DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

Greg Watson, quarterback of the reigning CIF champions, has picked up his first scholarship offer, according to Rancho Cucamonga High School coach Nick Baiz.

Oregon offered the junior on the condition that he play defensive back, something Watson apparently isn't averse to.

"He'll play anything, anytime, anywhere," Baiz said. "He just wants to play."

Watson, who is generously listed at 6-feet, is extremely athletic but seemingly possesses all the skills to play quarterback in college. The only drawback seems to be his height.

It will be interesting to see how the junior's outlook on what position he'll play in college evolves as more offers inevitably come rolling in.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Brandon Sermons woke up Wednesday morning knowing he would sign a national letter of intent, he just didn't know with whom.

The Diamond Ranch High School senior, ranked the 33rd best cornerback in the country by rivals.com, verbally committed to UCLA way back on Oct 21. But in the three weeks before signing day was wavering enough to visit hard-charging Oregon State and Washington.

These weren't just courtesy trips.

"Three days ago he was leaning Washington," Diamond Ranch football coach Roddy Layton said Wednesday afternoon. "Two days ago he was leaning UCLA. Yesterday he didn't know."

Sermons and Layton had a four-hour dinner Tuesday night, during which Sermons was leaning in so many different directions it's a good thing he was sitting down.

Continue reading "Signing daze: Sermons decides on UCLA" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is a list of all the football recruits from the Inland Valley who signed national letters of intent on Wednesday...

Josh Andrews, OL, Colony - Oregon State
Richard Brehaut, QB, Los Osos - UCLA
Quayshawn Buckley, DL, Colony - Washington State
Arby Fields, RB, Los Osos - Northwestern
Davion Fleming, RB, Upland - Northwestern
Obum Gwacham, WR, Ayala - Oregon State
Osahon Irabor, CB, Upland - Arizona State
Alex Jefferies, WR, Eisenhower - Fresno State
Taj Johnson, DB, Upland - SUNY Stony Brook (I-AA)
Jared Koster, LB, Norco - UCLA
Kyle Lengyel, LB, Diamond Ranch - Air Force
Colin Lockett, DB, Diamond Bar - San Diego State
Vincent Minor, RB, Etiwanda - New Mexico
Immanuel Mitchell, CB, Roosevelt - Colorado State
Ibe Nduka, DE, Etiwanda - Fresno State
Josh Nunes, QB, Upland - Stanford
David Quiroga, DB, Ayala - New Mexico State
Kyle Salm, OL, San Dimas - Idaho
Brandon Sermons, DB, Diamond Ranch - UCLA
Irshad Stolden, WR, Rancho Cucamonga - UNLV
Titus Teague, CB, Pomona - Louisville
Bryan Townsend, OL, Rancho Cucamonga - Air Force
Graham Vickers, OL, Diamond Ranch - Navy
Xavier Molina-Williams, DL, Diamond Ranch - Colgate (I-AA)

Posted by Clay Fowler at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After visiting the school over the weekend, Ayala High School wide receiver Obum Gwacham was offered a scholarship to Oregon State on Tuesday and immediately committed to the Beavers.

Gwacham had just 13 receptions for 262 yards and two touchdowns this season, but Oregon State was undoubtedly attracted to the freakish athletic ability of the 6-foot-6, 205-pound senior. Gwacham, the son of Nigerian parents who moved to the states when he was 7-years old, was the state's fifth-best high jumper last year, topping out at 6-foot-10 in his second consecutive trip to the state meet.

Gwacham also had offers from Idaho State, Sacramento State and Montana State. Prior to this season USC and Oregon coaches, among others, visited Ayala to express interest in Gwacham but communication dwindled during the season with not only those two schools, but Boise State and UNLV too.

Continue reading "13 catches land Ayala WR Oregon State offer" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Etiwanda High School defensive end Ibe Nduka was offered a scholarship by Fresno State on Monday and accepted on the spot, according to Etiwanda coach Steve Bryce.

Nduka's teammate, running back Vince Minor, committed to the University of New Mexico on Thursday, a week after he received the scholarship offer

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Nduka took a trip to San Diego State last weekend but was not offered by the Aztecs. The first-team All-Inland Valley selection was scheduled to visit Fresno State this coming weekend. Nduka collected 12.5 sacks and 102 tackles this season on his way to earning Baseline League co-MVP honors.

Minor, who had 1,473 combined rushing and receiving yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior, had an offer from San Diego State before Aztecs' coach Chuck Long was fired in late November. Toby Neinas, the same assistant coach that rectuited Minor at SDSU, was hired at New Mexico.

"(Minor) was worried because San Diego State was his only offer," Bryce said. "But he had such a great rapport with his the coach, Nienas."

