October 2009 Archives

1. Etiwanda (6-2)
Previous: 6. Last week: Def. Upland 18-16. Next: Friday at No. 9 Los Osos (4-4).
2. Colony (7-1)
Previous: 3. Last week: Def. Chaffey 35-13. Next: Friday at Don Lugo (5-3)
3. Rancho Cucamonga (7-1)
Previous: 5. Last week: Def. Alta Loma 34-14. Next: Friday at No. 4 Upland (7-1).
4. Upland (7-1)
Previous: 1. Last week: lost to Etiwanda 18-16. Next: vs. No. 3 R. Cucamonga (7-1).
5. Chino Hills (6-2)
Previous: 5. Last week: lost to Glendora 24-23. Next: Friday at No. 8 Ayala (6-2).
6. Kaiser (5-3)
Previous: 6. Last week: Def. Summit 13-7. Next: Friday vs. Bloomington (3-5).
7. San Dimas (7-1)
Previous: 8. Last week: Def. Pomona 28-0. Next: Friday vs. Covina Northview (1-7).
8. Ayala (6-2)
Previous: 2. Last week: lost to Damien 17-7. Next: Friday vs. No. 5 Chino Hills (6-2).
9. Los Osos (4-4)
Previous: NR. Last week: Def. Claremont 54-21. Next: Friday vs. No. 1 Etiwanda (6-2).
10. Miller (4-4)
Previous: 9. Last week: lost to Redlands 28-27. Next: Friday at Redlands E. Valley (8-0).
Dropped out: No. 10 Summit.
Just missed the cut: Damien (3-5), Chaffey (4-4), Summit (4-4).

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Friday, October 30
BASELINE LEAGUE
Etiwanda 18, Upland 16
Los Osos 54, Claremont 21
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Alta Loma 14
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Aquinas 63, Arrowhead Christian Academy 3
Ontario Christian 55, Perris California Military Institute 0
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Eisenhower 32, Rialto 20
Redlands 28, Miller 27
Redlands East Valley 41, Carter 14
Yucaipa 27, Fontana 6
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Diamond Ranch 36, Bonita 29
Charter Oak 42, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0
South Hills 29, Los Altos 7 (nonleague)
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Colony 35, Chaffey 13
Don Lugo 34, Montclair 6
MOJAVE RIVER LEAGUE
Rim of the World 31, Apple Valley 0
Barstow 36, Sultana 3 (nonleague)
Serrano 42, Hesperia 6
PREP LEAGUE
Flintridge 24, Webb 21
SAN ANDREAS LEAGUE
Arroyo Valley 27, San Gorgonio 21
San Bernardino 44, Pacific 14
SIERRA LEAGUE
Damien 17, Ayala 7
Glendora 24, Chino Hills 23
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Riverside Norte Vista 24, Riverside Patriot 0
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Covina 47, Ganesha 0
San Dimas 28, Pomona 0

Thursday, October 29
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Garey 56, Ontario 21
SAN ANDREAS LEAGUE
Colton 38, Cajon 9
SIERRA LEAGUE
Diamond Bar 34, Chino 17
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Bloomington 28, Jurupa Valley 7
Kaiser 13, Summit 7
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Baldwin Park 33, Covina Northview 6

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Thursday, October 29
SIERRA LEAGUE
Diamond Bar 32, Chino 21
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Kaiser 24, Summit 21

Friday, October 30
BASELINE LEAGUE
Los Osos 22, Claremont 21
Rancho Cucamonga 46, Alta Loma 10
Etiwanda 26, Upland 24
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Aquinas 27, Arrowhead Christian Academy 10
Ontario Christian 37, Perris California Military Institute 6
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Redlands East Valley 47, Carter 24
Redlands 24, Miller 13
Rialto 32, Eisenhower 17
Yucaipa 28, Fontana 17
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Diamond Ranch 24, Bonita 21
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Colony 28, Chaffey 17
Don Lugo 26, Montclair 21
Garey 33, Ontario 7
PREP LEAGUE
Flintridge 17, Webb 10
SIERRA LEAGUE
Ayala 31, Damien 29
Chino Hills 22, Glendora 17
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Bloomington 31, Jurupa Valley 6
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Covina 34, Ganesha 10
San Dimas 31, Pomona 12

There are only two remaining teams undefeated in the Baseline League and they'll both be on the same field Friday night when the top-ranked squad in the CIF-SS Central Division, Upland (7-0, 2-0) hosts No. 7 Etiwanda (5-2, 2-0).

CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
"This game," Etiwanda coach Steve Bryce said, "is a lot bigger than it looked last week."

When defending CIF and Baseline League champion Rancho Cucamonga went down a week ago, Etiwanda-Upland became a battle for the inside track to win a league title.

"Whoever wins this game controls their own destiny," Upland coach Tim Salter said. "Whoever loses is going to need some help. So, in terms of winning a league championship, you want to come out of this one a winner."

