THE PREPS / LONNIE WHITE : These Two Citrus Belters Are No Lemons

The high school football season is not even four weeks old, and Rialto Eisenhower and Fontana have already emerged as the top teams in the Southland.

For the second consecutive year, these Citrus Belt League rivals could be undefeated when they meet Nov. 8. Currently, they are the top two teams in the Times’ Southern Section poll.

Last year, Eisenhower finished the regular season with a 10-0 record but lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei in the Division I quarterfinals. It was a disappointing end to the season, but the Eagles’ 16-7 regular-season victory over Fontana--which ended the Steelers’ 23-game winning streak--earned them respect.

Eisenhower began this season ranked No. 1 and has won its first three games easily. But have the Eagles taken over Fontana’s perennial role as the team to beat in Southern California?

One team that should know is Pasadena Muir, which has lost at Fontana, 27-23, and Eisenhower, 40-20.

In its defeat by Fontana, Muir led for most of the game before the Steelers rallied in the fourth quarter. Against Eisenhower, however, Muir fell behind early, 20-0, and never recovered.

“Eisenhower is the better team because its defense is better and they have the better athletes,” Muir Coach Mike Morris said. “They came out and did a lot of different things against us that gave us problems.”

Eisenhower has depth and experience. Fifteen starters are back from last season’s team, headed by senior tailback Omar Love, who gained 153 yards and scored two touchdowns against Muir.

Love’s backup is sophomore Marcus Soward, who rushed for 117 yards in nine carries against Muir. Soward’s 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter clinched the victory.

Eisenhower may have problems with Fontana’s passing game. Against Muir, Eisenhower allowed eight completions in 14 attempts for 146 yards to a team not noted for its passing.

Fontana, which has won two of the last four Southern Section major division titles, routed St. Paul last Friday night, 55-13. The Steelers still have their solid rushing game with Richard Stephens, who scored three touchdowns against Muir, but their passing is what has opponents concerned.

Fontana plays two quarterbacks, Gary Tessitore and Chad Reed, who know how to find 5-foot-7 receiver Mike May, who caught five passes for 156 yards and a touchdown against Muir.

Beginning your first season with a 1-2 record is not a great way to start, but don’t tell that to Muir’s Morris after the Mustangs’ consecutive road losses to Fontana and Eisenhower.

“We lost to Eisenhower because they gave us a lot of problems, but I really believe that we are a better team than Fontana,” Morris said. “We just played the best two teams in the state two weeks in a row and all I can say is that I’m glad that we won’t have to play them again.”

Prep Notes

Compton Centennial’s 24-game losing streak ended last Friday when the Apaches defeated Compton, 16-0. . . . Crenshaw pulled a major upset by defeating third-ranked Granada Hills Kennedy, 22-14. The Cougars forced three fumbles. . . . In Washington’s 51-0 victory over Manual Arts, Sheldon Anderson completed 19 of 33 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns. Anderson, a senior quarterback, also rushed for 132 yards in seven carries and scored once. . . . Sharmon Shah of Dorsey gained 159 yards and scored a touchdown in the Dons’ 14-10 victory over Sacramento Rancho Cordova last Saturday night. . . . Eddie Paradia of South Gate set a school record with 15 tackles and two fumble recoveries in the Rams’ 10-0 victory over Bell.

Times’ Prep Polls

CITY SECTION

No. School Div. Record LW 1. Banning 4-A 3-0 1 2. Dorsey 4-A 1-1 4 3. San Fernando 4-A 3-0 5 4. Washington 3-A 3-0 7 5. Granada Hills 4-A 1-1 NR 6. Carson 4-A 1-2 2 7. Kennedy 4-A 2-1 3 8. Poly 4-A 2-1 9 9. Sylmar 4-A 1-1 NR 10. Huntington Park 3-A 3-0 NR

SOUTHERN SECTION

No. School Div. Record LW 1. Eisenhower I 3-0 1 2. Fontana I 3-0 2 3. Esperanza III 3-0 3 4. Bishop Amat I 3-0 4 5. Mission Viejo II 3-0 5 6. Mater Dei I 4-0 6 7. Loyola I 2-1 8 8. Hawthorne III 3-0 10 9. Tustin VI 3-0 NR 10. Dominguez II 3-0 13 11. Glendora IV 3-0 14 12. JW North IV 3-0 NR 13. Thousand Oaks II 2-1 7 14. Norco V 3-0-0 NR 15. Servite I 3-0-0 NR