Recently in Twentynine Palms High School Category

If Twentynine Palms coach Ernie Martinez looked at the number of players he has over their skill, he'd be a bit discouraged, as the Wildcats are in the low-30s - about 10 less than what they normally have. But when he looks at his acutal personnel, the excitement starts to come out.

"I think we have a really good, talented group of kids," Martinez said. "If we can stay healthy, I think we have the chance to compete with anyone. But health is important to us, because we really don't have many guys we can fall back on."

The Wildcats, who won a share of De Anza League title last year for their fourth consecutive league crown, have 12 starters returning from last season. Leading the pack out of those 12 is senior running back Chris Fuifui.

At 6-2 and 235 pounds, Fuifui is a load at both running back and middle linebacker for Twentynine Palms, running for 1,136 yards and 14 touchdowns and adding another five touchdowns receiving en route to second-team all-Sun honors.

MVP Offensive: Whitney Rodriguez, Yucca Valley
Co-MVP Defensive: Felicia Gonzales, Yucca Valley; Brittney Candelaria, 29 Palms

1st Team:
Cierra Peterson, 29 Palms
Erin Ingram, 29 Palms
Catherine Mount, 29 Palms
Heather Nava, Yucca
Lindsay Sullivan, Yucca
Miranda Huerta, Yucca
Liz Slaughter, Yucca
Miranda Moreno, Shadow Hills
Emily Lopez, Shadow Hills
Kalen Volkmann, Desert Hot Springs
Carly Jo Reeves, Big Bear
Kaisha Romney, Big Bear
Natalie Powell, Big Bear
Berenice Ceja, Desert Mirage
Leticia Garcia, Desert Mirage

2nd Team:
Rebecca Erickson, Yucca
Erin Stanford, 29 Palms
Jaymee Candelaria, 29 Palms
Teana Linares, Shadow Hills
Dalilah Castillo, Shadow Hills
Iris Guzman, Desert Hot Springs
Cara Burks, Big Bear
Cori Burks, Big Bear
Celseste Tarango, Desert Mirage
Stephanie Serrato, Desert Mirage

Honorable Mention:
Teresa Nava, Yucca
Brittny Wellock, 29 Palms
Aileen Pinedo, Shadow Hills
Kirstin Ukkasted, Desert Hot Springs
Kimi Etter, Big Bear
Nayeli Perez, Desert Mirage

Offensive Player of the Year: Lindsay Sullivan, Yucca Valley
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittany Candelaria, Twentynine Palms

First Team
Shannen Bruinsma, L, Big Bear
Carolan McCollough, S, Big Bear
Vanessa Burgos, OPP, Desert Hot Springs
Sarah DeLao, DS, Desert Mirage
Daisy Gomez, S, Shadow Hills
Naomi Leutu, OH, Twentynine Palms
Sierra Peterson, L, Twentynine Palms
Taylor Adair, MH, Yucca Valley
Liz Slaughter, L, Yucca Valley
Kaitlyn Wooling, S, Yucca Valley

Second Team
Carly Jo Reeves, OH, Big Bear
Brianna Moore, MH, Desert Hot Springs
Francis Vargas, MB, Desert Mirage
Emily Gregory, OPP, Shadow Hills
Alex Herrerra, M, Twentynine Palms
Catherine Mount, OH, Twentynine Palms
Courtney Del Guidice, DS, Yucca Valley
Allesa Peterson, OH, Yucca Valley
Whitney Rodriguez, OPP, Yucca Valley

Honorable Mention
Kelsey Davis, OPP, Big Bear
Savannah Seltzer, OH, Desert Hot Springs
Rosa Gutierrez, OH, Desert Mirage
Brooke Greenup, OH, Shadow Hills
Johnette Brown, MB, Twentynine Palms
Sarah Terreri, OH, Yucca Valley

Offensive MVP: Chris Fuifui, Twentynine Palms
Defensve MVP: Austin Dubuque, Big Bear
Special Teams MVPs: Logan Miller, Twentynine Palms and Trevor Vallo, Yucca Valley

First Team
Offense
Jeremy Ogden, QB, Desert Hot Springs
Zakk Planz, QB, Big Bear
Ryan Greer, RB, Desert Hot Springs
Ernesto Quintero, RB, Desert Mirage
James Toland, RB, Shadow Hills
Tyler Westplat, RB, Big Bear
Christian Guzman, WR, Desert Hot Springs
Michael Nicholson, WR, Yucca Valley
Ojay Feesago, OL, Twentynine Palms
Tuvalo Melei, OL, Twentynine Palms
Michael Neville, OL, Yucca Valley
Davio Quintanilla, OL, Desert Mirage
Rex Seaman, OL, Big Bear

Defense
Harley Chlebik, DL, Big Bear
Paul Topoleski, DL, Big Bear
Derik Dubuque, DE, Big Bear
Thomas Ramirez, DE, Twentynine Palms
Michael Montano, LB, Yucca Valley
Derrick Nealy, LB, Twentynine Palms
George Von-Toman, LB, Yucca Valley
Brian Walters, LB, Twentynine Palms
Javier Zazueta, LB, Desert Mirage
Antonio Desmarais, DB, Desert Hot Springs
Nate McClain, DB, Twentynine Palms
Julio Suarez, DB, Shadow Hills

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

Last but not least is the East Valley. Let them play in the snow is all I have to say leading in.

