September 2010 Archives

I guess I'm a little slow - which Victor Valley fans would agree with after I incorrectly picked against the Jackrabbits in the Bell Game - but I seem to be stuck in a rut of mediocre prognosticating.

Chino Hills at Redlands East Valley
The first step of REV's Bataan Death March-like four-game stretch went well, as the Wildcats subdued Orange Lutheran. It gets a bit harder this week, as the Wildcats play a Chino Hills team that's responded nicely after an upset loss to Corona Santiago. However, I'm not sure the Huskies are quite ready to come to Redlands and leave with a victory. The Wildcat defense will prevail here.
Redlands East Valley 19, Chino Hills 7

Arroyo Valley at Rialto
San Andreas League play gets going this week with several intriguing matchups, but when the season started, I don't think anyone would have identified this one as the most intriguing. But thanks to Arroyo Valley's QB issues and Rialto's surprising 3-0 start, it has been. Michael Yearwood is questionable due to injury and the Knights have some mojo going. Rialto continues its surge.
Rialto 16, Arroyo Valley 10

Rancho Cucamonga at Redlands
The Terriers have proven themselves to be outstanding scrappers, outlasting Los Osos in triple OT and defeating Carlsbad La Costa Canyon without starting QB Jojo Hernandez. Rancho has been on a pretty big roll and seems to thrive on playing away from home (or Los Osos if you want to get technical) and should have enough to put away the Terriers.
Rancho Cucamonga 24, Redlands 16

Kaiser at Palm Desert
The cliche' "the irresistible force against the immovable object" may be annoying, but it is completely appropriate here. The Kaiser defense has been completely dominant, allowing a garbage-time TD to Barstow in its opener and that's it. Meanwhile, Palm Desert's defense has put 113 points up the last two weeks. In these cases, I almost always go defense, so that's what I'll do here.
Kaiser 28, Palm Desert 18

Carter at Colton
One team is undefeated going into this game and surprisingly, it isn't Colton. Carter has been stout on the defensive end, giving up only 28 points in its first three games. But then again, Bloomington was cruising last week before getting backhanded 42-6 by the Yellowjackets. I expect the Lions to go through the same thing, though not nearly as savagely. Colton is awake and aware.
Colton 36, Carter 13

Silverado at Summit
The bye week couldn't have come at a more opportune time for the SkyHawks, who got an extra week to rest up Devon Blackmon's ankle and separate RB Montigo Alford further from a Week 0 concussion. I expect both players to play and be effective against Silverado, which will fight valiantly but doesn't quite have the big guns to pull the upset.
Summit 27, Silverado 17

Chaffey at Chino
This game looked like a dud before the season, but Chino's resurgence has made it pretty interesting. This will be the Cowboys' first Mt. Baldy League game since moving over and they'll try to exploit a struggling Chaffey squad with explosive senior Promise Amadi. I promise that it will be successful, as Chino moves to 4-0.
Chino 28, Chaffey 20

Big Bear at Rim of the World
This should be a fun one. For years I've wondered why this matchup didn't happen, so now that it's here, I expect it to be pretty fun. The Bears have been gashing people with their triple-option offense behind a stout offensive line, while Rim of the World has scuffled due to an injury bug that has taken out RB Dillon Pretzinger. However, I'm going with the home team to show a little something in this one.
Rim of the World 24, Big Bear 22

Miller at Oak Hills
Miller's nonleague gauntlet comes to a merciful end, as they play an Oak Hills team that, while good, isn't in the league of an Upland or a Carson at this point. The Bulldogs will be hungry in this game though, as they failed their first test of the season against a big school from down the hill, falling to Rialto. This should be a good one, but I think Miller is due to pull one of these close ones out.
Miller 27, Oak Hills 21

Riverside Notre Dame at Aquinas
The Holy War is always one of the more spirited rivalries in the area, as the IE's top two parochial schools face off. The Falcons have been impressive, especially defensively, since losing their season opener to Desert Hot Springs. I expect this to be a physical, ground-oriented, low-scoring game and am going with the home team.
Aquinas 19, Notre Dame 16

Other games of note:
Cajon 25, San Gorgonio 14
San Bernardino 35, Pacific 18
Colony 33, Don Lugo 13
Garey 26, Montclair 14
Granite Hills 24, Alta Loma 7
Yucaipa 38, Beaumont 20
Bloomington 28, Fontana 14
Ontario Christian 24, Cerritos Valley Christian 20
Temecula Great Oak 37, Eisenhower 6
Arrowhead Christian 30, Irvine Crean Lutheran South 12
Jurupa Valley 26, Hesperia 20
Claremont 42, Ontario 13
Serrano 28, Santa Clarita Golden Valley 13
Ayala 31, Santa Fe Springs St. Paul 24
Victor Valley 36, Sultana 10
Palm Springs 35, Twentynine Palms 9
Upland 23, Los Angeles Loyola 17
Rubidoux 21, Western Christian 17
Apple Valley 34, Indio 14
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 30, Bloomington Christian 14

Last week: 26-10
Overall: 86-38-3

With the high school football season in high gear, recruiting of local athletes is starting to pick up as well. That's definitely the case at Colton High School, as several Yellowjackets are jumping headfirst into the recruiting process.

Star running back Tyler Ervin and linebacker/tight end Rodney Hardrick made unofficial visits to Arizona State and Boise State this weekend. Ervin went to check out the Oregon-Arizona State, while Hardrick flew up to see the Oregon State-Boise State clash.
"Rodney was taking care of two birds with one stone, as he's looking at both of those schools," Colton coach Rick Bray said. "It's an exciting time for all of these kids."

Another Yellowjacket receiving a large amount of interest is Devan Hussey, who is being pursued by several Ivy League schools. The University of Colorado has also been around the Colton campus a lot recently according to Bray.

The Redlands East Valley volleyball team finished sixth place overall in the championship bracket of the Durango Tournament this past weekend in Las Vegas. The Wildcats went 3-4 during the two-day tourney, losing to Mira Costa in the quarterfinals in three games before defeating Los Alamitos in consolation play and falling to Louisville (Ky.) Assumption in the fifth-place game. The Wildcats went 1-2 in their pool, defeating Thousand Oaks while losing to Covina Northview and Long Beach Poly, and defeated Lakewood in the knockout round to reach the championship bracket.

Rim of the World also competed in the tournament, reaching the championship game of the contender's bracket before losing to Clovis Buchanan in the championship game. The Fighting Scots went 2-1 in pool play and lost their knockout game to Port Coquitlam (B.C.) Riverside before defeating Durango and Vancouver (B.C.) Sequam in the contender bracket.

INLAND DIVISION
1. Vista Murrieta (3-0)
2. Centennial/Corona (3-0)
3. Norco (3-0)
4. Redlands East Valley (3-0)
5. Chino Hills (3-1)
6. Rancho Cucamonga (4-0)
7. Upland (3-1)
8. Redlands (3-0-1)
9. Roosevelt (3-0)
10. Ayala (4-0)
Dropped out: No. 8 Charter Oak (2-2), No. 10 Glendora (3-1)
Others receiving votes: Charter Oak (2-2), Glendora (3-1), Claremont (3-1), Corona (2-1).

CENTRAL DIVISION
1. Rancho Verde (3-0)
2. Palm Desert (3-1)
3. Rialto (3-0)
4. Colton (2-1)
5. Coachella Valley (3-0)
6. La Quinta (2-1)
7. Palm Springs (3-1)
8. Arlington (2-1)
9. La Sierra (2-1)
10. Chino (3-0)
Dropped out: No. 10 Valley View: (1-2)
Others receiving votes: Garey (3-1), Carter (2-0-1), Vista del Lago (2-1), Colony (2-2), Valley View (1-2), Don Lugo (1-3).

EASTERN DIVISION
1. Summit (2-0-1)
2. Kaiser (3-0)
3. Wildomar Elsinore (4-0)
4. Serrano (3-1)
5. Victor Valley (3-0)
6. Heritage (4-0)
7. San Jacinto (3-1)
8. Ridgecrest Burroughs (3-1)
9. Oak Hills (2-1)
10. Citrus Hill (2-2)
Dropped out: No. 9 Bloomington (2-1), No. 10 Tahquitz (2-2).
Others receiving votes: Bloomington (2-1), Tahquitz (2-2), Silverado (1-2-1), Apple Valley (2-2), Beaumont (2-1), West Valley (2-2).

