and Phi
Van Le have come up big in the passing game which has helped since
the Leos rank last in the conference running the ball. Senior LB
Jason Carpenter has been the steady leader on defense.

About Whittier: The Poets boast the leading rusher the conference in
Anthony Pomponio (686 yards, 8 TDs) but they have been erratic with
the passing game. It has a true freshman at the controls in Chino
product Taylor Fallon. Senior Shawn Briggs (24 catches, 347 yards, 4
TDs) is ninth in the SCIAC in receiving. Leading defenders are senior
LB Sean MacNeil, senior LB Steffen Santos and junior LB Brandon Boehm
(Serrano HS).

CHAPMAN (3-3) at CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS (2-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

About Chapman: The Panthers are an independent but play all of the
SCIAC schools and are 2-2 against them thus far. They average 346
yards per game offense, 197 of that through the air. Senior Eric
Marty (1,183 yards, 9 TDs) runs the offense. Other key players in the
offense are RB Mike Christensen (648 yards, 8 TDs) and WR Kaleo Perez
(24 catches, 299 yards). Daniel Hartigan (46 tackles) is the top
tackler. Chino product Garrett Earls (40 tackles) is also a key
contributor.

About CMS: The Stags are coming off a 48-0 loss to Redlands.
Quarterback has been issue. Coach Rick Candaele said he plans to
start Scott Yingling, who is returning from a shoulder injury. Ryan
Larsen is the backup but will see action. The best performance last
week was turned in by Landon Patoc who had two interceptions, Brock
Olson is the SCIAC leader in interceptions (6).

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Soccer players earn academic honors

Scott Preckwinkle and Ross Middlemiss from Sonoma State, along with San Francisco State’s Robin Bowman and Cal Poly Pomona’s Bethany Meichsner represented the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) on the ESPN The Magazine District VIII Academic All-District Team that was announced on Thursday.

The All-District VIII team is made up of NCAA Division II and III players as well as players from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and two-year colleges. District VIII comprises schools from Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and British Columbia.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.3 grade point average and be a starter or key reserve. The award is voted on by district Sports Information Directors. From all of the schools eligible, only 11 players are selected.

Middlemiss, an Academic All-District selection last year, has continued his superb work in the classroom, but his athletic prowess has increased tenfold. The Arcata native leads the entire west region in goals with 17 and his CCAA-leading total is eight more than second place. His 41 points and 74 shots attempted are also the best in the conference. Middlemiss is majoring in biology with a minor in Environmental Studies.

Preckwinkle, a senior defender from Sonoma, has been an anchor on the Seawolves’ outstanding defensive unit. A starter since his freshman year, Preckwinkle has found a knack for scoring goals in clutch situations. He scored twice in last year’s CCAA semifinals and scored the game-tying goal just minutes from the end of regulation against Fresno Pacific earlier this year. Preckwinkle is majoring in Kinesiology.

Bowman, a criminal justice major, is the only CCAA student-athlete selected to First Team.

Bowman has earned Dean’s List honors at San Francisco State the past three semesters and also has been named to the San Francisco State Department of Athletics Honor Roll. A year ago, she earned All-CCAA Academic honors and was selected All-CCAA. The senior midfielder leads the Gators this season with her nine goals and 20 points (two came from assists). Of her nine goals, five were game-winners this season.

Meichsner, a junior from Redlands, Calif., was named second team All-Academic. A psychology, management human resource major, Meichsner has totaled four points in 12 matches for Cal Poly Pomona.

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Coyotes need to learn to play with pressure

Shortly after her team was upset by host Cal Poly Pomona 3-0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-22) Wednesday at a raucous Darlene May Gymnasium, Cal State San Bernardino volleyball coach Kim Cherniss stood near the Coyotes bench talking about what went wrong.

The loss creates a log jam at the top of the CCAA standings. The Broncos and Coyotes are tied for first with Cal State Los Angeles and UC San Diego, neither of whom played Wednesday, a half game out.

Cherniss talked about how exhausting it is to play with the target on your back. As the perennial CCAA frontrunner and a team that is seemingly always ranked in the top five nationally, the Coyotes are always going to be the team others want to beat. It’s a win that can help build a program. It’s a win that brings recognition to programs that strive to be in that position.

So yes, when teams beat the Coyotes they’re going to celebrate a little more loudly than if it were some other opponent.

It’s up to the Coyotes to rise to the occasion so that doesn’t happen.

While the Broncos played a stellar match from start to finish, many of the errors the Coyotes made were unforced. It was disappointing from a team with so many veteran players.

Now the CCAA is a crapshoot and UC San Diego looms. The Broncos play the Tritons on Friday and the Coyotes get them Saturday at Coussoulis Arena. Good news for the Coyotes because they are unbeaten at home. San Diego is a bitter rival so the Coyotes should have no trouble getting up for that one.

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