No. 1 Paraclete 30, Desert Hot Springs 20

Notre Dame 23, Grace Brethren 21

Linfield Christian at Big Bear
Snow or no snow, this should be a fun one on Saturday. The Bears have their option offense working at a level that hasn't been seen since the days of Kriss Proctor, as Zakk Planz has Big Bear executing at a high level. Linfield Christian has playoff experience, winning the Northeast Division last year, but I don't see their move up being as smooth as St. Margaret's was.
Big Bear 28, Linfield Christian 18

No. 4 St. Margaret's 27, Campbell Hall 21

No. 3 Sierra Canyon 38, Bishop Diego 14

Sage Hill at Twentynine Palms
The key question in this game is Twentynine Palms' resiliency. The Wildcats had a chance for their fourth straight De Anza League title slip out of their grasp last week with a loss to Big Bear at home and now face a Sage Hill team with an effective running attack. 29 Palms is capable of a run, making the East Valley finals two years ago, but I see this run ending sooner rather than later.
Sage Hill 20, Twentynine Palms 14

Brentwood 28, Rubidoux 26

Yucca Valley at No. 2 Aquinas
The Falcons are the hottest team in the division to date, winning nine in a row thanks to the efforts of a balanced rushing attack led by junior RB Burrell Handy. Yucca Valley profitted from a credible nonleague schedule and a tough league to make it into the playoffs, but this is a tough haul for the Trojans, as the Falcons are clicking on all cylinders.
Aquinas 35, Yucca Valley 12

Its schools may be off the beaten path a bit, but there's been some very good football played in the De Anza League this year. Not coincidentally, there's quite a free-for-all for the league's two guaranteed playoff spots going on.

1. Twentynine Palms (7-2, 4-0): The Wildcats have clinched a playoff berth regardless of how they do Friday against Big Bear. A win seals up an undisputed title and the No. 1 seed out of the league while a loss puts Twentynine into the No. 2 spot by virtue of losing the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bears.

2. Big Bear (7-2, 3-1): The Bears would clinch a playoff spot and the No. 1 seed from the league with a victory over Twentynine Palms by virtue of winning the head-to-head tiebreaker. They can also make it with a Desert Hot Springs loss to Desert Mirage. If Big Bear loses, Desert Hot Springs wins and Yucca Valley loses to Shadow Hills, Big Bear would lose out on the No. 2 spot to DSH because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. A loss coupled with DSH and Yucca wins would cause a three-way flip for the No. 2 spot, as each team would be 1-1 against the other two. Either way, the Bears are a cinch to make it as an at-large if they don't snap up one of the two automatic slots.

3. Desert Hot Springs (6-3, 2-2): The Golden Eagles would qualify as the No. 2 team out of the De Anza with a win over Desert Mirage and losses by Big Bear and Yucca Valley by virtue of owning the head-to-head tiebreaker with Big Bear. A loss by Big Bear and a win by Yucca Valley would cause a three-way flip for the last automatic playoff spot. A loss of any kind would eliminate DSH from getting an automatic berth, but the Golden Eagles would be in good shape for an at-large with a 6-4 or 7-3 overall record.

4. Yucca Valley (4-4-1, 2-2): Yucca Valley needs a win, a Desert Hot Springs win and a loss by Big Bear to get into a three-way flip for the last automatic spot. Otherwise, Yucca Valley needs a win of any sort to keep any at-large hopes alive. A loss would certainly eliminate the Trojans from all playoff consideration.

5. Desert Mirage (1-8, 1-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

6. Shadow Hills (1-8, 0-4): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big one in Fontana tomorrow heads off this slate. A little better performance last week, only missing two of the featured games, so we'll see if we can't tighten that up a bit more.

Summit at Kaiser
As I was evaluating this game, I suddenly wondered about what would happen if Kaiser had to play in a close game. The Cats have been drilling people - which is why they are No. 1 in the Sun, Daily Bulletin and Eastern Division polls - typically playing a half of football. Odds are that Summit, with Devon Blackmon and Montigo Alford, will test Kaiser like it hasn't been tested before. But I think the Cats will pass that test and continue their special season.
Kaiser 30, Summit 18

Rancho Cucamonga at Etiwanda
The Cougars came up with a big win last week, defeating Upland, but they can't afford to relax against a tricky Etiwanda squad. With QB Larry Cutbirth and RB Marcus Mason, the Eagles could have the most versatile and explosive offense in the county. But their defense gives up points almost as quickly as their offense scores them. Rancho will be tested tonight, but will make enough big plays to win another shootout.
Rancho Cucamonga 42, Etiwanda 34

Miller at Redlands
Last week's unexpected loss to Yucaipa puts Miller in desperation mode coming into this game, as they need to win at least one of the next two against the Redlands schools to have a shot at the playoffs. That's easier said than done though. Theoretically this looks to be the easiest of the two, but it's not that easy. Redlands has bounced back nicely from the REV heartbreaker and will continue to do so.
Redlands 27, Miller 13

Colton at San Gorgonio
Since both of these teams have already lost to Cajon, this matchup between 4-1 SAL teams is more for second place barring any slipups by the first-place Cowboys. San G has caught fire in league play, winning four in a row to jump into the playoff conversation. Colton has been up and down offensively, but their defense should have enough oomph to come through in this one.
Colton 21, San Gorgonio 14

