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It didn't make my story on the thrilling Serrano-Apple Valley football game Friday night, that was won by Serrano 23-20 in overtime, but Serrano was the victim of an official's mistake. I didn't end up writing about it because Serrano won anyway and there was so much other stuff in the game.
Anyway, here was the situation.
Third quarter, Serrano was down 10-7 and driving. A seven-yard run by Adarius Hogan gave the Diamondbacks a first-and-10 at the Apple Valley 16.
On the first down play, Hogan rushed for four yards to the 12, but Serrano was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul. Since it was after the play, the down counted, but somehow Serrano lost an additional down along the way. The down marker looked like it showed second down from the 27 (I was on the opposite side of the field) at this point. So after quarterback Daniel Epperson lost 12 yards on the next play, it should have brought up third-and-33 from the 39. Yet somehow, the down marker said fourth.

"We knew it was a mistake," Serrano coach Ray Maholchic said. "But we had only one timeout. If we take that timeout and they agree, we get it back. But if they don't, we lose it."
So Maholchic declined to take his last timeout to further the argument. So on "fourth" down, Epperson's completion to Kyle Jergensen for 10 yards was woefully short and the ball went to Apple Valley on downs at the Sun Devils 29 with 2:07 to play in the third. It should however, have been fourth-and-23 at that point after the completion and possibly given Serrano a chance at a field goal.
"It's inexcusable," Maholchic said of the mistake.
As it turned out, Apple Valley went three-and-out and after a punt, Serrano went down and scored the go-ahead touchdown. It shouldn't overshadow an otherwise great game, but it was still a bad mistake by officials.

Sun Top 10

1. Redlands East Valley (0-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Compton Dominguez (0-1).

2. Upland (1-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. San Bernardino, 63-14. Up next: Thursday at Tustin (1-0).

3. Rancho Cucamonga (1-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Silverado, 52-0. Up next: Friday vs. Temecula Great Oak (1-0).

4. Cajon (1-0)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Temecula Chaparral, 30-14. Up next: Friday vs. Eisenhower (1-0).

5. Serrano (1-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Paraclete, 7-6. Up next: Friday at Silverado (0-1).

6. Redlands (1-0)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva, 21-7. Up next: Friday vs. No. 8 Summit (0-1).

7. Etiwanda (1-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Summit, 49-36. Up next: Friday vs. Vista Murrieta (0-0).

8. Summit (0-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to Etiwanda, 49-36. Up next: Friday at No. 6 Redlands (1-0).

9. Kaiser (0-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Barstow (0-1).

10. Yucaipa (1-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Oak Park, 52-0. Up next: Friday at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (0-1).

Just missed the cut: Chino (1-0), San Gorgonio (0-0), Chino Hills (0-1).

Dropped out: No. 4 Colton (0-1), No. 7 Chino Hills (0-1).

1. Redlands East Valley
The Wildcats had an uncharacteristically early exit from the playoffs last year, but they went undefeated in the Citrus Belt League with a junior-dominated team. Fifteen returning starters, many of whom play in the trenches, and depth at the skill positions made the Wildcats my No. 1 pick. How quarterback Austin Decoud matures could make the difference between a short and a long playoff run.

2. Upland
The Highlanders ran into the Corona Centennial freight train in the playoffs last year, but there is a lot coming back to Upland. Wide receiver Kenny Lawler, a soft commit to Arizona State, is the top recruit in the county while running back Donta Abron is also legit. The Highlanders should also be legit on defense, led by defensive end Christian Pwwell, should be salty as well.

3. Summit
I was tempted to put the SkyHawks No. 1, as they return 13 starters from a team that went to the Eastern Division championship game. Only reason I didn't is because I want to see how the Summit compensates for the loss of Devon Blackmon and Montigo Alford from the offense. That being said, there's a lot of talent here and this may be the year which Kaiser's hold on the Sunkist League is broken.

4. Colton
The one team to win a CIF title last year, the Yellowjackets lose a lot of studs from last year's team, namely RB Tyler Irvin and all-everything LB Devan Hussey. But Colton is well-coached, reloads extremely well and has the size to ram the ball down people's throats as it loves to do. Colton might not play to this ranking early, but I wouldn't want to mess with the Yellowjackets come November.

5. Rancho Cucamonga
They may be three spots removed from Upland in these rankings, but the difference between the Cougars and Highlanders is razor thin. Rancho returns a host of starters and contributors from last year's Inland Division semifinalist. If they can find a workhorse offensively to replace Sateki Finau, they could easily switch spots with Upland in these rankings.

6. Cajon
The Cowboys were a failed 2-point conversion away from possibly being a CIF champion last year, as they lost to Colton in a Central Division semifinal classic. The Cowboys actually won the SAL last year and led by WR/DB Damontae Kazee, have the personnel for a repeat. Cajon tends to start slow but come November, I expect this team to be a beast.

7. Chino Hills
The Huskies gave Corona Centennial a better game than anyone else in Southern California could last year, losing to them in a relatively-close semifinal game. They do lose some big-time players in WR/DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, RB Nate Harris and DE Auston Johnson, but Chino Hills has gotten to a point in its program where it just reloads. Don't sleep on the Huskies.

8. Serrano
The Diamondbacks are one of the most consistent high-achieving programs in the county, as they've won 11 Mojave River League championships since 1997 and have been to the semifinals or better the last three seasons. Serrano has a host of RBs and a deep, experienced offensive line. If they can get some typical D-back production out of a young defense, they could be a dark horse CIF title contender.

9. Redlands
The Terriers lost a heart-breaker to Redlands East Valley last year in what was a prime opportunity to win their first league title since 2006. Redlands will be younger this year, as the Terriers are depending on a host of juniors, but will be physical and hard-nosed as always. Senior WR/DB/QB Mike Stallone is the player to watch for Redlands. If they can keep him involved, they'll be dangerous.

10. Kaiser
It feels weird to put the Cats this low and this is something I could easily regret in a couple of months. But Kaiser was ravaged by graduation after a wonderful 12-1 season last year, losing 18 of 22 starters. The Cats seemed to replace quality with quality and will probably produce another physical, hard-hitting behemoth, but their youth, combined with Summit, puts me in a wait-and-see mode.

As far as teams that barely missed the cut, San Gorgonio was a tough omission. They played as well as anyone in the county last year to finish second in the SAL, but I need to see how Monroe Offield handles things at QB before moving them in. Chino lost quite a bit of talent from its 11-1 season, but returns QB Sean Molles and RB Xavier Browne and looks to be the favorite in the Mt. Baldy League. Etiwanda should be as exciting as ever, with senior QB Larry Cutbirth and senior LB Chandler Scott returning.

If there's one thing that Serrano has had during the last four years, where it has won three Mojave River League titles and has gotten to at least the CIF semifinals the last three seasons, it's been a workhorse running back. Be it Cory Diederich or Dionza Bradford or, in last year's case, Taylor Ruize, the Diamondbacks have been able to run the ball.

This year, the Diamondbacks have three tailbacks that they have faith in. Senior Darius Hogan (5-10, 170) is more of a scatback, while fellow senior Zak Tuman (5-9, 190) adds a physical element. Junior Michael Hawkins (6-0, 190) may be the best of the three eventually, as he has the size-speed blend that Bradford possessed. Add that to a solid fullback in senior Nick Heftman (5-10, 195) and an experienced, physical offensive line and confidence is high in Phelan for the upcoming season.

"We have three running backs that I feel can do the job," Maholchic said. "We can mix and match them and play them more on defense because I have faith in all of them. It's a good thing to have."

Three of Serrano's five returning offensive starters are senior o-linemen, with Mark Knapp (6-4, 300) receiving Division I interest and Anthony Mackesy (6-2, 230) in his third year as a starter. Tracy Costello (5-10, 220) also returns.

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

Some real good matchups this week, as you'd expect at this stage in the playoffs.

INLAND DIVISION

Corona Centennial at Chino Hills
No. 1 Centennial is known for the explosive offense, but Chino Hills has been putting up some gaudy totals in the playoffs, throwing up 70 on Corona and 45 on Etiwanda to get to this point. Can the No. 4-seeded Huskies keep up with Centennial and pull the shocker? Upland did have some success, but I think Centennial will wear down Chino Hills in the second half like it did the Highlanders.
Corona Centennial 49, Chino Hills 30

Rancho Cucamonga at Vista Murrieta
If there's one thing teams can do in the Inland Division, it's score points by the truckload. Both of these teams were ballin last week, with No. 3 Rancho hitting up Roosevelt for 51 points and No. 2 Vista Murrieta putting up 48 in waxing Norco. I really like what Rancho Cucamonga has done, but I think the Cougars may be a year away from winning this game. I like the seeds to hold and the Broncos to win a doozy.
Vista Murrieta 38, Rancho Cucamonga 28

CENTRAL DIVISION

La Quinta 27, Rancho Verde 24
Have to stick with my pre--playoff pick here, though Rancho Verde's 49-3 win over a red-hot San Gorgonio team definitely turned some heads.

Cajon at Colton
This is where I'll be Saturday and quite frankly, I can't wait. Cajon won the first matchup in October, winning 29-20 at Colton, but the Yellowjackets will have star RB Tyler Ervin back. Colton's offense has exploded the last two weeks, combining for 89 points. Cajon quarterback Thomas Carter exploded last week too, looking like Vince Young in the 2006 Rose Bowl (sorry USC fans) in the win over Arlington. Been hemming and hawing on this one, but I'll go with Cajon and its 9-game win streak.
Cajon 28, Colton 27

EASTERN DIVISION

Elsinore at Kaiser
The No. 4 seeded Tigers will come in unafraid and try to match top-seeded Kaiser punch-for-punch. Not sure that is the best way to face the Cats, who have pummeled every opponent in their path, with the Apple Valley schools being their latest two victims. Have a hard time imagining Elsinore being able to hold up for a full four quarters.
Kaiser 36, Elsinore 14

Summit at Serrano
While I'm happy to be at Cajon-Colony, it sucks that I can't clone myself and go to this one as well. Summit has probably the most explosive combo of offensive players in the county in Devon Blackmon and Montigo Alford, but has a tough test ahead of it with Serrano's physical, brawling defense. The SkyHawks went punch to punch with Kaiser better than anyone else has, but a Saturday night in frigid Snowline Stadium is a bit too much to overcome.
Serrano 23, Summit 14

EAST VALLEY DIVISION

Paraclete 38, St. Margaret's 20

Sierra Canyon at Yucca Valley
Can the Yucca Valley Cinderella ride continue for one more week? The Trojans have been the feel-good story of the playoffs, upsetting No. 2 seeded Aquinas in the first round and toppling Mountain Valley League champ Rubidoux last week. But their defense will be tested by a potent Sierra Canyon passing attack that allows the Trailblazers to score 40.6 points per game. I picked the Trojans last week, but I feel the run ends here.
Sierra Canyon 28, Yucca Valley 12

Saturday is going to be a huge day, as four county teams will be playing, including two county-county games.

INLAND DIVISION
Corona Centennial at Chino Hills (Friday)
Rancho Cucamonga at Vista Murrieta (Saturday)

CENTRAL DIVISION
Rancho Verde at La Quinta (Friday)
Cajon at Colton (Saturday)

EASTERN DIVISION
Elsinore at Kaiser (Friday)
Summit at Serrano (Saturday)

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
St. Margaret's at Paraclete (Friday)
Sierra Canyon at Yucca Valley (Saturday)

Just got back in town from Thanksgiving and will get these done real quick before heading out to Ramona High School for Cajon-Arlington.

Inland Division

Corona Centennial at Upland
In the battle between defending CIF champions last week, Upland took down Chaparral to help the Baseline League to a 3-0 mark. While that victory was impressive, Centennial is a different, more potent beast. Upland will score some, but not nearly enough to keep up.
Centennial 52, Upland 21

Chino Hills at Etiwanda
Can the Eagles pull off another upset? The Etiwanda defense stepped up huge in the win at Redlands East Valley, but Chino Hills just put up 10 touchdowns on Corona. The Huskies are humming on that side of the ball and should win a shootout.
Chino Hills 45, Etiwanda 35

Rancho Cucamonga at Roosevelt
The Cougars are playoff-savvy and looked good against Murrieta Valley, while Roosevelt had to scratch and claw against Claremont. Look for Rancho to keep the Baseline contingent alive.
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Roosevelt 28

Vista Murrieta 41, Norco 27

Central Division

Rancho Verde at San Gorgonio
Rancho Verde is the top seed in the bracket, but they had to scratch and claw to get past the Spartans in week one. And that's before San G caught fire with its current seven-game win streak. I still like Rancho Verde though.
Rancho Verde 29, San Gorgonio 21

La Quinta at Chino
This is easily the toughest test that 11-0 Chino has had to face this year, as La Quinta is perennially among the top teams in whatever division it is playing in. Chino has been quite the story, but I'm not sure it's fully prepared for this.
La Quinta 28, Chino 22

Cajon at Arlington
The second-hottest team in the county goes against a red-hot player, as the Cowboys' 8-game winning streak will be tested by Arlington and their star RB Superiorr Reid, who has 32 touchdowns. Cajon is good but I like Arlington's smashmouth style.
Arlington 35, Cajon 24

Palm Springs at Colton
While both of these teams put up ridiculous point totals last week, I think we'll see some defense in this one. Both of these teams are stout on that side of the ball, though I feel Palm Springs has a bit more oomph.
Palm Springs 20, Colton 14

Eastern Division

Kaiser at Granite Hills
The Cats have apparently declared war on the city of Apple Valley, as they took out Apple Valley High last week. Granite Hills is scrappy, but they don't have the firepower to challenge Kaiser.
Kaiser 36, Granite Hills 6

Victor Valley at Elsinore
The Jackrabbits resurgence continued last week with another last-minute win, this time against Norte Vista. But Elsinore on the road is a tough task and I'm not sure if the Jackrabbits will be able to wave their magic wand again.
Elsinore 28, Victor Valley 24

Heritage at Summit
Heritage has been impressive this year, running off 11 wins to grab the No. 3 seed. But player for player, Summit might be the most talented team. I like the SkyHawks to come through with a mild upset.
Summit 30, Heritage 27

Serrano at Ridgecrest Burroughs
Going up to Ridgecrest is a tough task for anyone. But if there's any team that can handle it, its' the Diamondbacks. The Serrano D is playing at a high level, which should be the difference.
Serrano 17, Burroughs 9

East Valley Division

Paraclete 42, Grace Brethren 24

St. Margaret's at Big Bear
This has already been played, with St. Margaret's prevailing 17-6.

