DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

"Upland is used to being here. This is a new thing for Chino Hills. But this isn't the first big game we've played in."

On the Upland defense:
"That's one of the most athletic defenses I've ever seen. And they've got a lot of those same athletes playing on their offense.
"With Upland's defense being as good as it is, I would hope for a low-scoring game."

On Chino Hills WR/RB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu:
"He is a good football player and we like to, as the playoffs continue, find as many ways as we can to get the ball to him. Being a defensive guy, I know if you can stop one player like him it gives you a better chance to win, so I know they're going to try and stop (Ekpre-Olomu)."

Continue reading "Chino Hills football coach Derek Bub on Upland" »

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

This kid may be the most dynamic player left in the CIF-SS Central Division playoffs, and that's saying something considering he's got company who will be playing at USC and Oregon, to name a couple. Ekpre-Olomu's 5-TD, 3-interception performance in a 35-14 quarterfinal win over Etiwanda on Friday - that set up a semifinal against Upland - was quite a statement but far from the first for the junior.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, who does (I would say a little, but it's a lot of...) everything, is Chino Hills' leading receiver and second-leading rusher thanks to 202 yards on the ground Friday. It was obvious he was going to be special when he nabbed a school-record eight interceptions as a sophomore. Interesting that Friday's three picks were his first of this season, undoubtedly a reflection of teams throwing away from his side of the field.

Though Ekpre-Olomu was a one-man show last week, he appears to have ample talent around him to lead Chino Hills to a CIF title, including heady veteran quarterback Ryan Verdugo and an athletic front seven on defense. After his most recent performance, it will be interesting to see how much attention will be devoted to him in Upland's game plan.

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Posted by Clay Fowler at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Colton over Don Lugo
Rancho Cucamonga over Glendora
Chaffey over Hemet West Valley
No. 4 Los Osos over Arroyo Valley
Chino Hills over No. 3 Wildomar Elsinore
Etiwanda over Cajon
Damien over Upland
No. 2 Colony over Menifee Paloma Valley

QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Colton over Rancho Cucamonga
No. 4 Los Osos over Chaffey
Etiwanda over Chino Hills
No. 2 Colony over Damien

SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Colton over No. 4 Los Osos
Etiwanda over No. 2 Colony

FINALS
Etiwanda over No. 1 Colton

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

Posted by Clay Fowler at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

The three-way tie for first place in the Sierra League became official with Chino Hills 42-14 blasting of Diamond Bar Friday night. Damien, Glendora and Chino Hills each finished with four wins and one loss in league.

Since head-to-head results didn't break the three-way tie, a coin flip to determine the playoff seeds conducted prior to Friday night's game awarded the league's No. 1 seed to Damien, the No. 2 seed to Glendora and the No. 3 to Chino Hills. When Glendora, Ayala and Chino Hills were tri-league champions last season, Ayala won the coin flip and Chino Hills was the No. 2 seed.

In other news Friday night... San Dimas won the Valle Vista League with a 35-16 win over Baldwin Park.

Upland won the Baseline League fourth-place game with Claremont, 30-20, and will certainly get the lone at-large playoff bid in the CIF-SS Central Division when the playoff brackets are released Sunday.

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

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Glendora 34, Ayala 20
After this Thursday night loss knocked them into fourth place in the Sierra League, Ayala's only avenue to the playoffs is the Central Division's one at-large bid, for which it will have stiff competition. The Bulldogs' only hope is for Claremont to knock off Upland in the Baseline League's fourth-place game tonight, giving Ayala and Claremont identical 6-4 records and an equal shot at the bid. If Upland wins, it will have an 8-2 record and easily be the at-large team.

Etiwanda 27, Rancho Cucamonga 24 (OT)
Folloiwing a Rancho Cucamonga field goal on its overtime possession, Etiwanda QB Angel Santiago hit Gary Ayala with a 25-yard touchdown pass on the Eagles first play of OT to earn the Eagles at least a share of the Baseline League title. All Los Osos needs for a co-league championship and the No. 1 seed in the league is a win tonight over winless Alta Loma.

Don Lugo 42, Garey 28
The Conquistadores won the third-place game in the Mt. Baldy League thanks to 291 yards and four touchdowns from running back Steven Bethley. Don Lugo claimed the last playoff spot in the league behind Colony, who clinched the league title with a 39-13 win over Montclair Thursday and second-place Chaffey which beat Ontario, 42-21.

Other Thursday night scores:
Summit 35, Riverside Patriot 12
Summit snaps losing streak, clinches final playoff spot in the Sunkist League.
Miller 52, Eisenhower 12
Win or lose, Miller was locked into third place in the Citrus Belt League.
Pomona 33, Ganesha 12
After costly loss to Covina last week, Pomona finishes in 4th in the Valle Vista League.