Chino Hills at Charter Oak
The last time the Huskies went on the road against a Sierra newcomer, they fell in a classic to Claremont. Charter Oak has the talent and the coaching to give the Huskies problems, but the Chino Hills offense has caught fire after a tough start to the season. Expect Chino Hills to overpower Charter Oak just enough offensively for its defense to bring it home late.
Chino Hills 28, Charter Oak 14

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Silverado
This matchup between the Desert Sky League favorites was complicated a bit by Silverado's surprising loss to Granite Hills a couple weeks ago, as the Hawks are not only playing to get another DSL title, but to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Burroughs is in a bit easier position with a loss, but I don't think they'll have to sweat it out at all. The Burros will win and give Silverado some sleepless nights going into the finale.
Burroughs 27, Silverado 14

Twentynine Palms at Yucca Valley
The premier game in the Morongo Valley has some major implications, as Yucca's upset victory over Desert Hot Springs last week has them in position to get a league title with a win over three-time defending champion Twentynine Palms. A win assures the Wildcats at least a share of the De Anza title and sets up another showdown next week with Big Bear. I think this game will be low-scoring and nasty, with 29 winning again.
Twentynine Palms 19, Yucca Valley 13

Yucaipa at Redlands East Valley
The Thunderbirds have been a nice story in the CBL, taking to new coach Justin Price wonderfully in a 5-3 start that saw a big victory at Miller last week. Pulling off another road win against REV would really put the rest of the league, and the county, on its ear. This isn't the most explosive REV team, but its a solid group that should be able to repel the T-Birds, especially with QB Dylan Malone shaken up a bit.

Carter at Cajon
This isn't a game for the first-place Cowboys to sleep on, as Carter is a couple of plays away from being undefeated as well. Can Carter, which lost to Colton in overtime and San G by two points, get a signature victory? They can, but I don't think they will. Cajon is being Cajon, struggling early but finding its stride in league play. Think the Cowboys have a bit too much.
Cajon 24, Carter 17

Riverside Notre Dame at Rim of the World
With first-place Rubidoux having already dispatched these two teams, this matchup is for second place in the Mountain Valley League. Considering that only two teams per league get guaranteed playoff berths, that makes this game big. It's been a tough year for the Fighting Scots, though the reinsertion of Dillon Pretzinger in the offense has helped considerably. I'll take the home team in a coin-flip game.
Rim of the World 26, Notre Dame 23

Other games of note:
Aquinas 48, Arrowhead Christian 0
Ontario Christian 35, Calvary Murrieta 0
Linfield Christian 30, Western Christian 14
Los Osos 45, Alta Loma 7
Upland 34, Glendora 17
Fontana 20, Eisenhower 10
Big Bear 42, Desert Mirage 6
Victor Valley 15, Granite Hills 13
Serrano 28, Barstow 0
Oak Hills 34, Hesperia 6
Apple Valley 35, Sultana 17
Rubidoux 38, Citrus Valley 7
Banning 45, Jurupa Hills 13
Chino 48, Ontario 10
Colony 30, Montclair 10
Garey 38, Chaffey 19
Arroyo Valley 41, San Bernardino 16
Rialto 40, Pacific 9
Riverside Christian 24, Bloomington Christian 12
Damien 23, Ayala 17
Bloomington 33, Jurupa Valley 13

Last week: 25-7
Overall: 200-73-3

Starting to get into a groove now, as I had my best week of the season to date.

Cajon at Colton
This has become the de facto championship game in the San Andreas League and for good reason, as the teams have split the last five league titles and have won seven total since 2000. Needless to say, they are at it again, as both are undefeated in league. It's been a weird season for both, as Colton has become almost pass-happy while Cajon has shown off the double-wing. I think this one will be relatively low scoring, with the home team prevailing.
Colton 20, Cajon 10

Redlands at Yucaipa
The Terriers have the unenviable task of having to recover from a devastating Smudge Pot rivalry loss to Redlands East Valley last week. The schedulemaker didn't do Redlands any favors, as they'll have to play a sneaky-good Yucaipa team with an elite playmaker in quarterback Dylan Malone. The Terriers might be ripe for an upset, but I think they'll pull this one out late.
Redlands 23, Yucaipa 19

Colony at Chino
How real is Chino? That's the million-dollar question heading into this one. The Cowboys have gone from a feeble 0-10 team to a 6-0 juggernaut that is straight pile-driving opponents. However, Chino's opponents haven't exactly been SEC caliber to date. Colony's five-game winning streak has flown under the radar a bit, but the defending champs have a chance to make a splash. And I think they will.
Colony 28, Chino 23

Etiwanda at Upland
If they had odds on this game in Vegas (or on bodog.com) I would take the over because this thing is going to be a track meet. The Eagles have an explosive offense led by the leading passer in the county in Larry Cutbirth, who averages 275 yards per game through the air. Problem is that Etiwanda doesn't really stop anyone on defense. That will prove fatal against the Highlanders, which has a balanced offense and a little more defense.
Upland 44, Etiwanda 36

Oak Hills at Victor Valley
Kind of a slow week in the High Desert, as all the league games pit the haves against the have-nots, but this nonleague tilt has some teeth. Oak Hills has won a lot in its first year-and-a-half, piling up 13 wins, but still doesn't have that signature win over a large-school program. Victor Valley started out firing at 5-0 but lost to Silverado last week and wants to avoid a second-half slide. I think Victor will stem the slide and Oak Hills will still be searching.
Victor Valley 34, Oak Hills 26