Bonita senior wide receiver Codey Sykes caught seven passes for 170 yards, including the 18-yard game winner with 27 seconds left in the Bearcats' 26-20 victory over Los Altos on Friday.

Colony running back Jamil Austin gashed the Garey defense for 268 yards and six touchdowns on just 12 carries in Colony's 55-7 win on Friday.

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A season after snapping a state-record 49-game losing streak on the field (the Giants won twice via forfeit during a stretch that began in 2002) the Ganesha High School football team ended a 35-game Valle Vista League losing streak on Friday with a 16-10 victory over none other than defending league champion Covina Northview.

After not only breaking a streak that was cutting into its seventh year last season, but winning TWO games in 2008, even considering Friday's victory it would appear Ganesha is taking a step backward this season.

That's not the case.

1. Upland (7-0) Last week: 2
2. Colton (6-1) Last week: 3
3. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1) Last week: 1
4. Colony (6-1) Last week: 4
5. Chino Hills (6-1) Last week: 5
6. Ayala (6-1) Last week: 7
7. Etiwanda (5-2) Last week: 8
8. Wildomar Elsinore (5-2) Last week: 6
9. Cajon (5-2) Last week: 9
10. Arroyo Valley (5-2) Last week: NR
Dropped out: No. 10 Glendora (4-3).
Others receiving votes: West Valley (4-3), Chaffey (4-3), Los Osos (3-4).

Much is being made of the Los Osos High School football team wearing its home jerseys in a potentially season-making 31-28 win over defending CIF champ Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. The game was played at Los Osos, which serves as the home field for both teams but Rancho Cucamonga happened to be the home team on Friday.

Los Osos coach Tom Martinez didn't say the move was done an effort to get under the champs' skin, but he didn't have to.

During the week leading up to the game Martinez consulted the blue book, which stated the visiting team was required to wear "light" jerseys, not "white." Los Osos' powder blue home uniforms were close enough, in his estimation.

"I thought it would help us be a little more intense," Martinez said.

I personally don't see anything wrong with a little gamesmanship; I think the high school level doesn't have enough of it. Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos, which are a mile apart, don't like each other from the coaching staffs on down to the freshmen. Things like this are innocent enough but help fuel a rivalry that has quickly grown into one of the area's best, impressive considering Los Osos has only been in existence for seven years.

As for the football implications, saying this win saved Los Osos' season may not be an understatement.

1. Upland (7-0)
Previous: 2. Last week: def. Alta Loma 42-7. Next: Friday at No. 6 Etiwanda (5-2).
2. Ayala (6-1)
Previous: 3. Last week: def. Diamond Bar 43-10. Next: Friday at Damien (2-5).
3. Colony (6-1)
Previous: 4. Last week: def. Garey 55-7. Next: Friday at Chaffey (4-3).
4. Chino Hills (6-1)
Previous: 5. Last week: def Chino 49-7. Next: Friday vs. Glendora (4-3).
5. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1)
Previous: 1. Last week: lost to Los Osos 31-28. Next: Friday at Alta Loma (0-7).
6. Etiwanda (5-2)
Previous: 6. Last week: def. Claremont 24-21. Next: Friday vs. No. 1 Upland (7-0).
7. Kaiser (4-3)
Previous: 7. Last week: def. Norte Vista 31-8. Next: Thursday at No. 10 Summit (4-3).
8. San Dimas (5-1)
Previous: 8. Last week: def. Covina 35-0. Next: Friday vs. Pomona (5-2).
9. Miller (4-3)
Previous: 9. Last week: def. Carter 32-10. Next: Friday vs.Redlands (6-1).
10. Summit (4-3)
Previous: 10. Last week: def. Jurupa Valley 57-0. Next: Thursday vs. No. 7 Kaiser (4-3).
Dropped out: None.
Just missed the cut: Chaffey (4-3), Los Osos (3-4), Damien (2-5).

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BASELINE LEAGUE
Etiwanda 24, Claremont 21
Los Osos 31, Rancho Cucamonga 28
Upland 42, Alta Loma 7
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Brethren Christian 20, Arrowhead Christian Academy 0
Ontario Christian 42, Western Christian 18
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Fontana 42, Eisenhower 27
Miller 32, Carter 10
Redlands 35, Yucaipa 13
Redlands East Valley 49, Rialto 6
DESERT SKY LEAGUE
Burroughs 14, Granite Hills 7
Silverado 40, Barstow 12
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Bonita 26, Los Altos 20
Covina Charter Oak 12, Diamond Ranch 0
Rowland 56, Wilson 12
MOJAVE RIVER LEAGUE
Serrano 13, Apple Valley 7
Rim of the World 35, Sultana 6
Victor Valley 21, Hesperia 0
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Chaffey 35, Montclair 6
Colony 55, Garey 7
Don Lugo 34, Ontario 13
PREP LEAGUE
Webb 25, Calabasas Viewpoint 14
SAN ANDREAS LEAGUE
Arroyo Valley 68, Pacific 7
Colton 41, San Bernardino 7
Cajon 33, San Gorgonio 17
SIERRA LEAGUE
Ayala 43, Diamond Bar 10
Chino Hills 49, Chino 7
Damien 21, Glendora 0
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Summit 57, Jurupa Valley 0
Kaiser 31, Riverside Norte Vista 8
Riverside Patriot 33, Bloomington 7
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Ganesha 16, Covina Northview 10
San Dimas 35, Covina 0

