Three cheers for Monday Night Football

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Monday night football should happen more often. Why? Some of the best on-the-field stories of the season occurred last night, that’s why.

Moreno Valley caught Rancho Verde off guard with an 18-14 victory that put the Vikings in good position for the Inland Valley League title. The game had been postponed Friday and Saturday night only hours before kickofff, and those fluxuations in adrenaline may have softened Rancho Verde’s edge. OK, Moreno Valley seems pretty good, too, but the Mustangs were ranked No. 24 by The Times.

I watched Ayala finally de-ice its wings in the fourth quarter and soar away from visiting Chino Hills, 19-10, in a Sierra League game. The Bulldogs were 0-10 last season, but now stand 3-0 in league play and meet Glendora on Friday at Citrus College. The winner earns at least a share of the league title. If ever a mascot matched a team’s personality, it’s Ayala’s.

Jurupa Valley ended Kaiser’s 32-game Sunkist League winning streak with a 27-26 double overtime victory. Teddy Stafford of Jurupa Valley (that’s Ha-roopa Valley, by the way) caught a school-record four touchdown passes in the afternoon game, including two in the final 2:05 of regulation to force overtime and the evenutal game-winner. Kaiser went for two after scoring a touchdown in the second overtime, but Jurupa Valley (5-3, 2-1) tackled running back Joe Silva short of the goal line.

‘I told the kids they have left a legacy,’ said Jurupa Valley Coach Dave Pierson, who was 1-9 in his first season two years ago and 5-5 last season.

-- Dan Arritt