Twentynine Palms at Sierra Canyon
The Wildcats were impressive in rolling over Sage Hill, but going out to the San Fernando Valley from the High Desert is a lot to ask. Sierra Canyon will pull away late in this one.
Sierra Canyon 34, Twentynine Palms 16

Rubidoux at Yucca Valley
The Trojans pulled off the shocker of the playoffs, heading to San Bernardino and shocking No. 2 Aquinas. Now they face a Rubidoux team that they tied in September. I think Cinderella has another dance after this one.
Yucca Valley 20, Rubidoux 18

For those who wonder if they run cross country in the rain, the answer is definitely yes.
The CIF-SS Finals were held as scheduled, but on the rain course at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday.

Five San Bernardino County teams qualified for state by finishing in the top seven in their race: Rancho Cucamonga boys in Division 1, Ayala and Serrano girls in Division 2, and Granite Hills boys and girls in Division 3.
In addition, Colony's Xochitl Navarrete (girls Division 2) and Nick Valenzuela (boys Division 2), Apple Valley's Hannah Valenzuela (giris Division 3), and Aquinas' Alyssa Windle (girls Division 5) all qualified for the state meet as individuals, which is next Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Now off to the Eastern Division, where the game is "Catch Kaiser if you can."

Apple Valley at No. 1 Kaiser
If I'm the Sun Devils, I'm pretty bitter right about now. While Apple Valley's 5-5 record wasn't ground-breaking, the Sun Devils are hardly the worst team and shouldn't be the sacrificial lamb to the undefeated Cats. But that's precisely what they are. Apple Valley is intriguing on offense, but Kaiser has murdered people all year and will do the same tomorrow.
Kaiser 45, Apple Valley 6

Granite Hills at Beaumont
Granite Hills, which lost to Apple Valley in the regular season and had the exact same league record and finish in league as the Sun Devils, got a winnable draw, at least for the first round, as Beaumont isn't exactly a dominating opponents. But the Mountain Pass League champs are good and will win a low-scoring, hard-hitting duel.
Beaumont 14, Granite Hills 12

Norte Vista at Victor Valley
This is a rough draw for the Jackrabbits, as Norte Vista's grind-it-out, ball-control style netted it a trip to the semifinals a year ago. You can bet that the Braves will rely on Ryan Ruiz to play keep away from Victor's potent offense. However, the Jackrabbits took a huge step in beating Burroughs for the Desert Sky League title last week and that confidence will carry over.
Victor Valley 24, Norte Vista 16

Oak Hills at No. 4 Elsinore
The continuation of the Bulldogs' building process has Oak Hills in a tough spot, as the Bulldogs didn't get much respect for being the No. 2 team in their league. Elsinore held it own in recent years in the Central Division, advancing to the finals in 2006, and will be a tough go of it. Marshaun Coprich and Jeremiah Armstead will have success, but not quite enough.
Elsinore 26, Oak Hills 17

Silverado at No. 3 Heritage
If there was any proof necessary to validate the theory that tough nonleague schedules mean something, it came with the selection of 5-4-1 Silverado to the playoffs over 7-3 San Jacinto. The Hawks' philosophy of taking on all comers worked once again, albeit in a different way than normal. However, a 10-0 Heritage team is a tough draw for the Hawks, who just don't have the guns this year for a long run.
Heritage 34, Silverado 20

West Valley at Summit
West Valley has been a playoff underachiever recently, getting bounced in the first round as a higher seed in each of the last three years. They don't have to worry about that, as they'll be the clear underdogs against a Summit team with the best skill-position talent in the division. Summit is prone to lapses, but if the SkyHawks are on, this will get ugly quick.
Summit 38, West Valley 6

Ridgecrest Burroughs 35, Citrus Hill 30

Temescal Canyon at No. 2 Serrano
Kaiser is getting the hype in this division, and for good reason, but seasonal progression indicates that it's the year of the Diamondback. Serrano has gone from losing in the first round (2006) to the quarters (2007) to the semis (2008) to the championship game last year (2009). So the logical progression is a title. While that may not happen, a comfortable win over Temescal Canyon will.
Serrano 28, Temescal Canyon 7

I could basically copy and paste the Sunkist League breakdown in here, as the three playoff participants have already been decided, with one game to decide seeding to be played Friday.

1. Serrano (8-1, 3-0): The Diamondbacks have clinched the league title and the No. 1 seed no matter what they do Friday against Hesperia due to their head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over Oak Hills and Apple Valley.

2. Oak Hills (6-3, 2-1): The Bulldogs have clinched a playoff spot and are playing Apple Valley for the No. 2 seed. Should Oak Hills lose, it will get the No. 3 seed out of the league.

3. Apple Valley (5-4, 2-1): The Sun Devils have clinched a playoff spot and are playing Oak Hills for the No. 2 seed. Should Apple Valley lose, it will get the No. 3 seed out of the league.

4. Sultana (2-7, 1-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

5. Hesperia (1-8, 0-3): Elimianted from playoff consideration.

Redlands falls after being upset, also creating a potential Citrus Belt League playoff logjam in the process. Upland also returns after a one-week hiatus.

Sun Top 10

1. Kaiser (9-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. No. 10 Summit, 19-7. Up next: Thursday at Bloomington (4-5).

2. Chino Hills (7-2)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Covina Charter Oak, 29-22. Up next: Thursday vs. Ayala (4-5).

3. Redlands East Valley (7-2)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Yucaipa, 22-0. Up next: Thursday at Miller (5-4).

4. Rancho Cucamonga (8-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Etiwanda, 34-21. Up next: Thursday at Glendora (5-4).

5. Serrano (8-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Oak Hills, 31-9. Up next: Friday vs. Hesperia (1-8).

6. Chino (9-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Ontario, 47-13. Up next: Friday vs. Don Lugo (3-6).

7. Cajon (7-2)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Carter, 21-13. Up next: Friday vs. San Bernardino (3-6).

8. Upland (6-3)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Glendora, 41-14. Up next: Friday at Los Osos (5-4).

9. Redlands (6-2-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: lost to Miller, 10-7. Up next: Thursday at Fontana (0-9).

10. Summit (6-2-1)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: lost to No. 1 Kaiser, 19-7. Up next: Friday at Riverside Norte Vista (5-4).

Just missed the cut: San Gorgonio (5-4), Colton (6-3), Aquinas (8-1).

Dropped out: No. 9 Colton (6-3).

Victor Valley College hosted the cross country finals for both the Mojave River League and the Desert Sky League on Wednesday.
Granite Hills, as expected, dominated the DSL. The boys' 23 points, led by winner senior Cody Jordan (16:01) easily defeated runner-up Ridgecrest Burroughs (49).
In a race that had only 23 runners and three scoring teams, the Granite Hills girls (ranked No. 1 in the county) scored a perfect 15 with the first five finishers and seven of the top nine. Granite Hills sophomore Chelsea Bennis won in 19:15. Burroughs was second with 54.

As opposed to the four-team DSL, the five-team MRL had close finishes for both team titles. For the boys, Apple Valley, with five finishers in the top 12, edged out Serrano, 31-38. Serrano's Ben Minick won in 16:23, while Apple Valley's Nick Reynolds was runner-up in 16:38.

The MRL girls has two of the top teams in CIF. Sultana entered the week ranked No. 7 in CIF-SS Division 2, while Serrano is right behind them at No. 8.
And that's how it played out Wednesday. Sultana won with 29 points, to edge out Serrano, with 34. Again Serrano had the individual winner (Melissa Fairchild, 18:01), but not the team winner. Sultana's Hannah Munyan was second in 18:04.

Results were received by The Sun late on Wednesday and will not appear in Thursday's paper. Hope is they will run in Friday's paper.

A little bit of reshuffling at the bottom, as Summit wins its way back into the rankings.

Sun Top 10

1. Kaiser (8-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Riverside Norte Vista, 44-8. Up next: Friday vs. No. 10 Summit (6-1-1).

2. Chino Hills (6-2)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. South Hills, 51-14. Up next: Friday at Covina Charter Oak (5-6).

3. Redlands East Valley (6-2)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Fontana, 56-0. Up next: Friday vs. Yucaipa (5-3).

4. Redlands (6-1-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Eisenhower, 35-7. Up next: Friday vs. Miller (4-4).

5. Rancho Cucamonga (7-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Upland, 35-31. Up next: Thursday at Etiwanda (4-4).

6. Serrano (7-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Oak Hills, 31-9. Up next: Friday at Barstow (1-7).

7. Chino (8-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Montclair, 37-0. Up next: Friday at Ontario (4-4).

8. Cajon (6-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Arroyo Valley, 30-14. Up next: Friday vs. Carter (5-2-1).

9. Colton (6-2)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Pacific, 73-12. Up next: Friday at San Gorgonio (4-4).

10. Summit (6-1-1)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Jurupa Valley, 63-0. Up next: Friday at No. 1 Kaiser (8-0).

Just missed the cut: Upland (5-3), Yucaipa (5-3), Aquinas (7-1).

Dropped out: No. 7 Upland (5-3).

I regressed to nonleague form this past week, missing five of the 10 feature games and nine games overall. I'm not proud of what I've done and how I've acted. Let's move on amicably.

Upland at Rancho Cucamonga
This game is kind of a big deal. People know these teams, as they are the last two Central Division champions and are undefeated in league coming in. This matchup has gone Rancho's way in recent history, as the Cougars have won three in a row over Upland, including that CIF championship victory in 2008. I think the Cougars are a bit more complete of a unit right now. In a month, Upland might be better, but I'll take Rancho now and feel decent about it.
Rancho Cucamonga 31, Upland 27

Serrano at Oak Hills
This is the game in the Mojave River League, with Serrano being the big kid on the block and Oak Hills being the unafraid new kid. The Bulldogs threw it in my face last week, not only proving me wrong for picking Victor Valley, but ripping the Jackrabbits a new one. I'll be at this game tomorrow - my inaugural Oak Hills football game - and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Bulldogs have, though I don't think it'll be enough.
Serrano 28, Oak Hills 17

Kaiser at Norte Vista
Another week, another Kaiser shut out, its fifth of the season. The Cats pretty much suck all the anticipation out of games by just beating the living heck out of every team they play. Norte Vista, with its 2-0 league record and physical running game featuring junior running back Ryan Ruiz, won't be intimidated by the Cats. But intimidated or not, Kaiser is on a roll right now and doesn't look to be stopped this week.
Kaiser 38, Norte Vista 6

Yucaipa at Miller
This is expected to decide the third playoff spot out of the Citrus Belt League eventually, though Miller is tied with REV with a 2-0 league mark. Both of these teams have extremely dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, with Yucaipa's Dylan Malone and Miller's Eric Shufford making this a potentially entertaining game. The Rebels are a bit more battle-tested and a year further along in their system, factors which will come to play in what should be a good battle.
Miller 31, Yucaipa 20

Cajon at Arroyo Valley
The Cowboys come into this matchup with their swag on 10, as they went into Colton and won a huge game to take control of the San Andreas League race. But Cajon would be advised not to take this game lightly. Arroyo Valley's offense has scuffled against most defenses with a pulse but their defense will keep this game relatively uncomfortable. I see the Cowboys winning, but not without an early scare.
Cajon 20, Arroyo Valley 14

Linfield Christian at Aquinas
The newbies from Linfield Christian have made a name for themselves in the Ambassador League, knocking off Ontario Christian last week to set up this showdown with Aquinas. Since losing to Desert Hot Springs in the opener, the Falcons have rolled off six wins in a row, ascending to No. 3 in the East Valley polls. Linfield is a quality opponent, but Aquinas has things on lock this year.
Aquinas 28, Linfield Christian 12

Granite Hills at Ridgecrest Burroughs
The Cougars threw a monkey wrench into the Desert Sky League race last week, pulling off the 8-6 upset over Silverado to move to 2-0 in league. For a school that hasn't had much success to speak of, this is pretty heady position going into the matchup with the league favorites. So can Granite pull this off two weeks in a row? It's defense has been awesome, but defending the Burros and third-year starting QB Derrick Dison might be a bit more difficult.
Burroughs 21, Granite Hills 12

Silverado at Apple Valley
The High Desert gets a high amount of love this week, as the aforementioned Hawks come into this nonleague matchup pretty ticked off. Not only because of the loss to Granite Hills, but the matchup with the Sun Devils, who whipped them in the playoffs last year. Both these teams should ultimately be in the playoffs, making this a possible preview. I think Silverado is going to be a little more annoyed and pull this out.
Silverado 24, Apple Valley 21

Chino at Montclair
I'm officially on the Chino bandwagon. I've wondered all year if the Cowboys were a mirage caused by a weak schedule, but Chino's whipping of Colony definitely convinced me otherwise. Plus I like the prospect of a player named Promise Amadi being in headlines in our paper. Opens up a ton of possiblities. Montclair has been surprising in going 4-3, but the Cavaliers don't have the horses to stay in this game.
Chino 45, Montclair 10

Los Osos at Etiwanda
Start with the Baseline, end with the Baseline. The loser of this game finds themselves in a pretty untenable position in a brutal league, as they'd be 1-2 and have to play one of the top two before the season ends. So yeah, this game is kind of big. Etiwanda might have the most potent offense in the county, but its defense gives up points almost as fast as its offense scores them. Los Osos will make enough stops to win this donnybrook.
Los Osos 36, Etiwanda 34

Other games of note:
Summit 56, Jurupa Valley 0
Ontario Christian 27, Western Christian 16
Glendora 38, Alta Loma 7
Redlands 45, Eisenhower 0
Redlands East Valley 49, Fontana 6
Big Bear 43, Shadow Hills 7
Twentynine Palms 38, Desert Mirage 0
Desert Hot Springs 30, Yucca Valley 15
Victor Valley 28, Barstow 6
Hesperia 17, Sultana 13
Citrus Valley 28, Jurupa Hills 9
Rim of the World 27, Banning 20
Don Lugo 23, Chaffey 18
Ontario 30, Garey 21
Colton 60, Pacific 0
Carter 35, San Bernardino 10
San Gorgonio 20, Rialto 9
Claremont 42, Ayala 14
Chino Hills 31, South Hills 6
Bloomington 20, Patriot 10
Arrowhead Christian 18, Calvary Murrieta 7
Bloomington Christian 26, Saddleback Valley Christian 14

Last week: 21-9
Overall: 175-66-3

Some reshuffling here as Cajon surges back in the poll for the first time since Week 0.

