Recently in Ethan Hillyer Category

Serrano sweeps the superlatives here, as senior RB Taylor Ruize and senior DE/LB Ethan Hillyer were named the offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively.

Offensive MVP: Taylor Ruize, RB, Sr., Serrano
Defensive MVP: Ethan Hillyer, DE/LB, Sr., Serrano

First Team
Offense
Joey Peterson, QB, Serrano
Ben Quiroz, QB, Apple Valley
Jeremiah Armstead, RB, Oak Hills
Jermaine Lowe, RB, Apple Valley
Jacob Tizzard, OL, Apple Valley
Anthony Flores, OL, Oak Hills
Lorenzo Lao, OL, Oak Hills
Anthony Mackesy, OL, Serrano
Dylan White, OL, Serrano
Charles Mouton, OL, Sultana
Cavion Flournoy, WR, Apple Valley
Aaron Alston, WR, Hesperia
Anjaye Peters, WR, Sultana
Ethan Hillyer, TE, Serrano

Defense
Kyle Jerkins, DL, Apple Valley
Jason Curtis, DL, Oak Hills
Joey Nicholas, DL, Serrano
Hector Sotelo, DL Serrano
Anthony Saenz, LB, Apple Valley
Rodney Viramontes, LB, Hesperia
Antwaun Dawson, LB, Oak Hills
Aaron Woodard, LB, Oak Hills
Andrew Reagan, LB, Serrano
Daniel Davis, DB, Oak Hills
Garrett Reece-Scott, DB, Oak Hills
Jordan Rees, DB, Serrano
Taylor Ruize, DB, Serrano

Special Teams
Neil Franklin, K, Apple Valley
Leo Farias, P, Serrano
Marshaun Coprich, Utility, Oak Hills

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

The past four seasons have seen the Serrano football team progress an additional step toward a CIF championship. The Diamondbacks have gone from losing in the first round in 2006 to the quarterfinals in 2007 to the semifinals in 2008 to the Eastern Division championship game last year. Serrano fell in that game, 24-14 to Palm Springs, but logical progression suggests that the Diamondbacks will win a CIF championship this year. Don't expect Serrano coach Ray Maholchic to subscribe to that line of thinking though.

"We haven't talked about the CIF title game since it happened," Maholchic said. "That's not something we are thinking about. It takes a lot of good fortune to get to that point once you get in the playoff. We talk about winning the league title first and then worry about the other stuff when it comes."

Serrano lost two Division I athletes in defensive end Everett Beed (San Diego State) and running back Dionza Bradford (UNLV) from last year's CIF runner-up, but the Diamondbacks won't be hurting for experience, as they return four-fifths of their starting offensive line, their quarterback and their leading tackler.

Blogging from the Eastern title game is a little sporadic. Small press box + lack of chairs plus more reporters than normal = fun times at Palm Springs High.

The Indians - I'm pretty sure I accidentally called them Cardinals in my preview story today - are being led by running back Nephi Garcia, who has accounted for all 17 Palm Springs points. Garcia ran in a 5-yard touchdown, returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score and kicked a 30-yard field goal. Oh yeah, he kicked both extra points too. I wouldn't be surprised if he's selling concessions right now.

Dionza Bradford, who has 77 yards rushing on 13 carries, scored Serrano's only touchdown on a 2-yard run late in the first quarter. He also fumbled while the Diamondbacks were driving late in the first half. Joey Peterson has 36 yards on 3 of 5 passing for Serrano, with Joey Devora catching two passes for 30 yards. Ethan Hillyer has one interception on defense.

About 10 minutes before the second half resumes. Who knows if I'll be able to blog again before the game ends.