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The county got two new schools added to the football docket - Oak Hills in Hesperia and Citrus Valley in Redlands. Both teams are playing freelance schedules this season, with Citrus Valley playing its inaugural game tonight against Riverside Patriot at Redlands High School and Oak Hills traveling to Rosamond tomorrow.

Although both schools are new, the start-up circumstances are different. Citrus Valley is starting with freshmen and sophomores, with head coach Peter Smolin indicating that the Blackhawks' varsity unit will consist entirely of sophomores, while Oak Hills has freshmen, sophomores and juniors to choose from. A few of the Bulldogs' juniors were transfers over from Hesperia, where they saw time with the Mojave River League champion Scorpions. Oak Hills' coach, Robert Kistner, was at Hesperia last year.

Hesperia football coach Robert Kistner comfirmed just now his plans to leave Hesperia High School - where he coached the last six seasons - to take the job at brand-new Oak Hills High School, which will open its doors this fall. It was supposed to be approved at a school board meeting today, but the meeting was postponed. But pending board approval, Kistner will be the first coach of the Bulldogs.

"It'll be an exciting challenge to open up a new school," said Kistner, who was the 2007 All-Sun Coach of the Year. "It's going to be a big challenge, but it's something that will be fun to do. The opportunity to start your own program is something that I'm excited about."

Kistner leaves Hesperia after six seasons, including a 2008 one where the Scorpions went 11-1 and won the Mojave River League championship, setting a school record for victories in a season in the process. Kistner compiled a 43-22 record in his tenure at Hesperia, including a 21-3 mark and first-round playoff victories in each of the last two seasons.

"I had a great run at Hesperia and this move has nothing to do with any ill feelings toward that school," Kistner said. "I enjoyed my time there a great bit and it meant a lot to me personally."

Kistner was hired by Oak Hills athletic director Darren Goodman, who is also leaving Hesperia for the new high school. Tuesday's Sun will have a more detailed story.