It's all over.
Redlands East Valley's remarkable 2007 season came to an Friday night at Yucaipa High School. The Corona Santiago Sharks were able to do what 12 prior opponents couldn't, beating the Wildcats by a 25-10 score in the CIF Inland Division semifinals.
It was a game that will be largely remembered for two things - the heavy rainfall that altered the game in the first half and the five uncharacteristic turnovers by the Wildcats - three coming within the Santiago 30-yard line, including two of those from the Santiago 10.
Afterwards, the Wildcats players were in a state and shock and tears. A season that had seen the team knock off three CIF champions, achieve a State ranking and reach the school's first-ever football semifinals was suddenly over.
The Sharks, an at-large selection from the Mountain View League, move onto face Corona Centennial or Chaparral in next Saturday's CIF Inland Division championship game at the Home Depot Center.
A few quick thoughts
- The one player that Bruich feared the most proved every bit as good as advertised. Senior running back/defensive back Tony Dye rushed for 169 yards, scored two touchdowns and was a key force in helping Chris Polk from gaining any monster runs. He also provided the hit that caused a Polk fumble when the Wildcats seemed poised to draw to within a touchdown late in the third quarter. It's no wonder that Dye is headed to be a UCLA Bruin on the next level.
- Polk once again had the highlight moment of the game. Down 22-0 with three seconds before the half, Polk broke free for an amazing 75-yard kickoff return. Taking a lateral, nearly running into a wall of Shark defenders near the right side of the field and then busting free to the left side of the field. Polk won a foot race with several Shark defenders over the final 40 yards or so. The score gave the Wildcats a needed boost of momentum heading into halftime.
- After slowing down right before the game, the rain picked up right when kickoff started. In the first nine play of the games, the teams lost three fumbles, but were able to recover each one. The rain stopped a little after the third quarter and after the teams scored a combined 29 points in the downpour - it was a 3-3 game in the second half.
- Trey Farquhar nearly booted a 54-yard field goal on REV's first possession of the game. But the ball bounced right on the crossbar and didn't get the bounce it needed.
- The backbreaker of the game was a Tyler Shreve interception with just over five minutes left in the game. On a second-and-goal from the Santiago 6, Shreve tried to loft a pass to Dylan Cruz in the right flat. A Shark defender leaped in front in front of the throw for an interception.
- On an unrelated note. The halftime show was an entertaining watch. With the majority of the fans sitting still in their seats due to the rain, the REV and Santiago drum bands faced off in an apparent battle. It was a fun watch for nearly the entire 15-minute halftime and a nice change of pace from the normal halftime pomp and circumstance.
- REV offensive linemen David Peterson was injured in the game and did not return. Polk also suffered an apparent shoulder injury after his late fumble and senior defensive lineman James Sofia was also injured late in the game.
- It was hard to not find a Wildcat player that wasn't in tears following the loss. But the team was awarded a great reception after the doing perhaps one last Haka Dance. As the Wildcat players headed to the bus, parents, coaches and other well-wishers offered their thanks to the Wildcats for a great season of football.
And that's exactly what it was. A season unlike any in REV football history and one that will be hard to be topped by future Wildcat teams for not only the next several years but beyond.