Sun Top 10

1. Kaiser (7-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Riverside Patriot, 49-0. Up next: Friday at Riverside Norte Vista (4-3).

2. Chino Hills (5-2)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Damien, 42-7. Up next: Friday vs. West Covina South Hills (2-5).

3. Redlands East Valley (5-2)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Eisenhower, 48-12. Up next: Friday at Fontana (0-7).

4. Redlands (5-1-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Yucaipa, 23-13. Up next: Friday vs. Eisenhower (0-7).

5. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 43-0. Up next: Friday vs. No. 7 Upland (5-2).

6. Serrano (6-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Sultana, 56-7. Up next: Friday at Oak Hills (5-2).

7. Upland (5-2)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Etiwanda, 53-34. Up next: Friday at No. 5 Rancho Cucamonga (6-1).

8. Chino (7-0)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Colony, 49-20. Up next: Friday at Montclair (4-3).

9. Cajon (5-2)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. No. 10 Colton, 29-20. Up next: Friday at Arroyo Valley (3-4).

10. Colton (5-2)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: lost to No. 9 Cajon, 29-20. Up next: Friday vs. Pacific (0-7).

Just missed the cut: Summit (5-1-1), Los Osos (4-3), Miller (4-3).

Dropped out: No. 10 Silverado (3-2-1).

No. 1 was easy, but everything after it was a headache. I couldn't justify ranking Chino Hills below REV considering they have the same record and the Huskies won the meeting between the two on the road. Not ready to move Rancho Cucamonga past Redlands yet either.

1. Kaiser (6-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Jurupa Valley, 55-0. Up next: Friday at Riverside Patriot (2-4).

2. Chino Hills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: lost to Claremont, 31-30. Up next: Friday vs. Damien (4-2).

3. Redlands East Valley (4-2)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. No. 5 Redlands, 24-22. Up next: Friday vs. Eisenhower (0-6).

4. Colton (5-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. San Bernardino, 31-0. Up next: Friday vs. Cajon (4-2).

5. Redlands (4-1-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to No. 3 Redlands East Valley, 24-22. Up next: Friday at Yucaipa (4-2).

6. Rancho Cucamonga (5-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Los Osos, 29-28 (OT). Up next: Thursday vs. Alta Loma (0-6).

7. Serrano (5-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Apple Valley, 41-14. Up next: Friday vs. Sultana (1-5).

8. Upland (4-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 56-16. Up next: Friday vs. Etiwanda (3-3).

9. Chino (6-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Garey, 41-14. Up next: Friday vs. Colony (4-2).

10. Silverado (3-2-1)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Victor Valley, 35-20. Up next: Friday at Granite Hills (3-3).

Just missed the cut: Summit (4-1-1), Cajon (4-2), Victor Valley (5-1).

Dropped out: No. 8 Victor Valley (5-1).

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

Nothing too crazy this past week, as there were a lot of teams resting up for league play.

1. Chino Hills (4-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Claremont (4-1).

2. Kaiser (4-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Hesperia, 55-14. Up next: Friday vs. Jurupa Valley (1-4).

3. Redlands (4-0-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at No. 5 Redlands East Valley (3-2).

4. Colton (4-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Arroyo Valley, 27-14. Up next: Friday at San Bernardino (3-2).

5. Redlands East Valley (3-2)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: lost to Mission Viejo, 42-14. Up next: Friday vs. No. 3 Redlands (4-0-1).

6. Rancho Cucamonga (4-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Los Osos (3-2).

7. Serrano (4-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Apple Valley (3-2).

8. Victor Valley (5-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Riverside Patriot, 35-21. Up next: Friday vs. Silverado (2-2-1).

9. Upland (3-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Alta Loma (0-5).

10. Chino (5-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. El Monte, 40-16. Up next: Thursday vs. Garey (4-2).

Just missed the cut: Silverado (2-2-1), Summit (2-1-1), Los Osos (3-2).

Dropped out: None.

The rankings went into bizarro mode this week. We have our third different No. 1 in as many weeks and a lot of movement.

1. Chino Hills (4-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. No. 4 Redlands East Valley, 14-3. Up next: Oct. 15 at Claremont (4-1).

2. Kaiser (4-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Palm Desert, 47-0. Up next: Friday vs. Hesperia (1-4).

3. Redlands (4-0-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. No. 6 Rancho Cucamonga, 21-13. Up next: Oct. 15 at No. 4 Redlands East Valley (3-1).

4. Redlands East Valley (3-1)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: lost to No. 1 Chino Hills, 14-3. Up next: Friday at Mission Viejo (5-0).

5. Colton (3-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Carter, 21-14 (OT). Up next: Friday at Arroyo Valley (2-2).

6. Rancho Cucamonga (4-1)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: lost to No. 3 Redlands, 21-13. Up next: Oct. 15 at Los Osos (2-2).

7. Serrano (4-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Santa Clarita Golden Valley, 35-14. Up next: Oct. 15 at Apple Valley (3-2).

8. Victor Valley (4-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Sultana, 35-14. Up next: Friday at Riverside Patriot (2-2).

9. Upland (3-2)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to Los Angeles Loyola, 30-13. Up next: Oct. 15 at Alta Loma (0-5).

10. Chino (4-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Chaffey, 47-16. Up next: Friday at El Monte (1-3).

Just missed the cut: Carter (2-1-1), Silverado (2-2-1), Summit (2-1-1).

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.

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).

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

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.

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

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).

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

Here is my attempt in the wonderfully inexact science of making a preseason poll. We'll see how it ends up.

1. UPLAND (12-2 last year)
The defending Central Division champions are at the top until they prove otherwise, as the Highlanders return QB Justin Nunes and a array of RBs from last season. Upland loses eight starters on their smothering defense, but Alta Loma transfer Christian Powell should help overcome that.

2. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (11-1)
The Wildcats lose some headliners from last year's Citrus Belt League championship squad, but REV tends to reload in high numbers. All-CIF CB Josh Armstrong and DT Devon Lewis lead a stingy defense while the Wildcats have the size on the offensive line to help break in the new skill-position players.

3. CHINO HILLS (10-3)
The Huskies return 15 starters, led by all-everything senior DB/WR/RB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, from their Central Division semifinalist team of a year ago. The only real question will be at QB, where Chino Hills will have to replace the steady Ryan Verdugo, but there's plenty of talent around to help out the new guy.

4. COLTON (10-2)
A banner season for the Yellowjackets was disrupted early by Rancho Cucamonga in the Central quarterfinals last year. The Yellowjackets have plenty of talent, led by LBs Rodney Hardrick and Devan Hussey, to help new coach Rick Bray succeed at his new job. Colton is a prime contender for the Central crown.

5. SERRANO (11-3)
The Diamondbacks lose DE Everett Beed and RB Dionza Bradford from last year's Eastern Division runner-up, but return loads of experience from last year, including four of their five starters on the offensive line. How well Bradford's replacements fill his shoes will be key.

6. REDLANDS (9-3)
The Terriers are hungry to get back atop the Citrus Belt League and this club gives them a chance to do that. They return QB Jojo Hernandez and a bevy of wide receivers on offense and have studs on each line in OL Jordan Smith and DT John Siliga, which could be enough to get them past REV.

7. KAISER (9-4)
Like Serrano, the Cats lose their two Division I studs in LB Josh Shirley and RB/DB Anthony Brown but return almost everyone else from their run to the Eastern semifinals. Kaiser has athletes everywhere on defense, with safety Desman Carter and linebacker Dennis Taylor leading the way.

8. CAJON (7-4)
The last time the Cowboys were this loaded, they won the San Andreas League in 2008 and advanced to the Central Division semifinals. Senior QB Thomas Carter, a third-year starter, will be key if the Cowboys hope to repeat the 2008 performance, as will cornerback Demontae Kazee.

9. RANCHO CUCAMONGA (10-3)
A lot of the key cogs that have contributed to the Cougars' 23-3-1 record over the last two seasons have departed, namely TE Randall Telfer and QB Greg Watson. But Rancho Cucamonga seems to reload with talent, with do-everything senior Sateki Finau providing a key leadership role.

10. SUMMIT (6-6)
The SkyHawks showed a glimpse of their potential in the first round of the playoffs last year, shocking No. 1 seeded Citrus Hill. Summit would like to see that output on a more consistent basis and if they can get elite dual-threat quarterback Devon Blackmon loose, they will.

Just missed the cut: Arroyo Valley (7-4), Rim of the World (10-2), Chaffey (7-5).

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.

An interesting twist in the Division 5 boys soccer playoffs presents itself today, as the Mojave River League and San Andreas League face off in three separate first-round games.

Two of the games, Pacific at D5 No. 2-seed Hesperia and San Gorgonio at Serrano, will take place in the High Desert while Apple Valley will travel down the hill to face SAL champion Cajon. Both Pacific and Apple Valley helped create this unusual triumvirate by winning their wild-card games Tuesday, as Pacific defeated visited Monrovia 2-1 while the Sun Devils went on the road to beat Salton City West Shores 3-1.

It's almost similar to college bowl season, as two of the more notable league in the area get to butt heads in postseason play - definitely providing a juicy little subplot to the boys soccer playoffs.

Would have done this by yesterday, but a nasty cold threw me for a loss. I'm ready to go again though. With that, here's a complete breakdown of local Division I FBS (I-A) and FCS (I-AA) signees.

By school
1. Redlands 4; 2 tie. Colony 3, Colton 3, Los Osos 3, Rancho Cucamonga 3, Redlands East Valley 3; 7 tie. Arroyo Valley 2, Don Lugo 2, Hesperia 2, Kaiser 2, Serrano 2, Upland 2; 13 tie. Aquinas 1, Cajon 1, Chaffey 1, Granite Hills 1, Miller 1, Sultana 1.

Redlands was the surprising winner in this category, as three Terriers - OL Justin Corrales (Bryant University), LB Cole Gridley (Valparaiso) and K/P Shaun McClain (Weber State) were able to parlay strong senior seasons into FCS scholarships. LB Jordan Thomas (San Diego State) was the only FBS scholarship to Redlands, but the Terriers get props for getting their successful kids scholarships.

The teams with three scholarship players are among the usual suspects when it comes to getting kids to Division I scholarships, as REV, Colton, Colony, Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos have seen an army of players get to the next level recently. REV, Colton and Los Osos all sent their players to FBS school, with each having at least one kid sign with a Pac-10 school. Rancho also had a Pac-10 kid in TE Randall Telfer (USC), while Colony had a Big 12 kid in DB Jered Bell (Colorado).

No real shocks in the 2 and 1 scholarship crowd except maybe Serrano, which had two FBS kids. The Diamondbacks are known for doing more with less, so its no shock that they made a CIF final with two FBS seniors on the roster.

By college:
1. San Diego State 4. 2 tie. Fresno State 3, Oregon 3, USC 3; 5 tie. Montana State 2, Sacramento State 2, San Jose State 2, UNLV 2, Utah 2, UTEP 2; 11 tie. Army 1, Bryant 1, Colorado 1, Iowa State 1, Kansas State 1, Nevada 1, Portland State 1, Prairie View A&M 1, San Diego 1, UCLA 1, Valparaiso 1, Washington 1, Washington State 1, Weber State 1.

On the non-BCS level, San Diego State and Fresno State continue to do work in the county. When Aztecs coach Brady Hoke was hired last year, he told recruits that he was going to put an emphasis on Inland Empire athletes. He's done exactly that, signing 3 SAL kids last year and four county kids this year in Thomas, Serrano DE Everett Beed, Hesperia WR Jay Waddell and Granite Hills TE Bryce Quigley. A fifth, Serrano RB Dionza Bradford, verbally committed to San Diego State before backing out and going with UNLV. So Hoke is getting things done.

Pat Hill has consistently brought local talent into the fold and this year is no different, with Los Osos WR Sean Alston, Arroyo Valley LB Ofa Fifita and Rancho Cucamonga QB Greg Watson all inking with the Bulldogs. Montana State also was a big player in the FCS ranks, getting guys with FBS interest in Don Lugo DB Steve Bethley and Miller RB David Dash.

As far as the Pac-10 goes, 2010 saw a reversal from 2009. Last year, it was UCLA and Oregon State that cleaned up, while this year saw their rivals have success. The Trojans, despite a coaching change, got Kaiser RB/DB Anthony Brown, Telfer and the county's highest-ranked recruit, Don Lugo DT George Uko, to sign. Only an 11th-hour stunner by Kaiser LB Josh Shirley kept UCLA from being swept out of the county.

