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It was a racuous, hot and overflow crowd on Thursday night as Ontario Christian pulled out a 65-58 victory over host Aquinas to take home the Ambassador League boys basketball title.
Aquinas, which earlier endured a 6 minute,15 second scoreless stretch late in the 3rd and early in the fourth quarter, went cold again in overtime as the Falcons were held scoreless for the first 3:15 of overtime while Ontario Christian was scoring the first nine points.
Ontario Christian won despite a poor night from the foul line, as the Knights made just 19 of 32 free throws.
it wasn't quite as thrilling a finish as my other overtime game this week, when Cajon beat Arroyo Valley by 1 on a Michael Henley buzzer-beater in overtime. It could have been, as Ontario Christian's Kevin Ross missfired on a long attempt in the final seconds of regulation.
Demetrius Overstreet scored 20 points, Joseph Rushing had 15 and Carlos Padilla had 13 for Aquinas. Brandon Zuidema scored18 points, Cameron Levise scored 16 and Daylan Lawrence and Ross had 13 points apiece for the Knights.

This league's two guaranteed playoff spots are already clinched, as are the seedings, so besides Ontario Christian having faint at-large chances, this is boring as heck. Just to warn ya.

1. Aquinas (8-1, 4-0): Has clinched a playoff spot and the No. 1 seed out of the Ambassador League regardless of what it does Friday against Western Christian.

2. Linfield Christian (5-4, 3-1): Has clinched a playoff spot and the No. 2 seed out of the Ambassador League regardless of what it does Friday against Calvary Murrieta due to its head-to-head tiebreaker advantages over Ontario Christian and Western Christian.

3. Ontario Christian (3-6, 2-2): The Knights are eliminated from automatic playoff consideration because Linfield Christian owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. The only shot Ontario Christian has is to beat Arrowhead Christian Friday and hope that making the East Valley championship game last year holds weight in the at-large selection process.

4. Western Christian (3-6, 2-2): The Lancers are eliminated from automatic playoff consideration because Linfield Christian owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. A win over Aquinas could look good for an at-large selection, but it likely wouldn't be enough.

5. Arrowhead Christian (3-6, 1-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

6. Calvary Murrieta (1-8, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Doing this a day earlier than normal, as several county teams are pulling a Conference USA and playing on a Wednesday. Only dropped five games last week, which is tied with my high performance of the season to date. We'll see if I get any smarter this week.

Redlands East Valley at Miller
With Miller's upset at Redlands last week, this game is now for the Citrus Belt League title. These teams have played classics the last three years, with each game going down to the final minute. If the good Miller shows up and stays for a while, this game could very well be the same. I'll be out to see this game Thursday and I expect a close game that goes to be more even-tempered team - which is REV.
Redlands East Valley 21, Miller 14

Upland at Los Osos
The tide in this series turned in 2008, when Upland smacked down the Grizzlies in the CIF semifinals to end a sizable losing streak to Los Osos. The Highlanders have added two more wins since, including a CIF championship win last December. A Los Osos win would put the Baseline on tilt, as Upland, Los Osos and Etiwanda would have to flip for two spots behind Rancho Cucamonga. An Upland win would make things nice and easy. We like nice and easy.
Upland 28, Los Osos 24

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Victor Valley
It very well could be feast or famine for the Jackrabbits. If they defeat Burroughs at home, Victor Valley will be the Desert Sky League champions and the No. 1 seed out of the league going into the playoffs. A loss could send them into a three-way tie for second with Silverado and Granite Hills and a resulting coin flip. While Victor Valley is in good shape for the at-large, it wouldn't mind not going down that road. But it might have to, as I see Burroughs winning.
Burroughs 30, Victor Valley 17

Carter at Arroyo Valley
The SAL is nice and simple, as the top three playoff spots are set with seeding locked in and this game settling the No. 4 spot. Carter is extremely close to being undefeated, losing to Cajon and San G by one score and Colton in overtime. Arroyo Valley, meanwhile, wasn't really close in any of its games against the Big 3. While the transitive property is dangerous to use to predict games, I feel as if Carter is a bit more equipped for this game.
Carter 21, Arroyo Valley 13

Summit at Norte Vista
The SkyHawks gave Kaiser all it could handle last week, actually having the top-ranked Cats behind in the fourth quarter before relenting and losing 19-7. Now can Summit shake off a possible letdown and get its first second-place finish in league? Norte Vista is physical and will try to pound the Cats. A first-round home playoff game is at stake, which should be enough for Summit to overcome any thoughts of regret from last week.
Summit 28, Norte Vista 22

Apple Valley at Oak Hills
Another game between teams jostling for seeding happens in the Mojave River League, as Oak Hills wants to cement its first season in league with a solid second-place finish. Apple Valley has been erratic at times, struggling to put away Sultana last week to clinch the playoff spot. The Bulldogs piledrove Hesperia last week and should take care of the Sun Devils this week.
Oak Hills 27, Apple Valley 14

Big Bear at Twentynine Palms
This is another league-title showdown, as the Wildcats will try to capture their fourth straight De Anza title by beating the Bears on their home turf. I expect this game to be a dandy, as the Bears' option attack is being executed in tip-top form with junior quarterback Zakk Planz while the Wildcats have profited from the bruising running of fullback Chris Fuifui. However, I like the Bears here in a mild upset.
Big Bear 24, Twentynine Palms 22

