Football: The big game that was almost bigger

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Corona Centennial, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, plays at No. 13 Temecula Chaparral on Friday in the biggest game of the season so far. Imagine how big Centennial’s opener could have been, however.

Chaparral Coach Tommy Leach said the Huskies originally intended to schedule top-ranked Long Beach Poly, but those plans fell through and the Jackrabbits played Miami Northwestern. When Chaparral’s original first opponent, a team from Utah, canceled the game, Leach called Centennial in an effort to schedule an early season showdown between Inland Empire powers.

Leach has never been coy about playing tough nonleague games. At Pomona Diamond Ranch, he scheduled Westlake Village Oaks Christian, Anaheim Servite, Chino Hills and Huntington Beach Edison.

‘I want to play big games,’ Leach said. ‘I think it’s good for the kids.

Chaparral will play Friday without quarterback Mitchell Glassman, who won’t be eligible until next week because of transfer restrictions. That means Leach won’t have the luxury of occasionally shifting quarterback Antoine Arnold to receiver to utilize his 4.3 speed.

--Ben Bolch