Damien at Chino Hills
This game is usually a doozy and should be again this year, as the Huskies come in needing a win pretty badly after falling in a tough league-opener to Claremont this week. Damien came into this year having to overcome some massive personnel losses due to graduation but has equipped itself well, matching Chino Hills' 4-2 record. No one backs Bub into a corner though, as I feel the Huskies will come out swinging.
Chino Hills 23, Damien 9

Kaiser at Patriot
The question this week isn't whether or not Kaiser - the No. 1 team in the Sun, the Daily Bulletin, the Eastern Division and city of Fontana polls - will be Patriot tomorrow. It will. The question, er questions, are how bad and will there be a fifth shutout. I'm answering very bad on the first one and yes on the second. Patriot didn't muster a point against Summit last week - no way its scoring on Kaiser unless the Cats get bored.
Kaiser 48, Patriot 0

Twentynine Palms at Desert Hot Springs
The Wildcats have ruled the De Anza League the last three years, taking the league title each and every year. But DSH has been on an uber roll this season, taking out Aquinas and Rim of the World in the nonleague and grabbing a big win at Big Bear this past weekend. Twentynine Palms is playing pretty well, but the Golden Eagles seem to have some mojo going. That's good enough for me.
Desert Hot Springs 28, Twentynine Palms 18

Rubidoux at Rim of the World
Last week saw the return of Rim of the World running back Dillon Pretzinger from a foot injury. Not coincidentally, it also saw the Fighting Scots look more like the juggernaut that I expected them to be before the season. The table is set for Rim to win the inaugural Mountain Valley League title and while Rubidoux is much improved, I see Rim rolling here.
Rim of the World 28, Rubidoux 13

Glendora at Los Osos
With all respect to the Dallas-Minnesota game this past Sunday I feel that this game is the true "Desperation Bowl". Both of these teams, which came into the season with high expectations, are 0-1 in a three-playoff-berth league and an 0-2 mark would be a sure death sentence in a brutal Baseline in a division with zero at-large berths. So who gets to play the role of a despondent Tony Romo? Unless it goes into overtime, I think Glendora will.
Los Osos 35, Glendora 27

Other games of note:
Rancho Cucamonga 56, Alta Loma 6
Aquinas 40, Calvary Murrieta 0
Linfield Christian 21, Ontario Christian 17
Western Christian 24, Arrowhead Christian 16
Redlands East Valley 61, Eisenhower 12
Miller 38, Fontana 6
Big Bear 27, Yucca Valley 25
Ridgecrest Burroughs 34, Barstow 0
Silverado 26, Granite Hills 10
Apple Valley 38, Hesperia 14
Serrano 38, Sultana 7
Banning 28, Citrus Valley 23
Riverside Notre Dame 50, Jurupa Hills 6
Garey 31, Don Lugo 12
Ontario 27, Montclair 16
Arroyo Valley 45, Pacific 0
Carter 21, Rialto 18
San Gorgonio 36, San Bernardino 13
Banning Twin Pines 26, Bloomington Christian 20
Summit 39, Bloomington 10

Last week: 26-5
Overall: 154-57-3

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

Twentynine Palms has established itself as the gold standard in the De Anza League over the last three years, winning league titles all three seasons and progressing to the East Valley Division championship game in 2008. But in the midst of all this success, it's the last failure that weighs on Wildcat coach Ernie Martinez's mind.

"Our playoff loss last year was heartbreaking," Martinez said. "Losing on a Hail Mary pass to the team (Ontario Christian) that lost 12-10 in the championship game is a tough way to go out. I thought we had a really good team last year and we were close to doing something big."

Whether or not the Wildcats will do something big this year depends on how they reload. Twentynine Palms saw both of its all-CIF linebackers - Robert Caldwell and Austin Cole - graduate, along with starting QB Aaron Anderson. The Wildcats also got a tough break when running back Michael Pinto, who contributed over 800 yards of total offense and scored six touchdowns as a sophomore, moved away.

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

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

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

Los Angeles Brentwood 31, Bishop 14

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

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

Newport Beach Sage Hill 23, Simi Valley Grace Brethren 21

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

No. 2 Pasadena Maranatha 40, Lebec Frazier Mountain 7

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

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

Championship
St. Margaret's over Maranatha

The fourth and final goes to the smallest division, the East Valley. I'll be honest, I haven't had a chance to see these teams play, so there will be some more speculation in here than normal. I'm sure you guys can handle it.

The matchups:

Santa Paula (6-4) at No. 1 St. Margaret's (9-1)
Sierra Canyon (8-2) at Aquinas (6-3)
Bishop (5-4) at Brentwood (8-2)
Yucca Valley (3-7) at No. 4 Fillmore (7-3)
Oak Hills (8-2) at No. 3 Kern Valley (9-1)
Grace Brethren (5-5) at Sage Hill (7-3)
Ontario Christian (4-6) at Twentynine Palms (6-4)
Frazier Mountain (7-3) at No. 2 Pasadena Maranatha (8-2)

My initial impression is that St. Margaret's should have this division on tilt. They rolled to a CIF and state title a year ago and have a good draw to do the same thing. Aquinas could give them a test in round two, but the Falcons haven't done so well against the upper-level teams in the division, losing to teams like Oak Hills and Twentynine Palms. I see St. Margaret's rolling until the final.

I also see Oak Hills being a bracket buster. Being a brand-new school without a league, the Bulldogs weren't given much slack by the selection committee, having to face No. 9 Kern Valley. But Oak Hills has sparkled all year and has proven it can play with playoff-caliber teams, already having defeated Aquinas and Laguna Beach this year. Oak Hills has one of the more talented squads in this bracket - it's whether it can overcome its youth that will tell the tale.

