DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

Last week
Lingo: 9-6-1
Clay: 7-8-1
Overton: 4-11-1

Overall standings
Clay: 25-20-2
Lingo: 25-20-2
Overton: 18-27-2

WEEK 4 PICKS

Denver (-9.5) At Kansas City
Denver: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Cincinnati (-3.5) Cleveland
Cincinnati: Clay. Cleveland: Lingo, Overton.

At Jacksonville (-7) Houston
Jacksonville: Overton. Houston: Clay, Lingo.

At N.Y. Jets (-1.5) Arizona
Arizona: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At New Orleans (-5) San Francisco
New Orleans: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Carolina (-7) Atlanta
Carolina: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Tennessee (-3) Minnesota
Minnesota: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Tampa Bay (-1) Green Bay
Green Bay: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

Buffalo (-8) At St. Louis
Buffalo: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

San Diego (-7.5) At Oakland
San Diego: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Dallas (-11) Washington
Dallas: Lingo, Overton. Washington: Clay.

Philadelphia (-3) At Chicago
Philadelphia: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Pittsburgh (-5.5) Baltimore
Pittsburgh: Lingo, Overton. Baltimore: Clay.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nobody is surprised the Upland High School football team's offense has averaged 38 points per game during its 3-0 start. The coach of their last vistim, Serrano's Ray Maholchic joked that he might want to get some autographs before the game.

But four players in their huddle with a collective total of 40-plus Division-I scholarship offers isn't going to win the Highlanders a Baseline League title, let alone a CIF championship.

Not my words, Upland head coach Tim Salter's.

Prior to his 14th season at the helm, Salter readily acknowledged his truckload of offensive talent headlined by Tennessee-bound QB Josh Nunes, but he didn't want to dwell on it. He patiently waited for me to finish drooling over hsi future SEC and Pac-10 players before firmly stating that the team with the best defense traditionally wins the Baseline League.

While not as dazzling as the offense, Upland's defense has made its case (it doesn't hurt that Nunes is the lone D-I recruit who doesn't play both ways).

Upland held two-time defending CIF-SS Central Division champion Colony to 7 points Week 0. The Highlanders then gave up 21 to Glendora Week 1. That may not sound impressive but lets take a closer look. Three plays alone were responsible for 154 yards and all 21 points.

• A blown coverage on an 80-yard touchdown pass that split the Upland safties in the first quarter.


• Numerous missed tackles on a routine sweep to the short side of the field for a 29-yard TD run in the second quarter.


• A missed tackle combined with a safety blitzing through the wrong gap on a 45-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

In its 37-21 win over Serrano last week, the Upland defense allowed all of a 3-yard drive after a 40-yard interception return and gave up one TD drive in garbage time with a 37-15 lead. That leaves one legitimate scoring drive for a Serrano team that went 11-1 last year and scored 35 points in each of its first two games.

Although it has faced three defending league champs thus far, the Upland defense hasn't seen a top-notch passer yet. But, two of those D-I recruits - Osahon Irabor (16 scholarship offers, committed to Arizona State) and Taj Johnson (offer from Minnesota) play in the secondary and a third - RB/LB Davion Fleming (offer from Northwestern) - projects as a college safety.

Oct. 24 will signify the end to that when UCLA-bound QB Richard Brehaut and league rival Los Osos host Upland in a televised game.

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

DeSean Jackson won't let lines confine him. Lines like, for example, the goalline.
Overton was on the proverbial 1-yard line of our heated picking competition when he dropped the ball last week, losing his last four games to drop to .500. Only, he didn't have Brian Westbrook to bail him out.

Last week
Clay: 8-6-1
Lingo: 8-6-1
Overton: 7-7-1

Overall standings
Clay: 18-12-1
Lingo: 16-14-1
Overton: 14-16-1

WEEK 3 PICKS

At Atlanta (-6) Kansas City
Atlanta: Clay, Overton. Kansas City: Lingo.

At Buffalo (-9.5) Oakland
Buffalo: Clay, Overton. Oakland: Lingo.

