11/21/2009Strong play puts Redlands on top Redlands High School, showing nothing but skill and precision against visiting Moreno Valley Valley View on Friday night, scored its first post-season win in three years, 35-7.
It wasn't just Cameron Villalobos powering his way to 182 yards rushing, including three touchdown runs, for Redlands in the Inland Division playoff opener.GREAT ONE TO VERY END Peter Keks quickly realized the game would come down to his right foot, and, more importantly, his nerves.
Both proved to be steady as a rock, as Keks drilled a 25-yard field goal as time expired to lift Temecula Chaparral past Eastvale Roosevelt, 36-33, Friday night in a thrilling Inland Division first-round playoff game.
Summit topples unbeaten Citrus Hill The Fontana Summit High football team played up the David vs. Goliath theme so much this week that SkyHawks coach Tony Barile had a slingshot in his pocket.
The motivational ploy paid off splendidly as Summit upset Perris Citrus Hill, 48-36, in a CIF-Southern Section playoff opener, ending the Hawks' state-best 38-game winning streak.Arlington's Reid gets 'redemption' As doomsday scenarios go, this was the Murrieta Valley Nighthawks' worst nightmare.
Their star quarterback sat on the bench with an icepack wrapped around his broken left clavicle. Their top running back wasn't in uniform as a result of a high ankle sprain. Their head coach wasn't even allowed in the stadium, suspended after getting ejected the previous week for arguing a call.
Vista Murrieta comes from behind to beat Corona Santiago, 38-17 The Vista Murrieta Broncos, trailing 17-10 late in the second quarter, scored 28 unanswered points to defeat Corona Santiago, 38-17, Friday night in the first round of the CIF Inland Division playoffs.
Junior quarterback Derrick Brown led Vista Murrieta (11-0), throwing for 224 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 96 yards on 16 carries.Rancho Verde bolts to victory If there were any doubts that Moreno Valley Rancho Verde was ready for the playoffs, Laron Jackson took care of them early.
The speedy senior running back burst through the Temecula Great Oak defense for a 65-yard run on the third play of Friday's Inland Division playoff opener, and the Mustangs cruised to a 58-17 victory.
Braves' ball control too much for Titans The game plan for Riverside Norte Vista is simple. Hold the ball as long as possible, and wear out the opponent by sheer force. And with the exception of one quarter, it worked like a charm Friday night.
The Braves dominated the clock and held off a third-quarter charge to defeat Riverside Notre Dame, 36-21, in a CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division first-round playoff game.
Special group lifts Linfield When the speakers cut out halfway into the national anthem Friday night, the Temecula Linfield Christian fans didn't leave singer Karen Raftery hanging.
They promptly joined her and collectively let it be known that we reside in the land of the free and the home of the brave.West Valley's run over The game had been in Ronald Douglas' hands for most of the second half Friday. Finally, he took it home.
Douglas, the workhorse tailback for Ontario Chaffey, capped a dominant second half with a 73-yard touchdown run as the Tigers eliminated Hemet West Valley, 34-21, in the first round of the Central Division playoffs.Colton rushes to a rout Colton football coach Harold Strauss said his team's success was a matter of presenting opposing defenses with the challenge of stopping two outstanding running backs.
The Yellowjackets won their 10th consecutive game Friday night, defeating Chino Don Lugo, 53-3, in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Central Division playoffs.Centennial quickly back to its winning ways Senior tailback Denzel Hawkins ran for three short-yardage touchdowns, and Corona Centennial scored 36 unanswered points in the first half en route to a 53-20 victory Friday night over Fontana Miller in a CIF Inland Division first round game.Norco rambles past Carter in playoff opener The Norco offensive line was as good in person Friday as it looked on film, much to the chagrin of Rialto Carter coach Alex Pierce, who saw his team run over by the Cougars, 48-14, in the first round of the CIF Inland Division playoffs.
We want to know more ... and perhaps turn that player into an all-star.
Yes, we have that power!11/21/2009Ageless referees stay close to the game The back judge threw a flag in the defensive secondary, then ran back toward the line of scrimmage, outpacing several of the San Jacinto and Menifee Heritage football players.