I also like Twentynine Palms in the bottom half of the bracket. The Wildcats made it to the championship game last year and have won six straight games after starting out 0-4 against a nonleague schedule made of primarily larger schools. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Twentynine Palms took out Maranatha in the second round.

This one is pretty much all subjective, as the top two spots in the De Anza League are sealed up, leaving Big Bear, Desert Hot Springs and a freelance upstart to fight for bids.

1) Twentynine Palms (6-4, 4-0): The Wildcats clinched the De Anza League championship and top seed with a victory over Big Bear Saturday.

2) Yucca Valley (2-7, 2-1): The Trojans have clinched the No. 2 spot in the De Anza League, as they own head-to-head tiebreakers over Big Bear and Desert Hot Springs.

3) Big Bear (3-6, 1-2): Have to defeat Desert Hot Springs Friday to have any shot at an at-large bid, as the Bears lose the head-to-head tiebreaker in event of a win and a Yucca Valley loss. Even then, 4-6 might not be good enough to get in.

4) Desert Hot Springs (3-6, 1-2): The Golden Eagles are in the same exact boat as Big Bear, as they need to win to have any shot at an at-large bid. And it still may not be enough.

5) Desert Mirage (3-6, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

And the two freelance teams, which are eligible for the East Valley playoff if I'm not mistaken.

1) Oak Hills (7-2) - I really can't see any way the Bulldogs don't make the postseason. Not only do they have a lot of wins, but they have quality wins over teams like Aquinas and Laguna Beach. Can't imagine a scenario where they wouldn't be able to play in the playoffs.

2) Citrus Valley (2-7) - Eliminated from playoff consideration.

Misfired on Upland and Chino Hills last week, among others. And Ayala of course.

Miller at Redlands East Valley
At halftime last week, it looked like we were in for another Miller-REV undefeated clash in the CBL. Then Redlands decided to ruin it by erasing a 20-point deficit to tip the Rebels 28-27. But despite that, this is a very important game in the CBL. The Wildcats lost to Miller 18-15 to give up the CBL title last season and are intent on getting some sort of payback. They will.
Redlands East Valley 34, Miller 17

Rancho Cucamonga at Upland
The rematch of last year's Central Division championship game is basically an elimination game as far as the Baseline League title is concerned. Both have stumbled in recent upsets, with the Cougars falling to Los Osos and Upland losing to Etiwanda and it will be interesting to see which one steps up to the plate. I will go with the defending champs to put a complete game.
Rancho Cucamonga 21, Upland 15

Los Osos at Etiwanda
Gotta do the Baseline double dip this week. While the teams in the above game wonder what might have been, these teams are pointing and laughing at what has become. Etiwanda is the only undefeated team left and can put a hammerlock on things with a win and help, while Los Osos might be the most improved them from game 1 to game 8 in the county. I'll go with the Eagles in a thriller.
Etiwanda 27, Los Osos 23

Colton at San Gorgonio
Normally there might be a letdown for the Yellowjackets after a win like they had against Cajon, as San G is struggling in an injury-filled 2-6 season. But the Spartans upset Colton last year at Colton, leapfrogging the Yellowjackets for second place in league. It's doubtful that Colton has forgotten about that.
Colton 40, San Gorgonio 12

Chino Hills at Ayala
Ah yes, the battle of Chino Hills. There's a lot more at stake than just bragging rights or "The Bone" as both of these teams need to right the ship after upset losses a week ago. The loser of this, especially if its Ayala, will be in trouble, as there's no guarantee than the fourth-place team from the Sierra League will get the Central Division at-large bid. The Huskies seem more battle-tested than Ayala, so that's who I'll go with.
Chino Hills 23, Ayala 13

Silverado at Granite Hills
Silverado is arguably the hottest team in the county without the words "East Valley" in their school name, having won seven in a row to take control of the Desert Sky League. Granite Hills has already had its best year in school history and an upset win here would do wonders for its playoff chances. However, I think Silverado's roll is too much for the Cougars to slow.
Silverado 31, Granite Hills 16

Don Lugo at Colony
The Conquistadores have two legitimate Division I players in George Uko and Steven Bethley. Colony has an entire team of studs it seems. The Titans have been marching over everyone in their path since an opening-week loss to Los Osos and it seems doubtful that Don Lugo can prevent that from happening to them.
Colony 34, Don Lugo 10

Riverside Norte Vista at Summit
This game is basically for second place, as Kaiser as the Sunkist League title basically in its grasp (What else is new) after beating these teams the last two weeks. Of the two games with Kaiser, Summit's was the more competitive. Not sure how much you can read into that, but the SkyHawks seem to have the talent to overcome Norte Vista's physical attack.
Summit 21, Norte Vista 18

Rim of the World at Hesperia
The Fighting Scots have rolled their last two opponents after losing their opener to Serrano and just need to beat the Scorpions to clinch a playoff spot. Despite what has been a tough go of it to date, Hesperia is in control of its playoff destiny even with a loss today. That's good, because a loss is almost certainly going to happen.
Rim of the World 35, Hesperia 10

Twentynine Palms at Big Bear
These two East Valley powers seem to have found themselves after early struggles. The Wildcats have won five in a row since starting 0-4 and would love nothing more than to clinch a league title in Big Bear, which has won its last two and three of four. The Bears spoiled 29's bid for an undisputed league title last year but won't pull the trick twice.
Twentynine Palms 23, Big Bear 16

