Jeremy Topete steps down as Hesperia football coach

The high school football regular season has ended, but the first coaching domino has fallen as Hesperia coach Jeremy Topete has stepped down after seven seasons at the helm of the Scorpions.
Topete said his resignation had nothing to do with the incident last week in which Hesperia players vandalized the Oak Hills field and Hesperia ended up forfeiting the game.
“This is something I had talked to my athletic director a month ago,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. The administration and staff has given a lot of support.”
Hesperia High logo
Topete said he is planning on spending more time with his family, which includes two sons, ages 9 and 7.
“I’ve been devoting my time to other kids for the last 18 years,” Topete said. “Now I need to spend more time with my own.”
Topete said he plans on continuing to teach at Hesperia and will “take a year off” from coaching. He did not say he would definitely coach again, only that he would consider it after a year.
Topete compiled a 25-48 record in seven seasons after taking over the program when Robert Kistner left to become the first head coach at Oak Hills. He led the Scorpions to the playoffs in 2013 and 2014 (winning a playoff game), and was 3-7 this year.
He said he hopes last week’s incident doesn’t mar how people view his tenure at the school.
“The people around us know the good things we’ve done,” Topete said. “It’s not about one incident of a prank that went too far.”
Topete said he got positive reaction after forfeiting last week’s game.
“The reaction I got was nothing but positive, texts from people,” he said.

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Hesperia football forfeits game against Oak Hills after vandalism

The Hesperia football program will forfeits tonight’s Mojave River League game against Oak Hills after a group of Hesperia student-athletes vandalized the football stadium, according to the Victor Valley Daily Press.

In the report, Bulldogs’ head coach Robert Kistner said the Hesperia players had spray-painted an expletive on the field, defecated in the bleachers and egged the Oak Hills’ press box.

The Bulldogs conclude the regular season at 5-5 overall and 4-1 in Mojave River League play. The Scorpions finish at 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the MRL.

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Staying level-headed a key for Hesperia, Yucaipa

This week among the conversations I had with coaches were ones with Hesperia’s Jeremy Topete and Yucaipa’s Justin Price.

I wasn’t able to write anything about it in a prep football notebook, but wanted to mention some of the thoughts in a blog post.

Both coaches have a similar problem: they want to keep their team on an even keel, but they are coming at it from different sides.

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Boys soccer playoff pairings

Oak Hills, a freelance team without seniors in its first year, grabbed the No. 1 seed in Division 6, a pretty heady accomplishment for a young program. Hesperia notched the No. 2 seed in Division 5 as well, while Division 3 is a who’s who of county teams. Wild Card games will be played Wednesday, with the first round starting Friday.

DIVISION 3
Wild Card
A: Cathedral City at Rialto
B: Santa Ynez at Saugus
C: Chaffey at Great Oak
D: Redlands East Valley at Anaheim
E: Miller at Bloomington
F: Temecula Valley at Nogales
G: Ontario at Indio
H: Lynwood at Pioneer.

First Round
Wild Card A at Chaparral
West Covina at Savanna
Wild Card B at Paramount
California at Garey
Wild Card C at Fontana
Warren at Lompoc
Kaiser at La Quinta
Wild Card D at Canyon Country Canyon
Wild Card E at Coachella Valley
Valencia at Santa Maria
Downey at El Rancho
Wild Card F at Montclair
Wild Card G at Norte Vista
Murrieta Valley at Redlands
Lompoc Cabrillo at Rowland
Wild Card H at Santa Ana Valley.

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Week 10 high school picks

A three-loss week is a good way to go into the finale. With some of these games starting in 90 minutes or less, time to man up and make some picks.