Thursday, October 22
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Baldwin Park 33, Pomona 12

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Friday, October 23
BASELINE LEAGUE
Etiwanda 38, Claremont 24
Rancho Cucamonga 32, Los Osos 20
Upland 29, Alta Loma 6
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Ontario Christian 34, Western Christian 22
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Fontana 21, Eisenhower 7
Miller 42, Carter 30
Redlands 23, Yucaipa 22
Redlands East Valley 44, Rialto 7
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Bonita 24, Los Altos 17
Charter Oak 32, Diamond Ranch 24
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Chaffey 33, Montclair 12
Don Lugo 37, Ontario 6
Colony 36, Garey 30
PREP LEAGUE
Webb 41, Calabasas Viewpoint 14
SIERRA LEAGUE
Ayala 38, Diamond Bar 17
Chino Hills 44, Chino 0
Glendora 23, Damien 21
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Kaiser 28, Riverside Norte Vista 17
Summit 37, Jurupa Valley 0
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
San Dimas 24, Covina 21
Northview 14, Ganesha 12

The senior running back needed only 14 carries to roll up 248 yards and four touchdowns in the Cats' 32-6 win on Friday over a Riverside Patriot team that is far from a pushover. (THAT'S 17.7 PER CARRY!) The USC commit, who also plays cornerback, had touchdown runs of 56, 48, 17 and 1 yards.

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1. Rancho Cucamonga (6-0) Last week: 1
2. Upland (6-0) Last week: 2
3. Colton (5-1) Last week: 3
4. Colony (5-1) Last week: 4
5. Chino Hills (5-1) Last week: 5
6. Elsinore (5-1) Last week: 6
7. Ayala (5-1) Last week: 7
8. Etiwanda (3-2) Last week: 9
9. Cajon (4-2) Last week: 8
10. Glendora (4-2) Last week: NR
Others receiving votes: Claremont (4-2), Arroyo Valley (4-2), Chaffey (3-3).
Dropped out: No. 10 Claremont (4-2).

Other CIF-SS polls listed below...

1. Rancho Cucamonga (6-0)


Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Claremont 52-24. Next: Friday at Los Osos (2-4).

2. Upland (6-0)


Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Los Osos 17-0. Next: Friday vs. Alta Loma (0-6).
3. Ayala (5-1)
Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. Chino 44-13. Next: Friday vs. Diamond Bar (0-6).
4. Colony (5-1)
Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def Ontario 55-7. Next: Friday vs. Garey (3-3).
5. Chino Hills (5-1)
Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. Damien 38-6. Next: Friday at Chino (0-6).

6. Etiwanda (4-2)
Previous ranking: 6. Last week: def. Alta Loma 61-17. Next: Friday at Claremont.

7. Kaiser (3-3)

Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Riverside Patriot 32-6. Next: Friday vs Riverside Norte Vista (6-0). 

8. San Dimas (5-1)



Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Ganesha 63-0. Next: Friday vs. Covina (2-4).

9. Miller (3-3)



Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Yucaipa 39-14. Next: Friday at Carter (3-3). 

10. Summit (3-3)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Bloomington 29-0. Next: Friday at Jurupa Valley (0-6).
Dropped out: No. 9 Los Osos (2-4)
Just missed the cut: Chaffey (3-3), Claremont (4-2), Los Osos (2-4).

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Friday, October 16
BASELINE LEAGUE
Rancho Cucamonga 52, Claremont 24
Upland 17, Los Osos 0
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Arrowhead Christian 21, Western Christian 7
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Carter 33, Rialto 25
Miller 39, Yucaipa 14
Redlands 49, Eisenhower 7
Redlands East Valley 48, Fontana 0
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Charter Oak 31, Bonita 0
SAN ANDREAS LEAGUE
Cajon 42, San Bernardino 6
Colton 31, Arroyo Valley 14
San Gorgonio 56, Pacific 14
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Chaffey 28, Don Lugo 13
Colony 55, Ontario 7
Garey 34, Montclair 14
SIERRA LEAGUE
Ayala 44, Chino 13
Chino Hills 38, Damien 6
Glendora 40, Diamond Bar 19
SUNKIST LEAGUE
Kaiser 32, Riverside Patriot 6
Summit 29, Bloomington 0
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Baldwin Park 28, Covina 7

