A-Rod as centaur laughable

While doing my normal parusing of the New York Post I was caught laughing out loud at this story.

Allegedly, Alex Rodriguez has a painting portraying himself as half-man, half-horse. And it hangs on the wall above his bed.

Is this not the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard?

What kind of clown does something like that (if it is true)? How both tasteless and wasteful, at the same time.

And how fitting, on Halloween, that even the Alex Rodriguez knows he is a characturture of something not quite human.

Prep Impressions: Week 8

I covered the Norco-Riverside King varsity football game for the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2009 and came away thinking Norco has little more to offer, offensively, than its two very exceptional running backs.

And the are very exceptional. Watch a video from the game here.

Senior Deantre Lewis (6-foot, 194) and junior Kelsey Young (5-11, 192) comprise the finest pair of running backs that I’ve seen this season (not named Deontae and Deontrae Cooper). Lewis and Young are better than Corona Centennial’s Denzel Hawkins and Dion Bass. Better than Riverside North’s E.J. Schexnayder and Sadale Foster. Better than Riverside Poly’s Ryan Salgado and Jaron Farmer.

On Thursday, the two combined for more than 400 yards on the ground on exactly 40 carries. For you non-mathematicians that’s 10.0 yards per carry. Some guys can do that over 10 or 15 carries… but 40?!?!

Speaking of 40, Young’s first carry went for 40 yards and he finished with eight carries of 10-or-more yards while Lewis had six carries of 10-or-more yards. Usually running out wide, Young and Lewis turn a corner quick and accelerate quicker. They turned what would be short gains into much, much more.

In truth, it’s little wonder why Norco throws the ball at all. (The Cougars attempted just four passes the entire game.) With Lewis and Young averaging a first down per rush, it just makes sense to give them the ball as often as possible.

Norco was up by the final margin by the start of the fourth quarter and penalties started to fly. I asked Norco’s coach, Todd Gerhart, about the way was being called at that point.

“You ain’t getting me in trouble. I’m not touching that,” Gerhart said. “You can see for your own eyes.”

Norco, which owned the final possession, was resigned to taking a knee on the last play of the game.

On the opposite sideline, King’s Todd Handley played well but was — at best — the third best back on the field. To his credit, his lengthy touchdown run in the third quarter included two sweet spin moves that made Norco defenders reach and miss.

COACHES QUOTES –

Norco’s Todd Gerhart:
“Time of possession, truthfully, because they possess the ball in their offense and we had to make sure that when we had the ball that we were gonna put something down the field. I didn’t think we were going to get more than six possessions in the game. I think we got up to nine. It was a much better… and the turnovers hurt them. In their offense when they’ve got a turnover — the interception, the kickoff return — that’s what I think the difference was. Our guys, we have some banged up guys, ankle, you can see our guys — they’re kind banged up — but they did a nice job. I think King did a nice job, too. They made us work. We’d been struggling on defense so 13 points is a good job for us.”

King’s Ken Mushinskie:
“It was a typical Norco team. They came out and played smash-mouth football. The third quarter — and all the fourth quarter — they really played more physical than us. Their O Line did such and outstanding job blocking our defense and getting up on our backers and move their feet. It’s hard when you’re playing a very good athletic and physical team. They have three great running backs, a quarterback with a very live arm. It’s a tough set. There’s a reason why they’re 7-1 and they could very well be 8-0. We still have a lot of work to do on our offense. I think we did a good job to open up the second half, driving the ball down and getting on the board. The reverse, the kickoff return reverse that Lewis scored, obviously changed momentum. Then we get to ball back and we fumble. I think we started to hang our heads a little bit. That’s something we cannot do and has been something we have not done all year. It’s why I’m so proud of these kids. You know, they fought till the end but tonight Norco was definitely a better group and I tip my hat to Norco coach Gerhart. Especially for the class they showed at the end — taking a knee like that.”

15… for 10/29/09

I took a step back from my best week (13-2 in Week 6) to go 13-2 in Week 7. I got both the Rancho Cucamonga-Los Osos and Vista Murrieta-Chaparral games wrong, go figure. I could’ve been 14-1! Oh well. There are playoff implications abound this week. The Fontana Miller-Redlands game should be a doozy. Both schools are 4-0 in the Citrus Belt League. I’m covering the Norco-Riverside King game on Thursday night for the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Game time is 7 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL:

Ridgecrest Burroughs at Victorville Silverado – Junior QB Derrick Dison (6-0, 175) was intercepted three times as the Burros (4-3 overall, 1-0 Desert Sky) lost last week at home, 14-7, to Granite Hills. Senior QB Jemeryn Jenkins (6-foot-1, 194 pounds) totaled 367 yards of offense (189 pass, 178 rush) and three TDs as the Hawks (6-2, 2-0) defeated Barstow, 40-12, in Week 7.
SILVERADO 32, BURROUGHS 14.