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
1. Sierra Canyon (3-0)
2. Paraclete (2-1)
3. Brentwood (3-0)
4. St. Margaret's (2-2)
5. Aquinas (3-1)
6. Sage Hill (4-0)
7. Rim of the World (1-2)
8. Twentynine Palms (2-1)
9. Linfield Christian (2-1)
10. Riverside Notre Dame (2-1)
Dropped out: none
Others receiving votes: Campbell Hall (3-0), Big Bear (3-1), Desert Hot Springs (3-1), Grace Brethren (2-1).

1. Alabama (1) - Crimson Tide pass first real test of adversity with flying colors. Hugh game with Florida next.
2. Ohio State (2) - Buckeyes roll Eastern Michigan and will likely do the same with Illinois.
3. Boise State (6) - Broncos whip Oregon State to move back up to where they were two weeks ago.
4. Oregon (3) - Defense looked shaky in win over Arizona State
5. Nebraska (4) - Huskers moved down after sleepwalk win over South Dakota State.
6. TCU (5) - Uneven win over SMU drops TCU a spot.
7. Florida (9) - The Gator defense is starting to grow on me. They'll sell me outright with an upset of Alabama this week.
8. Stanford (12) - Stanford keeps killing everyone in its path. Huge game with Oregon is on deck.
9. Oklahoma (8) - Another scare against an inferior team drops the Sooners again.
10. Arizona (10) - Wildcats survive letdown against Cal to stay undefeated.
11. Auburn (15) - Sweep of the state of South Carolina vaults Tigers.
12. Utah (13) - Another rout bumps Utah up a step.
13. Wisconsin (14) - Badgers have best test on the road at Michigan State.
14. LSU (20) - Tigers' defense is one of the best in the nation. If only they had a QB.
15. Arkansas (10) - Razorbacks fall after blowing golden opportunity to Alabama.
16. USC (16) - Hey, at least the Trojans didn't drop this week.
17. Miami (Fla) (18) - The U's defense was impressive in victory over Pitt.
18. Iowa (19) - Hawkeyes responded nicely from Arizona loss with 45-0 rout of Ball State.
19. Michigan (22) - Wolverines didn't need Denard Robinson to gain over 700 yards this week.
20. South Carolina (17) - Tough loss to Auburn drops Gamecocks.
21. Florida State (23) - Seminoles get shutout over Wake Forest.
22. Penn State (25) - PSU outlasts Temple in deceivingly tough test.
23. Texas (7) - UCLA's "Rout 34" causes Longhorns to plummet.
24. Michigan State (NR) - Spartans defeat Northern Colorado without coach Mark Dantonio.
25. Nevada (NR) - Wins over California and BYU bring Wolfpack into poll.

Dropped out: No. 21 West Virginia, No. 24 Oregon State

Under consideration: Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Missouri

We got a new No. 1, as Redlands East Valley moves up with a win over Orange Lutheran and Upland's loss to Norco. Rancho Cucamonga continues its ascent as well.

1. Redlands East Valley (3-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Orange Lutheran, 10-6. Up next: Friday vs. No. 4 Chino Hills (3-1).

2. Rancho Cucamonga (4-0)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Covina Charter Oak, 40-28. Up next: Friday at No. 9 Redlands (3-0-1).

3. Upland (3-1)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: lost to Norco, 35-21. Up next: Friday at Los Angeles Loyola (1-3).

4. Chino Hills (3-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Pomona, 48-13. Up next: Friday at No. 1 Redlands East Valley (3-0).

5. Kaiser (3-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Cajon, 35-0. Up next: Friday at Palm Desert (3-1).

6. Colton (2-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Bloomington, 42-6. Up next: Friday vs. Carter (2-0-1).

7. Serrano (3-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Palmdale Highland, 17-14. Up next: Friday vs. Santa Clarita Golden Valley (2-1).

8. Summit (2-0-1)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Silverado (1-2-1).

9. Redlands (3-0-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Carlsbad La Costa Canyon, 23-17. Up next: Friday vs. No. 2 Rancho Cucamonga (4-0).

10. Victor Valley (3-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Apple Valley, 38-30. Up next: Friday vs. Sultana (1-2).

Just missed the cut: Ayala (4-0), Rialto (3-0), Carter (2-0-1).

Dropped out: None.

Just got back from Apple Valley and The Bell Game.

Aquinas 55, Indio Shadow Hills 12
Arrowhead Christian 24, Bloomington Christian 16
Arroyo Valley 49, Eisenhower 7
Ayala 34, Hacienda Heights Los Altos 7
Big Bear 42, Western Christian 28
Carter 14, Riverside Norte Vista 8
Chino 47, Covina Northview 30
Chino Hills 48, Pomona 13
Colony 38, Alta Loma 7
Colton 42, Bloomington 6
Desert Hot Springs 58, Jurupa Hills 0
Etiwanda 33, Miller 28
Kaiser 35, Cajon 0
Norco 35, Upland 21
Oak Hills 30, Lancaster 7
Oak Park 21, Don Lugo 7
Ontario Christian 31, Jurupa Valley 0
Palm Desert 63, Hesperia 0
Quartz Hill 24, Barstow 0
Rancho Cucamonga 40, Covina Charter Oak 28
Redlands 23, Carlsbad La Costa Canyon 17
Redlands East Valley 10, Orange Lutheran 6
Rialto 20, Granite Hills 13
San Bernardino 33, Fontana 27
Serrano 17, Palmdale Highland 14
Silverado 24, Valencia West Ranch 20
Sultana 34, Pacific 20
Victor Valley 38, Apple Valley 30
Vista Murrieta 30, Los Osos 7
Yucaipa 25, San Gorgonio 13

Did virtually the same this past week as I did the week before. I blame the Mt. Baldy League. I think i'm 2 for 20 on Mt. Baldy predictions.

Redlands East Valley at Orange Lutheran
It's always fun to see county powers go against the elite from other parts of the Southland. REV pulled a fast one on O-Lu last year, scoring two touchdowns in the final minute to pull the shocker. I'm not sure how many players on either team remember it, as both teams have a ton of new starters. It should be a great game though. I expect REV to pull another one out.
Redlands East Valley 17, Orange Lutheran 13

Norco at Upland
Another meeting of the powers, as the No. 3 team in the Inland Division hosts the No. 4 one. It should be an outstanding matchup, as Norco has taken to its new-found spread offense like a duck to water, scoring 74 points in two games, while Upland's new-look defense seems to get better every week. There should be some scoring in this game, as Norco's D will give up points. I think Upland is a bit more experience.
Upland 28, Norco 27

Cajon at Kaiser
Kaiser has been flying under the radar thus far this year, but it won't for year much longer, as the Cats have been straight filthy on defense thus far, giving up six points in two games. Cajon has been uneven, getting worked by Claremont before destroying Eisenhower, but had its bye week last week to work out some kinks. I expect the Cowboys to be competitive, but I'm really liking Kaiser right now.
Kaiser 24, Cajon 9

Victor Valley at Apple Valley
The Bell Game is one of the most hotly-contested games in the High Desert and, recently, one of the most thrilling. The last two meetings between the Jackrabbits and Sun Devils have been decided by a combined four points, with Victor Valley winning by 3 last year and Apple Valley pulling out a one-point win in 2008. I'm heading up there and I'm expecting much of the same, with the host Sun Devils pulling it out late.
Apple Valley 26, Victor Valley 24

Miller at Etiwanda
These teams are a combined 1-5, so why am I featuring this game? Because these teams are a lot better than their record gives them credit for. Etiwanda's three-game stretch of Summit, Vista Murrieta and Norco may be the toughest in the Southland, while Miller hasn't exactly had a picnic with Upland and Carson. Having seen both of these teams in person, it's a coin flip, but I think Miller's D is a little bit better. But not much.
Miller 33, Etiwanda 29

Charter Oak at Rancho Cucamonga
This has been a hard-fought game the last two years and I don't see why it would be any different this year. Charter Oak has equipped itself admirably in the Inland Division thus far, going 2-1, while Rancho Cucamonga is perfect despite having to spend its first three games on the road. It is the first "home" game for Rancho - who doesn't play on campus - and I expect it'll show up well.
Rancho Cucamonga 27, Charter Oak 17

Bloomington at Colton
Although they reside in the same school district, these two teams don't play very often. This could be a surprisingly good game, as Bloomington has looked pretty good in going 2-0 while Colton sputtered quite a bit last week in a 14-3 loss to La Quinta. But I think Colton will be just fine in the home opener, overpowering the Bruins in the second half.
Colton 30, Bloomington 14