At Tennessee (-5) Houston
Tennessee: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At N.Y. Giants (-13.5) Cincinnati
N.Y. Giants: Overton. Cincinnati: Clay, Lingo.

At Washington (-3) Arizona
Washington: Overton, Lingo. Arizona: Clay.

At New England (-12.5) Miami
New England: Overton. Miami: Clay, Lingo.

At Chicago (-3) Tampa Bay
Chicago: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Minnesota (-3.5) Carolina
Carolina: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Seattle (-9.5) St. Louis
Seattle: Lingo. St. Louis: Clay, Overton.

At San Francisco (-4) Detroit
San Francisco: Lingo. Detroit: Clay, Overton.

At Denver (-5.5) New Orleans
Denver: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Philadelphia (-3.5) Pittsburgh
Philadelphia: Clay. Pittsburgh: Overton, Lingo.

At Indianapolis (-5.5) Jacksonville
Indianapolis: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Baltimore (-2) Cleveland
Cleveland: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

Dallas (-3) At Green Bay
Dallas: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

MONDAY NIGHT
At San Diego (-9) N.Y. Jets
San Diego: Clay, Lingo. N.Y. Jets: Overton.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you thought the CIF-SS Central Division high school football rankings shaped up last week, take a gander at the action this week.

Four more Daily Bulletin area teams moved into the top 10, leaving just two non-area teams in the rankings.

• Upland maintained the top spot.
• Los Osos, 7th in the preseason poll, jumped four spots last week and another this week to No. 2.
• Rancho Cucamonga leaped from unranked to fourth.
• Etiwanda, Alta Loma and Chino Hills, all unranked last week, are now Nos. 7, 8 and 9.
• Only Hemet West Valley, which moved from fifth to third with a 42-10 win over Arroyo Valley, and No. 5 Colton, which dropped from No. 2 after a 15-14 loss to Vista Murrieta, are teams outside the Bulletin coverage area in the top 10.

The CIF-SS Central Division Week 2 rankings:

1. Upland (Baseline) 2-0, def. Glendora, 35-21
2. Los Osos (Baseline) 2-0, def. Cajon, 20-7
3. West Valley (Sunbelt) 2-0, def. Arroyo Valley, 42-10
4. Rancho Cucamonga (Baseline) 2-0, def. C. Springs, 30-0
5. Colton (San Andreas) 0-1, lost to Vista Murrieta, 14-15
6. Ayala (Sierra) 1-1, lost to South Hills, 12-23
7. Etiwanda (Baseline) 1-0, def. Temecula Valley, 38-21
8. Alta Loma (Baseline) 2-0, def. Carter, 20-15
9. Chino Hills (Sierra) 1-0 def. Chaffey, 32-14
10. Chaffey (Mt. Baldy) 0-1, lost to Chino Hills, 14-32

MY TOP 10: (record) previous rank

1. Upland (2-0) 1
2. Los Osos (2-0) 2
3. Norco (1-0) 3
4. Miller (2-0) 4
5. Etiwanda (1-0) 6
6. San Dimas (2-0) 8
7. Diamond Ranch (1-1) 9
8. Ayala (1-1) 5
9. Rancho Cucamonga (2-0) NR
10. Chino Hills (1-0) NR
Dropped out: No. 7 Colony (0-2), No. 10 Chaffey (0-1).

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former Colony High School basketball player Tyler Lamb has officially transferred to Santa Ana Mater Dei.

There has been speculation for weeks that the 6-foot-5 junior, who committed to UCLA on Aug. 25, would transfer to the Orange County basketball powerhouuse, but Lamb wouldn't confirm it until he began school this week.

With all that is being written about the transfer, much of it untrue, according to Lamb, the family is guarded about the details of the decision.

Lamb said one of his new teachers told him he read that Mater Dei bought Lamb an apartment in Orange County, something Lamb said couldn't be further from the truth.