As for the Oregon schools, the Ducks got two extremely productive defensive players in Los Osos DE Tony Washington and Colton DB Derrick Malone and stole Colton K Alejandro Maldonado from Washington on the last weekend. Last year, it was Oregon State that did damage, with Freshman All-American OL Michael Philipp from Arroyo Valley being the crown jewel.

As far as out-of-region teams, I guess the big winner would be the Big 12 North. Colorado (Colony DB Jered Bell), Iowa State (Hesperia/Chaffey College TE Ricky Howard) and Kansas State (Sultana/Mt. SAC OL Manase Foketi) all signed area players while Nebraska courted several local players as well.

Been working the phones a bit this morning and got information on a few signing-day press conferences. Redlands East Valley will be holding its press conference at the crack of dawn Wednesday, with a 7 a.m. signing with DE Andrew Hudson (Washington), QB Tyler Shreve (Utah) and OL David Peterson (San Jose State) set to be in REV's football office.

Serrano will be holding its signing at 10:30 a.m. in the performing arts room on campus. Set to sign are DE Everett Beed (San Diego State) and RB Dionza Bradford (UNLV), along with a few soccer players according to athletic director Ray Maholchic.

Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley will be at the FOX studios in Los Angeles for his announcement Wednesday. While the exact time of the announcement hasn't been set yet, Shirley was told to be at the studios at 11 a.m. according to a text he sent me. Shirley is deciding between USC, Miami (Fla), Washington and Arizona.

Serrano running back Dionza Bradford apparently is back with UNLV, recommitting to the Rebels last week after an official visit to the school that he originally verballed to over the summer.

Bradford, a first-team all-CIF and second-team all-Sun selection, verbally committed to UNLV coach Mike Sanford in July along with Serrano teammate Everett Beed but decommitted in November after Sanford was fired. Both Bradford and Beed committed to San Diego State in December after an official visit to the campus but changed back to UNLV and new coach Bobby Hauck last weekend according to Rivals.com

Beed is still solid with San Diego State after an official visit to Arizona State according to Rivals. com.

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.

Talked to Serrano defensive end Everett Beed this morning, as he was one of the San Bernardino county all-stars present at this morning's media day. During the conversation, Beed confirmed that him and teammate Dionza Bradford committed to San Diego State after an official visit to the school two weekends ago.

"We're committed," Beed said. "Dionza is all San Diego State. We really liked what they had and we liked that there are going to be four High Desert guys there."

Bradford and Beed join Hesperia WR Jay Waddell and Granite Hills TE Bryce Quigley as Aztec commits. They both initially committed to UNLV but decommitted after the Rebels' coach, Mike Sanford, was fired in late November.

Beed did leave the door open for a future change, as he indicated that he is taking an official visit to Arizona within the next month. However, he reiterated that it would take a lot for the Wildcats to sway him.

"I want to see what Arizona has to offer," Beed said. "But San Diego State is a great place and I'm committed to them."

Palm Springs held its first half lead, as it exchanged touchdowns with Serrano in the second half to win 24-14. Junior running back Nephi Garcia scored each one of the Indians' 24 points, adding a 54-yard touchdown run and extra point to his two touchdowns, two extra points and two field goals in the first half.

Dionza Bradford rushed 21 times for 101 yards and a touchdown and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Joey Peterson in the fourth quarter for Serrano. Peterson completed 13 of 25 passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and an interception to, you guessed it, Garcia.

Here some stats:

Total yards: Serrano 236, Palm Springs 275
Rushes-yards: Serrano 32-100, Palm Springs 41-214
Passing yards: Serrano 136, Palm Springs 61
Att-Com-Int: Serrano 13-25-1, Palm Springs 4-10-2
Turnovers: Serrano 2, Palm Springs 2
Penalties-Yards: Serrano 6-45, Palm Springs 6-39

Individual
Passing
Serrano: Joey Peterson 13-25-1-136
Palm Springs: Michael Karls 4-9-2-61

Rushing
Serrano: Dionza Bradford 21-101, Jeremy Delacruz 4-18
Palm Springs: Nephi Garcia 13-108, Karls 21-68, Evan Williams 5-39

Receiving
Serrano: Jerry Devora 4-59, Seth Tate 3-30, Bradford 2-23
Palm Springs: Garcia 3-59

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.

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

Speaking of Malone, the senior safety made a verbal committment to the Ducks over the weekend according to Rivals.com, just over a month after Oregon offered the 6-foot-3, 195-pound 3-star safety.

Malone, who was considering Nebraska, Washington, Arizona State and Arizona, made his commitment after taking an official visit to Eugene for Oregon's rivalry game for Oregon State last Thursday.

Also, Serrano running back Dionza Bradford and defensive end Everett Beed informed me at the CIF-SS football luncheon that they will be taking official visits to San Diego State next weekend. Both Diamondbacks were committed to UNLV, but decommitted when the school fired head coach Mike Sanford in November.

Got three out of four here last week, as only Apple Valley couldn't get the job done for me. Still have my pre-playoff champ alive in this division, which is more than I can say for my performance in the Central Division.

Palm Springs at Kaiser
This is a matchup familiar to Kaiser fans, as the Cats and Cardinals faced off in this round in 2005. Palm Springs won that matchup 28-21 and present problems with their multi-faceted spread-option offense. However, Kaiser has some upper-level talent in LB Josh Shirley and RB Anthony Brown that the Cardinals haven't really dealt with. Brown, in particular, is on a roll and Kaiser will ride him to the final.
Kaiser 24, Palm Springs 19

Serrano at Norte Vista
The Braves do their thing, as Norte Vista was able to wear down Apple Valley in the second half last week. Doing that to Serrano, however, is a completly different matter. The last time the Braves faced a team with Serrano's defensive talent level, they were beat 31-8 by Kaiser. I'm not saying the Diamondbacks will rout Norte Vista, but I picked them to win the Eastern title for a reason.
Serrano 27, Norte Vista 14

This division messed me up quite a bit last week. Then again, with the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds being upset, I wasn't the only one who screwed up in their predictions. Hopefully I'll do a bit better this time around.

Palm Springs at Summit
Thanksgiving came six days early for Summit, as they shocked No. 1 seeded Perris Citrus Hill 48-36 last Friday, breaking Citrus Hill's 38-game winning streak in the process. I guess Summit could be ripe for a letdown, but Palm Springs whipped Summit in the first round a year ago, so the SkyHawks are looking for revenge. I'm tempted to pick them again, but I think I like Palm Springs to carry this.
Palm Springs 26, Summit 19

Kaiser at Rim of the World
This is the game I'll be at tomorrow, as the Cats and Fighting Scots get together for the third time in four years. Both teams feature dominating running games, with Kaiser depending on Anthony Brown - who is committed to USC - while Rim rides junior RB Dillon Pretzinger. Kaiser won close battles the last two times they've played and will likely do the same in this one.
Kaiser 20, Rim of the World 14

Riverside Norte Vista at Apple Valley
I saw the Sun Devils pull a 48-27 surprise over No. 3 Silverado last week, which marked Apple Valley's first first-round playoff victory in over 25 years. Norte Vista doesn't have a long history of success either, so one of these teams will be in the Cinderella role come next week. Having seen both teams at different times this season, I feel that Apple is a bit more balanced and will prevail.
Apple Valley 31, Norte Vista 23

La Quinta at Serrano
The Eastern Division opened up a ton for the No. 2-seeded Diamondbacks last week with Citrus Hill and Silverado going down hard. La Quinta is always a tough out this time of year, but I picked Serrano to win this division for a reason - they are darn good. I see the Diamondbacks being a bit too physical for the Blackhawks.
Serrano 24, La Quinta 13

Now to the Eastern Division, which sees Citrus Hill as the bully that's won 38 games in a row. They have to be due right? Guess we'll see.

Summit at No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill
The SkyHawks ramped up their nonleague schedule so they'd be prepared for playoff action after being disposed of rather easily by Palm Springs in the first round last year. However, it's hard to believe that their schedule has properly prepared them for the juggernaut which is Citrus Hill. Deontae Cooper will get his and Summit will have it take it.
Citrus Hill 45, Summit 17

Barstow at Palm Springs
The Aztecs pulled off the upset of the then-No. 3 seeded Cardinals on the way to the CIF title game last year and Palm Springs will be looking for revenge. But looking for it and getting it are completely different things. Barstow's offense is one of the hardest in the area to prepare for and even harder to stop in practice. Going with the Aztecs to force a rematch of last year's title game.
Barstow 28, Palm Springs 17

Palm Desert at Kaiser
I've actually gotten a chance to see Palm Desert in action and they can score at a pretty high clip. However, they were overpowered by Silverado when I saw them and seem like a finesse squad. Finesse squads do about as well with Kaiser as I do wooing supermodels. Look for the Cats to punch Palm Desert in the mouth quite a few times.
Kaiser 26, Palm Desert 13

San Jacinto at No. 4 Rim of the World
A dangerous game for the Fighting Scots, as San Jacinto always has talent and athleticism and is capable of putting up some big point totals. Whether they are capable of stopping the Rim rushing attack, namely junior RB Dillon Pretzinger, is the million-dollar question. Only one has so far and I don't think No. 2 will come this week.
Rim of the World 28, San Jacinto 22

Apple Valley at No. 3 Silverado
This is where I'll be tomorrow night, as the Sun Devils will try to ride RB Daryon Mosley and play keep away from the Silverado offense. That hasn't been the best strategy, as the Silverado D has steadily improved throughout the Hawks' 8-game winning streak. I think the Hawks have a few too many weapons.
Silverado 31, Apple Valley 18

Riverside Norte Vista 30, Riverside Notre Dame 20
La Quinta 27, Ridgecrest Burroughs 16

Menifee Heritage at No. 2 Serrano
The Diamondbacks have won seven in a row coming in. The Patriots have lost three in a row and four of five. In Snowline Stadium with the temperature falling and the fans at full-throat, I see no reason why either trend would reverse. Serrano wins in a romp.
Serrano 34, Heritage 10

QUARTERFINALS
Citrus Hill over Barstow
Kaiser over Rim of the World
Silverado over Norte Vista
Serrano over La Quinta

SEMIFINALS
Citrus Hill over Kaiser
Serrano over Silverado

CHAMPIONSHIP
Serrano over Citrus Hill

Before I release the rankings, I have to admit that I had no idea how to rank the four Baseline League teams. They have alternately beaten and lost to each other and the two that were unranked last week turned out to be the co-champions of the league after last week's results.

I couldn't not rank them, nor could I not rank Rancho Cucamonga and Upland. So after hemming and hawing, I decided to rank them in the 5-8 spots in the order that they finished in league play. So my apologies to Kaiser and Rim of the World for dropping out of the polls through no fault of their own. Guess I have to make this a top 12 next year.

1. Redlands East Valley (10-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. No. 10 Redlands, 37-7. Up next: Friday vs. Riverside La Sierra (6-4)

2. Colton (9-1)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Pacific, 79-0. Up next: Friday vs. Don Lugo (5-5)

3. Colony (9-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Montclair, 39-13. Up next: Friday vs. Menifee Paloma Valley (6-4).

4. Serrano (8-2)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Sultana, 50-12. Up next: Friday vs. Menifee Heritage (5-5)

5. Los Osos (6-4)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 56-10. Up next: Friday vs. Arroyo Valley (7-3).

6. Etiwanda (7-3)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. No. 7 Rancho Cucamonga, 27-24 (OT). Up next: Friday vs. Cajon (7-3).

7. Rancho Cucamonga (8-2)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to No. 6 Etiwanda, 27-24 (OT). Up next: Friday at Glendora (7-3).

8. Upland (8-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Claremont, 30-20. Up next: Friday at Damien (5-5).

9. Silverado (8-2)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Apple Valley (5-5).

10. Redlands (8-2)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: lost to No. 1 Redlands East Valley, 37-7. Up next: Friday vs. Moreno Valley Valley View (5-5).

Just missed the cut: Kaiser (7-3), Rim of the World (9-1), Chino Hills (8-2), Cajon (7-3).

Dropped out: No. 8 Kaiser (7-3), No. 10 Rim of the World (9-1)

Next up is the Eastern Division, which saw very little surprise in the awarding the top 3 seeds to Perris Citrus Hill, Serrano and Silverado, respectively. It got a little nutty after that though.

The matchups:

Summit (5-5) at No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill (10-0)
Barstow (7-3) at Palm Springs (7-2)
Palm Desert (7-3) at Kaiser (7-3)
San Jacinto (7-3) at No. 4 Rim of the World (9-1)
Apple Valley (5-5) at No. 3 Silverado (8-2)
Riverside Notre Dame (8-2) at Riverside Norte Vista (9-1)
Ridgecrest Burroughs (5-5) at La Quinta (7-3)
Menifee Heritage (5-5) at No. 2 Serrano (8-2)

My initial impression is surprised that Rim of the World got the final seed. While the Fighting Scots have an impressive record, their nonleague record wasn't as ambitious as teams like Kaiser or La Quinta, who were seeded below the Scots. Rim's seeding had a chain effect, putting La Quinta in the same quarterfinal bracket as No. 2 seed Serrano. Serrano coach Ray Maholchic wasn't too happy about the prospect of seeing the Desert Valley League champions that early. As for Kaiser, it will have a chance to prove it's case against Rim in the second round, provided it can get by a tough Palm Desert team in round one.