Thursday, October 15
BASELINE LEAGUE
Etiwanda 61, Alta Loma 17
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Pomona 28, Covina Northview 10
San Dimas 63, Ganesha 0

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Thursday, October 15
BASELINE LEAGUE
Etiwanda 26, Alta Loma 13
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Pomona 17, Covina Northview 13
San Dimas 38, Ganesha 6

Friday, October 16
BASELINE LEAGUE
Rancho Cucamonga 41, Claremont 28
Upland 17, Los Osos 14
CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Western Christian 20, Arrowhead Christian 14
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Carter 38, Rialto 16
Redlands East Valley 36, Fontana 7
Miller 28, Yucaipa 20
Redlands 23, Eisenhower 0
MIRAMONTE LEAGUE
Charter Oak 27, Bonita 17
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Chaffey 24, Don Lugo 17
Montclair 27, Garey 24
Colony 44, Ontario 12
SIERRA LEAGUE
Ayala 29, Chino 6
Chino Hills 26, Damien 21
Glendora 37, Diamond Bar 14

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Baseline League play begins tomorrow. Here is my guess at how it will end:

Rancho Cucamonga: 4-1
Upland: 4-1
Etiwanda: 4-1
Los Osos: 2-3
Claremont: 1-4
Alta Loma: 0-5

An outright champion in this league is a rarity. To find an example, one has to look as far back as... well, last season. This begs the question: How in the WORLD did Rancho Cucamonga go unscathed despite the presence of an eventual CIF finalist (Upland), a semifinalist (Los Osos), and a team (Etiwanda) that lost a one-point playoff game to the other semifinalist?!? I mean, the guy quarterbacking Los Osos last season played against Oregon on Saturday!

WIth Sierra League play beginning tomorrow, here's how I think it'll play out:

Chino Hills: 4-1
Glendora: 4-1
Ayala: 3-2
Damien: 3-2
Diamond Bar: 1-4
Chino: 0-5

In all seriousness, quad-champions (if that's even a real term) aren't out of the question this year. Tri-champs were fun enough last season, but a revamped Damien team is added to the mix of contenders in 2009. If a team wins this league outright, I'll be shocked.

Damien is the perfect example of why this league is shrouded in mystery. The Spartans, who won three games last season, are 1-4 but absolutely deserving of league title consideration - for crying out loud, they lost to a defending CIF champ by 3 two weeks ago.

With Miramonte League play beginning Friday, here's how I think it will turn out:

Charter Oak: 3-1
Diamond Ranch: 3-1
Bonita: 3-1
H.H. Los Altos: 1-3
H.H.Wilson: 0-4

Defending CIF and Miramonte League champion Charter Oak not only has all the hardware but its current 5-1 record is a stark contrast to Diamond Ranch and Bonita's 1-5 and 1-4 respective marks. This league's title appears a forgone conclusion, right?

Wrong... Charter Oak is not the juggernaut it was a season ago. Both Diamond Ranch and Bonita played better nonleague schedules. While DR and Bonita were dropping winnable games to Glendora, Chino Hills, Claremont, and San Diego Westview, Charter Oak was eeking out a 3-point victory over an unproven Damien team and putting together a miraculous comeback win over Etiwanda. But the biggest difference was the two gimmies on the defending champ's slate - Bonita and DR didn't have those luxuries.

Here is my guess at how the Valle Vista League will look at the end of league play:

San Dimas: 5-0
Covina: 4-1
Baldwin Park: 3-2
Pomona: 2-3
Covina Northview: 1-4
Ganesha: 0-5

It was a one-point loss to Northview that cost San Dimas the Valle Vista League championship last season. Judging by Northview's nonleague performance, that surely won't happen again.

I think San Dimas (4-1) actually had a better team last season, but the rest of the league hasn been far from impressive thus far. Covina (2-3) played Walnut close but that's about the only thing on its nonleague resume worth mention. Pomona (4-1) and Baldwin Park (4-1) played such soft nonleague schedules that they're difficult to gauge. Although both of their losses came to below average teams.

After considerable progress last season, Ganesha (0-5) has fallen off again. And Northview (1-4), last season's undefeated league champ, has only a victory over hapless Nogales through five games.

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With Mt. Baldy League play getting underway on Friday, here is how I think the league standings will look after Nov. 12:

Colony 5-0
Chaffey 4-1
Don Lugo 3-2
Garey 2-3
Montclair 1-4
Ontario 0-5

At its lowest point during the Anthony Rice era, Colony still took Chaffey to overtime last season in a 20-14 loss. Chaffey went on to win the Mt. Baldy League title for the first time since 2005 and Colony dropped to third with a loss to Ontario.

The two years prior, Colony didn't lose a single game in the Mt. Baldy League (or the playoffs, for that matter). After a nonleague showing nothing short of shockingly good, the Titans (4-1) appear to have returned to their CIF title form. Whether or not they are equipped to win a championship in a revamped Central Division is another matter, but Colony appears poised for another run to a league title.

