Redlands Sets Up Showdown

Redlands High has recorded three shutouts en route to a 6-0 record, the Terriers’ best start in decades.

A 55-0 Citrus Belt League victory over Fontana on Friday set the stage for this week’s showdown between Redlands, ranked 11th in the region by The Times, and No. 10 Rialto Eisenhower (5-1) Friday at the University of Redlands.

The outcome is likely to decide the league title and heavily influence seeding for the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

“This is going to be old-time CBL football at its best,” said Redlands Coach Jim Walker, in his 10th season with the Terriers.

Defensive tackles Dave Shrekenhammer and Geoff Meier, both straight-A students, have led Redlands. Linebacker Kurt Hummel and safeties Dwayne Patterson and Rocky McBroom are also standouts.

Halfback Ryan Rogers has gained nearly 900 yards and Redlands’ special teams have been outstanding.

“We have some experienced people in the right spots and we haven’t made too many mistakes,” Walker said.

Redlands must continue to play mistake-free against Eisenhower, which defeated Fontana Miller, 35-15, on Friday.

Eisenhower quarterback Idris Moss suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the fourth quarter and his status is uncertain for the game against Redlands.

“I fully anticipate that Moss will be there,” Walker said. “If he isn’t, and we win, I don’t want there to be any excuses. And if we lose, we want to lose against their best.”

Predictable results: After his team defeated Long Beach Poly on Oct. 6 to extend its winning streak to 117 games, Concord De La Salle Coach Bob Ladouceur expressed concern about the Spartans’ motivation for their next game.

He should not have worried.

De La Salle, the nation’s top-ranked team, defeated Pittsburg, 42-14, on Friday. Maurice Drew, who scored four touchdowns against Poly, keyed the victory when he picked up a fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter to give the Spartans a 28-7 lead.

Poly rebounded from the loss to De La Salle by beating Compton, 48-0, in its Moore League opener.

On the mend: Crenshaw quarterback Eric Willcockson, who suffered a head injury during the Cougars’ 24-20 victory over Dorsey, was scheduled to be released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Sunday night after undergoing tests and observation over the weekend.

Willcockson, a senior, sustained a concussion when he was tackled while attempting to pass with 3:17 left to play. Willcockson walked off the field under his own power, was conscious throughout the rest of the game and was attended to by the team trainer and a doctor. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital afterward.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Willcockson said Sunday. “They haven’t really told me how long I’m going to be out for.”

Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said Willcockson will probably miss at least two weeks as a precaution.

Mark Burt, a wide receiver for Reseda who was taken to the hospital by ambulance after suffering a neck injury near the end of the first half of Friday’s game against North Hills’ Monroe, was released Friday night after undergoing tests, Reseda Coach Steve Kingery said. Burt was injured on a kickoff return with two minutes left in the second quarter.

Santa Ana Mater Dei wide receiver Julian Petit, taken to the hospital after being hit in the stomach on a passing route during the fourth quarter of Friday’s victory over La Puente Bishop Amat, sustained a bruised spleen and is doubtful for this week’s game against Mission Hills Alemany.

Still getting their kicks: It’s difficult to quantify, but kickers appear to be converting an unusually high number of game-winning field goals this season.

Among the standout performances this past weekend:

* Corey Nelson of Moreno Valley Rancho Verde kicked a 36-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 27-24 victory over Temecula Valley and end a three-game losing streak.

* Tadeo Hernandez of Carson kicked an 18-yard field goal with 13 seconds left as the Colts beat Harbor City Narbonne, 17-14.

* Hermes Garcia of Santa Barbara kicked a 35-yard field goal with 26 seconds left, giving the Dons a 31-28 victory over Ventura Buena.

* Luis Olmos of Santa Ana Saddleback kicked a 31-yard field goal with 33 seconds left for a 27-27 tie with Huntington Beach Ocean View.

Relative strength: Carson’s victory over Narbonne in a Marine League opener kept the Colts unbeaten and on track for their third consecutive appearance in the City Section championship game.

Carson’s rich tradition of producing All-City players is reflected in this year’s roster. Five players are sons of former All-City players for the Colts.

Junior guard Seti Aulai Jr.’s father was All-City for the Colts in 1976.

Senior center-defensive tackle Mel Malele and junior defensive tackle Matthew Malele are the sons of Malele Malele, who was All-City in 1978.

Junior offensive lineman John Collins Jr.’s father was All-City in 1979 and Kevin McCall Jr.’s father was All-City in 1980.

Costa Mesa apology: Irvine Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said he has accepted a written apology on behalf of the Costa Mesa coaching staff, which Thursday accused Curtis of running up the score late in his team’s 31-6 victory over the Mustangs.

Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins confronted Northwood coaches after the Timberwolves scored on a touchdown pass with 2:31 left in the game. Perkins said the late score was especially inappropriate considering the emotional strain his team has endured since the recent death of senior linebacker Matt Colby.

Curtis received a written apology from Costa Mesa Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister Friday.

“We’re all disappointed it happened,” Curtis said, “but we want to get through it and get on to the next week. I understand they’ve been through a lot of things.”

Doing it all: The Southland is rich in multiskilled players who contribute to their teams in several capacities.

None did more than El Segundo’s Matt Engle and Crenshaw’s Daymeion Hughes on Friday.

Engle completed 33 of 55 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown and also kicked a field goal in a 36-26 Ocean League victory over Torrance.

Hughes rushed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and threw a game-winning, six-yard touchdown pass on a halfback-option play late in the fourth quarter that gave Crenshaw a 24-20 Coliseum League victory over Dorsey.

Crowning achievement: Dennis Legaspi was named homecoming king at San Pedro Mary Star and celebrated by rushing for 238 yards in 30 carries and scoring two touchdowns in a 28-21 victory over Sierra Madre La Salle.

*

Staff writer Ben Bolch contributed to this report.