Nothing unusual about that, except, perhaps, that the official was 70-year-old Dave Duarte, looking agile enough to run his own pass pattern.11/19/2009Closing book on coaching career Two large men already occupied the snug office of Colton High football coach and athletic director Harold Strauss. When another shoe-horned himself in, the place became downright cramped.
Strauss' office is as small as his accomplishments are large.11/20/2009Quest for repeat is over With the match already decided, Maddie Loomis' teammates gathered above the court and loudly cheered her every point.
The senior with the patient, effective game dug deep to win her final high school set. But the bittersweet solo victory couldn't extend her team's title defense past Thursday's semifinals.Staricka finished at San Bernardino Former San Bernardino High girls basketball coach Damian Staricka said he has been reassigned as a teacher to San Bernardino Cajon High and informed that he will not resume his duties as the Cardinals' coach.
"I went into a meeting with Yolanda Ortega (of the San Bernardino City Unified School District) and was told that I was being involuntarily transferred," Staricka said by phone Thursday.Royals on path toward history It's not easy making history.
The Woodcrest Christian boys cross country team, hampered all season by vicious, lingering cases of flu, is as healthy as it's been all season entering Saturday's CIF-Southern Section Cross Country Championships at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.11/19/2009Batdorf, Bruich selected to coach all-star game Riverside Norte Vista's Ken Batdorf and Redlands East Valley's Kurt Bruich have been chosen as coaches for the 25th Inland Empire All-Star Football Classic.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Corona High. This will be the 12th contest using the format of Riverside vs. San Bernardino counties. Riverside leads the series, 6-5, including a 38-7 victory this past January.Nighthawks earn shot at revenge Murrieta Valley High's Trent Virgil took a pass in front of the net, whirled and whisked the ball past La Verne Damien goalkeeper Walter Shockley into the cage.
Game of the week: Roosevelt at Chaparral Eastvale Roosevelt coach Bill Stacy believes he has two quarterbacks capable of leading the upstart program to its first playoff victory.
Stacy can choose only one, however, and the starting nod this week will go to senior Harold Mobley over sophomore Aaron Crone.Banning football coach resigns Banning coach John Stockham confirmed Wednesday he has resigned after three seasons.
Undefeated Redlands East Valley and Vista Murrieta remained 1-2 in the poll, while Colton moved up and both Roosevelt and Arlington joined this week's Top 10. Area CIF-SS football schedule (updated) CIF-Southern Section football playoff schedule for 11-man first round games and 8-man quarterfinals involving area teams.REV returns to volleyball finals Faced with a familiar semifinal foe, the Redlands East Valley girls volleyball team came through with a familiar result Tuesday, defeating Torrance Bishop Montgomery to advance to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA finals for the third consecutive year.
Elsinore a step closer to history "Uno más," the student section exuberantly chanted each and every time the Elsinore girls volleyball team arrived at game point.
The Tigers delivered the winning points and now stand "one more" victory away from making history.Lions reach semis in tennis The doubles team of Juniors Deanna Gomez and Lilian Le swept all their matches for the Riverside Arlington girls tennis team as the host Lions topped Santa Ana Crossroads, 13-5, in a CIF-Southern Section Division 5 quarterfinal Tuesday.
Gomez and Le won all three sets by a score of 6-1.
"They played very well and carried us," Lions coach Eric Biddle said by phone.They're packing it up for the year Just one year removed from playing for a section championship, Redlands Packinghouse Christian Academy has dropped girls basketball for this season.
"We didn't have enough girls come out, just five or six," said Michelle Conner, the school's registrar.
Only four current coaches in Riverside County have had longer tenures with their schools. No Hemet football coach in the program's history had a longer tenure.11/16/2009Three area teams get top seeds in football The look on Kurt Bruich's face didn't reflect a football coach whose team had received the top seed in the Inland Division.
Perhaps Bruich already had put on his "game face" for Redlands East Valley's first-round playoff contest against Riverside La Sierra. That muddled gaze more likely had something to do with what could lie ahead for the undefeated Wildcats.CIF-SS football playoff pairings (Note: All games initially scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. Sites and times could be changed later in the week.)INLAND DIVISION
Riverside La Sierra (6-4) vs. No. 1 Redlands East Valley (10-0) at University of Redlands; Eastvale Roosevelt (8-2) at Temecula Chaparral (7-3); Fontana Miller (5-5) at Corona Centennial (8-2); Temecula Great Oak (6-4) at No. 4 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0).11/15/2009Elsinore overpowering in quarters win When asked to compare this year's team with the one that played for a section title back in 2006, Elsinore girls volleyball coach Kim Horton quickly answered, "More offensive."