San Bernardino Cajon at Colton – This will be the biggest test of the season for the Cowboys (5-2 overall, 2-0 San Andreas), who struggle against bigger, more physical teams. Senior RB Derrick Malone (6-2, 205) ran for 79 yards and two TDs as the very physical Yellowjackets (6-1, 2-0) gained 345 rushing yards as a unit.
COLTON 20, CAJON 18.

Rialto Carter at Redlands East Valley – Senior RB Damian Robinson (5-9, 160) ran for 142 yards on 21 carries but the Lions (4-3 overall, 2-2 Citrus Belt) were shutout in the second half in losing, 32-10, last week to Fontana Miller. Senior QB Tyler Shreve is robot-accurate. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 214 and four TDs as the Wildcats (7-0, 4-0) defeated Rialto, 49-6, in Week 7.
REDLANDS EAST VALLEY 42, CARTER 16.

Corona Centennial at Corona Santiago – The backfield duo of senior RB Denzel Hawkins (5-7, 185) and junior RB Dion Bass (5-9, 190) combined for 169 yards and four TDs as the Huskies (6-1 overall, 4-0 Big VIII) decimated Riverside North, 52-20, last week. Senior QB Brandon Connette (6-2, 190) played his tail off, passing for four TDs and running for another but the Sharks (3-4, 2-2) lost, 44-39, to Norco in Week 7.
CENTENNIAL 40, SANTIAGO 38.

Ontario Colony at Ontario Chaffey – Senior RB Jamil Austin (5-8, 180) ran for an unbelievable 311 yards and six TDs as the Titans (6-1 overall, 2-0 Mt. Baldy League) routed Garey, 55-7, in Week 7. The Tigers (4-3, 2-0) also have a strong presence in the backfield. Senior RB Ronald Douglas (6-0, 180) ran for 268 yards and three TDs in a 35-8 win over Montclair last week.
COLONY 44, CHAFFEY 24.

Menifee Heritage at Perris Citrus Hill – The Patriots (5-2 overall, 2-1 Mountain Pass) played well last week in a 63-14 win over Rubidoux last week but lost, 20-19, at Riverside Notre Dame in Week 6. Citrus Hill dominated Notre Dame in Week 5, 52-10. Senior Deontae Cooper surpassed 6,000 rushing yards as Hawks (7-0, 4-0) remained unbeaten and untested after defeating Beaumont, 42-3, last week. Citrus Hill hasn’t scored fewer than 30 points this season.
CITRUS HILL 42, HERITAGE 16.

Hesperia at Phelan Serrano – This game is another High Desert matchup with playoff implications. The Scorpions (3-4 overall, 1-0 Mojave River) were dominated last week in losing, 21-0, to Victor Valley. The Diamondbacks (5-2, 2-0) escaped Apple Valley with a 13-7 victory in Week 7.
SERRANO 17, HESPERIA 14.

Fontana Kaiser at Fontana Summit – Phil Zelaya’s Cats (4-3 overall, 2-0 Sunkist) have already played the Sunkist League’s best, Riverside Patriot and Riverside Norte Vista, and have pounded both by a combined score of 63-14. The SkyHawks (4-3, 2-0) have dominated Sunkist League also-rans Jurupa Valley and Bloomington by a combined score of 83-0. This game should gage just how far Tony Barile’s young team has come.
KAISER 16, SUMMIT 6.

Norco at Riverside King – The Cougars (6-1 overall, 4-0 Big VIII) haven’t met a shootout they haven’t yet won. Senior RB Deontae Lewis (5-0, 194) ran for four TDs in last week’s 44-39 victory over Corona Santiago. Senior RB Todd Handley (5-9, 175) didn’t break off the huge play but he did have a 40-yard TD reception and ran for 88 yards on 19 carries as the Wolves (3-4, 2-2) defeated Corona, 15-7, in Week 7.
NORCO 38, KING 22.