Ontario at Colony
I could write a dissertation on the Mt. Baldy League playoff situation and still not explain it correctly. However, I'm going to defer to my colleague Clay Fowler on this, as I would probably turn myself crosseyed trying to explain how a five-way tie at 2-4 for two playoff spots (which is mathematically possible) could work. This game could contribute to that chaos, as Ontario is one of four teams at 2-3 playing a Colony team that has its spot already set. Colony could be nice, let the Jaguars win and save us all from grief, but it won't.
Colony 34, Ontario 14

Ayala at Chino Hills
This battle of Chino Hills typically has huge implications riding on it but really doesn't this year, at least for Ayala, as the Bulldogs are long since eliminated from the playoffs. Chino Hills could still sneak out with a Sierra League title, as South Hills' upset of Claremont last week opened up that door just a tad. The Huskies still need Claremont to lose to Damien for a league title to happen, but they'll do their part tonight.
Chino Hills 38, Ayala 6

Ontario Christian at Arrowhead Christian
With only two teams automatically making the playoffs out of the Ambassador League, Ontario Christian is in a precarious spot. Aquinas and Linfield Christian have the two spots locked up, which leaves the 3-6 Knights, who made the East Valley finals a year ago, scrambling for an at-large. How does this game with ACA factor in? Well, a few style points wouldn't hurt, so I expect Ontario Christian to put a hurting on the Eagles and hope for the best on Sunday.
Ontario Christian 44, ACA 10

Other games of note
Aquinas 48, Western Christian 14
Rancho Cucamonga 38, Glendora 13
Etiwanda 65, Alta Loma 7
Redlands 49, Fontana 6
Yucaipa 38, Eisenhower 10
Yucca Valley 45, Shadow Hills 0
Silverado 28, Barstow 6
Serrano 42, Hesperia 0
Chino 49, Don Lugo 20
Montclair 26, Chaffey 22
Rim of the World 56, Jurupa Hills 12
Riverside Notre Dame 45, Citrus Valley 9
Colton 28, Rialto 7
San Gorgonio 62, Pacific 14
Cajon 55, San Bernardino 12
Kaiser 43, Bloomington 6
Granite Hills 16, Sultana 6

Last week: 26-5
Overall: 226-78-3

The Fall Signing Period for sports such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and water polo starts next Wednesday and lasts through November 17. A few county athletes have set up their signings already.

Ontario Christian gymnast Kaitlyn Clark will be signing a letter of intent to the University of Alabama at Precision Gymnastics in Rancho Cucamonga at 6 p.m. Alabama is one of the top programs in the nation for women's gymnastics.

Rim of the World has also announced a signing ceremony for Nov. 16 at the school. Signing on that day will be softball player Elizabeth Caporuscio, who will be attending Arizona State. Caporuscio, a star pitcher for the Fighting Scots, verbally committed to play for the Sun Devils during her sophomore year.

All coaches and schools which will be having players sign during the Fall Signing Period should e-mail The Sun at sports@inlandnewspapers.com or tj.berka@inlandnewspapers.com or call (909) 483-9305.

While there have been a couple of leagues that have already started playing, league play will really get going this week. And this is when high school football gets good. I seem to finally be getting into some sort of groove, only dropping five games this week.

Redlands at Redlands East Valley
The battle of the Smudge Pot is always a battle and will be again. Both teams are smarting a bit, Redlands from three straight losses in this rivalry and REV from two consecutive losses where it was outscored 55-17. The Terriers are fresh off a bye week and confident after going 4-0-1 against a tough nonleague schedule and look to have the mojo going in. Which is why I'm going the other way. I think REV will circle the wagons and hoist the Smudge Pot again.
Redlands East Valley 17, Redlands 14

Silverado at Victor Valley
Another crosstown rivalry that should be a doozy, as the Jackrabbits have their best chance in a decade to knock off Silverado. Victor Valley has played well in going 5-0, winning The Bell over Apple Valley for the second straight year, but they haven't faced the schedule Silverado has to date. And the Jackrabbits don't have a win like Silverado's victory over Summit two weeks ago. This is when the Hawks start to turn it on and I think Silverado wins a thriller.
Silverado 30, Victor Valley 28

Rancho Cucamonga at Los Osos
This was the Grizzlies' coming-out party a year ago, as a struggling Los Osos team shocked Rancho, starting a seven-game winning streak that didn't end until the Grizzlies lost to Upland in the Central Division title game. Los Osos isn't struggling this year, sporting a solid 3-2 record, but they are the underdogs to a stout Rancho team led by senior RB Sateki Finau. The Cougars have had two weeks to overcome their loss to Redlands and will prevail tomorrow.
Rancho Cucamonga 26, Los Osos 20

Aquinas at Ontario Christian
The bellwether game of the Christian League is expected to be the same in the new Ambassador League, as this holy war is always one of the must-see games in the county. Aquinas has won the last three and comes in with momentum, having won four in a row after a season-opening loss to Desert Hot Springs. The Knights, meanwhile, have struggled, losing three in a row. They'll get back to winning, but after this week, as I'm going with the Falcons.
Aquinas 34, Ontario Christian 23