That offensive firepower was on full display Saturday night as the Tigers swept Agoura Oak Park, 25-10, 25-16, 25-12, in a Division 2A quarterfinal match.
Santiago boys water polo falls, 10-9 The Corona Santiago boys water polo team had a two-game lead going into the fourth quarter of its Division 4A quarterfinal match, but Villa Park scored four fourth-quarter goals to take a 10-9 victory on Saturday.
Evan Vardayou and Reese Vardayou led Santiago (22-7) with three goals apiece.
Girls Volleyball11/14/2009Wildcats too tough There's just something about the Smudge Pot game against rival Redlands that brings out the best in Josh Armstrong.
The Redlands East Valley defensive back, for the second season in a row, stymied the Terriers with his three quick-handed interceptions in a 37-7 victory before 6,000-plus fans at Dodge Field.
Citrus Hill runs win string to 38 Hemet Tahquitz High School, fighting for a shot at the CIF Eastern Conference playoffs, threw a giant scare into streaking Perris Citrus Hill on Friday night.
While the unbeaten Hawks (10-0) won their 38th straight game in a 20-17 thriller, the Titans (4-6, 3-4) lost their slim chance at a CIF playoff berth.
The running back from San Bernardino Public Safety Academy -- a private school for aspiring police and fire fighters -- is supine on a park bench, bypassing the team meal.Broncos battle back, end season undefeated If playing its rival weren't enough to put Vista Murrieta on "upset alert," a quick double-digit deficit certainly did the trick.
Vista Murrieta answered the wake-up call Friday night and rallied to defeat visiting Murrieta Valley 32-17 to claim sole possession of the Southwestern League title.
Extra points give win This was Valley View's night to make the playoffs for the first time in five years, but Ramona did not make it easy.
With his team down four points and time expiring, Ramona quarterback Zach Adkins was in position to throw his fifth touchdown of the night from the 13-yard line. His target was Chris Moberg, who had already caught a 55-yard pass on the drive that put the Rams in scoring position.Crone lifts Mustangs Sophomore Aaron Crone threw for three touchdowns in the second half -- including a 97-yard pass play to senior receiver Austin Hill -- as Eastvale Roosevelt defeated Riverside King, 27-18, on Friday night to secure the No. 3 seed from the Big VIII League.
Starting in place of injured senior Harold Mobley, Crone completed all eight of his second-half passes and finished 15 of 20 for a career-high 346 yards.
Great start gives Chaparral a cushion Temecula Chaparral jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead and looked like a team on a mission, ready to start next week's playoffs on a roll.
But the Pumas' year-long inconsistency almost got the best of them as Temecula Great Oak rallied in the second half, only to fall, 35-21, in the final Southwestern League contest for both teams.Norco runs for 592 to wrap up title Air Norco was grounded after the first play Friday. Wide-open Deantre Lewis dropped a potential 77-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Valoria.
The Cougars went the rest of the way on the ground, rolling up 592 yards and eight touchdowns to beat visiting Riverside Poly, 56-20, to clinch the Big VIII League title outright.Football standingsLaguna Beach beats Great Oak Laguna Beach defeated Temecula Greak Oak, 14-5, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 boys water polo quarterfinals Friday.
Patrick Fullerton led Great Oak (15-16) with two goals, and Steven Day made eight saves.Centennial recovers quickly to beat Corona Corona Centennial couldn't avenge last week's heartbreaking loss to Norco, so the Huskies took their frustrations out on Corona.
Centennial scored 28 consecutive points and rolled to a 42-29 victory over Corona in a Big VII League season finale Friday night. The Huskies clinched second place in league with the win.Tigers roar past Lancers The Lake Elsinore Tigers won in convincing fashion Friday night, beating the Lake Elsinore Lakeside Lancers, 48-13, to secure another Sunbelt League championship.