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

Posted by Clay Fowler at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Though the Chino Hills High School football team won its crosstown rivalry game with Ayala for the first time in three years, I think it may have been Friday's 14-7 loss with which Ayala proved the last two years were no fluke.

There seems to be a perception that the better team hasn't won the game the last two years. I don't believe that but I think I finally figured out why a lot of other people do on Friday.

Ayala plays ugly (like it did Friday). It wins on the strength of its defense and special teams (it blocked a field goal Friday; Ayala won this game two years when it blocked a field goal late in the game that would have given Chino Hills the lead).

We all get caught up in offensive firepower and gaudy statistics, creating the perception that because Ayala isn't flashy, it isn't good.

Continue reading "Chino Hills, Ayala are who we thought they were" »

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

Though the standings rarely matter in this crosstown rivalry, a four-way tie for first place in the Sierra League only adds to the implications of tonight's meeting between defending Sierra League champions Chino Hills (6-2, 2-1), the No. 7 team in the CIF-SS Central Division, and No. 10 Ayala (6-2, 2-1).

TOP TO BOTTOM
Though they both suffered their first league losses last week, both the Bulldogs and the Huskies remain firmly in contention for the league title. The flip side of a league race with four teams tied for first place means the loser of this game is in danger of missing the playoffs, given that Damien and Glendora also have 2-1 league records.

Continue reading "Prep football game of the week: Chino Hills at Ayala" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Maybe three champions weren't enough last year.

There are four teams tied atop the Sierra League, but that hardly tells the story.

The Damien football team, which just two weeks ago had a single win to its credit appears poised to win at the very least a share of the league championship. Two of the league's three defending champions, Chino Hills and Ayala, could have set up a showdown this week for sole possession of first place had each produced a victory on Friday. They both lost.

Now Glendora, Damien, Ayala and Chino Hills are tied for first place with a league record of 2-1.

"I think this is about how I thought it would be," Ayala coach Tom Inglima said. "I'm just glad we're still in it."

Continue reading "It's a four-way race for three spots in the Sierra League" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

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.

Continue reading "Sierra League prediction: Quad champs!...(just kidding)" »

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

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.

Continue reading "Is Damien football this year's Diamond Ranch?" »

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

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.

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

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

Albeit in a losing effort, Montclair running back Terrence Charles rushed for 284 yards on 33 carries Friday night. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior's lone TD gave Montclair a 7-6 second-quarter lead but Blythe Palo Verde Valley's 20 unanswered points dropped Montclair in too deep a hole during the Cavaliers' eventual 26-21 loss.

After he was ineligible for all but two games last season, Charles, a Division-I caliber talent, according to Montclair coach Rick Ward, is making his mark. The Cavaliers dropped to 1-2 on the season but that third playoff spot in the Mt. Baldy League could be within their grasp.

Runner-up: Damien's Phillip Sainz had 246 yards of total offense in the Spartans' 24-0 win over Claremont Friday. The senior running back rushed for 130 yards on 23 carries and caught two passes for 116 yards, including an 82-yard screen pass for a TD.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

X-rays were negative on Chino Hills High School quarterback Ryan Verdugo's non throwing arm after he took a helmet to the elbow in Friday night's 22-6 loss to Colony. The second-year starter left the game with about seven minutes remaining.

"We thought he broke his arm," Chino Hills coach Derek Bub said. "But it looks like he'll be able to go Friday."

That wasn't Chino Hills' only potentially devastating injury Friday. All-CIF junior safety Ifo Ekpre-Olomu missed the majority of the last three quarters after taking a helmet to the knee. His prognosis wasn't as rosy as Verdugo's.

"We have no idea if he'll be able to go (on Friday)," Bub said. "He has suited up but isn't participating in practice much. He'll probably play on a limited basis Friday."

After losing his starting center, Brandon Michalek, to a torn ACL three plays into the second game of the season, Bub was relieved both his QB and perhaps best player won't miss extended time.

"No matter if they can play this week, it was good news on both because they can play when league starts," Bub said. "We've just been hit hard by the injury bug. It's been one of those years."