"It's a decision he, his mom and I made and there's no two ways about it," Lamb's father Terry said. "People can speculate all they want but we're moving on with it."

Lamb, who averaged who averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, 4.8 assists and 5.3 steals per game as a Colony sophomore, will join the defending state champs, who have a 287-29 record since 2000. The decision to attend Mater Dei, according to Terry Lamb, was primarliy for academic reasons.

"Tyler is going to be a good basketball player no matter where he goes," Terry Lamb said. "This was about preparing him academically. Basketball had very little to do with it. Nothing against the program at Colony. We actually liked (Colony) coach (Jerry) DeFabiis very much. But Tyler did most of his basketball development outside of school anyway."

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

Lingo tore his ACL in Week 1 but you don't see him rushing to the nearest operating table (cough, Tom Brady) he's going to suck it up and play the rest of the year. Actually, he just figuratively tore his ACL by starting 3-7, but his comeback is already underway. He passed Overton by getting both Monday night picks last week to finish .500. I escaped Week 1 with no ligament damage (and a 2-game lead).

Last week
Clay: 10-6
Lingo: 8-8
Overton: 7-9

WEEK 2 PICKS:

At Kansas City (-3.5) Oakland
Kansas City: Clay, Overton, Lingo.

At Cincinnati (-1) Tennessee
Cincinnati: Overton. Tennessee: Clay, Lingo.

Indianapolis (-2) at Minnesota
Indianapolis: Overton. Minnesota: Clay, Lingo.

At Washington (PK) New Orleans
Washington: Overton. New Orleans: Clay, Lingo.

Green Bay (-3) at Detroit
Green Bay: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Carolina (-3) Chicago
Carolina: Clay, Lingo. Chicago: Overton.

N.Y. Giants (-8.5) at St. Louis
N.Y. Giants: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Jacksonville (-5.5) Buffalo
Jacksonville: Clay. Buffalo: Lingo, Overton.

At Tampa Bay (-7) Atlanta
Tampa Bay: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At Seattle (-7) San Francisco
Seattle: Lingo, Overton. San Francisco: Clay

At Arizona (-6.5) Miami
Arizona: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At N.Y. Jets (-1.5) New England
N.Y. Jets: Lingo, Overton. New England: Clay

San Diego (-1.5) at Denver
San Diego: Overton. Denver: Clay, Lingo.

Pittsburgh (-6) at Cleveland
Pittsburgh: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Dallas (-7) Philadelphia
Dallas: Clay, Overton. Philadelphia: Lingo.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Ganesha High School football team halted its California prep football-record losing streak at 49 tonight.

Ganesha alum, and current Diamond Ranch head coach, Roddy Layton left me a message late Thursday night informing me that the Giants had toppled Covina Gladstone. I haven't been able to track down a score yet.

It took first-year head coach David Fleming just two games to end a losing streak that began after Ganesha won its 2003 season opener (the Giants did win two games via forfeit during that stretch).

I was present during Ganesha's 40-13 season-opening loss last Thursday (during which the Giants showed some promise, trailing just 21-13 at the half) but, of course, was not around to see what was undoubtedly a raucous celebration tonight. Congrats on the victory Ganesha.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Speculation about whether UCLA-committed guard Tyler Lamb will attend Mater Dei hasn't been confirmed yet, but this much is clear: he isn't returning to Colony High School.

"We're three weeks into school," Colony basketball coach Jerry DeFabiis said Tuesday. "He's not coming back here. He didn't play with us all summer."

I spoke with Lamb again Tuesday, but the 6-foot-5 junior said he couldn't confirm where he was going until he started school, something he was planning to do Monday.

"I'm going through some admissions stuff right now so I can't start classes yet," Lamb said. "But as soon as I start, I'll give you a call and let you know."

Lamb, who averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, 4.8 assists and 5.3 steals per game as a sophomore, leaves behind a program that has been to a CIF-SS championship game three of the last four years, including last season.

Mater Dei's program, however, is second to none. They are, after all, the defending state champs.