Minor, who will play running back at New Mecixo, was an all-Baseline League cornerback as a junior before the coaching staff restricted his playing time on defense as a senior.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ayala WR/DB David Quiroga verbally committed to New Mexico State during his visit to the school this weekend, according to his father John.

On Jan. 5, Quiroga committed to new head coach DeWayne Walker pending his visit to Las Cruces, N.M. Apparently the 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior liked what he saw.

Walker, the former UCLA defensive coordinator hired by the Aggies on Dec. 31, is pushing for Quiroga to play on the defensive side of the ball, according to John Quiroga, despite David catching 72 passes for 1,096 yards and 10 TDs his junior season. With quarterback Matt Baca gone to Northern Colorado this season, Quiroga's totals dwindled to 36 receptions for 470 yards and five TDs but his position with the Aggies is yet to be determined. Quiroga was also the Bulldogs second leading rusher this season with 667 yards and nine TDs.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It wasn't planned - a slate of this magnitude is practically something you can't make up - but the Etiwanda boys basketball team's nonleague schedule ended up reading something like a state tournament bracket.

Weschester, Compton Dominguez, Taft - these are the No. 2, No. 5 and No. 7 teams in the STATE, according to Calhisports.com. Etiwanda (No. 8 in Calhisports state rankings) has faced all of them.

The three teams represent each of the Eagles' three losses through 15 games this seaon. But the three losses came by a combined total of nine points.

"Westchester, well they just beat us," Etiwanda coach Dave Kleckner said before the Eagles' 41-point blowout of Rancho Cucamonga Thursday night. "But the other two, we were right in those games, just couldn't finish them."

Continue reading "Etiwanda hanging with the biggest of boys" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The CIF-SS Central Division champion Rancho Cucamonga football team is looking for a sponsor for it's Feb. 27 banquet.

Interested parties please e-mail Sherry Berwick at Sherry1271@aol.com

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ayala High School WR/DB David Quiroga has not officially issued a verbal commitment to New Mexico State, as reported by rivals.com.

During a phone conversation on Monday, Quiroga committed to New Mexico State's new head coach, former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, pending his visit to Las Cruces, N.M., according to John Quiroga, David's father. His visit is tentativily scheduled for Jan. 16.

Walker, who was hired away from UCLA on Dec. 31, is undeceided on what side of the ball the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Quiroga will play, if he attends New Mexico State.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sorry for the delay...

Offensive MVP - Ronald Douglas, RB, Jr., Chaffey
Offensive MVP - Herman Huezo, QB, Sr., Ontario
Defensive MVP - Deveion Bauman, S, Sr., Chaffey

Continue reading "All-Mt. Baldy League football team" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 6:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Football season isn't over yet for a couple of area quarterbacks.

Los Osos High School's Richard Brehaut and Upland's Josh Nunes will play in the Under Armour All-America Game Sunday night in Orlando, Fla. The all-star game featuring some of the top high school juniors and seniors in the country will air on ESPN at 5 p.m.

Here is a link to the player profiles.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Baseline League cleaned house at the All-CIF football meeting Wednesday, claiming 19 of the 40 first-team selections.

To nobody's surpirse, Rancho Cucamonga's nine were the most from any single team. The Central Division champion Cougars also produced both the offensive and defensive MVPs.

Offensive MVP: Greg Watson, Jr., QB
Defensive MVP: Daniel Fonua, Sr., LB

Continue reading "All-CIF Central Division football teams released" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Last week
Clay: 8-7
Lingo: 8-7
Overton: 6-9

Season standings
Clay: 115-96-6
Lingo: 107-105-6
Overton: 93-118-6

Continue reading "NFL picks: Week 16 " »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A year after he ended his 10-season tenure at Hacienda Heights Los Altos High School, Greg Gano was hired as the Damien High School head football coach on Tuesday.
The replacement for Scott Morrison, who compiled a 32-33-1 record at Damien, won four CIF-SS championships in 10 years at Los Altos. Morrison, who won two Sierra League titles in six years, was fired after a 3-7 season this year.

The last time he accepted a head coaching job, Gano replaced Dwayne DeSpain, who won seven CIF titles at Los Altos.

"When I took over for Dwayne they said `You're nuts,"' Gano said. "If I can follow a legend, the coach of the century, there's not much more pressure than that.

"I know what we have to do here and we've got a solid foundation."

Continue reading "Damien hires Gano as football coach" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Last week
Clay: 8-7
Overton: 7-8
Lingo: 4-12

Season standings
Clay: 107-89-6
Lingo: 99-98-6
Overton: 87-109-6

Continue reading "NFL picks: Week 15" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)