The Pumas provide their own entertainment

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If you missed the ‘High Chaparral’ reunion this summer, there’s still time to see Chaparral High, and the football team is probably more fun to hang around.

Heading into the Inland Division playoffs, four of Chaparral’s games had been decided by five points or less. The Pumas won three and lost the other on a dropped two-point conversion pass in the closing seconds -- by their quarterback.

That’s probably why the offense looked so comfortable as it drove down the field late in the fourth quarter against visiting Los Osos, setting up a 27-yard field by Brett Symonds in the final minute, which held up in the 10-7 first-round victory.

‘We kept our composure,’ Coach Tom Leach said. ‘We didn’t panic and I think it paid off.’

The Pumas reached the Inland Division finals a year ago, but only four starters return from that team. Luckily, one of them is quarterback Tyler Hansen, who has committed to Colorado.

Chaparral hosts fourth-seeded Miller in a quarterfinal Friday. Miller also has a standout quarterback in senior A.J. Springer, who amassed nearly 300 yards of offense while leading the Rebels to a near-upset of Redlands East Valley three weeks ago.

My crystal ball tells me Chaparral wins another close one, 24-21.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Editor Bob: Doesn’t chaparral make for a compelling picture? ‘Ahh, remember when we watched the sun set over the chaparral?’

-- Image from www.blueplanetbiomes.org