Chaffey is more dynamic this season, allowing QB Jacob Ahmad to throw it a little more, particularly to 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end Christian Sanders. And the Tigers' clock-killing style is always dangerous if they get a lead. But Colony's defense is as big and physical as ever.

Entering league play on a three-game winning streak, Don Lugo is hoping to make some noise in league. The Conquistadores' wins, however, have come at the expense of less than stellar teams, leaving Don Lugo much to prove.

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With Sunkist League play beginning on Friday, here is my guess at how the league standings will look in five weeks:

*Kaiser 5-0
*Summit 4-1
*Riverside Norte Vista 2-3
Riverside Patriot 2-3
Bloomington 2-3
Jurupa Valley 0-5

* - playoff team

Yes, Norte Vista (5-0) enters league play undefeated while Kaiser (2-3) and Summit (2-3) sport losing records, but I think the Cats will and take home their 9th straight league title. In this smash-mouth league controlled by defense and the running game, USC-bound running back Anthony Brown and a historically stingy defense have Kaiser the best equipped in both.

A couple of Kaiser's losses were easily more impressive than Norte Vista's biggest win, a 28-21 season-opening victory over Riverside La Sierra. Kaiser lost tight games to Colony and Colton, two legit contenders for the CIF-SS Central Division title both better than La Sierra.

Summit is more of a threat to Kaiser than Norte Vista. With a beefed up nonleague schedule, Summit was a last-minute drive and last-second field goal from defeating Etiwanda and Redlands, each of whom outclass La Sierra in my book.

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Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Greg Watson threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-28 win over Temecula Valley on Friday. The reigning CIF-SS Central Division MVP completed 17 of 34 passes with no interceptions to keep the defending CIF champs undefeated. The senior more than doubled his previous season high in passing yardage.

Runner-up: Angel Santiago, Etiwanda, quarterback
Another Baseline League quarterback lit it up Friday night but Santiago's 410 total yards weren't enough as the Eagles fell 27-26 to defending Southeast Division champ Charter Oak. The senior completed 14-of-32 passes for 260 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries before Charter Oak's fourth-down 45-yard game-winning touchdown pass with 28 seconds to play.

2nd runner-up: Montigo Alford, Summit, running back
The junior set school records with 247 rushing yards and five total touchdowns in Summit's 42-20 win over Sultana on Friday. Alford carried just 14 times for four touchdowns and caught two passes for 28 yards and another TD.

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1. Rancho Cucamonga (5-0) Last week: 1
2. Upland (5-0) Last week: 2
3. Colton (4-1) Last week: 3
4. Colony (4-1) Last week: 4
5. Chino Hills (4-1) Last week: 5
6. Wildomar Elsinore (4-1) Last week: 6
7. Ayala (4-1) Last week: 8
8. Cajon (3-2) Last week: 10
9. Etiwanda (3-2) Last week: 7
10. Claremont (4-1) Last week: Not ranked
Others receiving votes: Glendora (3-2), Don Lugo (3-2), Damien (1-4).
Dropped out: No. 9 Arroyo Valley (4-1).

Other CIF-SS polls listed below...

1. Rancho Cucamonga (5-0)

Previous ranking: 1. Last week: def. Temecula Valley 48-28. Friday vs. Claremont (4-1).
2. Upland (5-0)

Previous ranking: 2. Last week: idle. Friday vs. No. 9 Los Osos (2-3).

3. Ayala (4-1)


Previous ranking: 3. Last week: idle. Friday vs. Chino (0-5).

4. Colony (4-1)


Previous ranking: 4. Last week: idle. Friday vs. Ontario (1-4).

5. Chino Hills (4-1)


Previous ranking: 5. Last week: idle. Friday vs. Damien (1-4).
6. Etiwanda (3-2)


Previous ranking: 6. Last week: lost to Charter Oak 27-26. Thurs. vs. Alta Loma (0-5).
7. Kaiser (2-3)
Previous ranking: 7. Last week: lost to Colton 14-6. Friday vs. Riverside Patriot (2-3).
8. San Dimas (4-1)


Previous ranking: 8. Last week: def. Bonita 21-13. Thursday at Ganesha (0-5).
9. Los Osos (2-3)

Previous ranking: 9. Last week: def. West Ranch 47-7. Friday at No. 2 Upland (5-0).
10. Miller (2-3)


Previous ranking: 10. Last week: def. Rialto 56-12. Friday at Yucaipa (2-3)
Dropped out: none
Just missed the cut: Chaffey (2-3), Claremont (4-1), Damien (1-4).

