DIVISION V

2001 champion: Riverside North.

League favorites: North (Ivy), Corona Centennial (Mountain View), San Bernardino Cajon (San Andreas), Murrieta Valley (Southwestern), Menifee Paloma Valley (Sunbelt).

Contenders: Riverside Arlington (Ivy), Norco (Mountain View), San Bernardino San Gorgonio (San Andreas), Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon (Southwestern), Hemet (Sunbelt).

Key dates: Friday, Rialto Eisenhower at Corona Centennial, Paloma Valley at Hacienda Heights Los Altos; Oct. 4, North at Eisenhower; Oct. 11, Temescal Canyon at Paloma Valley; Nov. 1, Norco at Corona Centennial; Nov. 8, Cajon at San Gorgonio.

The scoop: After winning the division title last season, North has upgraded its schedule to include Mater Dei and Eisenhower. The Huskies return 14 starters, including last season’s sophomore state player of the year, receiver/defensive back Damon Morton. Centennial has won 23 of its last 25 games and will feature a defense led by linebackers Brett Martin (110 tackles last season) and Ryan Phipps (80 tackles) and defensive lineman Jeff Banjamin (7 1/2 sacks). Kevin Thurston, an All-San Andreas League receiver who caught 10 touchdown passes for Cajon, will switch to quarterback. Murrieta Valley looks to be the team to beat in the Southwestern League, returning eight defensive starters.