Inland Notebook: Chino Hills’ Bub says fourth seed doesn’t assure anything; Farrar sings Vista’s praises, then asked if they can win, says “Hell yeah, put the ball down and let’s go play.”

“It’s like a left and right hook, then maybe a little punch to the gut because if you get into the playoffs you get to go two hours to get your butt kicked and go home. But they think it will be good for CIF.” That’s what Charter Oak coach Lou Farrar said last spring after it was announced the Chargers were moving to the Sierra League and Inland Division. Judging from today’s comments on facing powerhouse Vista Murrieta, nothing’s changed. Farrar compared Vista to Auburn.

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
Chino Hills High School’s celebration after winning the Sierra League didn’t last long this past weekend. The Huskies were made the No. 4 seed in the Inland Division playoffs, then found out their reward would be hosting Corona on Friday night. That’s enough to wipe the small off anybody’s face, according to Huskies coach Derek Bub. (To continue, click thread)


“It’s nice to get seeded, but unfortunately for us, a seed means we’re going to play the fourth team out of the Big VIII,” Bub said. “They’re good enough to win any league around. But in this division, I can’t really look around and say, `I wish we would’ve gotten this team.’

“We’ll play who’s in front of us and see how it works out.”

If you’re wondering why playing a Corona team that finished 5-5 is so bad, then you haven’t seen who the Panthers have played.

Corona’s only nonleague loss was to Mission Viejo. The Panthers then suffered four defeats in league, but the Big VIII is one of the top two or three leagues in the Southland.

Chino Hills can take solace in knowing its nonleague schedule has prepared it well for a situation like this.

The Huskies posted victories over Tesoro and Redlands East Valley, but lost to the same Santiago team that Corona beat in league.

The Huskies won the Sierra League after Claremont lost its final two games of the season. Now comes the pressure of being the league’s only team fans give a chance of winning a first-round game.

“A part of scheduling our nonleague the way we did was we felt like it would give us the ability to know what it’s like to play in big games,” Bub said. “That’s a nice thing going into a game like this. Our players know if they play their style of football, they can play with anybody.”

If the Huskies are to advance, they’ll need another big performance from their defense. Chino Hills is allowing just 14.9 points per game and came up with big efforts against Redlands East Valley and Tesoro, holding those teams to 16 points combined.

“I’ll probably be an upset camper if we walk off the field with a high-scoring game,” Bub said. “That’s not what we’re looking for. I would expect it to be a defensive struggle if our defense can come to play.”

Farrar familiar with foe

Just because Charter Oak will be playing its first-round game two hours from home doesn’t mean that Chargers coach Lou Farrar didn’t spend the weekend learning everything he can about Vista Murrieta.

“I watched their games, watched their head coach being interviewed by the local sports reporter,” he said. “Want to know anything about their program?

“Their team kinda looks a little bit like Auburn. They have a big quarterback who runs well and throws well. He’s an excellent athlete and they surround him with 98 other kids handpicked out of the 400 they have in the program.

“It gets better. They have 25 coaches, 23 of them on campus and nine of them are former head coaches. The principal is a former Pac-10 offensive lineman. But the band won’t be there because they’re away for the week competing for the national championship.”

So, do Farrar’s Chargers have any shot at upsetting the division No. 2 seed?

“Hell yeah,” Farrar said. “Put the ball down and let’s go play.”

The quarterback Farrar is referring to is Vista Murrieta senior Derrick Brown, who is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds.

Obviously, the Cam Newton comparisons are warranted.

Brown has thrown for 1,087 yards and 12 TDs. He’s rushed for 495 yards and nine TDs.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email