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| Senior running back Limihai Hifo and the Heritage Patriots will open the playoffs at home against Arlington. |
Sunbelt League champion Heritage (9-1 overall) was seeded second in the division and will be at home Friday at 7 p.m. against Arlington, a surprise playoff entry. Arlington is 3-7 this season, its only three victories coming in Inland Valley League play for a third-place tie with Canyon Springs, which was designated as the league's No. 3 entry. Arlington was placed in the 16-team bracket as the lone at-large team.
In contrast, Heritage has won six straight since its only loss of the season, a 43-40 nonleague loss at Great Oak. The Patriots finished the regular season with a 37-14 win over Elsinore Friday night, capping off their fourth straight undefeated league season.
Patriots quarterback Brett Virgil has passed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns and has rushed for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns -- including 68 yards rushing Friday night when the Elsinore defense focused on running back Limihai Hifo.
Hifo leads Heritage rushers with 1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns. Isaiah Morrow (618 yards) and Sione Takitaki (543) add depth to the team's running game. Hifo and Takitaki are also leaders of a defense that includes defensive back Matt Palmer, who had two interceptions Friday night.
Arlington quarterback Wyatt Moore has passed for 999 yards and and 10 touchdowns, with 9 interceptions. Running back Ruben Kelly (608 yards, 4 TDs) is the Lions' only ballcarrier with more than 300 yards rushing this season.
Paloma Valley (9-1), the Central Division's third-seeded team, enters the playoffs as the No. 2 team from the Sunbelt League, its only loss of the season coming against Heritage. The Wildcats will be at home Friday night against Chino, which finished second in the Mt. Baldy League and is 5-5 overall.
Paloma wrapped up second place in league with a 42-6 win over Lakeside Friday night while Heritage was beating Elsinore, which finished in third place. The Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Brent Boehm, who has passed for 1,815 yards and 26 touchdowns. His favorite receivers are Michael Valencia, who has 27 catches for 480 yards and 13 touchdowns, and RJ Benz, who has 34 catches for 446 yards and 6 TDs.
Sophomore Demarco Prewitt leads the Paloma ground game with 115 carries for 900 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Chino quarterback Josh Thornton has passed for 1,118 yards and 15 touchdowns. Malik Demby is the Cowboys' leading rusher with 38 carrries for 290 yards and 4 touchdowns.
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| Quarterback Brent Boehm will lead the Paloma Valley offense against Chino Friday night. |
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