Lamb verbally committed to UCLA Aug. 25, soon after the Bruins offered him a scholarship. He has five other offers: USC, Arizona, Utah, UCSB and San Diego.

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

Several area high school football teams questionably ranked (or not ranked at all) in the pre-season CIF-SS Central Division took fairly drastic turns in the right direction after Week 0.

• Upland moved from 3rd to the top spot thanks to a 42-7 win over then No. 2 Colony.
• Los Osos jumped from 7th to 3rd after a 24-20 win over Bishop Amat.
• Ayala went from unranked to 6th after a 33-12 win over Duarte that was called after three quarters due to rolling blackouts.

Here is the entire poll:
1. Upland (Baseline) 1-0, def. Colony, 42-7
2. Colton (San Andreas) 0-0, Idle
3. Los Osos (Baseline) 1-0, def. Bishop Amat, 24-20
4. Chaffey (Mt. Baldy) 0-0, Idle
5. West Valley (Sunbelt) 1-0, def. Firebaugh, 57-8
6. Ayala (Sierra) 1-0, def. Duarte, 33-12
7. Paloma Valley (Sunbelt) 0-0, Idle
8. Colony (Mt. Baldy) 0-1, lost to Upland, 7-42
9. Arroyo Valley (San Andreas) 1-0, def. Pasadena, 30-19
10. Cajon (San Andreas) 1-0, def. El Toro, 26-13

Others Receiving Votes: Rancho Cucamonga (Baseline), 1-0; Claremont (Baseline), 1-0; Alta Loma (Baseline), 1-0; Glendora (Sierra), 0-0; Hemet (Sunbelt), 0-0; Etiwanda (Baseline), 0-0; Chino Hills (Sierra), 0-0; Damien (Sierra), 0-1.

Here is the Daily Bulletin top 10 after Week 0 (last week's rank in parenthesis).
1. Upland (2) 1-0
2. Los Osos (1) 1-0
3. Norco (4) 0-0
4. Miller (5) 1-0
5. Ayala (6) 1-0
6. Etiwanda (8) 0-0
7. Colony (3) 0-1
8. San Dimas (9) 1-0
9. Diamond Ranch (7) 0-1
10. Chaffey (10) 0-0

Posted by Clay Fowler at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As promised, along with NFL experts Lingo and Overton (whose day jobs are not important to their football credibility), we delivered a dramatic season of NFL picking last year. Trailing Overton by 5 games entering the playoffs, Lingo took the Giants (+12!) in the Super Bowl, giving him the season title, a victory that made the Giants' pale in comparison.

How can we top that this year? Maybe I can actually make it a three-man race. Without further ado... the picks.

Here are this week's picks:
THURSDAY
At N.Y. Giants (-4.5) Redskins
Redskins: Clay, Lingo. Giants: Overton.

SUNDAY
Cincinnati (-1.5) At Baltimore
Cincinnati: Overton. Baltimore: Clay, Lingo.

N.Y. Jets (-3) At Miami
N.Y. Jets: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At New England (-16) Kansas City
New England: Clay, Lingo. Kansas City: Overton.

At Pittsburgh (-6.5) Houston
Pittsburgh: Clay, Overton. Houston: Lingo.

Jacksonville (-3) At Tennessee
Jacksonville: Lingo, Overton. Tennessee: Clay.

Detroit (-3) At Atlanta
Detroit: Lingo, Overton. Atlanta: Clay.

At Buffalo (-1) Seattle
Seattle: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At New Orleans (-3.5) Tampa Bay
New Orleans: Clay, Lingo. Tampa Bay: Overton.

At Philadelphia (-7.5) St. Louis
Philadelphia: Clay, Overton. St. Louis: Lingo.

Dallas (-5.5) At Cleveland
Dallas: Clay, Lingo, Overton.

At San Diego (-9) Carolina
San Diego: Clay, Overton. Carolina: Lingo.

Arizona (-2.5) At San Francisco
Arizona: Clay, Overton. San Francisco: Lingo.

