The San Gorgonio Spartans defeated the Cajon Cowboys, 55-7, in the first round of the CIF-SS Inland Division Playoffs. The Spartans will play undefeated Riverside Poly at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at home.
Quarterback Nate Meadors spoke after San Gorgonio’s CIF-SS Inland Division Playoff victory about his first official visit to Boise State and how he will fit in well with the program.
Meadors had 13 carries for 261 yards and four rushing touchdowns against Cajon High. He also went 6 of 14 passing for 122 yards and two passing touchdowns.
Above, a photo from the last time Cajon and San Gorgonio met on the football field, on Sept. 6, 2013 as Cajon’s Edward Kilpatrick tries to break through the San Gorgonio defense.
How big a crowd could be expected for today’s CIF-SS Inland Division matchup, with San Gorgonio hosting Cajon?
“I don’t really know,” San Gorgonio athletic director Matt Maeda said. “We’re the only teams in San Bernardino playing, but REV and Citrus Valley have games, so we won’t get those fans.”
Since San Bernardino schools for years were all in the San Andreas League together, this is uncharted territory to have city schools from different leagues play each other in the playoffs.
Maeda thinks the crowd could rival the biggest in recent years at their stadium.
“It has the potential to be the biggest. The first time REV came here was probably the biggest (in 2009),” Maeda said.
With a large crowd anticipated, both schools are selling tickets in advance at their schools. Both Maeda and Cajon athletic director Rich Imbriani said they pre-sell tickets for games in which a larger crowd is anticipated.
“It’s more of a courtesy for our dedicated fans,” Maeda said. “We have a good following of alumni, and it helps them not to stand in a long line.”
San Gorgonio standout pitcher Hazahel Quijada is in the video above talking about his 1-hit, 12 strikeout performance in the County Clash last spring.
Quijada has chosen to play at UC Riverside, according to San G coach Bill Eatinger.
Last year, as a junior Quijada was 8-3 with a 0.98 ERA, striking out 103 in 57 innings while also batting .400 with 15 RBIs.
The above interview is with Julian Rodriguez after beating Kaiser in a nonleague game.
In a previous post, I wrote about how San Gorgonio could move up.
What I didn’t count on was that teams above the Spartans might not drop below them even if they lose, and teams below them leap-frog San Gorgonio.
I don’t agree with dropping a team for winning, but don’t be surprised if that continues to happen.
“I told people that was going to happen,” Gueringer said. “But I’ll say that we’re not afraid of anyone in the division.”
San Gorgonio (7-1) was ranked fifth last week and defeated second-place Jurupa Hills 52-10. The problem is, No. 6 Riverside Poly upset No. 2 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 59-45. Riverside Poly (8-0) moved up to No. 3, and Rancho Verde (6-2) dropped down only to No. 5, leaving the Spartans at No. 6.
Perhaps even more troubling to Gueringer was the change in polls after Week 5, when only three of the Inland Division top 10 teams played.
San G. entered the week ranked fourth, but dropped to No. 5, swapping spots with Romoland Heritage even though neither team played that week.
The rankings could end up being a big deal, especially if there are as many title contenders in the division as Gueringer thinks, possibly setting up some extra-tough second-round matchups.
My guess now is that teams ranked ahead of San G. will have to lose to unranked teams in order for San G. to leapfrog anyone. And with the strength of the top 6 to 7 teams, that seems unlikely.
This is the time of year when football teams start paying a little closer to CIF-SS rankings. San Gorgonio (5-1) is the overwhelming favorite to win the San Andreas League, but what kind of chance to the Spartans have to move up from their No. 5 ranking in the CIF-SS Inland Division and thus improve their playoff draw?
None of the other San Andreas League teams are ranked, and they shouldn’t expect to be anytime soon, with no one else better than 2-4 entering this week.
So, it comes down to the teams ranked ahead of them losing.
The best chance this week involves No. 4 Perris Citrus Hill, which plays No. 9 San Jacinto. One team ranked ahead of San Gorgonio will play another Top 10 team each week remaining in the season. No. 2 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde plays No. 6 Riverside Poly in Week 8, No. 3 Romoland Heritage plays No. 8 Menifee Paloma Valley in Week 9 and No. 1 Redlands East Valley plays No. 7 Carter in Week 10.