Led by running back Linden Sidoryk's 143 rushing yards and four touchdowns, the Tigers (8-2, 4-1) withstood early Lancer momentum to turn the game into a rout.Carter races into playoffs It was special for Rialto Carter to make the CIF playoffs, and the Lions made the playoffs in large part thanks to their special teams.
Matthew Williams and Damian Robinson each returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and Joshua Trotter recovered a fumble and raced 38 yards for a touchdown to lead Carter to a 28-7 victory over Yucaipa in Citrus Belt League football on Friday night.Cajon a team on the run Facing an opponent with a big-play offense, San Bernardino Cajon did what it does best Friday night.
But Derrick Hawkins' 7-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes to play capped a wild fourth quarter as the Sharks rallied to defeat Riverside North, 38-34, Thursday night in a Big VIII League game.
Temecula Valley golfer places 2nd Temecula Valley senior Veronica "Ronnie" Valerio made life pretty easy on herself Thursday at the CIF-Southern Section individual girls golf finals at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente.
She stuck one approach shot after another en route to a 3-under-par 69 that earned her second place, 2 shots behind champion Emily Tubert, of Burbank Burroughs.Etiwanda edges Rancho Cucamonga in OT, 27-24 Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda earned at least a share of the Baseline League football championship, thanks to a couple of huge plays from unexpected sources.
Defensive back Cameron Hewitt and wide receiver Gary Ayala, both seniors, made the difference in the Eagles' 27-24 overtime victory against defending league and CIF Central Division champion Rancho Cucamonga.Summit claims playoff spot Junior quarterback Devon Blackmon passed and ran for a touchdown as Fontana Summit defeated Riverside Patriot, 35-12, Thursday night at Rubidoux High School to clinch the last Sunkist League playoff berth.
Blackmon completed 6 of 10 pass attempts for 138 yards and also gained 48 yards on four carries.
Miller routs Eisenhower Fontana Miller ran past visiting Rialto Eisenhower on Thursday, 52-12, in a Citrus Belt League game.
Senior running back David Dash ran for three touchdowns and 215 yards for the Rebels (5-5, 5-2), while quarterback Juan Flores threw for 150 yards and ran for 120.
Kenneth Bell had one touchdown catch to go with a pair of TD runs, and Cory Gayles got in on the action with a 7-yard TD run.11/12/2009Redlands LB Gonzales gets second chance Before Redlands High junior linebacker Paul Gonzales received a certificate of participation for playing on a football team, he first received awards for completing an anger management course and a juvenile intervention program.
Gonzales spent eight hours in county jail in San Bernardino, along with about 50 other youth offenders, being "scared straight" by actual inmates.
11/11/2009Big news on signing day Rancho Verde's Kyle Fuller is one of more than 60 athletes from Inland high schools who are making their college choices official during the early signing period which began Wednesday and ends Nov. 18.
"He said a 6-foot-9 kid from Canada had transferred in," Rettinger said by phone.
Not just any 6-9 kid, but one of the top 100 recruits in the 2010 class, according to various recruiting Web sites. The player, forward/center James Johnson, played two years in Alberta, and then moved to San Diego, then Wildomar. He was not eligible to play at San Diego Morse High last season, due to his wanderlust.11/12/2009Smudge Pot game full of drama As if the Smudge Pot rivalry game between Redlands and Redlands East Valley weren't already big enough, this season a perfect storm of circumstances has combined to send the normally genteel former citrus hub of Redlands into a near-frenzy for Friday's 7 p.m. game at Dodge Field.Key football games Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda vs. Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana Summit vs. Riverside Patriot and Murrieta Valley vs. Vista Murrieta are among the key football games in the last week of the regular season.6,000 seats might not be enough The city of Redlands is at a fever pitch for Friday's 7 p.m. Smudge Pot rivalry game between Redlands East Valley (9-0, 6-0) and host Redlands (8-1, 6-0).
The game, for the Citrus Belt League title, will be played for the first time at Redlands' new Dodge Field.Great Oak tops water polo winners The Temecula Great Oak boys water polo team trailed briefly in the first period but pulled away to beat Redlands East Valley, 15-12, on Wednesday in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.
