Yucaipa on win streak, battles Carter Friday

Photos By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - The Thunderbirds football team has another big game this Friday in their quest to keep their two-game winning streak alive in Citrus Belt League play as they take on Rialto Carter at Carter High School.

After losing its first three CBL games, the Thunderbirds have defeated Fontana, 27-12, and Eisenhower of Rialto, 41-26. Junior quarterback, Wyatt Padgett, a left-handed passer, who can roll out to his right or left with equal passing effectiveness, has been especially impressive of late.

Padgett one of CBL's best
So much so, that Padgett has vaulted on to the CBL leader board as the No. 4 quarterback in passing yardage with 569 yards on 43-of-105 passing, along with 5 touchdown passes. Padgett has spread the ball around to seven receivers.

His favorite targets are Chris Cuaron with 16 receptions for 178 yards and 1 TD; Cody Meservey, 6 receptions for 155 yards, and 2 TD's (Meservey's 3 interceptions put him number three in that category among the league's leaders); and Matt Marnati, 5 receptions for 58 yards and 2 TD's.

Thunderbirds can run the ball
But Yucaipa has moved the ball on the ground as well on the running of Dyllan Malone's 224 yards on 49 carries, and Brandon Leach, 163 yards on 33 carries.

In Friday's match up with Carter, the Lions appear to be a dangerous foe. Carter is just two close losses from being among the league's top teams. They've beaten Rialto, 34-14, and Fontana, 45-29, the two winless teams in the CBL.

But a look at the Lions' losses finds them dropping a close, 3-0, game to the CBL's fourth-place team, Eisenhower at 3-2; and they also lost a tight game to the CBL's number two team, Redlands East Valley (4-1, 7-1), 27-20.

Top four possible
If Yucaipa can get by Carter, they will have one game left in CBL play against last place Rialto at home on Oct. 14. Should the Thunderbirds win out, that would give them a 4-3 CBL record, and a possible shot at a fourth place finish in league play.

Granted, Eisenhower has a 3-1 CBL record, but the Thunderbirds beat them, 41-26, last Friday, and the Eagles have two tough games left in league play as they meet the CBL's top team, A.B. Miller Friday, and finish with Redlands East Valley.

Game time Friday is 7 p.m. at Carter High School in Rialto.

Defensive leaders
On the defensive side of the ball, Yucaipa is led by Meservey with 29 total tackles - including assists; Mickey Negrete and Terryn Thompson with 24 tackles each; Adam Pefley, 22, and Dylan Beregkamp, 21.

Citrus Belt League standings / season record

1. A.B. Miller 4-0, 8-0.


2. REV 4-1, 7-1.


3. Redlands 4-1, 4-4.


4. Eisenhower 3-2, 5-3.


5. Yucaipa 2-3, 3-5.


6. Carter 2-3, 2-6.


7. Rialto 0-5, 1-7.


8. Fontana 0-5, 1-7.