Regardless, the Spartans aren’t going to be afraid of anyone in the playoffs. But with a relatively weak SAL, a favorable playoff draw in the first round or two would reduce the risk of an early upset as the Spartans acclimate themselves to a new playoff division.
Last week, Oak Hills was impressive in knocking off my No. 1 team, San Gorgonio and giving the Spartans their first defeat of the season.
I think this could be good for both parties involved.
Last year, San Gorgonio went into the playoffs with a 10-0 record but came up short in a semifinal loss to Riverside Norte Vista. The Oak Hills game should be the last time the Spartans are tested. Had San G. cruised to a victory, it would not surprise me for San G to lose some intensity, an intensity the Spartans might not get back in time for the latter playoff rounds. The loss makes them realize how vulnerable they are and what they need to do in the long run.
As for Oak Hills, the knock on the Bulldogs is that they’ve been good, but haven’t been able to come through in the big game.
They haven’t beaten perennial Mojave River League rival Serrano yet, and Oak Hills has never been past the second round of the playoffs.
Now, next week’s game against Serrano will be bigger than the San G. game, but the San G. game proved one thing: that Oak Hills can win a big game.
The teams won’t see each other again this year, because they are in different playoff divisions. But they could both look back at that game as important in driving them toward a deep playoff run.
SAN ANDREAS LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL
MVP: L.J. Harris, Sr., San Bernardino
FIRST TEAM
Anthony Banks, Sr., San Bernardino
Jaylen Bowman, Sr., Carter
Romeo Ferguson, Sr., Carter
Leonard Herrera, Sr., Pacific
De’Quan Spencer, Sr., San Gorgonio
SECOND TEAM
Jaywone Draper, Jr., San Bernardino
Reshawn Jackson, So., Rialto
Jalen Jenks, Sr., San Bernardino
Nate Meadors, Jr., San Gorgonio
Duante Williams, Jr., Arroyo Valley
HONORABLE MENTION
Eric Mliner, Fr., Arroyo Valley
Arthur Lincoln, So., Carter
Joey Torres, Jr., Pacific
Donald Nesby, So., Rialto
Aaron James, Jr., San Bernardino
GIRLS BASKETBALL
MVP: Jennifer Gonzalez, Sr., Carter
The first of 4 prep baseball County Clashes at San Manuel Stadium is tomorrow, March 22.
Here is the schedule for each of the series of games:
March 22
Arroyo Valley vs. Carter, 1 p.m.
Kaiser vs. Fontana, 4 p.m.
Yucaipa vs. Miller, 7 p.m.
March 29
Citrus Valley vs. Jurupa Hills, 1 p.m.
Redlands vs. Eisenhower, 4 p.m.
Rialto vs. San Gorgonio, 7 p.m.
April 26
Arrowhead Christian vs. Colony, 1 p.m.
Tahquitz vs. San Jacinto, 4 p.m.
Colton vs. Bloomington, 7 p.m.
May 10
Hemet vs. Beaumont, 1 p.m.
Redlands East Valley vs. Eisenhower, 4 p.m.
Cajon vs. Yucaipa, 7 p.m.
Here are schedules for some of Saturday’s Tournament games
Boys Basketball
San Bernardino Kiwanis
Semifinals
At Arroyo Valley HS
Yucaipa vs. Beaumont, 2 p.m.
Cajon vs. Redlands, 3:30 p.m.
5th place semifinals
At Pacific HS
Redlands East Valley vs. Grand Terrace, 2 p.m.
Jurupa Hills vs. San Gorgonio, 3:30 p.m.
Consolation semifinals
At Arroyo Valley HS
Summit vs. Barstow, 11 a.m.
Pacific vs. Kaiser, 12:30 p.m.
13th place semifinals
At Pacific HS
Rim vs. Arroyo Valley, 11 a.m.
Ramona vs. Indian Springs, 12:30 p.m.
Continue reading “Saturday’s Tournament schedule” »