San Gorgonio at Yucaipa
This should be a pretty solid game, as both of these teams are in a bit of purgatory. The Spartans are 0-2, but they've had to play Rancho Verde and REV, so its hard to really have a true handle on them. Yucaipa stomped Canyon Springs, only to be stomped by Rancho Verde. I hate using the transitive scores property, but San G was a lot more competitive against Rancho Verde than Yucaipa was. I'll go with that.
San Gorgonio 31, Yucaipa 26

Redlands at Carlsbad La Costa Canyon
The Terriers played arguably the game of the year last week against Los Osos, gutting through a triple-overtime victory against the Grizzlies despite losing their quarterback Jojo Hernandez. I would imagine that Redlands is going to rest Hernandez for this one, which will be a tough one, as La Costa Canyon can ball. I'll go with the home team.
La Costa Canyon 23, Redlands 10

Granite Hills at Rialto
It might be time to start getting on the Knights' bandwagon. Rialto has won three in a row dating pack to last year, including an impressive 28-14 victory at a tough Oak Hills team last week. Granite Hills has been up and down this season and should be an opponent that Rialto can use to build momentum. Look for four in a row from the No. 5 team in the Central Division polls.
Rialto 26, Granite Hills 12

Other games of note:
Diamond Ranch 33, Chaffey 10
Aquinas 35, Shadow Hills 13
Arroyo Valley 28, Eisenhower 7
Ayala 31, Los Altos 20
Twentynine Palms 19, Banning 14
Quartz Hill 27, Barstow 12
Big Bear 37, Western Christian 20
Rim of the World 18, Bishop 14
Bloomington Christian 23, Arrowhead Christian 9
Yucca Valley 24, Calexico 16
Chino 30, Covina Northview 14
Murrieta Mesa 28, Citrus Valley 24
City of Industry Workman 23, Montclair 17
Colony 33, Alta Loma 14
Desert Hot Springs 45, Jurupa Hills 6
Don Lugo 24, Oak Park 14
Fontana 28, San Bernardino 21
Palm Desert 49, Hesperia 13
Ontario Christian 27, Jurupa Valley 22
Oak Hills 29, Lancaster 13
Vista Murrieta 38, Los Osos 16
Carter 27, Norte Vista 23
Chino Hills 31, Pomona 15
Serrano 34, Palmdale Highland 7
Sultana 27, Pacific 20
Silverado 21, Valencia West Ranch 18

Last week: 24-9-1
Overall: 60-28-3

Two months before the basketball season is set to tip off, the Ontario High School athletic department is looking to fill its varsity girls head coaching position. The position is open to in-district and out-of-district candidates and inquires can be sent via e-mail to OHS athletic director Rhonda Purwin at rhonda_purwin@cjuhsd.net.

The previous coach of the Jaguars was Bryan Grant, who led Ontario to an 18-5 record last year and a second-place finish in the Mt. Baldy League. Grant was 34-35 in three seasons at Ontario, leading the Jaguars to playoff berths the last two years.

After sitting out the first two games due to paperwork from his transfer from Los Angeles University High School being processed, Arroyo Valley quarterback Michael Yearwood is set to make his season debut Friday, as the Hawks play at Eisenhower.

"We are excited," Arroyo Valley coach Marcus Soward said after his team's 10-0 loss to Miller this past Friday. "I think we have a good team, but Michael is a special player that makes everyone better. I can't wait to put him out there."

Yearwood was a killer for Arroyo Valley as a dual-threat quarterback last year, combining for 36 touchdowns rushing and passing for an Arroyo Valley team that went 7-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Yearwood originally moved from Los Angeles during his sophomore year, moved back during the spring to help with his ailing grandmother and moved back this summer after his grandmother had passed away.

The quarterback takes the reins of an offense that's struggled mightily in its first two games, scoring only three points in losses to Palm Springs and Miller. The Hawks only touchdown was a defensive one, as its shuffled three different guys at quarterback.

Yearwood was actually cleared right before the Miller game last Friday, but Soward held him out because he felt that he didn't have enough practice time.

"Michael was getting on me, yelling to get in the game because he's a competitor, but we didn't want to risk it," Soward said. "We wanted to get him some more practice time to knock off some rust."

INLAND DIVISION
(previous ranking)
1. (1) Vista Murrieta (2-0)
2. (2) Corona Centennial (2-0)
3. (3) Upland (3-0)
4. (4) Norco (2-0)
5. (5) Redlands East Valley (2-0)
6. (7) Chino Hills (2-1)
7. (8) Rancho Cucamonga (3-0)
8. (9) Charter Oak (2-1)
9. (10) Redlands (2-0-1)
10. (NR) Glendora (3-0)
Dropped out: No. 6 Temecula Chaparral (0-2)
Others receiving votes: Roosevelt (2-0), Ayala (3-0), Damien (2-0).

CENTRAL DIVISION
(previous ranking)
1. (1) Palm Springs (3-0)
2. (3) Rancho Verde (3-0)
3. (4) Riverside Arlington (2-0)
4. (6) Palm Desert (2-1)
5. (7) Rialto (2-0)
6. (2) Colton (1-1)
7. (NR) Coachella Valley (2-0)
8. (NR) La Quinta (1-1)
9. (5) La Sierra (1-1)
10. (8) Valley View (1-1)
Dropped out: No. 9 San Bernardino, (1-1), No. 10 Chaffey (1-2).
Others receiving votes: Cajon (1-1), Chino (2-0), Carter (1-0-1), San Bernardino (1-1), Chaffey (1-2).

EASTERN DIVISION
(previous ranking)
1. (2) Summit (3-0)
2. (3) Kaiser (2-0)
3. (4) Wildomar Elsinore (3-0)
4. (1) Serrano (2-1)
5. (6) Ridgecrest Burroughs (3-0)
6. (9) Victor Valley (2-0)
7. (10) Heritage (3-0)
8. (5) Citrus Hill (2-1)
9. (NR) Bloomington (2-0)
10. (NR) Tahquitz (2-1)
Dropped out: No. 7 Oak Hills (1-1), No. 8 Temescal Canyon (1-1).
Others receiving votes: Riverside Norte Vista (1-1), Apple Valley (2-1), Silverado (0-2-1), Oak Hills (1-1), Temescal Canyon (1-1), San Jacinto (2-1).

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
(previous ranking)
1. (1) Sierra Canyon (2-0)
2. (2) St. Margaret's (2-1)
3. (3) Paraclete (2-1)
4. (4) Brentwood (2-0)
5. (5) Rim of the World (1-1)
6. (6) Aquinas (2-1)
7. (7) Sage Hill (3-0)
8. (8) Twentynine Palms (1-1)
9. (9) Linfield Christian (2-1)
10. (10) Riverside Notre Dame (1-1)
Others receiving votes: Campbell Hall (1-1), Bishop Diego (2-0), Banning (1-1).

The Pac 10 made out like bandits this week, with Oregon, Arizona and Stanford getting sizable bumps up the food chain.

1. Alabama (1) - Tide keep rolling with rout of Duke. Arkansas looms next.
2. Ohio State (2) - Buckeyes in cruise control right now.
3. Oregon (6) - The Ducks have scored over a point per minute thus far. That's ridiculous.
4. Nebraska (9) - The Huskers made Jake Locker, Washington look awful.
5. TCU (4) - Hard to drop after a 35-point win, but that's what happened to the Frogs.
6. Boise State (3) - Boise has another shot to impress with Oregon State coming to town this week.
7. Texas (5) - Big win at Texas Tech, but still drop. Life's rough near the top.
8. Oklahoma (7) - Sooners barely survive for the second time in three weeks.
9. Florida (10) - Offense still looks ugly, but defense keeps Gators in top 10.
10. Arizona (20) - Wildcats rip up Iowa to shoot into the top 10.
11. Arkansas (14) - Got a big win at Georgia this week. Can really make waves with Alabama coming to town.
12. Stanford (19) - The Cardinal put up 68 on Wake Forest. Just sick.
13. Utah (12) - Utes win by six touchdowns and still fall.
14. Wisconsin (11) - Blocked extra point allows Badgers to survive Arizona State
15. Auburn (15) - Tigers stay undefeated with OT win over Clemson
16. USC (13) - Trojans still having problems putting away teams.
17. South Carolina (16) - Gamecocks have a chance to make statement with Auburn coming up.
18. Miami (Fla) (17) - Hurricanes have sneaky-tough game against Pitt Thursday.
19. Iowa (8) - Hawkeyes tumble after falling in the desert.
20. LSU (22) - It isn't pretty, but the Tigers keep winning with sound defense.
21. West Virginia (23) - WVU has tough road game at LSU this week.
22. Michigan (18) - Scare against FCS UMass forces the Wolverines down a few pegs.
23. Florida State (24) - Seminoles get well against BYU.
24. Oregon State (NR) - Beavers have second rough non-BCS team this month in Boise State
25. Penn State (NR) - Shutout gets Nittany Lions back in the rankings.