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

• I think this year's Chino Hills team is the best I've seen at the school in three years. The second-ranked Huskies may not have the Division-I talent of two years ago - Corey Harkey (UCLA), Michael Harris (Fresno State), etc. - but they're strong in the right spots. The defense is the strength of the team, for a change. And Chino Hills is better at the quarterback position with Ryan Verdugo than it has been in three years.
• I think Los Osos' Sean Alston is a flat-out football player. He's only 5-10, 185 pounds and he probably doesn't have a blazing 40 time, but the two-way player simply knows how to play football. In two games he has 12 receptions for 208 yards and two TDs but that hardly does him justice. He has already shut down the best receiver in the Inland Valley, holding Colony's Kenneth Scott to 19 yards Week 0. But his impact isn't limited to offense and defense, he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score, the only touchdown in the second half of Los Osos 47-21 loss to a talented Riverside North team on Thursday.
• I think Chaffey might actually be equipped to add a passing element to its offense via the QB-TE duo of Jacob Ahmad and Christian Sanders. Tigers coach Chris Brown likes to talk about throwing the ball more but after watching the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Sanders haul in five receptions for 72 yards and a TD in Friday's 28-14 loss to Chino Hills, I think I actually believe him this year. Granted, Chaffey fell behind 28-0 but during the desperate comeback maybe the Tigers learned something about themselves when Ahmad passed for 105 yards in the second half.

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

This game's determining factor is clear to Chaffey coach Chris Brown. Of course, games involving Chaffey usually aren't wrapped in perplexity.

Chaffey throws the ball a handful of times on a busy night; the rest of the time "you know what's coming, but they get the whole student body moving in the same direction," Chino Hills coach Derek Bub said.

The heavyweights of the class will be leading the way - Chaffey returned the entire hulking offensive line that helped it to a Mt. Baldy League title last year - but Chino Hills has a way to combat that.

"It'll be our size," Brown said, "against their athleticism."

Continue reading "Prep football game of the week: Chaffey at Chino Hills" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Offensive MVP - A.J. Johnson, RB, Chino Hills (above)

Defensive Co-MVP - Lawrence Larivee, LB, Sr., Ayala
Defensive Co-MVP - Chad Young, LB, Sr., Glendora

Athlete of the Year - David Quiroga, WR/DB, Sr., Ayala

Continue reading "All-Sierra League football team" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Having narrowly finished second in their leagues - Chino Hills by a one-point loss plus an unfavorable coin flip and Los Osos by an overtime loss to Rancho Cucamonga - the Huskies (10-1) and No. 2 seed Los Osos (9-2) find themselves in a high-profile quarterfinal meeting in the CIF-SS Central Division playoffs. If circumstances were slightly different, Los Osos and UCLA-bound QB Richard Brehaut (above) wouldn't be meeting a one-loss league champion this early in the playoffs.

Continue reading "Chino Hills-Los Osos playoff preview" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

A week removed from a 3-7 season, Scott Morrison was fired as head football coach of Damien High School on Friday. Morrison, a Damien graduate, guided his teams to two Sierra League championships and four playoff appearances in six seasons. Given those accomplishments, Morrison was surprised to be relieved of his duties.

"The administration stepped in because we didn't have a successful enough season," Morrison said. "It's a tough place. You gotta win, and we didn't win this year. We went to the playoffs three years in a row and won two league championships, but apparently that doesn't earn you any wiggle room."

Continue reading "Damien fires football coach" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Glendora beat Ayala 21-14 Thursday night to force a three-way tie atop the Sierra League with Chino Hills having defeated Diamond Bar 34-21 across town.

But Ayala won the postgame coin flip to determine the seeding of the three Sierra League co-champions: Ayala (8-2, 4-1), Chino Hills (9-1, 4-1) and Glendora (7-3, 4-1).

Chino Hills will be the second seed and Glendora the third seed. Chino Hills defeated Glendora 31-29 on Oct. 31.

In the Miramonte League championship game Thursday night, Bonita fell to Charter Oak, 48-10, handing Charter Oak its fifth consecutive league title.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ayala, the only undefeated team in the Sierra League, is playing for an outright league title Thursday night, but the Bulldogs could conceivably end up with the third seed in their league depending on what happens in the final week of the regular season. Here is a categorical breakdown of their matchup with Glendora...

Implications
If Ayala (8-1, 4-0) claims the league championship, it would be the school's first since 2002 and first outright title since 2001. A win for CIF-SS Central Division No. 9 Glendora (6-3, 3-1) means No. 4 Ayala will share the title with at least Glendora and possibly Chino Hills.

Continue reading "Ayala looking out for number one" »

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

Here is a categorical breakdown of the "battle for the bone" as Chino Hills High School football coach Derek Bub dubbed the football game between crosstown rivals, the Ayala Bulldogs and Chino Hills Huskies.

Implications:
The winner of this matchup will obtain at minimum a share of the Sierra League title. If CIF-SS Central Division No. 6 Chino Hills (8-0, 3-0) wins, it will secure an outright league championship. A victory by No. 5 Ayala (7-1, 3-0) will assure it of a share of the league championship, but its regular-season finale against Glendora will have league-title implications if Glendora beats Chino this week.

Continue reading "It's a dog-eat-dog world in Chino Hills" »

Posted by Clay Fowler at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)