At Indianapolis (-9.5) Chicago
Indianapolis: Overton. Chicago: Clay, Lingo.

MONDAY
At Green Bay (-3) Minnesota
Green Bay: Lingo. Minnesota: Clay, Overton.

Denver (-3) At Oakland
Denver: Lingo. Oakland: Clay, Overton.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colony High School guard Tyler Lamb, who verbally committed to UCLA Aug. 25, may be transferring to defending state champion Santa Ana Mater Dei. The 6-foot-5 junior said a decision has been made but he couldn't confirm rumors he'd joining the Orange County basketball powerhouse. His destination will be revealed soon enough

"Wherever I go to school on Monday, that's where I'm going to play this year,"
Lamb said Thursday. "But I can't talk about it yet."

My feeling after talking to him is that Lamb won't be at Colony next year. He indicated that discussion of transferring has been prevalent in the Lamb household for some time.

"My dad always wanted me to go to a big basketball school," he said.

Lamb, who averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 5.3 steals per game as a sophomore in leading Colony to a CIF-SS title game, has six scholarship offers: UCLA, USC, Arizona, Utah, UCSB and San Diego.

He and Los Osos junior Kendall Williams are the only two members of UCLA's 2010 recruiting class.

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

The day Upland High School cornerback Osahon Irabor was set to announce which of the 14 scholarship offers he would accept, UCLA, of whom he's been a fan since childhood, swooped in with an offer.

Startled by the late offer, Irabor took a few days to mull it over but ultimately went with his original plan and committed to Arizona State on July 11. Apparently the verbal pledge to ASU hasn't deterred UCLA.

"(Head) coach (Rick) Neuheisel and coach (defensive coordinator Dewayne) Walker, they haven't given up," Irabor said. "They keep calling me but I'm pretty solid with Arizona State."

Posted by Clay Fowler at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you peruse these rankings, keep in mind that my preseason No. 1 last year - a team that shall remain nameless (ahem, Chino Hills) - missed the playoffs. Without further ado, here are the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin's preseason top 10...

1. Los Osos
Had Upland won this game last year, it would probably be No. 1. UCLA-committed QB Richard Brehaut is the absolute real deal and will have a MONSTER year if a young O-line can protect him. He and Arby Fields are the best backfield in the area.
2. Upland
We'll settle this No.1-No.2 debate on Oct. 24. Tennessee probably wishes it already had Upland QB Josh Nunes on its roster (maybe he and Brehaut will face off again next year, only in Knoxville, Tenn., instead of Rancho Cucamonga).
3. Colony
Twice is a trend. The two-time defending CIF champs have built a program. This year, however, that have to contend with the Baseline and Sierra Leagues in the playoffs. Coach Anthony Rice: "If we have it easy, now they have it easy too."
4. Norco
Speaking of programs, last season was the first time in four years the Cougars didn't make an appearance in the CIF championship. They'll improve on last year's "disappointing" season even though their regular-season record may not reflect it.
5. Miller
The Rebels will miss dynamic quarterback A.J. Springer but they've got plenty of weapons in their spread offense, including Fontana transfer David Dash.
6. Ayala
The team that finished second in the Sierra League by a touchdown returns 14 starters. Their only question seems to be at QB. The 0-10 days are a distant memory.
7. Diamond Ranch
The Panthers have the motivation: they had to forfeit five wins last season after discovering an error in the paperwork of a transfer. Their defense will be awesome.
8. Etiwanda
The defending co-Baseline League champs return 17 starters. This will be junior QB Angel Santiago's breakout year. They'll give Upland and Los Osos all they can handle.
9. San Dimas
Nico Barbone will run for 2,000 yards if he's not on the bench too much during garbage time. The Saints just hope they don't draw Oaks Christian in the first round again.
10. Chaffey
The Tigers rugged style is timeless. If they can add a semblance of a passing attack to their brutal running game, they might improve on their 9-2 mark of last year.
Others receiving votes: Bonita, Kaiser, Chino Hills, Damien.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)