The Riverside Press-Enterprise
TODAY’S CIF-SS FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS
Dates, sites and times listed below are subject to change. DIVISION 2 DAMIEN (8-2) AT MURRIETA VALLEY (7-3), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
Murrieta Valley scored a 35-21victory over crosstown rival Vista Murrieta last week to secure an automatic playoff spot. Bear Bachmeier has thrown for 2,153 yards and 17 touchdowns and added five touchdowns on the ground. Dorian Hoze leads the ground attack for the Nighthawks with 1,123 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ethan Adams and Troy Karg lead the defense with 87 and 82 tackles, respectively. Damien dropped the final two games of the regular season, including a 51-36loss to Etiwanda last week. Isaiah Arriaza has passed for 2,453yards and 25touchdowns, while Ayden Gutierrez has hauled in 46passes for 911yards and nine touchdowns. Freshman Gavin Williams had picked off five passes for the Spartans.
Murrieta Valley
Prediction: UPLAND (8-2) AT LOS ALAMITOS (8-2), 7P.M. IE Varsity:
Upland took down previously-unbeaten Rancho Cucamonga 17-14 last week to secure a share of the Baseline League championship. Noah Sandoval has passed for 1,817 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Trent Dailey has rushed for 844 yards and 13touchdowns. Trestin Castro leads the team with seven touchdown catches and also has three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. Los Alamitos won the Sunset League title and is riding a five-game winning streak. Former San Jacinto players Foster Slaughter and Dre Taylor are on the Griffins’ roster this season.
Los Alamitos
Prediction: DIVISION 3 LEUZINGER (6-4) AT CITRUS VALLEY (7-3), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
Citrus Valley has won six straight games, including a 42-7 victory over Yucaipa last week that put the final touch on the program’s first Citrus Belt League championship. Dawson Martinez has thrown for 643 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for another 380 yards and seven touchdowns in only five games. Ricardo Barrios leads the defense with 126 tackles, and Michael Counce returned two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns. Leuzinger finished second in the Ocean League. Damonte Bias leads the ground attack for the Olympians with 780 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.
Citrus Valley
Prediction: DIVISION 5 SAN JACINTO (6-4) AT LIBERTY (9-1), 7P.M. IE Varsity:
The Mountain Pass League’s top two finishers will meet for the second time in four weeks. Liberty held on for a 40-37victory in the first meeting and went on to claim the league championship. Anthony Ruelas and Andre Skelton combined to rush for 242 yards and three touchdown in the first game against San Jacinto. Eddie Smith is the leader of the Bison defense. San Jacinto looks to win a section title for the second straight season after capturing the Division 6crown last season. Oregonbound
receiver Dillon Gresham, one of the most exciting playmakers in the Inland area, has caught 41passes for 732 yards and 11 touchdowns and returned three kicks for touchdowns. Damere Coleman leads the defense with 80 tackles.
San Jacinto
Prediction: EISENHOWER (9-1) AT ORANGE VISTA (7-3), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
Eisenhower knocked off Grand Terrace 48-26last week to clinch the Sunkist League championship. Daniel Ruiz has thrown for 1,692 yards and 23 touchdowns, and Dashaun Benton is among the Inland area’s leading receivers with 1,148 yards and 16 touchdown receptions. Bernardo Blanco is the team’s top rusher (606 yards) and also leads the defense with 73 tackles and nine sacks. Orange Vista rallied for a 3527win over Rancho Verde last week to secure its second straight Ivy League crown. Khalil Abdul Aziz has passed for 2,479 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Sire Gaines has racked up 933 yards from scrimmage and scored 17touchdowns for the Coyotes. Iese Magalei leads the defense with eight sacks.
Prediction: Orange Vista DIVISION 7 LAKEWOOD (5-5) AT KING (6-4), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
This is a matchup between two teams that finished third in their respective leagues. King is looking to rebound from a 31-14loss to Murrieta Mesa last week. Joshua Harper has thrown for 1,839 yards and 18 touchdowns, and receivers Sam Green and Blake Bowen have combined for 63 receptions for 1,066 yards and 14 touchdowns. Matheus Cunha has five interceptions on the season, including two against Murrieta Mesa. Lakewood has won three straight games, including a 42-7 victory over Compton last week. Kade Casillas has passed for 2,042yards and 18 touchdowns to lead the Lancers.
Prediction: King DIVISION 10 RANCHO CHRISTIAN (7-3) AT HEMET (7-3), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
The Inland Valley League’s top finishers find themselves matched up in the opening round. Hemet came away with a 23-16 victory in the first meeting back in September. Daniel Mendoza leads the ground attack foe Hemet at 79 yards per game, while Tanner Fye tops the defense with 116 tackles and six sacks. Rancho Christian held off Moreno Valley 2012last week to secure a playoff berth. Freshman Blake Nadler has thrown for 1,794 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Jonathan Alexander has caught 46passes for 835yards and 11 touchdowns. Owen Matlock leads the defense with 107 tackles.
Hemet
Prediction: DIVISION 11 SAN GORGONIO (9-1) AT RAMONA (5-5), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
San Gorgonio has won five consecutive games, including a 27-14 victory over Fontana last week that clinched the Skyline championship. Payton Clark has thrown for 2,038 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Dillon Carolina leads the ground attack for the Spartans with 831 yards and 12 touchdowns. John Rubio tops the defense with 119 tackles. Ramona finished fourth in the River Valley League but received an at-large berth into the playoffs. Jeremiah Acosta has passed for 1,558yards and 16 touchdowns, while Sincere Tolbert has rushed for 1,044 yards and 13 touchdowns, Troy Long and Peter Mesa have registered 107and 106 tackles, respectively, for the Rams defense.
Prediction: San Gorgonio HILLCREST (5-5) AT LINFIELD CHRISTIAN (7-3), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
Hillcrest lost its River Valley League opener but bounced back with four straight wins to close out the regular season. Christian Alvarado has thrown for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Alfredo Vences has rushed for 941 yards and nine scores. Mohammed Lahlisi tops the defense with 110tackles, while James Maldonado has added 101 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks. Linfield Christian also won four straight games after dropping its Mesquite League opener. Thomas Paschal has passed for 11,320yards and 13 touchdowns, while Marcus Dylke leads the defense with five interceptions. Jeremy Maloney is one of the top kickers in the Inland area this season, converting all 10 of his field-goal attempts with a long of 48 yards.
Prediction: Hillcrest DIVISION 13 SAN BERNARDINO (6-4) AT BLOOMINGTON (8-2), 7 P.M. IE Varsity:
Fans of run-heavy offenses are sure to enjoy this one. San Bernardino capped the regular season with a 39-12victory over Pacific to secure a share of the Mountain Valley League title. The Cardinals’ tripleoption offense is lead by quarterback Xavier Alvarez, fullback Henry Hernandez and wingback Alec Cooper. Bloomington looks to bounce back from a 27-14loss to San Gorgonio last week. The Bruins; double-wing offense is led by wingback Diego Fraembs, who has rushed for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns. Andrew Padron had added 580 yards on the ground and also leads the team with seven interceptions.