Redlands East Valley at Redlands
This isn’t until tomorrow, but a crosstown rivalry between the No. 1 and No. 5 teams in the area, who are both undefeated in league going into the league finale, is going to get top billing. That’s the way it is. REV has never won three in a row against the Terriers and Dodge Field should be rocking for the first-ever on-campus meeting between the two. However, I think REV has too many weapons.
Redlands East Valley 24, Redlands 17

Etiwanda at Rancho Cucamonga
The battle of teams upset by Los Osos (guess it’s disingenuous to call them upsets now) should be a high-scoring doozy, as both of these teams can score from any point of the field. Of course, I said the same thing before Upland and Rancho played in the regular-season finale last year, only to see a 13-2 game in gale-force winds. Barring a hurricane, this should be fun.
Rancho Cucamonga 41, Etiwanda 32

Ayala at Glendora
Ayala has lost two in a row, with a third loss in a row likely sealing a playoff-less fate. Glendora has the capability of rising up, as its already defeated Chino Hills this season. Ayala hasn’t fared well against quality competition, which the Tartans certainly are. I’m taking Glendora.
Glendora 23, Ayala 14

Riverside Patriot at Summit
This is the game I’ll be at in less than 90 minutes, as for the second straight year Summit has a live-or-die Thursday night game. They made a spirited comeback to beat Bloomington in this spot next year, but shouldn’t need one this time around. Summit finishes the job.
Summit 31, Patriot 20

Granite Hills at Barstow
One of two live-or-die Desert Sky League games, as the Aztecs are faced with being shut out of the playoffs a year after going to the CIF final if they lose to Granite Hills, which has already won more games this season than any other time in school history. Even though Barstow’s previous three losses have come at home, I’m going with the Aztecs in this spot.
Barstow 26, Granite Hills 21

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Victor Valley
The other DSL elimination game has the resurgent Jackrabbits, fresh off a one-point victory at Barstow, playing the battle-tested Burros. This has been a year of big steps for Victor Valley, which has taken down rivals Apple Valley and Barstow. Add ‘making the playoffs’ to those steps.
Victor Valley 24, Ridgecrest Burroughs 19

Ontario Christian at Aquinas
For the 8th straight year, this game is going to decide the Christian League title. Both of these teams have had their share of ups and downs to get to this point, but all is good in the Christian League world apparently. It’s been good for the Falcons in this matchup the last two years and I think it will be again, as Aquinas has too many weapons for the Knights.
Aquinas 35, Ontario Christian 17

Garey at Don Lugo
The Vikings have had quite a resurgence and have the horses to come in and upset Don Lugo, which boasts two elite players in DT George Uko and DB/RB Steven Bethley. Garey has some players, but I have a feeling that they’ll have to wait a year for their turn.
Don Lugo 27, Garey 17

Apple Valley at Hesperia
League play has been rocky for both of these schools, but things have fallen to where winning this game will make things a heck of a lot more enjoyable for one of the two. Apple Valley has just missed the playoffs the last two years and should finish the job this time around.
Apple Valley 34, Hesperia 16

Cajon at Arroyo Valley
Seems weird to have an SAL game this far down on the list, but there’s no league championship or playoff invitation being settled in this matchup – just second and third place. However, this will be a fun game to watch, as junior QBs Thomas Carter (Cajon) and Michael Yearwood (Arroyo Valley) should star. I’ll go with the Cowboys in a close one.
Cajon 30, Arroyo Valley 27

Other games of note:

Los Osos 45, Alta Loma 6
Upland 23, Claremont 10
Miller 53, Eisenhower 20
Yucaipa 37, Carter 34
Fontana 28, Rialto 14
Big Bear 20, Desert Hot Springs 16
Yucca Valley 24, Desert Mirage 13
Serrano 48, Sultana 0
Colony 45, Montclair 7
Chaffey 38, Ontario 0
Colton 60, Pacific 0
San Gorgonio 48, San Bernardino 31
Chino Hills 41, Diamond Bar 10
Damien 37, Chino 6
Kaiser 51, Jurupa Valley 0
Norte Vista 34, Bloomington 14
Arrowhead Christian 20, Boron 18
Oak Hills 55, Citrus Valley 6

Week: 25-3
Overall: 226-58

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