Other games of note:
Claremont 33, Alta Loma 7
Ontario Christian 28, Arrowhead Christian 17
Aquinas 45, Western Christian 13
Carter 34, Fontana 24
Redlands 38, Rialto 0
Yucaipa 48, Eisenhower 21
Barstow 20, Victor Valley 14
Apple Valley 42, Sultana 14
Chaffey 36, Garey 13
Montclair 38, Ontario 14
Arroyo Valley 45, San Bernardino 23
Cajon 51, Pacific 0
Kaiser 36, Bloomington 6
Glendora 40, Chino 7
Citrus Valley 24, Indio Shadow Hills 15
Oak Hills 48, Murrieta Mesa 6
Serrano 28, Ridgecrest Burroughs 13
Yucca Valley 30, Acton Vasquez 10

Week: 22-6
Overall: 201-55

Heading out to Colton in a bit for a rare Thursday night showdown. Missed Barstow-Silverado, the Los Osos upset of Rancho Cucamonga and Arrowhead Christian last week.

Cajon at Colton
This was the game last year where Cajon overpowered Colton in the second half to grab a blowout victory and wrest the San Andreas League title from the Yellowjackets' grasp. Well, it looks like its time for Colton to do the wresting. Cajon has not been very effective against quality competition and Colton is the best team its faced to date. Like the Yellowjackets to roll right now.
Colton 28, Cajon 6

Kaiser at Summit
Another great Thursday night bash, as SoFo goes to NoFo for a matchup that should be dope, yo. Anthony Brown has been running around crazy for the Cats in recent weeks, scoring eight touchdowns in two Sunkist League games. If he can continue that clip of production against a Summit defense that's pitched consecutive shutouts, Kaiser will roll. He likely won't, but I'll pick Kaiser anyway.
Kaiser 24, Summit 16

Redlands at Miller
The first of three titanic Citrus Belt League showdowns from now until the end of the season, as Redlands has won six in a row and Miller has won four in a row. It will be interesting to see how well the resurgent Miller offense does against the stingy Terrier defense. I personally think that Redlands comes in to Miller and pulls one out.
Redlands 20, Miller 14

Upland at Etiwanda
The classic battle between the explosive offense (Etiwanda) and the suffocating defense (Upland). With Rancho inexplicably slipping up to Los Osos, this game all of a sudden is a battle for first place. While Angel Santiago and company are enjoyable to watch, in a battle like this, I almost always go with defense. Upland will choke 'em out.
Upland 21, Etiwanda 10

Colony at Chaffey
The Tigers took it to Colony last year, going to the southside and defeating the Titans to grab the Mt. Baldy League title. You know that the Titans, who have won six in a row, are looking to settle the score and get this rivalry back in their favor. Chaffey will have some success, but this might be the best Colony team that Anthony Rice has had, which says a lot.
Colony 27, Chaffey 14

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Silverado
Having gone up the 15 and blasted Barstow, Silverado - winners of six straight games - can put a hammerlock on the Desert Sky League with a victory against a Burroughs team that has split heart-wrenching games to Barstow and Granite Hills. The Hawks have some pretty solid pelts and are on a huge roll, a roll I don't expect the Burros to stop.
Silverado 30, Burroughs 20

Glendora at Chino Hills
Finally, the cream of the Sierra League crop is actually going to play each other. After two weeks of pretty bad games, this one should be OK. I'm only going with OK because Glendora isn't quite what it's been the last two years. Chino Hills, on the other hand, is looking pretty strong and should have its way here.
Chino Hills 28, Glendora 16

Apple Valley at Rim of the World
It's been a tough two weeks for the Sun Devils, who have lost close games to Granite Hills and Serrano that very easily could be wins. It doesn't get much easier for Apple Valley, as they head up the hill to face a Rim team that traditionally gives it fits. The Sun Devils don't need to win this to make the playoffs, which is good for them, because I see the Fighting Scots fighting on.
Rim of the World 20, Apple Valley 17

Aquinas at Arrowhead Christian
Sort of a weird vibe coming into this game, as ACA is the team that comes in with a CIF ranking while Aquinas hasn't won on the field since Oct. 2. The Falcons aren't winless during that time, as the two-time defending Christian League champions got a forfeit win over La Verne Lutheran, but they want to show ACA that the road to the Christian title goes through them still. They will.
Aquinas 24, Arrowhead Christian 9

Yucca Valley at Twentynine Palms
The De Anza co-champs have been resurgent of late, as Twentynine Palms has won four straight after starting 0-4 while Yucca Valley has won back-to-back games after an 0-5 start. The winner of The Victory Bell takes control of the league championship race and while I like what Yucca has done, the Wildcats take this at home.
Twentynine Palms 28, Yucca Valley 13

Other games of interest:

Chino 48, Diamond Bar 40
Garey 30, Ontario 10
Los Osos 23, Claremont 20
Rancho Cucamonga 45, Alta Loma 0
Redlands East Valley 48, Carter 14
Yucaipa 35, Fontana 20
Rialto 42, Eisenhower 36
Big Bear 21, Desert Mirage 16
Granite Hills 23, Victor Valley 21
Serrano 27, Hesperia 6
Don Lugo 31, Montclair 10
Arroyo Valley 34, San Gorgonio 27
San Bernardino 38, Pacific 20
Ayala 28, Damien 17
Bloomington 35, Jurupa Valley 7
Barstow 28, Sultana 12
Murrieta Mesa 24, Citrus Valley 18
Laguna Beach 30, Oak Hills 24

Week: 26-3
Overall: 179-49

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

Much better this week, as I only missed four games. Maybe there's hope for me yet. Who knows.