I also think that the top half of the bracket is loaded. You have the defending CIF champions in Citrus Hill, you have the CIF runner-ups in Barstow, which would have two rematch games if it beats Palm Springs in round one. You have Kaiser, Rim, Palm Desert - all teams capable of making long runs. Meanwhile, the bottom half of the bracket seems more negotiable. I like Silverado's draw a lot, as they should be able to take Apple Valley and will have a talent advantage over the Norte Vista-Notre Dame winner.

As far as a sleeper, I like Kaiser. In watching Citrus Hill's semifinal and championship wins last year, the Hawks had issues with Serrano and Barstow coming right at them physically. While it's possible that Citrus Hill has become more hard-nosed, there isn't a team in this draw that's as good at mixing it up as much as Kaiser is. I see Kaiser being able to overpower its first-round and quarterfinal opponents and having a puncher's chance against Citrus Hill.

This is one of the more simple breakdowns I have. Which is probably why I'm doing it at 4 in the morning.

1) Serrano (7-2, 3-0): Has clinched the No. 1 seed in the Mojave River League. Even a loss to Sultana Friday wouldn't change that, as the Diamondbacks own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Rim of the World.

2) Rim of the World (9-1, 3-1): Has clinched the No. 2 seed in the Mojave River League.

3) Apple Valley (4-5, 1-2): Earns a playoff berth and the No. 3 seed out of the MRL with a win over Hesperia Friday. Eliminated from consideration with a loss.

4) Hesperia (3-6, 1-2): Earns a playoff berth and the No. 3 seed out of the MRL with a win over Apple Valley Friday. Eliminated from consideration with a loss.

5) Sultana (0-9, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Lots of shuffling after five. To be honest, how to rank teams 9-13 confused the heck out of me.

Sun Top 10

1. Redlands East Valley (9-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Miller, 28-20. Up next: Friday at No. 5 Redlands (8-1)

2. Colton (8-1)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. San Gorgonio, 42-19. Up next: Friday at Pacific (1-8).

3. Rancho Cucamonga (8-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. No. 9 Upland 34-31. Up next: Thursday vs. Etiwanda (6-3).

4. Colony (8-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Don Lugo, 42-10. Up next: Thursday at Montclair (3-6).

5. Redlands (8-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Rialto, 31-14. Up next: Friday vs. No. 1 Redlands East Valley (9-0).

6. Serrano (7-2)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Ridgecrest Burroughs, 29-12. Up next: Friday vs. Sultana (0-9).

7. Silverado (8-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Granite Hills, 25-14. Up next: Eastern Division playoffs, TBA.

8. Kaiser (6-3)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Bloomington, 41-0. Up next: Friday at Jurupa Valley (0-9).

9. Upland (7-2)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: lost to No. 3 Rancho Cucamonga, 34-31. Up next: Friday at Claremont (5-4).

10. Rim of the World (9-1)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Hesperia, 34-0. Up next: Eastern Division playoffs, TBA.

Just missed the cut: Los Osos (5-4), Chino Hills (7-2), Etiwanda (6-3), Arroyo Valley (7-2).

Dropped out: No. 6 Etiwanda (6-3).

Probably the toughest set of rankings to come up with yet. Positions 3-7 are basically interchangeable at this point.

1. Redlands East Valley (8-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Carter, 41-14. Up next: Friday vs. Miller (4-4)

2. Colton (7-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Cajon, 38-9. Up next: Friday at San Gorgonio (2-6).

3. Rancho Cucamonga (7-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 34-14. Up next: Friday at No. 7 Upland (7-1)

4. Colony (7-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Chaffey, 35-13. Up next: Friday vs. Don Lugo (5-3).

5. Redlands (7-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Miller, 28-27. Up next: Friday at Rialto (0-8).

6. Etiwanda (6-2)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. No. 7 Upland, 18-16. Up next: Friday at Los Osos (4-4).

7. Upland (7-1)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: lost to No. 6 Etiwanda, 18-16. Up next: Friday vs. No. 3 Rancho Cucamonga (7-1).

8. Serrano (6-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Hesperia, 42-6. Up next: Friday at Ridgecrest Burroughs (4-4).

9. Silverado (7-2)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Ridgecrest Burroughs, 35-21. Up next: Friday at Granite Hills (6-2).

10. Kaiser (5-3)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Summit, 13-7. Up next: Friday vs. Bloomington (3-5).

Just missed the cut: Rim of the World (8-1), Chino Hills (6-2), Los Osos (4-4), Barstow (6-2).

Dropped out: No. 6 Chino Hills (6-2).

A little late, but this is it. REV is No. 1 now.

Sun Top 10

1. Redlands East Valley (7-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Rialto, 49-6. Up next: Friday vs. Carter (3-4)

2. Upland (7-0)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 42-7. Up next: Friday at No. 8 Etiwanda (5-2).

3. Colton (6-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. San Bernardino, 41-7. Up next: Friday vs. Cajon (5-2).

4. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: lost to Los Osos, 31-28. Up next: Friday at Alta Loma (0-7)

5. Colony (6-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Garey, 55-7. Up next: Friday at Chaffey (4-3).

6. Chino Hills (6-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Chino, 49-7. Up next: Friday vs. Glendora (4-3).

7. Redlands (6-1)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Yucaipa, 35-13. Up next: Friday at Miller (4-3).

8. Etiwanda (5-2)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Claremont, 24-21. Up next: Friday vs. No. 2 Upland (7-0).

9. Serrano (5-2)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Apple Valley 13-7. Up next: Friday vs. Hesperia (3-4).

10. Silverado (6-2)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Barstow, 40-12. Up next: Friday vs. Ridgecrest Burroughs (4-3).

Just missed the cut: Ayala (6-1), Kaiser (4-3), Rim of the World (7-1), Miller (4-3)

Dropped out: No. 7. Barstow (5-2).

Dropped four last week, a slight move in the wrong direction from the week before. But I'm feeling a perfect week coming this week. Or I'm coming down with swine flu. Either way, good times for all.

Silverado at Barstow
The Desert Sky League is ballin' this year and this should be the marquee matchup of the league slate. The Hawks and Aztecs played two great games last year in Victorville, with Silverado taking the regular season meeting and Barstow winning in the Eastern semifinals. I like what the Hawks have done during their five-game win streak, but I'm feeling Barstow at home.
Barstow 28, Silverado 24

Miller at Carter
The Rebels have made everyone forget about their 0-3 start (at least everyone but me) by putting the hurt on CBL foes Fontana, Rialto and Yucaipa. Of course, I picked Yucaipa last week, so I looked really dumb. I won't make the same mistake this week, although Carter is much improved from a year ago. Going with Miller to bump its CBL win streak to 12.
Miller 38, Carter 27

Rancho Cucamonga at Los Osos
The Grizzlies may be the best 2-4 team out there, as Los Osos has lost to Vista Murrieta (No. 3, Inland), Upland (No. 2 Central), Redlands (No. 7 Inland) and Riverside North. Unfortunately for Los Osos, it'll be the best 2-5 team out there when all is said and done, as they won't be able to take Rancho, the No. 1 team in the Central Division.
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Los Osos 17

Riverside Norte Vista at Kaiser
Typically the Sunkist is Kaiser, a few other teams, and some other teams thrown in for fun. Norte Vista is usually one of the teams thrown in for fun, but not this year, as the Braves have a perfect 6-0 record and the No. 8 record in the Eastern Division. But they aren't ready to sit at the big-boy table with Kaiser just yet. The battle-tested Cats will overpower Norte Vista.
Kaiser 22, Norte Vista 13

Cajon at San Gorgonio
We know that Cajon can go off on completely overmatched teams and can get throttled by very good teams. San G is somewhere in between, which makes for an interesting matchup. The 2-4 Spartans would love to get a signature victory under first-year coach Ron Gueringer, while the Cowboys want to prove that they can beat a team with a pulse. I'll pick the latter in a high-scoring affair.
Cajon 38, San Gorgonio 28

Garey at Colony
It's really hard to find a game worth picking from the Mt. Baldy League, so I went with this one. The Vikings aren't that bad, beating a decent Pomona team and fending off Montclair last week. But Colony is a darn good team with some pretty good pelts (Chino Hills, Kaiser) mounted on its wall. Garey is intriguing, but not intriguing enough to make me think about this prediction.
Colony 35, Garey 10

Serrano at Apple Valley
The Diamondbacks impressed the heck out of me last week, making Rim of the World tap out due to a physical, unrelenting defense. Apple Valley presents a few more looks than Rim did, as they've expanded their offense a bit past star running back Daryon Mosley. But Serrano has some elite talent to go with its traditional brawn, both of which will be too much for the Sun Devils to handle.
Serrano 28, Apple Valley 14

Chino Hills at Chino
Yeah, the Sierra League slate is that bad this week. It was either this or the Diamond Bar-Ayala game, another 0-6 vs. 5-1 matchup, so I went with the two county teams. I guess I could have gone without a Sierra game at all, but I'm not that mean. I'm not talking about this game much because there's not much to talk about. Chino Hills will win and it will likely be ugly.
Chino Hills 48, Chino 0

Twentynine Palms at Desert Mirage
Left for dead by some after an 0-4 start, the Wildcats have roared back by winning three straight games and not only look like the class of the De Anza League, but a contender in the East Valley playoffs as well. Desert Mirage runs the ball well and could be a sleeper, but I can't see them making this kind of leap just yet.
Twentynine Palms 27, Desert Mirage 11

Yucaipa at Redlands
Yucaipa is in week 3 of the CBL gauntlet, having dropped games to Redlands East Valley and Miller the last two weeks. While its not necessary for the Thunderbirds to beat Redlands to make the playoffs, it would make life a lot easier for Yucaipa. I wouldn't count on it happening though, as Redlands has consistently stepped up its game with each passing week.
Redlands 26, Yucaipa 13

Other games of interest:

Upland 36, Alta Loma 0
Etiwanda 48, Claremont 24
Ontario Christian 27, Western Christian 17
Fontana 41, Eisenhower 30
Redlands East Valley 63, Rialto 6
Yucca Valley 18, Desert Hot Springs 14
Ridgecrest Burroughs 27, Granite Hills 21
Rim of the World 42, Sultana 7
Chaffey 36, Montclair 12
Don Lugo 31, Ontario 6
Arroyo Valley 54, Pacific 7
Colton 58, San Bernardino 6
Ayala 38, Diamond Bar 13
Riverside Patriot 24, Bloomington 10
Summit 45, Jurupa Valley 3
Arrowhead Christian 20, Huntington Beach Brethren Christian 16
Victor Valley 21, Hesperia 17
Oak Hills 30, Palm Desert Xavier Prep 10
Big Bear 42, Citrus Valley 6

Week: 23-4
Overall: 153-46

Not much change here. Serrano whipped Rim of the World, so the Diamondbacks rejoin the rankings while the Scots fall out after a one-week appearance. And I must say, I'm getting very tempted to jump REV over Rancho.

Sun Top 10

1. Rancho Cucamonga (6-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Claremont, 52-24. Up next: Friday at Los Osos (2-4)

2. Redlands East Valley (6-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Fontana, 48-0. Up next: Friday at Rialto (0-6)

3. Upland (6-0)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Los Osos, 17-0. Up next: Friday vs. Alta Loma (0-6).

4. Colton (5-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Arroyo Valley, 31-14. Up next: Friday at San Bernardino (1-5).

5. Colony (5-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Ontario, 55-10. Up next: Friday vs. Garey (3-3).

6. Chino Hills (5-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Damien, 38-6. Up next: Friday at Chino (0-6).

7. Barstow (5-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Ridgecrest Burroughs, 28-21. Up next: Friday vs. Silverado (5-2).

8. Redlands (5-1)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Eisenhower, 49-7. Up next: Friday vs. Yucaipa (3-3).

9. Etiwanda (4-2)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 61-17. Up next: Friday at Claremont (4-2).

10. Serrano (4-2)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Rim of the World, 35-7. Up next: Friday at Apple Valley (3-3).

Just missed the cut: Ayala (5-1), Kaiser (3-3), Rim of the World (6-1), Silverado (5-2)

Dropped out: No. 9. Rim of the World (6-1).

Shaved another loss off the old total this past week, putting me down to three. Either I'm starting to get a handle on this season, or some of the teams are deciding to humor me. Guess we'll find out with most of the leagues starting this weekend.