Chino Hills at Claremont
The Baseline League has gotten the hype as the toughest league west of the 15, but that title may actually go to the Sierra. And that reason is due in large part to the play of these two teams. A senior-laden Claremont squad has erupted to a 4-1 start behind QB Daniel Kessler, who has thrown for 302 yards per game. The Wolfpack haven't faced a defense nearly as stout or as talented as Chino Hills' though and will be slowed down enough by the Huskies.
Chino Hills 27, Claremont 17

Arroyo Valley at San Gorgonio
The Hawks have been in a holding pattern on offense this year with the travails of quarterback Michael Yearwood, who has missed all but one series due to transfer paperwork and a knee injury. The latter will have him out for this key game, putting the onus on an impressive Arroyo Valley defense to shut down a potent San G attack. The Spartans got a big win last week at Carter and are thirsting at the chance to go on a winning streak. And I think they will.
San Gorgonio 20, Arroyo Valley 14

Serrano at Apple Valley
The Diamondbacks are the king poobah of the Mojave River League and despite having issues in the passing game during the nonleague season, always seem to be ready to roll this time of the year. Apple Valley has done a good job of adjusting to its personnel, going from a power-running option attack to a more balanced attack that has featured senior WR Cavion Flournoy. Serrano has size and experience in the trenches, which will tell the tale in this one.
Serrano 28, Apple Valley 13

Chino at Garey
Two of the surprises of the Mt. Baldy League meet to see who is the most for real. The Cowboys have been devastating offensively under first-year coach Matt McCain, averaging 45 points per game. Garey will be Chino's toughest test to date, as the Vikings possess possibly the best player in the league in senior WR Dominique Williams. But I like the groove Chino is in and look for it to continue tonight.
Chino 35, Garey 24

Bloomington at Norte Vista
This league opener, which I'll be at in a couple hours, could eventually decide the third Sunkist League playoff spot behind Kaiser and Summit. The Bruins have already equaled their win total from last year at 3, though were defeated handily by Paloma Valley last week, while the Braves are looking to recapture the form that brought them 11 wins and a Eastern Division semifinal appearance a year ago. I look for the Braves to do that and win a crucial game.
Norte Vista 23, Bloomington 18

Desert Hot Springs at Big Bear
Saturday afternoon brings a big matchup in the mountains, as both of these teams have taken tremendous steps forward from a year ago. DSH has already knocked off some name county foes, beating Aquinas and Rim of the World, while the Bears have sparkled behind the nifty option work of junior quarterback Zak Planz. The winner here takes a huge step toward ending Twentynine Palms' reign atop the De Anza League and its basically a coin flip. So I'll go with the home team.
Big Bear 35, Desert Hot Springs 32

Other games of note:
Linfield Christian 38, Arrowhead Christian 9
Western Christian 20, Calvary Murrieta 10
Glendora 35, Etiwanda 30
Upland 49, Alta Loma 0
Miller 45, Eisenhower 13
Yucaipa 28, Fontana 12
Twentynine Palms 36, Shadow Hills 10
Yucca Valley 47, Desert Mirage 0
Barstow 16, Granite Hills 14
Oak Hills 30, Sultana 10
Rubidoux 42, Jurupa Hills 6
Rim of the World 35, Citrus Valley 14
Colony 42, Chaffey 10
Ontario 23, Don Lugo 21
Colton 38, San Bernardino 12
Cajon 27, Rialto 14
Carter 54, Pacific 12
Bloomington Christian 20, Fairmont Prep 10
Charter Oak 24, Ayala 17
Kaiser 59, Jurupa Valley 0
Summit 38, Patriot 16
Last week: 21-5
Overall: 128-52-3

A few county teams survived the first round of CIF-SS boys volleyball play Tuesday and will be playing in the second round today, with three teams (Miller, Arrowhead Christian and Summit) hosting games.

Miller was the only Citrus Belt League team to survive the first round Tuesday, defeating Montebello in four games (21-25, 25-12, 25-22, 32-30) to notch the first playoff victory in school history. The Rebels will be tested tonight at 7 p.m. against Torrance Bishop Montgomery in Division 4 action.

ACA, the No. 4 seed in Division 5, will host Saddleback Valley Christian at 7 p.m. tonight after sweeping Gardena Serra in three games by the score of 25-15, 25-23, 25-23. San Andreas League champion Summit also advanced in D5 play by taking care of Glendale Adventist in routine fashion, sweeping it 25-10, 25-10, 25-13. The SkyHawks will host Bellflower St. John Bosco at 7 p.m.

Ontario Christian also advanced in the D5 playoffs with a four-game victory over Carson CAMS -- 25-16, 25-11, 21-25, 25-21. The Knights will play at No. 2 seeded San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's at 5 p.m. today.

Still have quite a few teams trucking, as Redlands East Valley, Sultana, Granite Hills and Ontario Christian have all advanced. All will be on the road Tuesday, as will boys semifinalist Oak Hills. The CIF had to make it tough for us, didn't it?