All sports, with the exception of football, soccer, cross country, track and field and boys water polo, are included in this initial signing period.11/11/2009CIF playoffs roundup: Norco defeats Tustin in water polo Senior Erick Thompson scored five goals as Norco defeated Tustin, 14-9, in a Division 2 first-round boys water polo match Tuesday.
Thompson netted three goals in the second quarter to help the Cougars take an 8-4 lead at halftime. Senior Mikey Robinson added a goal and three assists in the quarter for Norco (20-10).
Robinson, Geoff Wacker and Jared Schurkman all finished the match with three goals.High School Scoreboard for Nov. 1011/09/2009Inspirational presence The Corona Centennial girls volleyball team will make its first CIF playoff appearance since 2006, and on its bench will be one player who is as much a part of the team as any starter or kills leader.
Megan Bloomfield, a 17-year-old senior, made it a priority to be with her team this season as she recovered from surgery to remove a golf-ball-sized tumor next to her brain stem. 11/10/2009Arlington earns No. 1 seeding Defending CIF-Southern Section girls tennis champion Riverside Arlington received the No. 1 seed in the Division 5 section playoffs released today.
The Lions (19-1) are the Inland Valley League champions. They will host the winner of today's wild-card game between Oxnard Santa Clara and Los Angeles Milken Community at 2 p.m. Thursday.Team catching bus, boat There will be no cruise-like frivolity for San Bernardino Public Safety Academy football coach Walt Snyder this weekend for his team's opening-round playoff game, the school's first postseason contest.11/09/2009REV gets top seed in volleyball The Redlands East Valley girls volleyball team might experience a little déjÀ vu over the coming weeks.
Redlands East Valley was given the top seed and an opening-round bye in the Division 2AA bracket when the CIF-Southern Section unveiled its playoff pairings Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats (27-3) will play host to Pasadena La Salle or Chino Hills Ayala in Thursday's second round.Murrieta Valley earns top seed Murrieta Valley received the top seed in the Division 3 boys water polo bracket as the CIF-Southern Section released it playoff pairings Sunday afternoon.
The Nighthawks have reached the championship match each of past four seasons, but they have prevailed only once (2007). Each loss was a one-goal decision.
Murrieta Valley plays host to Yucaipa or Glendora in Wednesday's first round.Week 10 high school schedule11/07/2009Roosevelt knocks off North Scratch one more item off of Eastvale Roosevelt’s checklist, and close the book on Riverside North’s playoff streak.
Peter Keks quickly realized the game would come down to his right foot, and, more importantly, his nerves.
Two large men already occupied the snug office of Colton High football coach and athletic director Harold Strauss. When another shoe-horned himself in, the place became downright cramped.
Murrieta Valley High's Trent Virgil took a pass in front of the net, whirled and whisked the ball past La Verne Damien goalkeeper Walter Shockley into the cage. 
There are a number of changes in the latest HSGameTime prep football rankings but not at the top. 
Faced with a familiar semifinal foe, the Redlands East Valley girls volleyball team came through with a familiar result Tuesday, defeating Torrance Bishop Montgomery to advance to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA finals for the third consecutive year.
When asked to compare this year's team with the one that played for a section title back in 2006, Elsinore girls volleyball coach Kim Horton quickly answered, "More offensive."
There's just something about the Smudge Pot game against rival Redlands that brings out the best in Josh Armstrong.
Junior quarterback Devon Blackmon passed and ran for a touchdown as Fontana Summit defeated Riverside Patriot, 35-12, Thursday night at Rubidoux High School to clinch the last Sunkist League playoff berth.
Before Redlands High junior linebacker Paul Gonzales received a certificate of participation for playing on a football team, he first received awards for completing an anger management course and a juvenile intervention program.
Rancho Verde's Kyle Fuller is one of more than 60 athletes from Inland high schools who are making their college choices official during the early signing period which began Wednesday and ends Nov. 18.
Temecula Valley golfer Veronica 'Ronnie' Valerio is among more than 70 area athletes who are using the early signing one week period to sign with colleges.
The Corona Centennial girls volleyball team will make its first CIF playoff appearance since 2006, and on its bench will be one player who is as much a part of the team as any starter or kills leader.