All eyes are on the Big VIII League showdown between two of Riverside County’s two best teams – Norco and Centennial-Corona.
Over in the next county, San Bernardino, a five-team duel for three Southern Section playoff spots includes Cajon-San Bernardino, Carter-Rialto, Yucaipa, Redlands and defending state Division 2 champion Redlands East Valley.
Norte Vista-Riverside looks like a clear-cut winner of this year’s River Valley League title.
Summit-Fontana has a solid grip on the Sunkist League.
Serrano-Phelan seems like a lock for the Mojave River League, but there’s a nice showdown with faraway Burroughs-Ridgecrest that’s of interest.
Meanwhile, the Inland Empire area teams from both Riverside and San Bernardino counties have some nice regular season-concluding matchups with league titles and Southern Section playoff berths on the line.
Friday night’s Week 10 lineup will be one showdown after another.
AMBASSADOR LEAGUE: The big showdown was a couple weeks ago when Notre Dame-Riverside edged Linfield Christian-Temecula, 16-9, in a battle of unbeaten teams ranked 1-2 in the Northwest Division. Third place Aquinas-San Bernardino (6-3, 3-1) has Notre Dame while Ontario Christian (5-4, 2-2) has Linfield (8-1, 3-1) as its season finale.
BIG VIII: No one would have it any other way – Centennial-Corona (9-0, 4-0) going up against perennial stalwart Norco (8-1, 4-0) for the No. 1 spot. All eyes will be on this game. A few folks might show up for Santiago-Corona (4-5, 2-2) taking on Roosevelt-Eastvale (2-7, 1-3) in hopes of notching second place. But if the Sharks lose and Corona (5-4, 1-3) knocks off King-Riverside (3-6, 0-4), then there’s a tie for third.
CITRUS BELT: Five teams going for three, and possibly four, Southern Section Inland Division playoff berths on Friday.
Redlands and Carter-Rialto, both 4-2 in league play, are set to settle third place with a 7 p.m. showdown on Friday night.
Meanwhile, CBL co-leader with Cajon-San Bernardino (8-1, 5-1), Redlands East Valley (7-2, 5-1) plays at Yucaipa (7-2, 4-2), with the Thunderbirds hoping to gain a share of third place by knocking off state defending Division 2 champion REV.
DESERT SKY: If Adelanto (3-6, 2-1) can come up with a win over Barstow (8-1, 3-0) and Silverado-Victorville (5-4, 2-1) knocks off Granite Hills-Apple Valley (1-8, 0-3), there will be a three-way deadlock for this year’s league title.
MT. BALDY: It could end any sweeter for this league outcome since Colony-Ontario (5-3, 4-0) and Don Lugo-Chino (5-4, 4-0) will duke it out for the title. There’s another battle brewing for third place with Alta Loma (4-6, 2-2) deadlocked with Chaffey-Ontario (7-2, 2-2). The winner buys its way into the Central Division playoffs.
MOUNTAIN PASS: Citrus Hill-Perris (7-2, 4-0) has notched another league championship with San Jacinto (7-2, 3-1) a strong second, but Hemet (5-4, 2-2) plays at Beaumont (3-6, 2-2) for third place – an Inland Division playoff berth on the line.
MOUNTAIN VALLEY: A city rivalry between Moreno Valley and Vista del Lago, both 4-0, will decide this year’s league championship. Meanwhile, Jurupa Valley Rubidoux and Banning – both have beaten Pacific-San Bernardino and San Bernardino, but lost to MoVal and Vista – will settle third place and that elusive Eastern Division berth.
MOJAVE RIVER: Here’s the scenario: Burroughs (4-5, 3-1) knocks off Serrano (7-2, 4-0) and Oak Hills Hesperia (4-5, 3-1) stops Hesperia (3-6, 1-3), leaving a tri-league title.
RIVER VALLEY: Norte Vista (8-1, 4-0) has claimed another league title with Ramona (7-2, 3-1) as runner-up, but try this on for size: Hillcrest (5-4, 2-2), playing only its second season of varsity football, is going for an Eastern Division playoff berth if the Trojans can knock off Patriot (3-6, 2-2) for third place.
SAN ANDREAS: San Gorgonio-San Bernardino has claimed its third straight league title and Jurupa Hills-Fontana will claim second place, but third place will likely belong to Rim of the World-Crestline (3-6, 2-2) which takes on winless Rialto, while Indian Springs-San Bernardino (3-6, 2-2) takes on San G.
SOUTHWESTERN: No team has beaten Coley Candaele’s Vista Murrieta (8-1, 4-0) team during league play in years, while last place Temecula Valley (4-5, 0-4) probably won’t win on Friday, either. Interesting battle for second place though: Great Oak-Temecula (5-4, 3-1) has Murrieta Valley (7-2, 3-1) on the road to crack that deadlock.