Division 2
Quarterfinals
Harvard-Westlake 1, Laguna Hills 0
Redlands East Valley 1, Corona del Mar 0
Beckman 1, Ayala 0
Flintridge Sacred Heart 3, Saugus 2

Semifinals
Redlands East Valley at Harvard-Westlake
Flintridge Sacred Heart at Beckman

Division 3
Quarterfinals
Sunny Hills 1, Bloomington 0

Division 4
Quarterfinals
Bishop Amat 3, Santa Maria St. Joseph's 2
Sultana 2, La Serna 1
Los Altos 1, Santa Ynez 0
Granite Hills 5, Serrano 0

Semifinals
Sultana at Bishop Amat
Granite Hills at Los Altos

Division 6
Quarterfinals
Lancaster Desert Christian 9, Calvary Murrieta 1
St. Margaret's 1, Santa Paula 0 (2OT)
Malibu 6, San Jacinto 0
Ontario Christian 3, Woodcrest Christian 0

Semifinals
St. Margaret's at Desert Christian
Ontario Christian at Malibu

This sport returns a defending champion, as Mojave River League champion Sultana will try to defend its Division 4 crown. Ontario Christian, also a frequent participant deep in the playoffs, notched the No. 2 seed in Division 6. Wild card games will be played Wednesday, with the first round starting Friday.

DIVISION 2
Wild Card
A: Chino at Burbank Burroughs
B: Villa Park at Nogales
C: Canyon Country Canyon at Highland
D: Fontana at Ontario
E: Palmdale at Arcadia.

First Round
Wild Card A at Harvard-Westlake
Redlands at El Dorado
Eastside at Laguna Hills
Valencia at Walnut
Wild Card B at Redlands East Valley
Glendora at Hart
Montclair at Corona del Mar
Knight at Crescenta Valley
Wild Card C at Beckman
South Hills at Burbank
Chaminade at Ayala
Wild Card D at Anaheim Canyon
Wild Card E at Saugus
Colony at Yucaipa
St. Lucy's at Lancaster
Brea Olinda at Flintridge Sacred Heart.

Not much has changed here lately, as Granite Hills is No. 2 in Division IV while Ontario Christian holds that spot in D6.

No real changes here, as Ontario Christian remains No. 2 in the Division 6 poll while Granite Hills and Serrano are back-to-back at No. 3 and No. 4 in the Division IV poll.

Ontario Christian, a perennial CIF contender, is looking like a decent bet to play for a title, as the Knights are ranked second in the Division VI poll. Besides that, Granite Hills and Serrano are looking good in Division IV, as they are ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

Well, we are down to the nitty gritty here. The Central and Inland Divisions have blown up on me, leaving Serrano and St. Margaret's as my only chances to predict champions (though with St. Margaret's, getting that prediction right is akin to pick the Lakers to win the Pacific Division). Let's see how we do in the final week.

Central Division
Los Osos vs. Upland
Really tough game to figure out. On one side you have the Grizzlies, who have won seven games in a row and are exploding scoreboards with their point totals. No brainer pick, right? Not exactly. The last team they lost to was, drumroll please, Upland, and in shutout fashion no less. The Highlanders can choke out even the most explosive offenses, giving up only 27 points in three playoff games.
So do you go with the hot team? Or with the adage of defense wins championships? I'm going with the second, as Upland will finish the job this year after losing in the finals last season.
Upland 17, Los Osos 13

Eastern Division
Serrano at Palm Springs
I proceeded to pick against Palm Springs last week in their matchup with Kaiser, only to see the Cardinals destroy the Cats 41-0. I also caught some guff about it from Palm Springs coach Steve Fabian. Either he's got some moles in San Bernardino County or we have some readers in the Low Desert. Either way, I'm going back to the well. I picked Serrano when the playoffs started and nothing since has convinced me to back off that pick. If anything, watching them score 49 points against Norte Vista reaffirmed my faith in the Diamondbacks.
Serrano 27, Palm Springs 21

East Valley Division
St. Margaret's at Ontario Christian
The Knights have been an awesome story. Veteran coach Laing Stevens comes back from retirement and does his thing, getting Ontario Christian back to the finals unexpectedly. It's not like the Knights are getting lucky either, as they just blasted Grace Brethren 45-0 last week. OC is peaking and looking good. However, St. Margaret's is the gold standard of small-school football. Three CIF titles in a row and a state championship speak for themselves and while I expect OC to come out swinging, I think the fairy-tale run comes just short.
St. Margaret's 26, Ontario Christian 14

And just because I can...
Inland Division
Vista Murrieta 38, Temecula Chaparral 31

Well, I got one of the four semifinalists right in the East Valley - both from my pre-playoff predictions and from my predictions last week. So don't be going to Vegas and betting large on this.

St. Margaret's 38, Bishop 12

Ontario Christian at Simi Valley Grace Brethren
Twice I've picked both of these teams to lose in the playoffs. Twice they've made me look dumb. So where do I go from here? I figure the third time is the charm and with that charm, I'm taking the Knights. Although Ontario Christian fans probably want me to take Grace Brethren, I've been convinced that the Knights' "spunk" is legit. I mean, they've rubbed out De Anza champ Twentynine Palms and No. 2 seed Maranatha. OC will take this too.
Ontario Christian 30, Grace Brethren 26

As far as the Inland Division, technically the Sun has no stake left after REV and Redlands were eliminated last week. But for the sake of seeing things through, I'll offer my predictions here. I'm thinking an all-Big VIII final quite frankly.