Serrano at Rim of the World
I'll spend my second straight weekend taking Waterman Street up the mountains, as the D-backs and Fighting Scots face off in what should be a doozy. Both teams have great running backs in Serrano senior Dionza Bradford and Rim junior Dillon Pretzinger, but the game might come down to which quarterback can perform well enough to take pressure off the running back. I'm going with an experienced Serrano team in a minor upset.
Serrano 20, Rim of the World 14

Arroyo Valley at Colton
Both of these teams come in with identical 4-1 records, but its safe to say that Colton's 4-1 mark - complete with victories over Kaiser, Palm Springs, La Quinta and Apple Valley - is a little more impressive than Arroyo Valley's conquests over the Alta Lomas and Rialtos of the world. I see the Yellowjackets being a little too much to handle.
Colton 33, Arroyo Valley 16

Los Osos at Upland
This is always one of the more hotly contested games in the county but for the first time since 2005, its not a Brehaut vs. Nunes affair. Los Osos is still passing the ball quite well behind senior quarterback Blake Loncar, but has fallen short in some close games. Upland's played some stifling defense, something I expect will continue in this one.
Upland 21, Los Osos 13

Miller at Yucaipa
If any one is going to challenge the Redlands teams for Citrus Belt League supremacy, its one of these schools. Miller has started league with two routs of CBL underlings while Yucaipa hung with REV for a half before falling 35-7 last week. Both teams can score from anywhere on the field, so this game should be entertaining if nothing else.
Yucaipa 28, Miller 27

Silverado at Victor Valley
The battle for Victorville has been a one-sided affair of late, but this game sees the Jackrabbits coming in 5-0 and ranked No. 8 in the Eastern Division. Silverado is Silverado, winning four in a row after starting its season 0-2. The Hawks also have some big wins, taking out Summit, Palm Desert and Arroyo Valley, and I expect that to help them take this one as well.
Silverado 31, Victor Valley 24

Chino Hills at Damien
If you are Damien, you have to hate life right about now. After playing teams like Rancho Cucamonga, Charter Oak, Bishop Amat and St. John Bosco in the nonleague season, they start league with a very good Chino Hills squad. Perhaps Damien's brutal nonleague death march will help them, but I think the Huskies have a little too much mojo right now.
Chino Hills 24, Damien 17

Riverside Patriot at Kaiser
These teams battled in the season finale last year for the Sunkist League title, a game that Kaiser won going away. I expect much of the same this time around. Kaiser is the best 2-3 team in the county - heck, maybe in Southern California - and Patriot just got slapped down by Victor Valley. Expect the Cats to get in a few shots.
Kaiser 30, Patriot 10

Don Lugo at Chaffey
The Conquistadores, with DL George Uko and DB Steven Bethley, have the star power and three straight wins. But Chaffey had an ambitious nonleague schedule and employs a physical attack that belies its 2-3 record. I think you'll see the defending league champion Tigers triple-team Uko and just pummel the rest of the Don Lugo defenders.
Chaffey 26, Don Lugo 16

Yucca Valley at Big Bear
No one really expected these teams to come in with a combined 1-9 record, as both went to the East Valley quarterfinals a year ago. But as the De Anza League season opens, that's exactly where the Trojans and Bears lie, with a Big Bear victory over Oak Hills two weeks ago being the only non-loss. So it should be intense, though I'll go with the home team to make it two in a row.
Big Bear 23, Yucca Valley 14

Granite Hills at Apple Valley
Another crosstown rivalry in the High Desert that should be infinitely more entertaining than it usually is. Apple Valley has been outstanding offensively over the last two weeks, putting up 67 on San Bernardino and 56 on San Gorgonio, while the Cougars are off to a program-best 4-1 start. Granite is improved and will give the Sun Devils a game, but this will go the way it normally does.
Apple Valley 34, Granite Hills 23

Others games of note:
Etiwanda 40, Alta Loma 13
Rancho Cucamonga 38, Claremont 14
Arrowhead Christian 28, Western Christian 17
Carter 38, Rialto 15
Redlands East Valley 48, Fontana 10
Redlands 46, Eisenhower 12
Twentynine Palms 27, Desert Hot Springs 10
Barstow 33, Ridgecrest Burroughs 27
Hesperia 42, Sultana 13
Garey 28, Montclair 20
Colony 41, Ontario 7
San Gorgonio 55, Pacific 0
Cajon 49, San Bernardino 10
Ayala 44, Chino 6
Summit 34, Bloomington 16
Newport Beach Sage Hill 58, Citrus Valley 6
Aquinas 28, Oak Hills 20

Week: 21-3
Overall: 130-42

My new rankings for this week. We finally welcome Rim of the World and their 6-0 start.

Sun Top 10

1. Rancho Cucamonga (5-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Covina Charter Oak, 48-28. Up next: Friday vs. Claremont (4-1)

2. Redlands East Valley (5-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Yucaipa, 35-7. Up next: Friday vs. Fontana (2-3)

3. Upland (5-0)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Los Osos (2-3).

4. Colton (4-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Kaiser, 14-6. Up next: Friday vs. Arroyo Valley (4-1).

5. Colony (4-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Ontario (1-4).

6. Chino Hills (4-1)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Damien (1-4).

7. Barstow (4-1)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. San Bernardino, 49-33 . Up next: Friday at Ridgecrest Burroughs (3-2).

8. Redlands (4-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Fontana, 34-7. Up next: Friday at Eisenhower (0-5).

9. Rim of the World (6-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Granite Hills, 21-6. Up next: Friday vs. Serrano (3-2).

10. Etiwanda (3-2)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: lost to Covina Charter Oak, 27-26. Up next: Thursday vs. Alta Loma (0-5).

Just missed the cut: Ayala (4-1), Victor Valley (5-0), Kaiser (2-3), Serrano (3-2).

Dropped out: No. 10 Kaiser (2-3).

The fires in the Wrightwood area over the weekend, which caused the mandatory evacuation of Wrightwood Sunday, has caused Serrano High School to make some adjustments to its schedule this week.

The school postponed a girls tennis match and a volleyball match with Rim of the World, scheduled for Monday, for October 27, as Diamondback students from the Wrightwood area scattered all over the High Desert and Inland Empire as a result of the fires.

The football team, which has its bye week this week, cancelled practice Monday and had an outside practice Tuesday after the air had cleared, but was missing some of the kids displaced by the fires.

"(Wednesday) is the first practice we expect to have everyone," Serrano football coach and athletic director Ray Maholchic said. "The air out here is fine -- the main issue is getting the Wrightwood kids back here and getting them rides to practice. That's been the main effect as far as the football team is concerned."

Maholchic did indicate that houses in Wrightwood were spared by the fires, which should help the process of returning to the everyday school routine.

Brand new. Colony breaks in with some vigor.

Sun Top 10

1. Rancho Cucamonga (3-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Carter, 49-18. Up next: Friday at Covina Charter Oak (3-0).

2. Redlands East Valley (2-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. San Gorgonio, 56-10. Up next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran (1-1) at Orange Coast College.

3. Barstow (2-0)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Paraclete, 20-10. Up next: Friday vs. Quartz Hill (0-2).

4. Cajon (3-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Sultana, 41-0. Up next: Friday vs. No. 10 Kaiser (1-1).

5. Upland (3-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Serrano, 21-18. Up next: Friday vs. Lancaster Eastside (0-2) at Antelope Valley College.

6. Colton (1-1)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. La Quinta, 23-8. Up next: Friday vs. Palm Springs (2-0).

7. Etiwanda (2-1)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: lost to Norco, 37-27. Up next: Oct. 2 vs. Chino (0-2).

8. Colony (2-1)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. No. 9 Chino Hills, 22-6. Up next: Friday vs. Alta Loma (0-3).

9. Chino Hills (2-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: lost to No. 8 Colony, 22-6. Up next: Friday vs. Diamond Ranch (1-2).

10. Kaiser (1-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: lost to Riverside North, 28-12. Up next: Friday at No. 4 Cajon (3-0).

Just missed the cut: Redlands (2-1), Arroyo Valley (2-0), Ayala (2-1), Rim of the World (3-0).

Dropped out: No. 10 Serrano (1-2).

Heck of a lot better performance this week, going 28-10 after the 10-9 montrosity of zero week. Hoping to still cut my losses in half though.

Upland at Serrano
I like matchups like these, as powers from different parts of the county come together for some good football. Both of these teams have been vise-like on defense and inconsistent offensively, meaning that this game could resemble a baseball score. It's hard to pick against Serrano up at Snowline, but I must say I've been impressed with Upland's D thus far. Highlanders win a tight one.
Upland 13, Serrano 10

Redlands East Valley at San Gorgonio
This game is a sneaky-good one, as the two schools both cull players from the Highland area and have talented rosters. But while the Spartans were very impressive in their win at Hesperia last Friday, they are in the building stages of Ron Gueringer's program while Kurt Bruich has a machine going at REV. San G will have its say against the Wildcats, but not in this one.
Redlands East Valley 27, San Gorgonio 13

Chino Hills at Colony
There's no doubting the talent in this game, as Chino Hills is one of the more steady, above-average programs in the Inland Empire while Colony tend to grow Division I talent on trees. The Titans impressed me last week by winning at Diamond Ranch, but like I said for Chaffey last week, beating Chino Hills is an entirely different - and more difficult - matter. I expect Nate Harris to find the end zone for the Huskies a couple times.
Chino Hills 30, Colony 14

Redlands at Los Osos
Two traditionally solid programs battle it out in another CBL vs. Baseline showdown. The Terriers showed some moxie in beating Summit late, but Los Osos doesn't seem to have much of a dropoff in its passing game despite Richard Brehaut moving on to UCLA. Blake Loncar has thrown for 200 or more yards in both games and WR Sean Alston has been his primary target. Look for the two to hook up for some big plays.
Los Osos 24, Redlands 13

Etiwanda at Norco
There's really no debate at this point about Etiwanda's offense - it's darn good. Angel Santiago can pass pretty well, but the strides he has made in the running game are pretty impressive. His 283 yards rushing will be needed, and then some, against a Norco team tht lost a tough 47-44 game to L.A. Crenshaw - the No. 1 team in the L.A. Times top 25. Etiwanda will make some plays, but not enough.
Norco 36, Etiwanda 24

Riverside North at Kaiser
The Huskies have been an absolute irritant to Kaiser the past three seasons, defeating the Cats in all five meetings between the two, shutting them out three times. It's hard to believe that North will shut out this Kaiser team, but its offense could be more explosive than it has been. I think North will make a few more plays in this one against a game Kaiser squad.
North 24, Kaiser 17

Rancho Cucamonga at Carter
The 40-spot that the Lions hung up on Alta Loma in the season opener adds a tiny bit more intrigue than was expected in this game, as Carter seems to have grasped Alex Pierce's spread attack a little bit better. However, Rancho can match Carter's athleticism, if not surpass it, and is well ahead of the Lions as far as overall football acumen.
Rancho Cucamonga 31, Carter 13

Don Lugo at Chino
The battle for the Milk Can has been anything but for the past decade and a half, as the Cowboys have won 17 straight over the Conquistadores in this series. On the surface, this should change, as Chino was bombed by Whittier and Don Lugo has D-I talent in DT George Uko and DB Steven Bethley. But as adage goes, never bet against a streak.
Chino 20, Don Lugo 14

La Quinta at Colton
After losing 26-9 last week to Vista Murrieta, things don't get easier for the Yellowjackets, as La Quinta - ranked second in the Eastern Division - comes calling. However, Colton did beat the Blackhawks handily a year ago and I would expect QB Jordan Mixon to be less nervous and execute the offense a bit better. If he does that, the Yellowjackets should be fine.
Colton 20, La Quinta 16

Aquinas at Riverside Notre Dame
The premier Catholic school in San Bernardino County faces off against the premier parochial program in Riverside County in an annual grudge matchup. You can expect good, physical, well-played football in this game, in which the winner gets possession of "The Holy Shield." I'll go with Aquinas, ranked No. 1 in the East Valley Division.
Aquinas 23, Notre Dame 19

Other games of note:
Arroyo Valley 42, Rialto 9
Ayala 33, Alta Loma 10
Ontario Christian 23, Azusa 20
Paraclete 18, Barstow 15
Big Bear 27, Beaumont 21
Bishop 39, Western Christian 20
Montclair 36, Blythe Palo Verde Valley 16
Cajon 45, Sultana 7
Damien 28, Claremont 26
Bloomington 30, Eisenhower 14
Summit 31, Fontana 14
Granite Hills 30, Pacific 9
Hesperia 23, Moreno Valley Canyon Springs 13
Los Angeles Crenshaw 51, Miller 12
La Puente Nogales 17, Ontario 6
Quartz Hill 27, Silverado 10
Ridgecrest Burroughs 27, Apple Valley 24
Rim of the World 29, Cathedral City 14
Riverside Arlington 26, Chaffey 20
San Jacinto 34, Twentynine Palms 16
Oak Hills 38, Silver Valley 6
Victor Valley 27, Yucca Valley 18
Yucaipa 31, San Bernardino 27
Arrowhead Christian 27, Citrus Valley 7

Week: 28-10
Overall: 38-19

Sorry about the lateness of this - was in Michigan this weekend at the Michigan-Notre Dame game. But I'm back, I'm happy and raring to go.

1. Rancho Cucamonga (2-0)
Another game, another routine win. The Cougars haven't been jaw-droppingly good yet, but they are getting the job done and getting the young defense ready for the Baseline League.

2. Redlands East Valley (1-0)
Great first game against a traditionally strong Clovis East team. Definitely look to be head and shoulders above everyone else in the Citrus Belt League.

3. Chino Hills (2-0)
The Huskies should be No. 2 behind Rancho in the Central Division polls later today and quite frankly, look really good right now. It's not easy to manhandle Chaffey the way Chino Hills did.

4. Barstow (1-0)
An expected easy win against Rialto and Colton's loss has the Aztecs in pretty elite position. They have a tough test with Paraclete though.

5. Kaiser (1-0)
The defense subdued Apple Valley in Phil Zelaya's debut, as you would expect, but a game against nemsis Riverside North - which bombed Los Osos - awaits.

6. Etiwanda (2-0)
The Eagles' offense might be the most explosive in the area. Yes, maybe even better than Rancho's. We'll truly get to see the Eagles under fire this week at Norco.

7. Cajon (2-0)
The Cowboys and their stable of Kazees haven't been tested yet, scoring 111 points in their first two games. Sultana won't provide much of a test this week either.

8. Upland (2-0)
The Miller game wasn't a fluke, as the Highlander defense was even more stingy against Glendora. Upland's defense definitely looks nasty at this point.

9. Colton (0-1)
Vista Murrieta is a good team, so Colton shouldn't feel that bad about the loss. Quarterback Jordan Mixon showed some jitters and the offensive line has some kinks to work out.

10. Serrano (1-1)
I was extremely close to putting San G in this spot after their domination of Hesperia, but I went with the Diamondbacks. Defense looks good, but the offense needs to produce more than 13 points in two games.

Missed the cut: San Gorgonio (1-0), Chaffey (1-1), Los Osos (1-1), Arroyo Valley (1-0)

I took it in the chin last week, barely finishing above .500 at 10-9. While the first week is hard to judge sometimes, I have to do better than that. Here's to a full slate and winning at least 75%. Cheers.