Under consideration: Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Michigan State

Dropped: No. 21 Houston, No. 25 Georgia

Sun Top 10

1. Upland (3-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. No. 7 Serrano, 14-7. Up next: Friday vs. Norco (2-0).

2. Redlands East Valley (2-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. San Gorgonio, 35-7. Up next: Friday at Orange Lutheran (2-1).

3. Rancho Cucamonga (3-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. San Dimas, 21-10. Up next: Friday vs. Charter Oak (2-1).

4. Chino Hills (2-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro, 14-13. Up next: Friday vs. Pomona (3-0).

5. Kaiser (2-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Riverside North, 28-0. Up next: Friday vs. Cajon (1-1).

6. Colton (1-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to La Quinta, 14-3. Up next: Friday vs. Bloomington (2-0).

7. Serrano (2-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: lost to No. 1 Upland, 14-7. Up next: Friday at Palmdale Highland (0-2).

8. Summit (2-0-1)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Fontana, 51-7. Up next: Oct. 1 vs. Silverado (0-2-1).

9. Redlands (2-0-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Los Osos, 27-20 (3OT). Up next: Friday at Carlsbad La Costa Canyon (2-1).

10. Victor Valley (2-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Hesperia, 42-20. Up next: Friday at Apple Valley (2-1).

Just missed the cut: Ayala (3-0), Los Osos (2-1), Cajon (1-1).

Dropped out: No. 10 Los Osos (2-1).

Los Osos graduate Tara Roenicke, along with partner Summer Ross, took home the gold medal at the Under-21 Beach Volleyball World Championships earlier today in Alanya, Turkey. The duo took out the Italian team of Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth in three games - 19-21, 26-24 and 15-13 - in a 74-minute match to win the title.

The gold marks the second for Roenicke in international play, as she combined with Ross to win the gold for the United States at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival in January 2009. The article highlighting her most recent achievement can be read here.

Just got back from Redlands' triple-overtime win over Los Osos. Hence the lateness. And congratulations to Jurupa Hills for the school's first-ever victory.

Redlands 27, Los Osos 20 (3OT)
Upland 14, Serrano 7
Rancho Cucamonga 21, San Dimas 0
Kaiser 28, Riverside North 0
Miller 10, Arroyo Valley 0
Summit 51, Fontana 7
Chino Hills 14, Tesoro 13
Apple Valley 24, Granite Hills 7
Ayala 63, Alta Loma 26
Bloomington 40, Eisenhower 6
Jurupa Hills 34, Silver Valley 28
Palm Desert 70, San Bernardino 12
La Quinta 14, Colton 3
Paraclete 29, Barstow 6
Silverado 13, Carter 13
Shadow Hills 14, Citrus Valley 13
Rubidoux 27, Pacific 6
Rim of the World 27, Jurupa Valley 21
Victor Valley 42, Hesperia 20
Norco 49, Etiwanda 35
Rialto 28, Oak Hills 14
Yucca Valley 35, Sultana 17
Damien 35, Chaffey 0
Diamond Bar 24, Don Lugo 17
Aquinas 27, Mary Star of the Sea 24
Rancho Verde 48, Yucaipa 14
Bloomington Christian 16, Calvary Chapel Murrieta 6

I did better last week than in Week 0, but I'm still only batting at a 2 out of 3 clip. And this isn't baseball, so that isn't good.

Serrano at Upland
The game of the week, which will be covered by Louis Brewster. Clay Fowler and I were nice to let Lou have this game, because it should be a doozy. The Upland offense looked really good last week against Tustin and will be a challenge for the Serrano D, while running back Taylor Ruize is running wild for Serrano. The Diamondbacks have played Upland tough in the past and will play them tough again, but I gotta stick with the old No. 1 here.
Upland 24, Serrano 19

Los Osos at Redlands
Another entertaining nonleague tilt for Baseline League fans. The Grizzlies have looked good in wins over Colony and Riverside North, while Redlands has scuffled a bit in beating Great Oak and tying a shorthanded Summit team. I have to believe the Terriers will be a little more focused in this game. A win at Los Osos jumpstarted things for Redlands this year and I expect that pattern to hold true again.
Redlands 20, Los Osos 14

San Gorgonio at Redlands East Valley
This is where I'm headed in about an hour, as the Spartans and Wildcats resume their battle for Highland and other unincorporated town. Lost in REV's 56-10 beatdown of San G last year was the fact that the game was actually close, 14-10, for much of the first half. San G also played Rancho Verde tough last week and is improving, but they have a while to get on REV's level.
Redlands East Valley 28, San Gorgonio 9

Arroyo Valley at Miller
While neither of these teams has a win, both have looked good in spurts. It's still unknown whether Arroyo Valley QB Michael Yearwood will have his paperwork done in time for him to be cleared to play, but even with Yearwood, the Hawks will have a tough time against a Miller team that was very tough against Miller and Carson. Picking the Rebels to break through here.
Miller 28, Arroyo Valley 17

Colton at La Quinta
As far as coaching debuts go, it doesn't get much better than what Rick Bray did last weekend at Chaffey, as he led the Yellowjackets to a 55-8 victory. La Quinta will be a tougher test than the Tigers were, but this Colton team has the look of something special. The Yellowjackets traditionally play well in the Low Desert and there's nothing out there to suggest they won't tomorrow.
Colton 30, La Quinta 16

Kaiser at Riverside North
There aren't many programs in this area that can claim superiority over the Cats, who are consistently in the hunt. However, they are playing one of them. North has had Kaiser's number, winning six times over the Cats in the last four years. Usually I hate to bet against streaks but I have a good feeling about this Kaiser group. I'm expecting the streak to end in a doozy.
Kaiser 20, North 18

Rancho Cucamonga at San Dimas
The Cougars love the road apparently, as this is their third road trip in as many weeks. Rancho has looked great in its first two, winning decisively against Silverado and Great Oak and should be battle-tested enough to handle the Saints. San Dimas is a defending CIF champion, but the disparity in CIF divisions will be evident here.
Rancho Cucamonga 38, San Dimas 16

Granite Hills at Apple Valley
The Cougars put this crosstown rivalry on its ear last year, defeating Apple Valley in a thriller. After a win against Hesperia last week, a repeat of that victory could have Granite off and running and a threat in a wide-open Desert Sky League. A young Apple Valley team will be made well aware of its loss last year and will get revenge for it in another classic.
Apple Valley 24, Granite Hills 21

Silverado at Carter
The first two weeks haven't gone well for the Hawks, as they've been outscored 64-17. Of course, playing Rancho Cucamonga and Serrano will tend to make you look worse than you are. Carter rolled in its opener, clocking Alta Loma 51-7, but Silverado is a much tougher animal. And I expect the Hawks to be clicking a lot better offensively this week.
Silverado 24, Carter 18

Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro at Chino Hills
The highly-regarded Huskies had a pretty big hiccup last week, losing 24-12 to a good-but-not-great Santiago team. Now they'll have their hands full with a Tesoro team that's one of the toughest in Southern California. This would be a big win for Chino Hills, but I don't think it has the guns to stick with Tesoro.
Tesoro 27, Chino Hills 14.

Other games of note:

Colony 20, Los Angeles Garfield 16
Ayala 34, Alta Loma 3
Chino 23, Oak Park 20
Aquinas 21, San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea 14
Bloomington 31, Eisenhower 14
Bloomington Christian 22, Calvary Murrieta 15
Damien 20, Chaffey 14
Don Lugo 24, Diamond Bar 17
Victor Valley 41, Hesperia 13
Citrus Valley 55, Indio Shadow Hills 6
La Puente Nogales 28, Ontario 12
Santa Ana Saddleback 19, Montclair 12
Norco 43, Etiwanda 20
Rubidoux 24, Pacific 22
Palm Desert 38, San Bernardino 19
Paraclete 26, Barstow 14
Oak Hills 30, Rialto 10
Rim of the World 42, Jurupa Valley 14
Silver Valley 20, Jurupa Hills 6
Sultana 24, Yucca Valley 13
Summit 43, Fontana 15
Bishop 24, Western Christian 10
Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 27, Yucaipa 13
Big Bear 36, Arrowhead Christian 12

Last week: 24-10-1
Overall: 36-19-2

According to an article by the University of California-Berkeley's Rivals.com site, highly-touted Chino Hills defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has declared Cal and Oregon as his top two.