Corona Centennial 31, Temecula Chaparral 17

Norco 38, Vista Murrieta 27

Whiffed on a couple of the games featuring local teams last week, so I have some explaining to do to the likes of Aquinas and Ontario Christian, respectively.

Aquinas at No. 1 San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's
Note for next year - don't pick against Aquinas at home in the playoffs. The Falcons dusted Sierra Canyon, making me look pretty dumb. And for good reason. However, they are on the road against the defending CIF and small-school state champions. I have to pick against Aquinas again here. Sorry fellas.
St. Margaret's 27, Aquinas 13

Fillmore 34, Bishop 18

Simi Valley Grace Brethren at Oak Hills
The Bulldogs redeemed my trust last week, ekeing past No. 3 seeded Kern Valley 21-19 to continue their historic run as a first-year school. Now they get another first - their inaugural home playoff game. Oak Hills is straight rolling and I'm not a huge believer in Grace Brethren. Plus, gotta keep my sleeper alive.
Oak Hills 38, Grace Brethren 27

No. 2 Pasadena Maranatha at Ontario Christian
All of a sudden, the Knights have become a tough out. They took Aquinas to the wire in the regular season finale two weeks ago and pulled the upset against a hot Twentynine Palms team on the road in the first round last week. However, OC is at home and they have a very explosive Maranatha team to face. I see the Knights' recent run of spunk coming to an end.
Maranatha 35, Ontario Christian 21

St. Margaret's ruled this division with an iron fist last year, taking out 40% of the De Anza League en route to the division and, eventually, the small-school state title. Can anyone take them out this time around?

No. 1 St. Margaret's 38, Santa Paula 6

Chatsworth Sierra Canyon at Aquinas
This is basically a coinflip, as Sierra Canyon was second in the Alpha League with an 8-2 record while Aquinas won its third straight Christian League title in thrilling fashion over Ontario Christian. It's been a bit of an up-and-down ride for the Falcons thus far this season and I'm not quite sure if they'll be able to outfight Sierra Canyon.
Sierra Canyon 27, Aquinas 20

Los Angeles Brentwood 31, Bishop 14

Yucca Valley at No. 4 Fillmore
Yucca Valley doesn't have a pretty record, but it does have another berth in the East Valley playoffs. The Trojans opened some eyes in the playoffs a year ago, winning their first-round game and giving St. Margaret's a struggle in the second round, but I have a hard time seeing them repeating that trick this year.
Fillmore 33, Yucca Valley 13

Oak Hills at No. 3 Kern Valley
Oak Hills isn't your typical first-year program - or your typical at-large freelance cannon fodder squad. The Bulldogs are 8-2 and have some pretty big wins, so they won't be intimidated by a 9-1 Kern Valley squad. And quite frankly, I think Oak Hills is too young to realize that it shouldn't be doing this well. I smell an "upset".
Oak Hills 38, Kern Valley 27

Newport Beach Sage Hill 23, Simi Valley Grace Brethren 21

Ontario Christian at Twentynine Palms
How quickly can the Knights recover from their heartbreaking loss to Aquinas? That's the million-dollar question for Ontario Christian, as Twentynine Palms has been a Christian League-killer over the past few seasons. The Wildcats are surging, winning six in a row and went to the finals a year ago. I don't see Ontario Christian doing well here.
Twentynine Palms 34, Ontario Christian 13

No. 2 Pasadena Maranatha 40, Lebec Frazier Mountain 7

QUARTERFINALS
St. Margaret's over Sierra Canyon
Brentwood over Fillmore
Oak Hills over Sage Hill
Maranatha over Twentynine Palms

SEMIFINALS
St. Margaret's over Brentwood
Maranatha over Oak Hills

Championship
St. Margaret's over Maranatha

A three-loss week is a good way to go into the finale. With some of these games starting in 90 minutes or less, time to man up and make some picks.

Redlands East Valley at Redlands
This isn't until tomorrow, but a crosstown rivalry between the No. 1 and No. 5 teams in the area, who are both undefeated in league going into the league finale, is going to get top billing. That's the way it is. REV has never won three in a row against the Terriers and Dodge Field should be rocking for the first-ever on-campus meeting between the two. However, I think REV has too many weapons.
Redlands East Valley 24, Redlands 17

Etiwanda at Rancho Cucamonga
The battle of teams upset by Los Osos (guess it's disingenuous to call them upsets now) should be a high-scoring doozy, as both of these teams can score from any point of the field. Of course, I said the same thing before Upland and Rancho played in the regular-season finale last year, only to see a 13-2 game in gale-force winds. Barring a hurricane, this should be fun.
Rancho Cucamonga 41, Etiwanda 32

Ayala at Glendora
Ayala has lost two in a row, with a third loss in a row likely sealing a playoff-less fate. Glendora has the capability of rising up, as its already defeated Chino Hills this season. Ayala hasn't fared well against quality competition, which the Tartans certainly are. I'm taking Glendora.
Glendora 23, Ayala 14

Riverside Patriot at Summit
This is the game I'll be at in less than 90 minutes, as for the second straight year Summit has a live-or-die Thursday night game. They made a spirited comeback to beat Bloomington in this spot next year, but shouldn't need one this time around. Summit finishes the job.
Summit 31, Patriot 20