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Friday, October 9
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Carter 47, Eisenhower 6
Miller 56, Rialto 12
Redlands 35, Fontana 7
Redlands East Valley 35, Yucaipa 7
NONLEAGUE
Barstow 49, San Bernardino 33
Claremont 49, Chino 7
Colton 14, Kaiser 6
Charter Oak 27, Etiwanda 26
Garey 26, Pomona 14
Los Osos 47, Valencia West Ranch 7
Rancho Cucamonga 48, Temecula Valley 28
San Dimas 21, Bonita 13
Silverado 31, Arroyo Valley 20
Twentynine Palms 33, Aquinas 7
Webb 65, Crean Lutheran 0
West Covina 21, Diamond Bar 20

Thursday, October 8
NONLEAGUE
Summit 42, Sultana 20

Diamond Ranch High School football coach Roddy Layton has gained a reputation for his ridiculously difficult nonleague scheduling habits - as in Oaks Christian-three-years-in-a-row ridiculous. BUT after a 1-7 start last season, that philosophy landed Diamond Ranch in a CIF title game.

Even Layton might have a hard time topping Damien's slate this year. The nonleague schedule coach Greg Gano inherited in his first year at Damien included not one, but two defending CIF champions.

Though Damien emerged from its nonleague murder's row with a 1-4 record, anybody who takes a closer look knows the Spartans are vastly improved from their 3-7 team of last year. I promise the rest of the Sierra League has taken notice.

For three and-a-half games on Thursday night, I felt sorry for the Rancho Cucamonga High School volleyball team. The Cougars fought their guts out, but running uphill each and every game would eventually wear them out, right?

Turns out it only made them stronger. Once Rancho Cucamonga finally seized the momentum, it surged ahead in the one game where an early lead is the most essential - the one to 15 instead of 25. Rancho coasted downhill to a 15-8 Game 5 win to steal the match from a Los Osos team that swept it in the final of Los Osos' own tournament a few weeks ago. The game scores were 19-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 15-8.

Los Osos leads' in the first four games: 17-11, 15-10, 16-11, 15-10. The Cougars recovered to win two of those, including the pivotal Game 4 by winning 15 of the last 20 points. After not taking a lead until 19-18 in both Game 2 and Game 4, Rancho won the first five points of Game 5 in surging to an 8-3 lead.

Thursday, October 8
NONLEAGUE
Summit 26, Sultana 7

Friday, October 9
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Carter 32, Eisenhower 20
Redlands 24, Fontana 13
Redlands East Valley 44, Yucaipa 17
Miller 31, Rialto 7
NONLEAGUE
Bonita 28, San Dimas 27
Claremont 35, Chino 10
Kaiser 17, Colton 14
Covina Charter Oak 29, Etiwanda 24
Los Osos 28, Valenica West Ranch 20
Riverside Norte Vista 26, Montclair 24
Pomona 21, Garey 17
Rancho Cucamonga 34, Temecula Valley 21
West Covina 30, Diamond Bar 13
San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's 34, Western Christian 10

Saturday, October 10
NONLEAGUE
Diamond Ranch 24, La Puente Bishop Amat 23
Ontario Christian 28, Cerritos Valley Christian 24

Leave a comment. Ask a question. Or e-mail me at clay.fowler@inlandnewspapers.com

Outside of the playoffs, neither Bonita nor San Dimas hide the fact that their game with each other is the most important of the season. After Bonita won the Smudge Pot five out of six years, the cross-town rivalry game has gone to San Dimas the last two. Fresh off its first loss of the season, San Dimas, the No. 4 team in the CIF-SS Mid-Valley division, enters with a 3-1 record while Bonita, having won its first game last time out, is 1-3.

HEATED HISTORY:
The singular devotion to this game is apparent on both sides. Each takes its bye week before hand, so as to allow more time for the hype to build. League play and the playoffs are obviously important but neither side of the rivalry veils the significance of this series that San Dimas leads 20-16-1.

"League still matters," Bonita running back Deron Holmes said, "but this game is on top."

"When you're drawing up plays in the summer," San Dimas head coach Bill Zernickow said, "you think of the Bearcats first."

• I think Kaiser's Anthony Brown (above) should play running back in college, as opposed to cornerback. I saw the USC-committed senior play for the first time in Friday's 19-14 loss to Colony, during which he rolled up 199 yards on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns. He plays a lot bigger than 5-feet-11, 180 pounds and I have no doubt he would make a fine cornerback given his athleticism and fondness for contact. USC has yet to indicate where it would like him to play but he has an ideal skill set to play running back: vision, burst, aggressivness and flat-out play making ability. Brown is one of those players too electric not to play offense.
• I think teams with difficult nonleague schedules are going to find themselves in much better standing when things get tense in about a month. Now, this depends on the difficulty of a given team's league but a team like Colony (4-1) needs to stack its nonleague schedule given the lack of playoff success of its own Mt. Baldy League. But a team on the rise like Damien (1-4) runs the risk of being so beat up after taking on four top-notch teams, including two defending CIF champs, that it may not have enough left for Sierra League play. I'm curious to see how Ayala, which has faced one high caliber team, will stack up with Chino Hills, which scheduled a much more difficult slate. Nonleague scheduling is a delicate thing given the fact it is done well in advance and there is plenty of unpredictibility involved. It'll be interesting to see how different philosophies effect the rest of the season.
• I think the Bonita-San Dimas game, being played on Friday, creates one of the two best atmosphere's I've seen in California high school football. Only the Redlands-Redlands East Valley game is comparable in my mind. I haven't covered a state championship game but Bonita-San Dimas is a more charged atmosphere than any of the CIF championship games I've been to. Both schools have bye weeks before the game so as to create as much hype as possible. They participate in non-football competitions leading up to the game, for example, seeing who can raise more money for charity. It's just a good old-fashioned rivalry that lives up to the billing.