Los Osos at Riverside North
Life at Los Osos didn't die with the losses of Richard Brehaut and Arby Fields after all. In fact, Blake Loncar made quite a convincing case at QB for the Grizzlies last week, passing for 200 yards and spreading the ball around nicely. However, North is one of the better programs in the area and are tough to beat at King High School. Don't think Osos is quite ready at this juncture.
Riverside North 23, Los Osos 14

Chaffey at Chino Hills
This is a sneaky-good matchup - the best game of the week in my opinion. Chino Hills has some great defensive backs in Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Nate Harris, but the Tigers will keep this game on the ground thanks to RB Ronald Douglas and QB Jacob Ahmad. Chaffey needs a win in a game like this to prove that it can be a player in the Central Division, but that'll be easier said than done against the Huskies.
Chino Hills 28, Chaffey 18

Kaiser at Apple Valley
The Phil Zelaya era at Kaiser starts in the desert, as the Cats head up the Cajon Pass to face an Apple Valley team that returns 16 starters from last year. Of course, Kaiser returns a bunch - including USC commit Anthony Brown and four-star D-I prospect Josh Shirley - and put a beating on the Sun Devils last year. It'll be closer, but the ultimate result will be the same.
Kaiser 30, Apple Valley 13

Glendora at Upland
The Highlanders impressed me with their defense, completely smothering Miller at the point of attack and using the running game to play keep away. Upland isn't flashy, but they could be quite effective. Glendora has been quite effectively offensively and these two teams tend to play classics. I'll go with the home team in a coin-flip game.
Upland 21, Glendora 17

Summit at Redlands
This game lost a bit of luster, as Temecula Great Oak put it on the Terriers last week 24-7. Great Oak may be improved, but losing like that to one of the least effective teams in the Southwestern League isn't a great way to start. Summit gave Etiwanda a run before falling and will get a big victory, in name at least, in this one.
Summit 19, Redlands 13

Colony at Diamond Ranch
The Titans' schedule certainly doesn't do them many favors, as Colony faces the Southeast Division runner-ups in between games against Central Division powers Los Osos and Chino Hills. Gus Viramontes threw for 254 yards against Muir last week for Diamond Ranch and will put up big numbers again.
Diamond Ranch 31, Colony 17

San Gorgonio at Hesperia
Two new coaches hit up programs that have had some recent success, as Jeremy Topete takes over a Hesperia program fresh off an Mojave River League championship and the best two seasons in Scorpion history while Ron Gueringer takes hold of a Spartan team that was second in the SAL. Hesperia won this 34-17 last year and I expect this matchup to be much of the same.
Hesperia 28, San Gorgonio 17

Vista Murrieta at Colton
The best part of playing four straight road games to start 2008 for Colton was that they get them all at home to start 2009. The opener of the Yellowjackets' four-game homestand will be a tough one, as the Broncos are traditionally one of the tougher teams in southern Riverside County. Colton lost a nailbiter last year and will return the favor tomorrow.
Colton 21, Vista Murrieta 19

Serrano at Silverado
Both of these teams are coming off season openers to forget. Serrano was held to a field goal in a 13-3 loss to Paraclete while the Hawks would have killed to have that production, getting blasted 61-0 by Gardena Serra. Serrano was closer to winning and Silverado typically starts out slow, so I'll take the Diamondbacks on the road.
Serrano 35, Silverado 14

Aquinas at Big Bear
This is always a must-see matchup among the small schools, with this year being no different. The Falcons will be making their first appearance under new head coach Nick Matheny while Big Bear is looking to get in the win column after losing a tough game to Simi Valley Grace Brethren. I think the Bears will be looking at two tough defeats.
Aquinas 24, Big Bear 20

The best of the rest:
Los Angeles Franklin 36, Don Lugo 14
Riverside Patriot 45, Citrus Valley 6
Victor Valley 27, Bellflower 10
Alta Loma 21, Carter 16
West Covina South Hills 28, Ayala 20
Bloomington 20, Ontario 17
Bonita 31, Claremont 20
Cajon 41, Eisenhower 7
Redlands East Valley 24, Clovis East 13
Rim of the World 35, Desert Hot Springs 10
Hemet West Valley 31, Arroyo Valley 21
Los Angeles Carson 21, Miller 13
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Moreno Valley Canyon Springs 6
Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 40, Yucaipa 10
Oak Hills 17, Rosamond 14
Ontario Christian 27, Calvary Murrieta 13
Fontana 17, Pacific 6
Montclair 31, Pomona 16
Barstow 38, Rialto 0
Riverside Notre Dame 21, Twentynine Palms 16
San Bernardino 23, Jurupa Valley 17
Palm Desert 37, Sultana 13
Etiwanda 27, Temecula Valley 21
Arrowhead Christian 20, Webb 7
Western Christian 21, Downey Calvary Chapel 14
Chino 25, Whittier 9
San Jacinto 34, Yucca Valley 14
Granite Hills 31, Riverside Rubidoux 0

The updated top 10. With two top 5 teams taking a tumble, there was quite a bit of shuffling.

Sun Top 10

1. Rancho Cucamonga (1-0)
Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Damien, 27-14. Up next: Friday vs. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (0-0).

2. Redlands East Valley (0-0)
Previous ranking: 2. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Clovis East (0-1).

3. Colton (0-0)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Vista Murrieta (0-0).

4. Chino Hills (1-0)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Lakewood Mayfair, 30-6. Up next: Friday vs. No. 10 Chaffey (1-0).

5. Barstow (0-0)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday vs. Rialto (0-0)

6. Kaiser (0-0)
Previous ranking: 8. Last week: idle. Up next: Friday at Apple Valley (0-0).

7. Etiwanda (1-0)
Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. Summit, 20-17. Up next: Friday vs. Temecula Valley (0-0)

8. Cajon (1-0)
Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Duarte, 55-0. Up next: Friday at Eisenhower (0-0).

9. Upland (1-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Miller, 23-8. Up next: Friday vs. Glendora (0-0)

10. Chaffey (1-0)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Alta Loma, 34-10. Up next: Friday at No. 4 Chino Hills (1-0).

Just missed the cut: Serrano (0-1), Los Osos (1-0), Ayala (1-0), Miller (0-1)

Dropped out: No. 4 Miller (0-1), No. 5 Serrano (0-1).

Before prediciting this weekend's games, here is my Top 10 that ran in The Sun Sunday.

1. Rancho Cucamonga
A CIF champion with a USC-bound tight end (Randal Telfer) and a Division I athlete at quarterback in Greg Watson seems like a good No. 1 to me. It'll be interesting to see how the defense jells, but the offense will be scary good.

2. Redlands East Valley
This has almost become a default pick, as the Wildcats have it rolling to that extent. With third-year starting QB Tyler Shreve being a Division I level quarterback and a tenacious defense led by DE Andrew Hudson, REV is the favorite in the CBL.

3. Colton
The Yellowjackets struggled, at least in comparison to most Colton teams last year, going 6-4-1. But most of the team returns and there is speed to burn in RB/DB Derrick Malone, DB Jonathan Mack and junior QB Jordan Mixon.

4. Miller
If Jeff Steinberg was still coaching, the Rebels would be at least No. 2 and even have an argument (though not a great one) for No. 1. But with freshman coach Jeff Strycula being hired late, I'm taking a bit of a wait-and-see look right now.

5. Serrano
The Diamondbacks are pretty darn tough even without Division I talent. But with RB Dionza Bradford and DE Everett Beed both committed to UNLV, Serrano has top-level personnel. That could make 2009 a special year in Phelan.

6. Chino Hills
This team pretty much made me look stupid last year and I refuse to underrate them this year. They came within a last-second touchdown of beating Los Osos in the Central quarters and have ball-hawking safety Ifo-Ekpre Olomu and QB Ryan Verdugo back.

7. Barstow
The Aztecs almost pulled off the huge upset in the CIF title game, battling Citrus Hill to the wire in the 31-27 loss. Barstow will be experienced (32 lettermen returning) and physical in their double-wing offense and have all the makings of a title contender.

8. Kaiser
Dick Bruich may be gone, but the talent isn't. USC-bound running back Anthony Brown will lead a physical, run-oriented offense while defensive end/linebacker Josh Shirley, a top 150 recruit, is an absolute matchup nightmare for opposing offenses.

9. Etiwanda
The Eagles should fly this year behind do-everything dual-threat QB Angel Santiago and star WR Bobby Ratliff. With Los Osos and Upland dealing with major graduation losses, the door is open for Etiwanda to move up the Baseline pecking order.

10. Cajon
The Cowboys lose several impact players from its 11-2, SAL championship team from a year ago, the biggest being RB Walter Kazee (San Diego State) and CB/WR Marlon Pollard (UCLA), but the Cowboys still should be an SAL factor.

Others receiving consideration: Summit, Ayala, Hesperia, Chaffey.

Yes, I realize I still have a few more teams to highlight, but high school football action starts tonight with Colony-Los Osos and Montclair-Ganesha. So we will do our Week 0 picks, where I try to look smart and end up sounding like something else. On that note...

Colony at Los Osos
The namepower of this game is pretty intense, as the Titans are just a season removed from back-to-back Central Division titles while the Grizzlies are just a season removed from three straight Baseline League titles. But both come into 2009 with something to prove.
Colony, which backslid to third place in the Mt. Baldy League last year, needs to show that 2008 was an aberration - not a trend. Los Osos loses quarterback Richard Brehaut and running back Arby Fields and will depend on 6-foot-5 senior quarterback Blake Loncar, who was accomplished at the JV level.
I'll go with Osos on this one due to homefield advantage and general skepticism about Colony.
Los Osos 21, Colony 13

Miller at Upland
Just wrote a bunch about this game for Friday's paper, but the main focus is on two things. First off, how will Miller do with Jeff Strycula taking over for Jeff Steinberg? He has some offensive weapons in QB Juan Flores and RB David Dash, but a new coaching staff plus some drama from the hazing incident leaves questions.
Upland has to replace a three-year starting QB in Josh Nunes (Stanford), RB Davion Fleming (Northwestern) and CB Osahon Irabor (Arizona State), which will be a tough task. How well are they able to do that in the early season?
I'm tempted to pick Upland here, but I have Miller ranked higher. I'll stay true to my rankings at this point.
Miller 26, Upland 24

Summit at Etiwanda
The SkyHawks are stepping up their game a notch as far as nonleague scheduling, with Etiwanda joining Redlands and Silverado on a ratched-up slate. Summit broke through with an 8-3 record last year and have a talented QB duo in juniors Josh Owes and Devon Blackmon, who will see a lot of time at WR.
Etiwanda was a mere point away from upsetting Cajon and had several other close losses in a 5-6 season this year. I'd expect a couple of those losses to turn into wins for the Eagles this year.
Etiwanda 34, Summit 23

Serrano at Paraclete
Ray Maholchic and the Diamondbacks don't exactly screw around during the nonleague schedule and this is no different, as Paraclete won the Mid-Valley championship a year ago. This will be a doozy, as Serrano outlasted Paraclete 35-28 at home a year ago and are going into the Antelope Valley for a rematch.
Expect another classic, but the result to be the same.
Serrano 27, Paraclete 24

Silverado at Gardena Serra
I just got done trumping up Serrano's schedule, but no one has a more masochistic nonleague schedule year in and year out than Silverado. I'm pretty sure if USC has a bye week next year, Carl Posey will be on the phone to Pete Carroll trying to set something up. Ok, I'm overreacting but still, starting with the Northwest Division champions is pretty crazy. Should be a fun game at the very least.
Serra 38, Silverado 26

Redlands at Temecula Oak
The senior-laden Terriers weren't able to fulfill their high expectations a year ago, going 5-6 with several close losses. Redlands will be younger but still should be tough in the trenches, which will be essential against a Temecula Oak team that comes from the tough Southwestern League.
Redlands 19, Temecula Oak 16

Damien at Rancho Cucamonga
A rout of Damien in the opener last year got the Cougars rolling last year, a roll that didn't stop until they won the Central Division championship. Damien has a new coach and a new approach, but that won't matter at all against the No. 1 team in the coverage area.
Rancho Cucamonga 35, Damien 16

Don Lugo at Ayala
If you look at last year, this should be a mismatch, as the Bulldogs were co-Sierra League champions while the Conquistadores couldn't make the playoffs in a questionable Mt. Baldy League. But Don Lugo has the top end talent in DT George Uko and DB Steven Bethley to make things uncomfortable for Ayala. I'm expecting a Bulldog victory, but it'll be tough.
Ayala 23, Don Lugo 17

Rim of the World at Banning
Two years ago, this game would have been a laugher, as Banning was one of the worst teams in the Southern Section. But they had a renaissance last year, sending out Dick Bruich and Kaiser in the first round of the playoffs last year. Against a Rim team that will be feeling its way early, Banning should have its way.
Banning 27, Rim of the World 10

Alta Loma at Chaffey
The Jose Fuentes era at Alta Loma starts with a tough matchup against the physical Tigers, led by RB Ronald Douglas and OL Jesus Cortez. Beating Chaffey is probably a little too much to ask of the Braves at this point.
Chaffey 23, Alta Loma 12

Other games of note:
Montclair 23, Ganesha 18
Big Bear 49, Simi Valley Grace Brethren 31
Cajon 26, Duarte 13
Yucca Valley 24, El Centro Central 20
Chino Hills 30, Lakewood Mayfair 25
Ontario Christian 38, Whittier Christian 17
Twentynine Palms 28, Indio 23
Western Christian 21, Covina Gladstone 6
Ontario 34, La Verne Lutheran 10

The Serrano High School football team seemingly had Perris Citrus Hill right where it wanted it during their CIF-SS Eastern Division semifinal matchup last December, up 15-11 with just under three minutes left. But unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, that scenario didn't treat them well in 2008.