Granite Hills at Barstow
One of two live-or-die Desert Sky League games, as the Aztecs are faced with being shut out of the playoffs a year after going to the CIF final if they lose to Granite Hills, which has already won more games this season than any other time in school history. Even though Barstow's previous three losses have come at home, I'm going with the Aztecs in this spot.
Barstow 26, Granite Hills 21

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Victor Valley
The other DSL elimination game has the resurgent Jackrabbits, fresh off a one-point victory at Barstow, playing the battle-tested Burros. This has been a year of big steps for Victor Valley, which has taken down rivals Apple Valley and Barstow. Add 'making the playoffs' to those steps.
Victor Valley 24, Ridgecrest Burroughs 19

Ontario Christian at Aquinas
For the 8th straight year, this game is going to decide the Christian League title. Both of these teams have had their share of ups and downs to get to this point, but all is good in the Christian League world apparently. It's been good for the Falcons in this matchup the last two years and I think it will be again, as Aquinas has too many weapons for the Knights.
Aquinas 35, Ontario Christian 17

Garey at Don Lugo
The Vikings have had quite a resurgence and have the horses to come in and upset Don Lugo, which boasts two elite players in DT George Uko and DB/RB Steven Bethley. Garey has some players, but I have a feeling that they'll have to wait a year for their turn.
Don Lugo 27, Garey 17

Apple Valley at Hesperia
League play has been rocky for both of these schools, but things have fallen to where winning this game will make things a heck of a lot more enjoyable for one of the two. Apple Valley has just missed the playoffs the last two years and should finish the job this time around.
Apple Valley 34, Hesperia 16

Cajon at Arroyo Valley
Seems weird to have an SAL game this far down on the list, but there's no league championship or playoff invitation being settled in this matchup - just second and third place. However, this will be a fun game to watch, as junior QBs Thomas Carter (Cajon) and Michael Yearwood (Arroyo Valley) should star. I'll go with the Cowboys in a close one.
Cajon 30, Arroyo Valley 27

Other games of note:

Los Osos 45, Alta Loma 6
Upland 23, Claremont 10
Miller 53, Eisenhower 20
Yucaipa 37, Carter 34
Fontana 28, Rialto 14
Big Bear 20, Desert Hot Springs 16
Yucca Valley 24, Desert Mirage 13
Serrano 48, Sultana 0
Colony 45, Montclair 7
Chaffey 38, Ontario 0
Colton 60, Pacific 0
San Gorgonio 48, San Bernardino 31
Chino Hills 41, Diamond Bar 10
Damien 37, Chino 6
Kaiser 51, Jurupa Valley 0
Norte Vista 34, Bloomington 14
Arrowhead Christian 20, Boron 18
Oak Hills 55, Citrus Valley 6

Week: 25-3
Overall: 226-58

This league was definitely bizarre during the regular season, as La Verne Lutheran's decision to forfeit its schedule three weeks into the season threw a curveball into the proceedings, as the Christian League will only have two automatic bids.

1) Aquinas (5-3, 2-0): It's pretty simple for the Falcons. If they beat Ontario Christian this week, they win their third straight league title and get the No. 1 seed out of the league in the East Valley playoffs. If they lose, they are the No. 2 seed.

2) Ontario Christian (4-5, 2-0): Copy and paste what I typed for Aquinas, subbing out Falcons for Knights and Ontario Christian for Aquinas.

3) Arrowhead Christian (5-4, 1-2): There's no chance of the Eagles, who have a bye this week because of the La Verne Lutheran forfeit, of getting an automatic playoff spot. But ACA, which was ranked as high as No. 4 in the CIF standings this year, should be in good position for one of the four at-large spots in the East Valley Division.

4) Western Christian (1-7, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

5) La Verne Lutheran: Apparently eliminated from playing at all.

The all-Christian League team. Drumroll please.

SUPERLATIVES
MVP: Jim Jones, WR/DB, Jr., Aquinas
Offensive MVP: Tyler Stirewalt, QB, Sr., Aquinas
Defensive MVP: Jake Henderson, LB, Jr., Aquinas
Co-Special Teams MVP: Zach Oliver, Sr., Ontario Christian; Zack Watkins, Jr., Western Christian.
Co-Coaches of the Year: Wayne Cochrun, Arrowhead Christian; Josh Henderson, Aquinas
Sportsmanship Award: Aquinas High School.

First team
Andrew Aivazian, Sr., Ontario Christian; Uche Amajoyi, Jr., Aquinas; Alex Barger, Sr., Aquinas; Alex Beaton, Sr., Western Christian; A.J. Cabello, Sr., Arrowhead Christian; Rob Coachman, Jr., Ontario Christian; Bob Jones, Sr., Aquinas; Jarid Lesh, Sr., Arrowhead Christian; Jimmy Lohan, Jr, Ontario Christian; Micah McClure, Sr., Ontario Christian; Derrick Radden, Jr., Aquinas; J.P. Ragan, Sr., Aquinas; Adam Schwartzman, Jr, Arrowhead Christian; Christian Solis, So., Western Christian; Spencer Summers, Jr., Arrowhead Christian; Daniel Sutton, Sr., Western Christian; Tyron Tarvin, Sr., Ontario Christian; Brandon Taylor, Sr. Aquinas.