Redlands East Valley at Yucaipa
Ike actually hung with REV for a half, going into intermission down 21-20. REV did end up winning 69-26, but maybe that performance gives an explosive Yucaipa team some hope. Then again, Yucaipa had to scratch and claw to beat Rialto, so maybe not. Yucaipa will score a bit, but REV will score a lot.
Redlands East Valley 48, Yucaipa 21

Fontana at Redlands
The Steelers were given a bit of a reality check last week, as Miller exposed a lack of Fohi team speed in its 41-16 win. Redlands doesn't have many sprinters playing football, so that should work in Fohi's advantage a bit. But not enough, as the Terriers have steadily improved with each passing game.
Redlands 28, Fontana 6

Colton at Kaiser
You'll need a hard hat to watch this game, as both of these teams will come at you and pop you in the mouth. This is Colton's first road game of the year and Kaiser is looking for its first home win, as the Cats are 0-2 at home and 2-0 on the road. I have been pretty wrong on Kaiser games the last two weeks, so take this prediction with a grain of salt.
Colton 21, Kaiser 16

Silverado at Arroyo Valley
This should be a fun game with two of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the area, as Jemeryn Jenkins leads Silverado against a 4-0 Arroyo Valley team led by junior Michael Yearwood. I was going to call Arroyo Valley the Hawks, but Silverado is the Hawks too. I'll go with the home Hawks in what should be a dandy.
Arroyo Valley 30, Silverado 27

Granite Hills at Rim of the World
This matchup of unbeatens provides by far the stiffest test for the Cougars, who have only given up 12 points this season, as Rim - ranked No. 3 in the Eastern Division - has the county's leading rusher and scorer in junior RB Dillon Pretzinger. The Scots also have two straight shutouts. The defense won't get a third, but it'll do enough.
Rim of the World 31, Granite Hills 16

Rancho Cucamonga at Temecula Valley
The Cougars got a week off to get refreshed for their matchup against the Bears, who lost a scorefest with Etiwanda a couple weeks ago. The Rancho passing offense, led by QB Greg Watson and TE Randal Telfer, should go off for some big yards.
Rancho Cucamonga 42, Temecula Valley 23

Etiwanda at Covina Charter Oak
Charter Oak has probably had its fill of Inland Valley teams at this point, losing to Rancho Cucamonga two weeks ago and struggling with Damien last week. Now in comes Etiwanda's explosive offense with QB Angel Santiago and WR Bobby Ratliff. The Eagles will test Charter Oak, but I'll take the Chargers at the end
Charter Oak 36, Etiwanda 31

Aquinas at Twentynine Palms
The Falcons will be foaming at the mouth to play Twentynine Palms, as the Wildcats were the source of both Aquinas losses a year ago, including a 40-0 loss in the East Valley semifinals. Twentynine Palms has struggled a bit with a tough nonleague schedule, but got a win last week. I expect this game to be close, with Aquinas getting a modicum of revenge.
Aquinas 24, Twentynine Palms 19

San Gorgonio at Apple Valley
Interesting game here. The Spartans have lost three in a row, but their last trip to the High Desert was their one win - a 21-6 victory over Hesperia. Apple Valley is coming off its best performance of the season, throwing up 67 points to San Bernardino. This game is basically a coin flip to me, so I'll go with the home team.
Apple Valley 27, San Gorgonio 25

Riverside Patriot at Victor Valley
One of the best stories in the High Desert this season has been the resurgence of the Jackrabbits, who have won The Bell and ascended to a No. 8 ranking in the Eastern Division thanks to a 4-0 record. However, Patriot may be their toughest test to date. I expect the Jackrabbits to pull this one out late.
Victor Valley 24, Patriot 22

Other games of interest:
Carter 45, Eisenhower 32
Miller 38, Rialto 14
Summit 38, Sultana 9
Barstow 51, San Bernardino 22
Menifee Paloma Valley 24, Bloomington 17
Claremont 43, Chino 14
Citrus Valley 17, Lucerne Valley 16
Los Osos 23, Valencia West Ranch 20
Riverside Norte Vista 37, Montclair 17
Oak Hills 23, Pacific 17
Arrowhead Christian 24, Palm Desert Xavier Prep 13
Ridgecrest Burroughs 27, Hesperia 23
St. Margaret's 48, Western Christian 15
Cerritos Valley Christian 30, Ontario Christian 26

This week: 23-4
Overall: 109-39

While Barstow got a lot of hype for making it to the CIF-SS Eastern final, Twentynine Palms was doing the exact same thing in the East Valley Division. The Wildcats marched to the CIF finals for the first time in a generation, finally falling to Small School state champion San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's in the championship game.

Twentynine Palms surged to the final thanks to a loaded roster featuring seven all-CIF players, most notably wide receiver Montreal Harris, running back Jared Demoss and defensive tackle Rusty Tausaga. As the Wildcats try to finish the job, the number of those all-CIF players is reduced to do.

Got some changes in the San Bernardino roster for Saturday's game. If history is any precedence, these won't be the last.

