Football: Baseline League starts with showdown between Upland and Rancho Cucamonga

Upland Coach Tim Salter has a cast on his broken leg suffered on Sept. 12 when he slipped on a piece of banana walking on campus.

He’ll probably be in the press box on Friday night when Upland (3-2) hosts Rancho Cucamonga (5-0) in a Baseline League opener between two top 25 teams.

“They’re good,” Salter said. “They have great speed in the secondary.”

Upland’s main task must be denying the big play to speedy running back Jaylon Redd. “You make a mistake and he’s gone,” Salter said.

Sophomore quarterback David Baldwin continues to develop for Upland. He has passed for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.

This might be the last chance to knock off Rancho Cucamonga before the playoffs, because the team is about to get stronger next week when four players, including three who were starters, become eligible. They played last season at Upland.

“You have to beat Rancho if you want to win a league title,” Salter said.

The game will be televised by Prime Ticket.

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