Second team
Andrew Bethel, Sr., Aquinas; Chris Casaclang, Jr, Aquinas; Reed Covington, Sr., Western Christian; Jordan Kloosterman, So., Ontario Christian; Andrew Lachelt, Jr., Ontario Christian; Manuel Macias, Jr., Ontario Christian; Roberto Martinez, So., Aquinas; Alex Mucillo, Sr., Arrowhead Christian; Ryan Salausa, So., Western Christian; Nick Schodelbauer, Jr., Aquinas; Cameron Schweitzer, Sr., Arrowhead Christian; Mark Sowell, Sr., Arrowhead Christian; Tyler Struiksman, Sr., Ontario Christian; Elijah Winton, Sr., Ontario Christian.

Same drill as the other two leagues. In-depth first-round predictions here, then a quick prediction for the rest of the bracket.

Arrowhead Christian at No. 2 Brentwood
Just getting to the playoffs is huge for the Eagles, as Wayne Cochrun was faced with a heck of a rebuilding project when he arrived at ACA three years ago. This is definitely a huge step for the program. Unfortunately, its the only step. Brentwood is quite good, they'll be at home and it's where O.J. Simpson used to live. Ok, that last point is irrelevant, but my prediction isn't.
Brentwood 38, Arrowhead Christian 13

Kern Valley at No. 3 Aquinas
I really don't see how Aquinas loses this game. The Falcons have been something to behold this year, with the QB-WR combo of Tyler Stirewalt and Jim Jones really giving them a shot in the arm. Kern Valley is going to need a lot more than a shot in the arm to hang with this Aquinas team.
Aquinas 42, Kern Valley 17

Big Bear at No. 4 Santa Paula
It's hard to get a read on the Bears. They definitely have the pedigree to make a run in the playoffs, with a CIF title two years ago and a narrow loss to Citrus Hill last year, but due to injuries and inconsistency, haven't quite been able to get in full stride. Since they lost last week, I think Big Bear is capable of upsetting Santa Paula.
Big Bear 24, Santa Paula 21

Ontario Christian at Pasadena Maranatha
Two of the bigger names in this division take the stage tonight. It's been a struggle for the Knights, who have had plenty of growing pains in the transition to the spread offense. While Ontario Christian, with QB Andrew Lachelt, should be awesome next year, it hasn't been all that this year. And won't tonight.
Maranatha 26, Ontario Christian 16

Huntington Beach Brethren Christian at Twentynine Palms
Everyone wants Twentynine Palms to win this, just to set up a great quarterfinal game with Aquinas. Ok, maybe not everyone, but that game certainly would be easy for County football fans to get up for. Brethren Christian is 4-6, but did beat ACA in the regular season. However, the Wildcats are better than ACA. Get the hype going, as 29 and Aquinas are on a collison course.
Twentynine Palms 34, Brethren Christian 12

Yucca Valley at Bishop
It's been a fun year for the Trojans, who surprisingly emerged from near the bottom of the De Anza League to grab second place and a playoff berth. Now, they'll have a fun trip to Bishop. To be honest, I have no idea what roads you would take for that. If Yucca gets there, it should be all set for a good, solid game, though I'll take a more playoff-tested Bishop squad.
Bishop 20, Yucca Valley 15

Other games of note:
No. 1 St. Margaret's 43, North Hollywood Campbell Hall 14
Fillmore 24, Desert 20

Quarterfinals
No. 1 St. Margaret's over Bishop
Maranatha over Big Bear
No. 2 Brentwood over Fillmore
No. 3 Aquinas over Twentynine Palms

Semifinals
No. 1 St. Margaret's over Maranatha
No. 3 Aquinas over No. 2 Brentwood

Final
No. 1 St. Margaret's over No. 3 Aquinas

As I start to wrap this up, it's time to throw some love to the smallest league we have in our coverage area, the Christian League. When you only have two league games played up to this point, it leaves some wacky possibilites.

1. Aquinas (8-1, 2-0): Will clinch a playoff spot and a second straight league title with a win over Arrowhead Christian. Should the Falcons lose and Ontario Christian beats Western Christian, a three-way flip for two playoff spots would ensue. If Aquinas and Ontario Christian both lose, then the Falcons grab the No. 2 seed. Should Aquinas somehow get shut out of the two playoff spots, it is guaranteed to be an at-large selection in the East Valley Division playoffs.

2. Ontario Christian (4-5, 1-1): Only way the Knights can win the Christian League is with a win over Western Christian, an Arrowhead Christian win and a win in a three-way coin flip. Most likely scenario is the No. 2 spot, which comes with a win and an Aquinas win. A loss and an Aquinas win would cause a three-way flip between Arrowhead Christian, Western Christian and the Knights for one spot. A loss and an Arrowhead Christian win would leave the Knights out of the two automatic spots, causing a then 4-6 OC team to sweat out the at-large selections.