Ekpre-Olomu, a two-time All-Sun (All-Inland Valley) first-team selection, is the No. 155 ranked player in the country according to Rivals.com and the No. 19 player in the state of California. He is also ranked as the No. 14 player in the state. He told the site that he was planning on officially visiting Oregon this upcoming weekend while scheduling a visit to Cal sometime during the next month. He also indicated that he'd like to have a decision made before the playoffs start in mid-November.

"Hopefully before playoffs start, so I can get it out of the way," Ekpre-Olomu said in the article. "But, hopefully before that."

The article can be accessed here with a Rivals subscription.

The Redlands East Valley volleyball team used some frequent flyer miles this summer to get their team ready for its quest for a fourth straight CIF championship, participating in a tournament in Hawaii to go along with various tournaments in Southern California.

The Wildcats flew out to the islands for a week, taking in the sights and enjoying the life as a tourist. They also honed their game, winning the tournament to cap off an ideal summer vacation and set the tone for another title defense.

"We got to bond as a team, win a tournament and got to go to the beach every day," junior middle blocker Alyssa Mason said. "It doesn't get much better than that."

The 44th annual Riverside Poly Boys Water Polo tournament starts today and runs through Saturday at seven different venues -- Arroyo Valley, Corona Santiago, Corona Roosevelt, Jurupa Valley, Riverside Arlington and Riverside King High Schools as well as Sippy Woodhead Pool at Riverside Poly. The tournament, which features 60 teams throughout Southern California, will be played through Saturday, with pool play Thursday and Friday and the championship match to be held at 2 p.m. at Sippy Woodhead Pool.

County teams participating in the tournament and theare Los Osos (Woodhead), Redlands and Upland (Roosevelt), Yucaipa and Arroyo Valley (Arroyo Valley), Cajon, Alta Loma and San Gorgonio (Arlington) and Pacific, Rancho Cucamonga, Summit, Colony and Citrus Valley (Jurupa Valley).

First poll of the season. Not shocking that REV heads the class in Division 1-A.

DIVISION 1-A
1. Redlands East Valley
2. Laguna Beach
3. Corona del Mar
4. Marymount
5. El Dorado
6. Los Osos
7. Esperanza
8. Vista Murrieta
9. Arroyo Grande
10. Valencia/Valencia
Others: Murrieta Valley, Saugus

Upland and REV move their way up in the Inland Division in the most significant news from the polls.

INLAND DIVISION
(previous ranking)
1. (2) Vista Murrieta (1-0)
2. (3) Corona Centennial (1-0)
3. (5) Upland (2-0)
4. (6) Norco (1-0)
5. (7) Redlands East Valley (1-0)
6. (1) Chaparral (0-1)
7. (4) Chino Hills (1-1)
8. (9) Rancho Cucamonga (2-0)
9. (10) Charter Oak (1-1)
10. (8) Redlands (1-0-1)
Others receiving votes: Glendora (2-0) Roosevelt (1-0); South Hills (1-0); Los Osos (2-0); Corona (1-0); Riverside Poly (1-0); Yucaipa (1-0); Ayala (2-0); Damien (1-0).

Nothing too drastic at the top, but after No. 10 was extremely difficult.

1. Alabama (1) - Crimson Tide roll over Penn State to stay on top.
2. Ohio State (2) - Big plays lead the Buckeyes past Miami (Fla).
3. Boise State (3) - While the Broncos were idle, Virginia Tech's unbelievable meltdown to James Madison could be fatal to Boise's eventual title chances.
4. TCU (4) - Horned Frogs roll and could be the beneficiary of Va. Tech's shocking loss.
5. Texas (5) - Ho-hum 34-7 win for the Longhorns.
6. Oregon (10) - Ducks are climbing fast after destroying Tennessee.
7. Oklahoma (9) - Sooners blast Florida State, showing Utah State scare to be a fluke.
8. Iowa (7) - Hawkeyes kill in-state rival Iowa State but move down. Them's the breaks.
9. Nebraska (8) - Former Cajon/Centennial QB Taylor Martinez impressing for Huskers.
10. Florida (6) - Gators still look a bit out of sorts despite being 2-0.
11. Wisconsin (12) - Badgers didn't set the world on fire against San Jose St., but there's really not a better option here.
12. Utah (14) - Utes continue to climb after blasting UNLV.
13. USC (11) - Trojans look listless in 3-point win over Virginia.
14. Arkansas (15) - Razorbacks take out Louisiana-Monroe after early trouble.
15. Auburn (16) - The Tigers' win over Mississippi State wasn't pretty, but they'll take them however they come.
16. South Carolina (NR) - Gamecocks shoot into the poll out of nowhere with win over Georgia.
17. Miami (Fla.) (13) - Hurricanes don't fall too much for loss in Columbus.
18. Michigan (NR) - QB Denard Robinson may be the most exciting player in the nation.
19. Stanford (NR) - Cardinal kill UCLA to shoot into the poll.
20. Arizona (23) - Wildcats have been good, but schedule gets much harder this week with Iowa.
21. Houston (21) - Cougars win, but injury to star QB Case Keenum raises concern.
22. LSU (24) - LSU whipped Vanderbilt, but offense seems to be a concern.
23. West Virginia (20) - Mountaineers got extremely lucky against a bad Marshall team, so they fall a bit.
24. Florida State (19) - Seminoles drop after being smacked by Oklahoma
25. Georgia (17) - Bulldogs barely stay in poll after being held to six points by South Carolina.

Under consideration: Pittsburgh, North Carolina, California

Dropped out: No. 18 Virginia Tech, No. 22 Georgia Tech, No. 25 Penn State

The 10 remain the same, albeit shuffled a little. Rancho Cucamonga moves up with its second straight impressive road victory while Chino Hills and Redlands fall due to a loss and a tie against a Summit team without its top two players, respectively.

Sun Top 10

1. Upland (2-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Tustin, 42-21. Up next: Friday vs. No. 4 Serrano (2-0).

2. Redlands East Valley (1-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Clovis East, 21-6. Up next: Thursday vs. San Gorgonio (0-1).

3. Colton (1-0)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Chaffey, 55-8. Up next: Friday at La Quinta (0-1).

4. Serrano (2-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Silverado, 22-10. Up next: Friday at No. 1 Upland (2-0).

5. Rancho Cucamonga (2-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Temecula Great Oak, 34-17. Up next: Friday at San Dimas (1-1).

6. Chino Hills (1-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to Corona Santiago, 24-12. Up next: Friday vs. Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro (2-0).

7. Kaiser (1-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Barstow, 37-6. Up next: Friday at Riverside North (0-1).

8. Summit (1-0-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: tied No. 9 Redlands, 24-24. Up next: Friday at Fontana (0-1).

9. Redlands (1-0-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: tied No. 8 Summit, 24-24. Up next: Friday vs. No. 10 Los Osos (2-0).

10. Los Osos (1-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Riverside North, 26-21. Up next: Friday at No. 9 Redlands (1-0-1).

Just missed the cut: Victor Valley (1-0), Ayala (2-0), Cajon (1-1).

Dropped out: None.

This is what I got:

Palm Springs 21, Arroyo Valley 9
Redlands 24, Summit 14
Kaiser 37, Barstow 6
Rancho Verde 28, San Gorgonio 14
Bloomington 26, Banning 7
Jurupa Valley 34, Pacific 27
Yucaipa 55, Canyon Springs 12
Webb 33, Arrowhead Christian 16
Aquinas 20, Twentynine Palms 14
Cajon 51, Eisenhower 0
Carter 51, Alta Loma 7
Citrus Valley 51, Bell-Jeff 24
Colton 55, Chaffey 8
Corona Santiago 24, Chino Hills 12
Don Lugo 35, Ontario Christian 21
Los Osos 26, Riverside North 21
Ontario 26, Rubidoux 14
Redlands East Valley 21, Clovis East 6
Serrano 22, Silverado 10
Upland 42, Tustin 21
Victor Valley 35, Rim of the World 13
Vista Murrieta 49, Etiwanda 27
Western Christian 32, Downey Calvary Chapel 7
Granite Hills 32, Hesperia 12
San Bernardino 23, Sultana 20
Palm Desert 41, Apple Valley 30
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Temecula Great Oak 17

Week 0 went tragically for me, as I barely won more games than I lost. Time for redemption.