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Alta Loma senior J.J. O'Brien committed to Utah on Sept. 16 after visiting the campus in Salt Lake City, Utah the first weekend of September.

The versatile 6-foot-6, 205-pound small forward, a first-team all-Inland Valley player a year ago, narrowed his eight scholarship offers to a final three of Utah, Creighton and San Diego State.

"(Utah) just had a way better family feel than anywhere else," O'Brien said. "I decided to go ahead and commit before the season because a lot of people told me I couldn't get any more attention than I did this summer."

Rancho Cucamonga High School grad Terrell Thomas entered the NFL season buried on the New York Giants' depth chart. It's funny how much things can change in a month.

Four games into the season, Thomas, a second-year cornerback out of USC, has started four games for the league's No. 1 defense whose top ranking against the pass hardly does it justice considering the gap between second place.

The Giants are allowing 115 pass yards per game. Philadelphia? 156, Denver 162, etc. Here is the list. Granted, the Giants' schedule hasn't exactly been stacked thus far with Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Not only did Giants starting cornerback Aaron Ross hurt his hamstring before the season openrer, so did his back up Kevin Dockery, the same Dockery whose injury allowed Thomas to claim a primary role in the Giants' nickel defense as a rookie last season. If the numbers are any indication, the 24-year-old from Alta Loma isn't much of a drop-off, if any.

"You're obviously getting a better feel for the game overall because you're in on every play," Thomas told the Newark Star-Ledger last week. "I feel like I've got a lot of work to do. Your job is never secure in the NFL. It's a high-performance business, and you know every week they're looking to replace you."

It took Claremont High School running back Tyler Singleton just eight carries to roll up 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-14 win over Ontario on Friday that helped Claremont (3-1) surpass its win total of the last two seasons combined. Last year's leading rusher in the Baseline League has 450 yards on the ground to pull within seven yards of second-place behind Alta Loma's Donta Abron. Rancho Cucamonga's Michael Boyd leads the league with 576 rushing yards.

RUNNER-UP: Pomona running back Taj Teague ran for 257 yards on just 16 carries in the Red Devils' 18-7 win over Gabrielino on Friday. The senior scored on 90- and 71-yard touchdown runs.

2ND RUNNER-UP: Ayala's Michael Trujillo touched the ball four times and finished with four touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 44-7 route of South El Monte on Friday. The senior running back had two carries for 39 yards and a pair of receptions for 52 yards.

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Kaiser High School linebacker Josh Shirley accepted a nomination on Monday to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the premier high school all-star football game in the nation.

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Shirley, rated the eighth-best outside linebacker in the country by rivals.com, is one of 90 players from across the country who will participate on Jan. 9 in San Antonio, Texas. In a few short months, Shirley will be playing in front of 35,000 at the Alamo Dome.

"It's all pretty overwhelming," Shirley said. "I just feel blessed to have been blessed with the ability to compete on this level. The talent there is going to be through the roof."

Shirley will make an announcement of his own at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, proclaiming at some point during NBC's national broadcast where he will play college football. The four-star recruit has narrowed the field to: USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Miami, Cal, Tennessee, Washington and Arizona.

1. Rancho Cucamonga (4-0) Last week: 1
2. Upland (5-0) Last week: 2
3. Colton (3-1) Last week: 4
4. Colony (4-1) Last week: 5
5. Chino Hills (4-1) Last week: 6
6. Elsinore (4-1) Last week: 3
7. Etiwanda (3-1) Last week: 8
8. Ayala (4-1) Last week: 9
9. Arroyo Valley (4-0) Last week: 10
10. Cajon (3-2) Last week: 7
Others receiving votes: Claremont (3-1); Don Lugo (3-2); Glendora (2-2); Damien (1-4).

Other CIF-SS Polls listed below:

1. Rancho Cucamonga (4-0)

Previous ranking: 1. Last week: idle. Friday at Temecula Valley (0-3).
2. Upland (5-0)

Previous ranking: 2. Last week: def. Bloomington 45-6. Oct. 16 vs. No. 9 Los Osos (1-3).
3. Ayala (4-1)


Previous ranking: 3. Last week: def. South El Monte 44-7. Oct. 16 vs. Chino (0-4).