3. Arrowhead Christian (6-3, 1-1): ACA athletic director Richard Yaross gave me a breakdown of the Eagles' chances in an e-mail this week, feeling that they have a good shot at an at-large should they not finish in the top two spots. With that said, ACA can win the league and get the top spot with a win and an Ontario Christian loss. A win and an Ontario Christian win causes a three-way flip for two spots, while a loss and an Ontario Christian loss causes a three-way flip for one spot. A loss and an Ontario Christian win would put the Eagles third, needing that at-large bid.

4. Western Christian (5-4, 0-2): The Lancers have no shot at the title, but can notch the No. 2 seed via coin flip with a win and an Aquinas win. A win in any situation would increase Western's at-large possibilties immensely, while a loss would almost certainly eliminate them from consideration, as they would have lost five straight games to end the season.

Missed the Broncos-Browns game and the college games tonight. Oh well. Maybe I should concentrate more on high schools anyway, as the upsets last week left me an unsatisfactory 16-8 last week. Gotta do better than that.

Redlands at Redlands East Valley
This should be one of the more animated games of the season, with vitrol coming from both sides. Can REV recover from its loss to Miller? Will Redlands hype itself way too much and hit a fatal lull? A couple of interesting things. This game has gone Red-REV-Red-REV-Red-REV the last six years and every year REV has won, its won a league title. It's Redlands' turn in the cycle and REV won't likely win a title, so I'm going with the Terriers.
Redlands 21, Redlands East Valley 17

Ayala at Chino Hills
I pick against Chino Hills quite a bit. They end up making me look dumber than I already am. I'm sick of looking dumb, at least when it comes to Chino Hills. So yeah, I'm picking the Huskies this week. Are you happy? Are you not entertained? Wait, don't answer the last one.
Chino Hills 27, Ayala 22

Arroyo Valley at Cajon
Michael Philipp was honored this week with a berth in the U.S. Army All-American game, a great achievement for the Arroyo Valley offensive lineman. Now if Philipp could carry the ball, the Hawks would be in business. Losing to San Berdoo was definitely a slap in the face, and Cajon is straight ballin' right now. Probably too hard for Arroyo to turn it around this week.
Cajon 31, Arroyo Valley 10

Etiwanda at Upland
Upland should be all hyped-up for a showdown with Rancho Cucamonga next week but can hardly afford to overlook the Eagles in this game. Both of these teams can pass (seriously, who in the Baseline can't?) but I think the Highlanders have a little more talent across the board.
Upland 38, Etiwanda 24

Patriot at Summit
Summit used a lifeline last week against Norte Vista, phoning a friend and getting a 26-point second half to eke out a 32-28 victory after being down 28-6. That isn't going to work against a solid Patriot team that will almost assuredly be the first Patriot/Rubidoux/whatever team to get a playoff berth since 2001. Summit will disrupt a potential Sunkist showdown between Patriot and Kaiser next week with a win.
Summit 27, Patriot 20

Ontario at Chaffey
After the huge overtime win over Colony, it would be easy for the Tigers to strut down Euclid Avenue and feel high and mighty. But this Ontario team, also undefeated in the Mt. Baldy League, can bite them if Chaffey isn't careful. QB Herman Huezo has been a dual-threat force for the Jaguars, but he won't be enough.
Chaffey 34, Ontario 19

Hesperia at Rim of the World
A tricky game for the Scorpions after the big win over Serrano last week, as they have to face a physical Rim team up the mountain, where they are privvy to dealing with fog, snow, smoke and whatever other meterological annoyance is liable to crop up. I think Hesperia has too much depth and too many playmakers though.
Hesperia 35, Rim of the World 16

Aquinas at Ontario Christian
The Ontario Christian spread offense erupted against ACA this past week and just in time, as the Knights were on a four-game win streak. While the Knights have struggled with the new schemes, Aquinas is tossing the ball around effortlessly with QB Tyler Stirewalt and WR Jim Jones. Just way too much firepower on the Falcons' side.
Aquinas 38, Ontario Christian 20

Big Bear at Twentynine Palms
While 29 is looking for its second straight championship, it still has a mountain to climb - figuratively, not literally - against Big Bear. The two teams didn't play last year due to the wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains and corresponding smoke, so Big Bear gets to defend its honor a bit. I say 29 completes this title though.
Twentynine Palms 28, Big Bear 23

Victor Valley at Barstow
Yes, the Desert Sky League needs love too, especially since Burroughs' win over Silverado made it a four-team clusterbomb for three playoff berths. The Jackrabbits and Aztecs are essentially playing an elimination game in this one, especially Victor Valley, which has Ridgecrest Burroughs on the docket next week. Barstow takes this.
Barstow 32, Victor Valley 21

Other games of note, led by the one I have to leave for in a few minutes:
Miller 28, Eisenhower 6
Carter 24, Yucaipa 20
Fontana 20, Rialto 17
Western Christian 30, Arrowhead Christian 17
Rancho Cucamonga 35, Alta Loma 10
Los Osos 45, Claremont 7
San Gorgonio 31, San Bernardino 13
Colton 48, Pacific 6
Kaiser 45, Jurupa Valley 0
Bloomington 23, Norte Vista 21
Apple Valley 38, Sultana 12
Serrano 31, Ridgecrest Burroughs 23
Silverado 33, Granite Hills 14
Colony 41, Montclair 15
Yucca Valley 30, Acton Vasquez 10
Glendora 24, Chino 10

Overall record: 164-38-4