Redlands at Summit
Should be a heck of a game, as an explosive Summit offense that went off for 42 points last week goes against a Redlands defense that forced eight turnovers in its opener. Devon Blackmon (who donned a UCLA cap after last week's game for you recruitniks) rolled his ankle and may be slowed a bit in this one. I think you'll see Redlands' offense catch up to its defense and pull this out.
Redlands 27, Summit 23

Colton at Chaffey
If you like hard-nosed, smash-mouth football where the forward pass is dismissed as the work of nancy boys, then you'll love this game. Both of these teams are devastatingly effective in the double-wing offense and if you see more than 10 passes combined in this game, it'll be a shock. This marks the debut of new Colton coach Rick Bray and even though Chaffey has a game in hand, Colton will emerge.
Colton 28, Chaffey 16

Palm Springs at Arroyo Valley
The season opener for the Hawks will be a doozy, as Palm Springs is the defending CIF-SS Eastern Division champions and is the No. 1 ranked team in the Central Division. Michael Yearwood will make some plays for Arroyo Valley, but Palm Springs will likely be too much.
Palm Springs 30, Arroyo Valley 17

Silverado at Serrano
The Hawks are traditionally slow-starting, so last week's 42-7 loss to Rancho Cucamonga isn't necessarily a harbinger of doom for the season. But Silverado isn't going to get much in the way of relief against Serrano, the No. 1 team in the Eastern Division. I expect this rivalry game to go to the Diamondbacks for the fourth straight year.
Serrano 31, Silverado 12

Colony at Ayala
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs, but after a 35-13 victory over Don Lugo, maybe expectations need to be recalibrated for Ayala. Colony suffered a tough loss to Los Osos last week, but expectations are still high for the Titans. I'll take Colony to win tonight's matchup.
Colony 24, Ayala 20

Miller at Carson
Another Thursday game and a game I'll be heading off to pretty soon. The Rebels equipped themselves nicely against Upland, having the defending Central champion Highlanders in a 9-9 fourth-quarter deadlock before Upland pulled away with 12 quick points. Going to Carson and playing the Colts, who defeated Mater Dei last week, is too tough a task though.
Carson 38, Miller 13

Twentynine Palms at Aquinas
Aquinas has several scores to settle against Twentynine Palms, which has defeated the Falcons three times in the last two years, including a rout in the 2008 East Valley playoffs. I really don't see it changing this year. The Falcons will be fine in the Ambassador League, but they'll still feel the growing pains of a freshman QB in this one.
Twentynine Palms 26, Aquinas 17

Redlands East Valley at Clovis East
The Wildcats start off 2010 going through the scenic Central Valley to play a traditionally tough Clovis East squad. Typically you would pick against the team having to take the 4-plus-hour bus ride, but REV seems to excel in tough road situations such as this. I'm taking REV.
Redlands East Valley 21, Clovis East 17

Barstow at Kaiser
This should be another game where the forward pass will be used rarely, as both of these teams trend toward the smashmouth persona. The Aztecs got smashed at home last week against Apple Valley and I think they are a little too young and inexperienced to really test Kaiser right now.
Kaiser 30, Barstow 10

Tustin at Upland
The Highlanders struggled a bit with Miller last week, as their new-look defense gave up some serious passing yards to Rebel quarterback Eric Shufford. Tustin is typically a pretty tough team from Orange County and will give Upland a tussle, but I'm still going with the champs.
Upland 24, Tustin 20

Other games of note:
Don Lugo 26, Ontario Christian 21
Arrowhead Christian 12, Webb 6
Carter 28, Alta Loma 17
Rancho Cucamonga 28, Temecula Great Oak 13
Los Osos 27, Riverside North 20
Vista Murrieta 35, Etiwanda 14
Cajon 45, Eisenhower 20
Fontana 20, Littlerock 14
Yucaipa 21, Canyon Springs 16
Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep 20, Big Bear 17
Coachella Valley 30, Yucca Valley 14
Granite Hills 24, Hesperia 14
Rim of the World 33, Victor Valley 13
Oak Hills 28, Desert Hot Springs 15
Palm Desert 34, Apple Valley 19
San Bernardino 25, Sultana 23
Pomona 35, Montclair 12
Whittier 21, Chino 14
Rubidoux 30, Ontario 20
Bloomington 24, Banning 17
Citrus Valley 28, Burbank Bell-Jeff 20
Jurupa Hills 9, Calabasas Viewpoint 6
Pacific 19, Jurupa Valley 12
Rancho Verde 38, San Gorgonio 16
Chino Hills 31, Corona Santiago 20

Last week: 12-9-1
Overall: 12-9-1

For only the second time in school history, the Big Bear High School football team will host a night game, as the Bears will take on Rio Hondo Prep at 7 p.m. at Big Bear Middle School. And the buzz for the game is hard to ignore.

"It's the talk of the town right now," Big Bear head coach Dave Griffiths said. "The kids are excited, the people in town are excited, everyone is looking forward to this."

The only other time the Bears have played at night was November 17, 2006, when the Bears hosted Anza Hamilton in the first-round of the CIF-SS East Valley playoffs because Hamilton didn't want to play Saturday. The Bears whipped Hamilton 42-12 on a chilly night en route to the CIF title.

This night game is completely voluntary, as the Bears will rent lights and bring them in for what they anticipate will be a standing-room only crowd. It's the opportunity to draw more fans that had them give the green light on the night game.

"In these economic times with the budgets we have, you have to do whatever you can to increase the gate and bring in revenue," Griffiths said. "Being a resort town, we have a lot of people who work Saturday afternoons and have a hard time attending our games. Hopefully this will bring them out."

Released literally moments ago by the CIF-SS offices.

DIVISION 1 BOYS
1. Arcadia
2. Trabuco Hills
3. Dana Hills
4. Marina
5. Rancho Cucamonga
6. Great Oak
7. Yucaipa
8. El Toro
9. Corona
10. California
11. Capistrano Valley
12. Redlands East Valley
12. M.L. King
13. Troy

DIVISION 2 BOYS
1. Loyola
2. Glendora
3. Claremont
4. Saugus
5. Valencia-Pl.
6. Adolfo Camarillo
7. Ventura
8. Esperanza
9. North Torrance
10. Westlake
11. Colony
12. Canyon-Ana.
13. Newbury Park

Here they are a day late.

CENTRAL DIVISION
1. Palm Springs   (1-0)
2. Colton   (0-0) 
3. Rancho Verde   (1-0)
4. Arlington   (0-0) 
5. Chaffey   (1-0)
6. La Quinta/LQ   (0-0) 
7. Colony   (0-1)
8. La Sierra   (0-0)  
9. Palm Desert   (0-1)
10. Rialto   (1-0)
OTHERS: Valley View (0-0), Cajon (0-1),Arroyo Valley (0-0), San Bernardino (0-0), Gorgonio (0-0)

EASTERN DIVISION
1. Serrano (1-0)
2. Summit (1-0)
3. Kaiser (0-0)
4. Elsinore (1-0)
5. Citrus Hill (1-0)
6. Burroughs/Ridgecrest (1-0)
7. Oak Hills (0-0) 
8. Silverado (0-1)
9. Temescal Canyon (0-0)
10. Apple Valley (1-0)
OTHERS: Tahquitz (1-0),; Norte Vista (0-0).  

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
1. St. Margaret's (1-0)
2. Rim of the World (0-0) 
3. Sierra Canyon (1-0)
4. Twentynine Palms (1-0)
5. Linfield Christian (1-0)
6. Notre Dame/Riverside (1-0)
7. Paraclete (0-1)
8. Ontario Christian (0-1)
9. Bishop Diego (0-0)
10. Banning (0-0) 
OTHERS: Aquinas (0-1), Campbell Hall (1-0), Sage Hill (1-0), Big Bear (1-0), Brentwood (1-0), Calvary Chap/Downey (1-0), Desert Hot Springs (1-0).