Los Osos QB Richard Brehaut, a UCLA commit who played with Upland QB Josh Nunes (Stanford) in Sunday's Under Armour All-Star Game in Orlando, is out and will by replaced by Hesperia's Ian Harriman. Harriman has efficiently led Hesperia to 20 wins and a Mojave River League championship during the last two years.

Arroyo Valley offensive lineman Michael Philipp, who played Saturday in the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio, also dropped out. Philipp, a four-star recruit and the best guard in the nation according to Rivals.com, is considering schools such as Oregon, Cal, Stanford, UCLA and Oregon State. He'll be replaced by Colony's Joshua Andrews, a first-team all-County and all-Inland Valley selection. Andrews has verbally committed to Oregon State.

A couple of Upland guys dropped out as well, as cornerback Osahon Irabor, an Arizona State commit, and cornerback Taj Johnson, another D-I caliber recruit, are out. They'll be replaced by Miller's Trayvon Ralph - a first-team all-County and all-Inland Valley selection - and Eisenhower receiver Taijuan Martin.

Other players on the original roster that won't play are Twentynine Palms wide receiver Montreal Harris, Etiwanda wide receiver Willie Mebane and Chino kicker Jared Taylor. Replacing them are Los Osos RB Arby Fields, a Northwestern commit, Aquinas fullback J.P. Ragan and Los Osos kicker Josh Repp.

Only a few hours before title games start, so here I go. I did OK last week, just missing Barstow-Silverado.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Upland at Rancho Cucamonga
Just to relieve Upland fans, Josh Nunes is starting at QB. There was a snafu in this morning's Daily Bulletin that ran the Cajon starting lineups instead of the Upland ones. For whatever reason, the correct Upland lineups were run in the Sun. Anyway, I could brag that I predicted this matchup, but the real bragging should go to the teams - Upland for shrugging off the Los Osos monkey and Rancho for continuing its undefeated march. I picked Rancho to win it all and I'm not turning back now.
Rancho Cucamonga 27, Upland 17

EASTERN DIVISION
Perris Citrus Hill at Barstow
Definitely an odd matchup. At one spectrum you have the Hawks, a No. 1 seed that killed everyone in its path before toughing out an 18-15 win over Serrano last week. Barstow, meanwhile, has bucked the odds all year to get to its first CIF title since 2000. Can the double-wing Aztecs pull the shocker? It should be fun in Barstow, but I got Citrus Hill in this one.
Citrus Hill 38, Barstow 26

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
Twentynine Palms at San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's
I should save internet space and not write San Juan Capistrano again, but I did. In talking to their coach, Harry Welch, a few nights back, he was raving about the raw ability and size of the Wildcats, which he should. Twentynine Palms has some serious ballers. But I'm going to stick with the undefeated team here, even if its playing possum a bit.
St. Margaret's 31, Twentynine Palms 23

INLAND DIVISION
Temecula Chaparral vs. Corona Centennial
The Pumas were blasted by Centennial in the semis last year. They were also blasted by Norco in the title game two years ago. Chaparral got revenge on the Cougars last week and are looking to do the same against Centennial this week. But they won't. Centennial rolls to another title.
Centennial 38, Chaparral 10

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Covina Charter Oak at Diamond Ranch
I met Diamond Ranch coach Roddy Layton for the first time Monday. I was expecting him to look like what the Scots expected William Wallace to look like - seven feet tall with an ability to fire lightning bolts from any place on his body. He wasn't quite that, but him and the Panthers deserve a lot of credit for getting to this point after a 1-6 start. That start involved a loss to Charter Oak, which will have Diamond Ranch's number again.
Charter Oak 24, Diamond Ranch 13.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mountains, deserts, a lake here and there. The De Anza League has it all, including a playoff breakdown now.

1. Twentynine Palms (7-3, 3-1): The Wildcats have already clinched a playoff spot. Would grab the No. 1 spot in the league with a Big Bear loss and holds the tiebreaker over Yucca Valley by virtue of a win over the Trojans a couple weeks ago. Should Big Bear and Yucca Valley win, a three-way flip to determine the seeding for all three spots would take place.

2. Yucca Valley (5-4, 2-1): Would clinch with a win over Desert Mirage and get the No. 2 seed with a win and a Big Bear loss. A win and a Big Bear win would cause a three-way tie at the top, therefore a coin flip would determine seeding. A loss and a Big Bear win would knock the Trojans down to fourth, where they'd have to sweat out an at-large bid. A loss and a Big Bear loss would cause a three-way flip between Yucca, Big Bear and Desert Mirage for two spots.

3. Big Bear (6-2-1, 2-1): The Bears would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Desert Hot Springs or a Desert Mirage loss. They would grab the No. 1 seed in the league with a win and a Yucca Valley loss by virtue of a victory over Twentynine Palms last week. A win and a Yucca Valley win would cause a three-way flip for seeding. A loss and a Desert Mirage win would cause a three-way flip for the final two spots behind Twentynine Palms, though Big Bear would be a cinch at-large pick if available.

4. Desert Mirage (4-5, 1-2): Desert Mirage would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Yucca Valley and a Big Bear win by virtue of its win over the Trojans. A win and a Big Bear loss would cause a three-way flip for two spots, with Desert Mirage having to sweat out an at-large bid should it come short on the flips. A loss spells elimination in any and all situations more than likely.

5. Desert Hot Springs (3-6, 0-3): Eliminated from playoff consideration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall record: 164-38-4