4. Colony (4-1)


Previous ranking: 4. Last week: def. Kaiser 19-14. Oct. 16 vs. Ontario (1-4).

5. Chino Hills (4-1)

Previous ranking: 5. Last week: def. San Gorgonio 30-14. Oct. 16 vs. Damien (1-4).

6. Etiwanda (3-1)


Previous ranking: 7. Last week: def. Chino 45-14. Friday at Covina Charter Oak (4-1).


7. Kaiser (2-2)


Previous ranking: 6. Last week: lost to Colony 19-14. Friday vs. Colton (3-1)
8. San Dimas (3-1)


Previous ranking: 8. Last week: idle. Friday vs. Bonita (1-3).
9. Los Osos (1-3)

Previous ranking: 9. Last week: idle. Friday vs. Valencia West Ranch (3-1).
10. Miller (1-3)
Previous ranking: NR. Last week: def. Fontana 41-16. Friday vs. Rialto (0-4).
Dropped out: No. 10 Diamond Ranch (1-4)

Just missed the cut: Chaffey (2-3), Pomona (4-0), Damien (1-4), Claremont (3-1).

Leave a comment. Ask a question. Or e-mail me at clay.fowler@inlandnewspapers.com

Friday, Oct. 2
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Redlands 35, Carter 6
Redlands East Valley 69, Eisenhower 26
Yucaipa 28, Rialto 24

NONLEAGUE
Apple Valley 67, San Bernardino 16
Arrowhead Christian 21, Yucca Valley 19
Arroyo Valley 26, Alta Loma 16
Aquinas 13, Mary Star of the Sea 10
Ayala 44, South El Monte 7
Chino Hills 30, San Gorgonio 14
Covina Charter Oak 23, Damien 20
Claremont 52, Ontario 14
Colony 19, Kaiser 14
Colton 35, Chaffey 12
Don Lugo 51, Jurupa Valley 0
Etiwanda 45, Chino 14
Glendora 16, Diamond Ranch 14
La Quinta 7, Cajon 0
Pasadena Poly 21, Webb 6
Pacific 43, Citrus Valley 6
Pomona 18, San Gabriel Gabrelino 7
Rim of the World 60, Indio 0
Serrano 24, Santa Clarita Golden Valley 0
Silverado 28, Summit 14
St. Margaret's 42, Ontario Christian 0
Twentynine Palms 6, Oak Park 0
Upland 45, Bloomington 6

Thursday, Oct. 1
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Miller 41, Fontana 16
NONLEAGUE
Fullerton Troy 49, Diamond Bar 21
Patriot 56, Ganesha 7

I had a nice conversation with Don Lugo High School running back/safety Steven Bethley yesterday for this story.

The senior with scholarship offers from San Diego State and Colorado State sent film of his first four games - Don Lugo has won two straight to pull to .500 - to Washington, UCLA and Fresno State this week at the request of the coaches recruiting him from the respective schools. The 6-foot, 200-pounder won't have much footage of his kick returning. After a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown in the season opener, Bethley has been kicked to twice in four games.... including punts and kickoffs. That, however, is just a small part of his story as you'll discover if you click on the link above.

Thursday, Oct. 1
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Miller 23, Fontana 17
NONLEAGUE
Troy 35, Diamond Bar 17
Riverside Patriot 32, Ganesha 13

Friday, Oct. 2
CITRUS BELT LEAGUE
Redlands 23, Carter 12
Redlands East Valley 38, Eisenhower 7
Yucaipa 34, Rialto 17
NONLEAGUE
Arroyo Valley 25, Alta Loma 14
Ayala 33, South El Monte 12
Colton 24, Chaffey 14
Etiwanda 31, Chino 10
Claremont 28, Ontario 7
Kaiser 13, Colony 10
Covina Charter Oak 35, Damien 21
Glendora 14, Diamond Ranch 13
Don Lugo 27, Jurupa Valley 6
Pomona 31, San Gabriel Gabrelino 7
Chino Hills 28, San Gorgonio 16
St. Margaret's 30, Ontario Christian 28
Summit 17, Silverado 14
Upland 28, Bloomington 6

Both of these teams are fast gaining confidence, CIF-SS Eastern Division No. 2 Kaiser (2-1) with a shutout of a Cajon team last week that entered averaging over 50 points per game and Central Division No. 5 Colony (3-1) with non-league wins over teams ranked first and second in their Divisions before the Titans knocked them off. Something has to give when these two clash tonight but their defenses aren't much for charity.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS
If points weren't already hard enough to come by, this game will likely be shortened due to the ground-oriented style of each of these teams. Of course that's probably a good thing... it's safe to say the shorter this game, the better for each team's health.

"Oh, yeah," Colony coach Anthony Rice said, "there will be some hitting."