INLAND DIVISION
1. Chaparral (0-0)
2. Vista Murrieta (0-0) 
3. Centennial/Corona (0-0)
4. Chino Hills (1-0)
5. Upland (1-0)
6. Norco (0-0)  
7. Redlands East Valley (0-0)
8. Redlands (1-0)
9. Rancho Cucamonga (1-0)
10. Charter Oak (0-1)
OTHERS: Roosevelt (0-0), South Hills (0-0), Los Osos (1-0), Glendora (1-0).

Here are my newest rankings. Some highly-ranked teams fell despite wins, including USC.

1. Alabama (1) - Took care of San Jose State, but will have bigger test in Penn State.
2. Ohio State (2) - Have rematch of 2002 National Title game with Miami coming up.
3. Boise State (7) - Broncos shoot up by beating Va. Tech in a virtual road game.
4. TCU (4) - Horned Frogs stay put with quality win over Oregon State.
5. Texas (5) - Longhorns beat Rice in ho-hum effort.
6. Florida (3) - Gators tumble due to uninspired win over Miami (Ohio)
7. Iowa (8) - Hawkeyes have in-state rival Iowa State looming
8. Nebraska (10) - Former Cajon QB Taylor Martinez leads Huskers to season-opening win.
9. Oklahoma (6) - Listless win over Utah State drops Sooners. Florida State's up next.
10. Oregon (12) - Former Riverside Notre Dame RB Kenjon Barner scores 5 TDs for Ducks.
11. USC (9) - Trojan pass defense looked awful in shootout victory over Hawaii.
12. Wisconsin (13) - Badgers cruise in Las Vegas.
13. Miami (Fla) (14) - Hurricanes have big trip to Columbus this week.
14. Utah (16) - Utes get nice OT win over previously-ranked Pittsburgh.
15. Arkansas (15) - Razorbacks pummel terrible Tennessee Tech.
16. Auburn (18) - Tigers run to season-opening victory.
17. Georgia (19) - Bulldogs will get test against solid South Carolina squad.
18. Virginia Tech (11) - Hokies drop after uneven "home" loss to Boise in D.C.
19. Florida State (20) - Seminoles get a chance to prove their worth at Oklahoma.
20. West Virginia (21) - Mountaineers roll to season open victory.
21. Houston (22) - Cougars' offense picks up right where it left off.
22. Georgia Tech (23) - Triple-option offense clicks early for Jackets.
23. Arizona (NR) - 41-2 victory over Toledo puts Wildcats in poll.
24. LSU (NR) - Tigers almost blew it against shorthanded Carolina.
25. Penn State (NR) - Nittany Lions sneak in poll, most likely temporarily.

Under consideration: Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Stanford

Dropped out: No. 17 Pittsburgh, No. 24 Washington, No. 25 North Carolina

Not much change here. Cajon drops out, Los Osos shoots in while Rancho Cucamonga and Summit creep up.

Sun Top 10

1. Upland (1-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Miller, 21-16. Up next: Friday vs. Tustin (1-0).

2. Redlands East Valley (0-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: did not play. Up next: Friday at Clovis East (1-0).

3. Chino Hills (1-0)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Lakewood Mayfair, 28-14. Up next: Friday at Corona Santiago (0-1).

4. Colton (0-0)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: did not play. Up next: Friday at Chaffey (1-0).

5. Serrano (1-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Paraclete, 35-14. Up next: Friday vs. Silverado (0-1).

6. Redlands (1-0)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Temecula Great Oak, 23-16. Up next: Friday at No. 9 Summit (1-0).

7. Kaiser (0-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: did not play. Up next: Friday vs. Barstow (0-1).

8. Rancho Cucamonga (1-0)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Silverado, 42-7. Up next: Friday at Temecula Great Oak (0-1).

9. Summit (1-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Etiwanda, 42-35. Up next: Friday vs. No. 6 Redlands (1-0).

10. Los Osos (1-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Colony, 20-7. Up next: Friday vs. Riverside North (0-0).

Just missed the cut: Arroyo Valley (0-0), Rim of the World (0-0), Chaffey (1-0).

Dropped out: No. 8 Cajon (0-1).

Just got back from Redlands. This is what I got.

Redlands 23, Temecula Great Oak 16
Claremont 31, Cajon 14
Rialto 21, Moreno Valley 12
Citrus Valley 51, Silver Valley 14
Upland 21, Miller 16
Los Osos 20, Colony 7
Chaffey 35, Alta Loma 21
Apple Valley 24, Barstow 7
Ayala 35, Don Lugo 13
Chino Hills 28, Lakewood Mayfair 14
Desert Hot Springs 28, Aquinas 21
Twentynine Palms 19, Palm Desert Xavier Prep 14
Whittier Christian 49, Ontario Christian 20
Serrano 35, Paraclete 14
Rancho Cucamonga 42, Silverado 7
Ridgecrest Burroughs 36, Hesperia 3
Lancaster Eastside 22, Granite Hills 19
Yucca Valley 14, Rubidoux 14
El Monte Arroyo 35, Ontario 14

The first year under Patrick Lord wasn't exactly the greatest in Eisenhower football history. The Eagles, behind quarterback Richard Redd, were exciting offensively but couldn't stop anyone on defense, leading to a 1-9 record and a three-way tie for last place in the Citrus Belt League.

But despite that, Lord is pumped. With 17 starters returning from last year's youthful group and an entire offseason to work with, the Eagles feel that their performance in 2010 will show considerable improvement.

"I feel that we've learned a lot and have come more together as a team because of what we went through," Lord said. "I feel like these kids are ready to win and, more importantly, they think they can win."

A new wrinkle we added this year, the preseason all-area team wasn't very easy to put together. But I'm sure these guys will make me look somewhat smart.

OFFENSE
QB - Thomas Carter, Sr., Cajon
RB - Dillon Pretzinger, Sr., Rim of the World
RB - Jeremiah Armstead, Sr., Oak Hills
RB - Tyler Ervin, Sr., Colton
WR - Paul Pitts, Sr., Los Osos
WR - Angel Rivera, Sr., Arroyo Valley
TE - Rodney Hardrick, Sr., Colton
OL - Jamal Prater, Sr., Etiwanda
OL - Jordan Smith, Sr., Redlands
OL - Hector Sotelo, Sr., Serrano
OL - Gary Dixon, Sr., Summit
OL - Jesus Cortez, Sr., Chaffey
Util - Devon Blackmon, Sr., Summit
K - Cody Madsen, Sr., Redlands East Valley

DEFENSE
DL - Ethan Hillyer, Sr., Serrano
DL - John Siliga, Sr., Redlands
DL - Devon Lewis, Sr., Redlands East Valley
DL - Kyle Jerkins, Sr., Apple Valley
LB - Devan Hussey, Sr., Colton
LB - Dennis Taylor, Sr., Kaiser
LB - Jamal Wilson, Sr., Miller
LB - Jimmy Musgrave, Sr., Silverado
DB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Sr., Chino Hills
DB - Josh Armstrong, Sr., Redlands East Valley
DB - Desman Carter, Sr., Kaiser
DB - Demontae Kazee, Jr., Cajon
Util - Sateki Finau, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
P - Jake Van Ginkel, Sr., Upland

Still got a couple more teams to get to in previews, but luckily they don't play this week. There are several teams that do play, however, and several intriguing games, including a doozy tonight.