Riverside Poly vs. Riverside North – Senior QB Matt Okey (5-9, 185) passed for 115 yards and ran for a TD but the Bears (3-4 overall, 1-3 Big VIII) lost, 46-10, to Eastvale Roosevelt last week. Poly has lost two consecutive since defeating Corona, 32-27, in Week 6. Senior RB Sadale Foster (5-8, 175) ran for 177 yards and a TD but the Huskies (3-4, 0-4) continue to struggle, losing, 52-20, to Corona Centennial in Week 7. Senior RB E.J. Schexnayder (6-1, 215) is expected to return this week from after sustaining a pulled hamstring in Week 5.
NORTH 28, POLY 24.

Rancho Cucamonga at Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma – The Cougars (6-1 overall, 1-1 Baseline) are coming off their first loss in more than two seasons. How will senior QB Greg Watson (6-0, 185) respond? The Braves (0-7, 0-2) have no where to go but up so a win here over a potentially shell-shocked RC team could do wonders.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA 55, ALTA LOMA 14.

Redlands at Fontana Miller – The Terriers (6-1 overall, 4-0 Citrus Belt) haven’t lost since Week 0. Senior RB Cameron Villalobos (6-1, 185) ran for 131 yards and five TDs in a 35-13 victory over Yucaipa in Week 7. Senior QB Juan Flores (5-9, 175) completed 14 of 21 pass attempts for 239 yards and three TDs as the Rebels (4-3, 4-0) defeated Rialto Carter, 32-10, last week.
REDLANDS 48, MILLER 43.

Eastvale Roosevelt at Corona – Senior Harold Mobley (6-5, 240) completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 213 yards and four TDs and also ran for 81 yards and two more TDs as the Mustangs (5-2 overall, 2-2 Big VIII) routed Riverside Poly in Week 7. The Panthers (2-5, 1-3) can’t but a victory. Their three Big VIII loses have come by a combined total of 20 points.
ROOSEVELT 30, CORONA 23.

Temecula Valley at Vista Murrieta – The Golden Bears (1-6 overall, 0-2 Southwest) are looking at their fourth consecutive loss after starting the season just 1-3. Senior RB Ben Johnson (6-2, 218) had 128 rushing yards in last week’s 55-7 loss to Murrieta Valley. Junior QB Derrick Brown (5-10, 175) accounted for 190 yards of offense (92 pass, 98 rush) as the Mustangs (7-0, 3-0) took care of Temecula Chaparral, 32-13, in Week 7 to remain unbeaten.
VISTA MURRIETA 52, TEMECULA VALLEY 7.

Moreno Valley Vista del Lago at Moreno Valley Rancho Verde – The father-son combination of coach Ken Hedlund and junior QB Trent Hedlund (6-3, 195) has struggled lately as the Ravens (3-4 overall, 1-3 Inland Valley) have lost two consecutive after starting the season 4-1. The Mustangs (7-0, 4-0) are an offensive juggernaut, having already scored 355 points this season.
RANCHO VERDE 68, VISTA del LAGO 12.

LAST WEEK: 13-2. SEASON:54-21.

—

I’m going to stop doing the COLLEGE FOOTBALL and NFL previews. I just wasn’t feeling it. I will, though, begin making five college picks and all the pro picks beginning next week.

FOMB Inland Area Prep Top 10

1. Corona Centennial (6-1) – The Huskies continue to chew up and spit out Big VIII League opponents. Last week it was Riverside North, 56-20. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday at Corona Santiago.

2. Redlands East Valley (6-0) – The Wildcats are still the top team in San Bernardino County following a 43-point trouncing of Rialto. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Rialto Carter.

3. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (7-0) – An impressive 77-0 thumping of Riverside La Sierra has the Mustangs moving up. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago.

4. Norco (6-1) – The Cougars continue to find ways to win late in games. They’ve now won their last three games by a combined total of 11 points. Next Game: 7 p.m. Thursday at Riverside King.

5. Vista Murrieta (7-0) – The Broncos are the class of the Southwestern League following a 19-point rout of Temecula Chaparral. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Temecula Valley.

6. Rancho Cucamonga (6-1) – 20-game unbeaten streak gone with loss to Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos in Week 6. Respect in CIF poll? Also gone. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma.

7. Colton (6-1) – The Yellowjackets may have the best defense in the area. I dare you to name one better. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. San Bernardino Cajon.

8. Upland (7-0) – The Highlanders must be licking their chops looking ahead to their Nov. 6 meeting with Rancho Cucamonga. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda.

9. Perris Citrus Hill (7-0) – The Hawks continue to pound diminutive Mountain Pass League opponents into submission. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Menifee Heritage.

10. Ontario Colony (6-1) – The Titans make their first appearance in the Top 10 after scoring 55 points in back-to-back Mt. Baldy League contests. Next Game: 7 p.m. Friday at Ontario Chaffey.