Citrus Hill, which had been throttled by Serrano's physical, aggressive defense for the first 45 minutes of the game, deftly marched 80 yards in two minutes to score the game-winning touchdown, grabbing an 18-15 lead and providing the Diamondbacks with a rallying cry for the 2009 season.

Just got done with the Serrano-Citrus Hill game, which saw the Diamondbacks almost pull a huge upset before losing 18-15. Serrano held Citrus Hill, which came in averaging over 500 yards of offense per game, to 250 yards. But Hawks' star running back Deontae Cooper scored twice, including the game-winner with 2:09 left, and ran for 136 yards.

Also, received a text message from Clay Fowler confirming a 23-13 Rancho Cucamonga win over Cajon. Don't have any specifics on the game right now, other than it was delayed an hour and 15 minutes due to a power outage in San Bernardino.

Fun times in the high school ranks, even with some of my picks last week taking a beating. I went 10-6 this week, sweeping the Inland Division and splitting the other three. Oh well.

CENTRAL DIVISION

No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga at No. 4 Cajon
This should be a good one and after going to each campus this week to talk to coaches and players about it, I'm excited. I won't be covering, but Clay Fowler will have a jolly old time at this one. You have two big-play spread teams, with Greg Watson and his cadre of explosive wideouts carrying the torch for Rancho and RB Walter Kazee doing the same for Cajon. I picked Rancho to win the Central title before the playoffs started, and I have to stick with it. We'll see if Cajon burns me again.
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Cajon 28

No. 2 Los Osos at Upland
Now I will be at this game, which should also be a doozy. I guess its redundant to say that a CIF semifinal game should be good, but I really don't care. What I'm looking to see is if Josh Nunes can break the Richard Brehaut jinx. Yes, I know there are plenty of other players (Arby Fields, Davion Fleming, Osahon Irabor to name three) worth mentioning, but Nunes has never beaten Brehaut. Shoot, even the two schools he verbally committed to (Tennessee and then Stanford) lost to Brehaut's school, UCLA. Upland is hoping that Nunes is due. I'm thinking he is.
Upland 34, Los Osos 27

EASTERN DIVISION

Serrano at No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill
This is where I'll be tomorrow night and quite frankly, the more I read up on Citrus Hill, the more I'm blown away. The Hawks have won all of their games by more than 26 points, average over 50 points a game and have a Division I QB in Caleb Herring and a future D-1 RB in junior Deontae Cooper. Serrano won't be intimidated, having played at Upland and Hesperia this season, but the Diamondbacks will have their hands full. Gotta go with the Hawks, though Serrano will keep it close (relatively speaking).
Citrus Hill 41, Serrano 23

Barstow at Silverado
At the very least, the Desert Sky League will get some major street cred. With two teams facing off, the DSL will get one team in the title game, definitely helping it shed the rep of being the "other" High Desert league. As for the game, its a pretty fascinating contrast in styles, with Barstow's double-wing going against Silverado's frenetic no-huddle spread offense. The Aztecs will need to chew clock to keep red-hot Hawk QB Jemeryn Jenkins off the field. They'll have their moments, but Silverado seems to be on a mission.
Silverado 36, Barstow 20

EAST VALLEY DIVISION

No. 1 St. Margaret's 38, Pasadena Maranatha 27

Fillmore at Twentynine Palms
Both of these teams are surprises of sorts. For the host Wildcats, the surprise isn't that they are here, but the way they destroyed Aquinas to get here. Twentynine Palms had defeated the Falcons during the regular season, so a win wasn't shocking, but a 40-0 whitewashing certainly was. The Flashes were more of the conventional surprise, upsetting No. 2-seeded Brentwood to get here. I think the Wildcats, who have scored 103 points in the playoffs so far, continue to roll.
Twentynine Palms 42, Fillmore 17

INLAND DIVISION

No. 1 Corona Centennial 42, Murrieta Valley 13

No. 3 Temecula Chaparral at Norco
These two teams last faced off in the 2006 Inland finals, with Norco placing a 43-0 beating on the Pumas. Chaparral, making its third straight semifinal appearance, its pretty rough on defense, as they beat Redlands East Valley up front in a 20-0 shutout. Norco has made its living on physical play, so this should be a good one, but I feel Chaparral is due.
Chaparral 21, Norco 10

Last week: 10-6. Overall record: 242-60-4.

Doing this a little early, as I'm off doing the holiday thing for the next two days. Not a bad week last week, though its fair to say that I screwed up games involving public schools in the Redlands Metropolitan Area.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Paloma Valley at No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga
So my upset special wasn't special. Actually, my real upset special was Glendora, but it's all good. Paloma Valley did well, but they'll have their hands full with Rancho, which received quite a scare last week for Colton. Look for Greg Watson and the Rancho passing attack to carry their big fourth quarter over.
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Paloma Valley 20

No. 4 Cajon at Ayala
I was at the Cajon-Etiwanda game last week and it was a hum-dinger, as both teams played their hearts out. The win was big for the Cowboys' psyche, just because they don't have to hear the 'Well, you are just a product of the SAL' talk as much. What they will have to deal with is a darn good Ayala team that can come at you in waves. I picked Ayala before the playoffs and am sticking with that.
Ayala 30, Cajon 27

Glendora at Upland
The jaw-dropping score of the week definitely came from Glendora, which destroyed No. 3 Hemet West Valley. I'll pat my back because I predicted an upset, but I didn't expect the beatdown that took place. Upland beat down Chaffey, which was expected, and plays the Tartans for the third time since last November. Each team has one, and I'm predicting Upland to win the rubber match.
Upland 34, Glendora 28

No. 2 Los Osos at Chino Hills
Richard Brehaut used his legs more than his arm to lead the Grizzlies to victory last week. That's nice, but that ain't going to fly against Chino Hills. The Huskies bulldozed San Gorgonio 52-14 thanks to a monster day from RB A.J. Johnson. Chino Hills keeps plugging along to little fan fare (despite Fowler's exemplary article) and will do so again, "upsetting" Los Osos.
Chino Hills 27, Los Osos 21

EASTERN DIVISION

No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill 36, Palm Desert 25

Serrano at Banning
I'm not going to lie, Banning's win over Kaiser shocked me. I did not see that coming. I guess i should get to know more about Banning, but I don't think they are going to knock off another Eastern power. Serrano trounced La Quinta behind junior RB Dionza Bradford and could very well be the dark horse in this bracket. The Banning story is a good one, but one that will end.
Serrano 28, Banning 14

No. 3 Palm Springs at Barstow
The Aztecs are another one of those teams that doesn't get hype but wins. They can throw three RBs at you in the double-wing and have some massive hombres blocking. But Palm Springs is red-hot and this is pretty much what they do. After whipping Summit, Palm Springs will have its way with Barstow late.
Palm Springs 23, Barstow 16

No. 2 Hesperia at Silverado
Don't look now but the Hawks, who started 0-6, are amazingly still alive and quite a threat behind QB Jemeryn Jenkins. Jenkins is a ridiculous talent, slicing and dicing Patriot for 406 yards last week. However, Hesperia put on a clinic against Notre Dame, barely breaking a sweat in winning 55-27. The rested Scorpions have a little too much sting.
Hesperia 31, Silverado 19

EAST VALLEY DIVISION

No. 1 St. Margaret's at Yucca Valley
Yucca Valley has been an awesome story, recovering from several tattered years to win a De Anza League co-championship and a playoff game. It's a great job Tim Connavo is doing out there. However, this isn't going to be pretty. St. Margaret's hasn't been challenged all year and Yucca, for all their strengths, don't have the ability to.
St. Margaret's 41, Yucca Valley 16

Pasadena Maranatha at Big Bear
The Bears made me look smart, which is hard to do, coming up with the brassy 33-32 upset over No. 4 Santa Paula. It's been a tough year at Big Bear, but you know the Bears will growl at playoff time. I'll be up the hill to watch them take on Maranatha, which is just annoying to type. So I'll predict. I am tempted to take the Bears, but I picked the other team (see what I did there?) last week. Can't change now.
Maranatha 24, Big Bear 20

No. 3 Aquinas at Twentynine Palms
I kind of wish I was at this game Friday, because this one is going to be a war. Aquinas has been rolling over fools this year behind QB Tyler Stirewalt and his merry band of skill-position playmakers, but the Falcons' only loss came to Twentynine Palms - a team that put 63 up on Brethren Christian last week. I expect the Palms to be jumping, but Aquinas to exact revenge.
Aquinas 28, Twentynine Palms 26

No. 2 Brentwood 27, Fillmore 13

INLAND DIVISION

No. 1 Corona Centennial 42, Vista Murrieta 10

No. 4 Miller at Murrieta Valley
The Rebels looked awesome on offense in their 48-21 victory over Roosevelt, gaining well over 500 yards and looking like the juggernaut unit it was last year under A.J. Springer. yeah, Juan Flores and David Dash next year could be mad scary. However, the defense has showed some signs of slippage lately, which won't be helped by Murrieta Valley. I have the Rebels losing a heartbreaker on the road, similar to their loss to Chaparral last year.
Murrieta Valley 28, Miller 23

Redlands East Valley at No. 3 Temecula Chaparral
After impaling the Santiago Sharks, REV looks to take out a Chaparral team that's been hell on the CBL in recent years. The Pumas took out REV two years ago and Miller this year, meaning they have run up quite a tab. The REV offense has erupted lately, but I don't see them evening the bill this week. I will be at the game though to see if I'm wrong and to see if Lindsay Soto is there. I can always hope.
Chaparral 23, Redlands East Valley 19

Norco 27, Riverside North 17

Last week: 26-6. Overall: 232-54-4.

This is another division with huge local representation, as the High Desert schools and Sunkist League go at it here.

Rim of the World at No. 1 Perris Citrus Hill
It's impressive that the Fighting Scots are here, having made a 21-point second-half comeback at Apple Valley to do it. But Citrus Hill, with QB Caleb Herring having committed to UNLV and RB Deontae Cooper receiving D-1 interest as a junior, has way too much firepower. This will be like a 16-1 matchup you'd see in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Citrus Hill 48, Rim of the World 6

Riverside Notre Dame at No. 2 Hesperia
Speaking of Division I players, Notre Dame probably wishes it had RB Kenjon Barner, now a freshman at Oregon, back this year. The Titans will have a hard time matching up with Hesperia's physicality up front. And the Scorpions, with RB Gavin Santos and WR Jay Waddell, can beat you up top too.
Hesperia 38, Notre Dame 7

Summit at No. 3 Palm Springs
A lot of people are calling this upset. Ok, well maybe one reader, but still, this is an interesting matchup. The SkyHawks are young, but have a lot of speed, athleticism and moxie, as evidenced by their comebacks against Norte Vista and Bloomington. Palm Springs may be lacking in the speed department, but the Indians have size. Its that size that will make the difference late.
Palm Springs 23, Summit 20

Banning at No. 4 Kaiser
The Dick Bruich watch is going on, as any game could be the last for the legendary coach. But it won't be this game. Kaiser hasn't lost in six straight games and are coming off a dominating 435 rushing-yard performance against Riverside Patriot. Banning, which was 0-10 two years ago, is a great story, but it won't be the team that ends Bruich's career.
Kaiser 36, Banning 7

La Quinta at Serrano
As far as name matchups go, this one might be the most vibrant. Both of these schools are always in the CIF title discussion, but it might be far-fetched to get much of a run out of either school this year. La Quinta, though second in the Desert Valley League, was 0-5 and usually noncompetitive during the nonleague season, while Serrano lost three games as well. But I can't see the D-backs going down at Snowline Stadium.
Serrano 31, La Quinta 17

Barstow at San Jacinto
San Jac was a power in the East Valley Division, playing runner-up the last two years to Big Bear and Citrus Hill, respectively. I'm not sure they've gone up against a running attack as comphrensive as Barstow's double-wing though. It will be a physical matchup, but I think the Desert Sky represents here. Then again, I'm always wrong on Barstow predictions.
Barstow 24, San Jacinto 19

Silverado at Riverside Patriot
One look at the Hawks' 3-7 record could cause one to shudder, but Silverado took on one of the more brutal nonleague schedules in the section. That rugged slate will help Silverado immensely, as Patriot's physical running attack won't seem nearly as intimidating. It's been a long time for Patriot/Rubidoux, and it will be a short time in the postseason.
Silverado 20, Patriot 14

The other game of note between teams that aren't in San Bernardino County:
Palm Desert 34, Ridgecrest Burroughs 23

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Citrus Hill over Palm Desert
Serrano over No. 4 Kaiser
No. 2 Hesperia over Silverado
No. 3 Palm Springs over Barstow

Semifinals
No. 1 Citrus Hill over Serrano
No. 2 Hesperia over No. 3 Palm Springs

Final
No. 1 Citrus Hill over No. 2 Hesperia

No real drama here, as everything is basically decided, especially since there are no at-large berths in the Eastern Division. But whatever, I'll give equal time.

1. Hesperia (9-0, 3-0): The Scorpions have clinched the No. 1 seed out of the league for the MRL playoffs by virtue of their victory over Serrano a couple weeks ago. Hesperia will likely be the No. 2 seed in the bracket behind Perris Citrus Hill if it defeats Apple Valley Friday.

2. Serrano (6-3, 2-1): The Diamondbacks have clinched the No. 2 seed by virtue of their victory over Rim of the World in the league opener. Serrano will likely clinch a first-round home game with a victory over Sultana Friday.

3. Rim of the World (5-4, 2-2): The Fighting Scots have clinched the No. 3 seed by virtue of their win over Apple Valley two weeks ago. They'll be starting the playoffs on the road no matter what.

4. Apple Valley (4-5, 1-2): Eliminated from playoff contention.

5. Sultana (0-9. 0-3): Eliminated from playoff contention.