Etiwanda at Summit
This is where I'll be in T minus-3 hours, as the Baseline co-champion Eagles play a Summit team that might have more explosion than any team in the area. I'm interested in two things a) how creative Summit is in using Devon Blackmon and b) how the Etiwanda offense will look after losing Angel Santiago and Bobby Ratliff, among others. I think Summit will have a bit too much firepower.
Summit 27, Etiwanda 17

Rancho Cucamonga at Silverado
I was originally slated to be at this game tomorrow, but changes out of my control prevent that. And that's really too bad, because I was looking forward to seeing the Cougars in the High Desert. Silverado doesn't dodge anyone in the nonleague schedule, but injury issues to its offensive line will make it tough for its skill players to dodge the Rancho defenders.
Rancho Cucamonga 31, Silverado 16

Upland at Miller
The Baseline League is all over Week 0 apparently. This game was highly anticipated when it was played at Upland last year and turned out to be prophetic, as a CIF-champion Highlander team choked out a highly-touted Miller team that eventually ended up underachieving. The Rebels will want to turn the tables, but I don't think they'll be able to.
Upland 24, Miller 10

Cajon at Claremont
Another intriguing Sun/Bulletin crossover game, as both teams feel they are ready for a considerable leap. For Cajon, the feeling is that the Cowboys will have a team comparable to its 2008 SAL champion and Central semifinalist. For the Wolfpack, the change to the Sierra League and a new opportunity is something they are stoked about. I'll go with the team that's more used to success in this one.
Cajon 26, Claremont 20

Temecula Greak Oak at Redlands
This is where I was switched to tomorrow and, despite my regret about not seeing Rancho-Silverado, I'm not going to complain. Great Oak handled the Terriers 24-7 in the season opener last year, something that I'll bet Redlands coach Jim Walker is reminding his team about. I think the Terriers will come out hungry and push Great Oak around a bit.
Redlands 19, Great Oak 13

Los Osos at Colony
The Bechtel Bowl should be a fun one, as former Los Osos offensive coordinator Matt Bechtel will be making his debut as the Colony coach against his old team. It will be interesting to see how the Titans handle Bechtel's system in game one and how much the Grizzlies can reload from last year. Los Osos has never lost a season opener and I'm not betting against that streak.
Los Osos 28, Colony 21

Apple Valley at Barstow
Both of these teams aren't really sure what kind of hand they have, as graduation losses have ravaged them. The Sun Devils won their first playoff game in over two decades last season, giving them some momentum, while Barstow is always a tough out, especially at home. In a game filled with uncertainty, I will go with the safe pick and take the home team.
Barstow 17, Apple Valley 12

Silver Valley at Citrus Valley
After a year of waiting, the Blackhawks will finally play their first game in their swanky new, on-campus stadium. A manageable league and a returning roster have expectations high at Citrus Valley. Playing a feckless Silver Valley team will only make them higher. The Blackhawks will get their first home victory in their first home game.
Citrus Valley 56, Silver Valley 6

Paraclete at Serrano
Paraclete gave Serrano an early wake-up call a year ago, throttling the Diamondbacks' young offensive line in a 13-3 victory. Well, that offensive line isn't so young anymore, as four starters return from a team that went to the Eastern Division championship game. Add in the homefield advantage of Snowline Stadium and Serrano's season starts out nicely.
Serrano 27, Paraclete 9

Ayala at Don Lugo
Two teams that I really don't have a handle on go head-to-head in this game. Ayala has suffered heavy personnel losses in the past two years, going from being a Central quarterfinalist to a team that might struggle in the Sierra League. The Conquistadores lost some top-line talent last year in George Uko and Steven Bethley. Once again, I will go with the home team here.
Don Lugo 21, Ayala 16

Other games of interest:
Montclair 27, Ganesha 12
Chaffey 42, Alta Loma 6
Aquinas 24, Desert Hot Springs 13
Chino Hills 30, Lakewood Mayfair 14
Granite Hills 31, Lancaster Eastside 21
El Monte Arroyo 30, Ontario 10
Twentynine Palms 38, Xavier Prep 6
Moreno Valley 20, Rialto 14
Ridgecrest Burroughs 41, Hesperia 13
Ontario Christian 23, Whittier Christian 21
Yucca Valley 26, Rubidoux 17
Pasadena Maranatha 23, Big Bear 17

The future looks decent for Pacific football, as they have 22 players in the sophomore and junior classes that they feel are capable of playing at the varsity level. Problem is that there aren't a ton of seniors ahead of them, as only 13 will be part of Oscar Torres' third season at Pacific.

"Our numbers are up in the younger grades and we have some guys that are really going to be good," Torres said. "I wish we had a few more seniors coming back to lead to way, but we'll have to depend on our younger guys to step in and play older than they are."

The Pirates aren't completely without veteran leadership, as quarterback Leo Davis (6-0, 180) returns for another year, as do offensive lineman/defensive lineman Luis Barcenas (5-10, 185) and multipurpose player Kevin Hardy (5-11, 185). Hardy will play receiver, safety, linebacker and running back for Pacific.

The traditional rivalry for Christian League supremacy much of this decade was Aquinas and Ontario Christian, as the teams split titles the last eight years. And even though both teams are moving to the Christian League, that rivalry should be just as intense.

The Falcons have won the last three meetings, therefore winning the last three league titles. Last year, Aquinas went 7-4 behind an elite cast of players that included QB/WR Jim Jones, who signed with UTEP, RB Derrick Radden, LB Jake Henderson and DL Uche Amajoyi. Those four players depart, but the Falcons are expected to be as tough as ever.

Nick Matheny returns for his second year at coach with a team that should be stout up front and has talented, albeit young, players filling in at the skill positions.

If there's one thing that can be said about Rialto's offseason, it's that it wasn't boring. The Knights were uprooted from their league, moving from the Citrus Belt League to the San Andreas League. They changed coaches twice, removing Eric Rodriguez for Don Markham, only to see Markham resign in May due to allegations of misconduct toward players.

Now in place at Rialto is Gavin Pachot. Pachot was an assistant the last three years under Rodriguez and is technically the acting head coach of the Knights, which assures him of keeping the job through the end of the season.

"I'm excited to get started and I'm really not looking too far down the road," Pachot said. "They'll either hire me full-time after the season or open the job up for me and others to apply. I'm just happy to be coaching football and I'm excited about this group of kids."

On the surface, a 3-7 season doesn't seem that big of a deal. And Fontana isn't treating it as a huge thing. But as crazy as it sounds, the Steelers actually made some progress in 2009, as the three wins represents their highest total since 2003. But coach Lance Ozier isn't satisfied.

"We improved last year, but not as much as we wanted to," Ozier said. "It wasn't the degree of progress we were hoping to make, but it was some progress. We just need to make more."

The Steelers have the means to continue a slow ascent, with 13 starters - five offensive and eight defensive - returning from last year. A couple things have Ozier excited - an increase in team speed and more players coming out for the team due to making grades.

Meant to post these earlier. My apologies.

INLAND DIVISION
1. Chaparral (Southwestern)
2. Vista Murrieta (Southwestern)
3. Corona Centennial (Big VIII)
4. Chino Hills (Sierra)
5. Charter Oak (Sierra)
6. Upland (Baseline)
7. Norco (Big VIII)
8. Redlands East Valley (Citrus Belt)
9. Redlands (Citrus Belt)
10. Rancho Cucamonga (Baseline)
Others receiving votes: Roosevelt (Big VIII); Murrieta Valley (Southwestern); South Hills (Sierra); Los Osos (Baseline); A.B. Miller (Citrus Belt); Corona Santiago (Big VIII).

CENTRAL DIVISION
1. Palm Springs (Desert Valley)
2. Colton (San Andreas)
3. Rancho Verde (Inland Valley)
4. Arlington (Inland Valley)
5. Chaffey (Mt. Baldy)
6. La Quinta/La Quinta (Desert Valley)
7. Colony (Mt. Baldy)
8. Cajon (San Andreas)
9. Palm Desert (Desert Valley)
10. Moreno Valley (Inland Valley)
Others receiving votes: Valley View (Inland Valley); La Sierra (Inland Valley); Canyon Springs (Inland Valley); Arroyo Valley (San Andreas); Carter (San Andreas); Indio (Desert Valley).

EASTERN DIVISION
1. Serrano (Mojave River)
2. Summit (Sunkist)
3. Kaiser (Sunkist)
4. Silverado (Desert Sky)
5. Elsinore (Sunbelt)
6. Citrus Hill (Mountain Pass)
7. Burroughs/Ridgecrest (Desert Sky)
8. Oak Hills (Mojave River)
9. Barstow (Desert Sky)
10. Temescal Canyon (Sunbelt)
Others receiving votes: Notre Vista (Sunkist); West Valley (Mountain Pass); Apple Valley (Mojave River); Paloma Valley( Sunbelt); Beaumont (Mountain Pass); Granite Hills (Desert Sky).

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
1. St. Margaret's (Academy)
2. Rim of the World (Mountain Valley)
3. Sierra Canyon (Alpha)
4. Paraclete (Alpha)
5. Aquinas (Ambassador)
6. Ontario Christian (Ambassador)
7. Twentynine Palms (De Anza)
8. Linfield Christian (Ambassador)
9. Notre Dame/Riverside (Mountain Valley)
10. Bishop Diego (Frontier)
Others receiving votes: Banning (Mountain Valley); Campbell Hall (Alpha); Grace Brethren (Frontier); Sage Hill (Academy): Big Bear; Rubidoux (Mountain Valley).