Winning Miller's mantra: Don't stop believin'

       Every week, Miller Coach Jeff Steinberg has told his players a theme to focus on when preparing for the next game. With the Citrus Belt League title probably on the line, he stressed "belief."

       He told his players in practice to believe they could successfully perform a drill. He told them to believe their teammates could succeed. And he told them to believe they could reach their team goals.
      
       "He wanted us to believe we could be the first team to win the CBL in Fontana," Rebels senior defensive lineman Sean Matthews said. "People always say Fontana kids can’t play football."

        No. 13 Redlands East Valley quickly found out they could. The Rebels (8-0) came away with an 18-15 victory and a good chance to win the Citrus Belt League championship. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (7-1) have to accept winning three CBL titles since 2003.

Football: Notre Dame dominated

Notre Dame's 37-17 victory over Crespi leaves no doubt the Knights are one of the top teams in the Pac-5 Division.

Quarterback Ryan Kasdorf completed 22 of 28 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns. James Flynn caught three of the TDs.

The Knights also played well on defense to improve to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the Serra League.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Servite beats Orange Lutheran, again, 14-10

Once again, Anaheim Servite running back Greg Portis, pictured, illustrated why he’s one of the most-feared playmakers in Southern California on Friday night.

Portis scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 80-yard run late in the third quarter as Servite (5-3, 2-1), ranked No. 18 by The Times, overcame a slow second-half start to beat No. 7 Orange Lutheran (6-2, 2-1), 14-10, at Cal State Fullerton.

Portis ran untouched to the end zone on his game-clinching score, taking advantage of a blitzing Lancer defense that completely overshot the ball. The senior finished with a game-high 153 yards in 20 carries as the Friars moved into a three-way tie for third place in the Trinity League with St. John Bosco and Orange Lutheran. It also marked Servite’s third consecutive victory over Orange Lutheran.

An interception by Orange Lutheran’s Davonte Anderson with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter gave the Lancers one last chance to score. The Lancers drove to the Servite 20, but a holding penalty and two incomplete passes killed the Lancers’ comeback hopes.

Servite quarterback Cody Fajardo completed eight of 11 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 27-yard pass to tight end Anthony Ferraro in the first quarter.

Orange Lutheran quarterback Bobby Wheatley connected on 16 of 22 passes for 166 yards. Running back Kyle Dravis scored on a 40-yard run on the opening possession of the third quarter for the Lancers and finished with 89 yards in 14 carries.

Parker Flynn kicked a 44-yard field goal for Orange Lutheran as time expired in the first half.

Be sure to check out my live blog for a complete recap of tonight's action.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Servite running back Greg Portis warms up prior to the Friars' game against Edison on Sept. 26. Credit: Austin Knoblauch

Live blog: Valencia's Thompson is Hart's worst nightmare

Friday was "Fright Night" for Hart, which got positively spooked by Jordan Thompson.

The Valencia running back was the Indians' worst nightmare, rushing for 189 yards and four touchdowns in 19 carries as the Vikings routed their crosstown rivals, 38-7. It was Valencia's most lopsided win ever over Hart.

Valencia's victory sets up next week's showdown for first-place in the Foothill League with Saugus, which did its part tonight by blowing out Golden Valley at College of the Canyons.

Valencia's home field proved to be a house of horrors for Hart quarterback Spenser Sousa, who was intercepted four times.

Across the Santa Clarita Valley, Canyon beat West Ranch, 35-14.

-- Steve Galluzzo, guest blogger

Final: Miller 18, Redlands East Valley 15

Miller stays undefeated (8-0) with a 18-15 victory over Redlands East Valley (7-1) and has a good chance to claim the Citrus Belt League title. It the first time since 2001 that the Rebels defeated the Wildcats.

Redlands East Valley tried some last-minute heroics to make the game interesting, though. Wildcats quarterback Tyler Shreve connected with wide receiver Gary Walker on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining.  Shreve found Walker in the end zone for the two-point conversion, making it 18-15. The Wildcats tried an onside kick, but Miller's Jonathan Koop recovered the ball at the 42-yard line. 

Ultimately, too many fumbles and too many penalties negated REV's chances. Meanwhile, Miller continually sustained the defensive pressure.

Miller tacked down its last touchdown of the game two plays after forcing a fumble in the red zone with 9:05 left in the fourth quarter. REV sophomore Steffan Kirkland intercepted Juan Flores' pass on a first and 10 from the 28-yard line. But Miller forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the eight-yard line. Two plays later, Flores ran in the end zone off a five-yard quarterback draw for a 18-7 lead. The Rebels missed the extra point.

I'll have a game story for Varsity Times after getting quotes and filing for the paper edition.

--Mark Medina

Football: The rout is on for Notre Dame

Kenny Boggs has scored on a one-yard run with 1:14 left in the third quarter, giving unbeaten Notre Dame a 37-10 lead over Crespi in its Serra League opener.

The Knights are dominating on both sides of the ball. Their receivers are catching passes, their defensive backs are making hard hits and Crespi is headed for defeat.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Flynn catches his third TD for Notre Dame

Notre Dame has opened a 30-10 lead over Crespi after the speedy James Flynn caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Kasdorf at the outset of the third quarter. It was the third TD reception for Flynn. Crespi doesn't seem to know what to do with the Knights' spread offense.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Servite leads Orange Lutheran, 7-3, at halftime

Well, a great defensive battle is brewing between Servite and Orange Lutheran, but a single blunder by the Lancers' defense has been the difference, so far.

Servite's Cody Fajardo connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to TE Anthony Ferraro in the first quarter after he fooled the Orange Lutheran defense with a great pump fake, pushing the Friars a 7-3 lead at halftime. Ferraro was wide open when he made the catch, capping off a three-play, 43-yard drive to put Servite ahead.

However, Orange Lutheran kicker Parker Flynn put the Lancers on the scoreboard as time expired in the first half with a 44-yard field goal. A pass interference penalty on Servite combined with a five-yard pass by QB Bobby Wheatley set up Flynn's field goal.

There's not a whole lot of offensive standouts to talk about, so far. Fajardo has completed seven of eight passes for 46 yards and a TD and RB Greg Portis, cousin of Washington Redskins RB Clinton Portis, has 37 yards in 10 carries.

Wheatley has connected on six of eight passes for 49 yards and Kyle Dravis has a team-best 24 yards rushing for Orange Lutheran.

Be sure to check out my live game blog for a complete rundown of the action. The second half will begin in about three minutes.

Live blog: Valencia takes control in third quarter vs. Hart

Hart needs a few trick plays after giving plenty of treats to host Valencia in tonight's Foothill League contest.

After busting a 75-yard run to the Valencia 8-yard line, Hart quarterback Spenser Sousa's third-down pass was picked off in the end zone by Zack Tartbull--the Indians' third turnover.

Valencia Coach Larry Muir must have delivered a powerful message at halftime because his Vikings opened the third quarter by driving 80 yards in just four plays to take a 21-7 lead on the third touchdown run of the game by Jordan Thompson.

The Vikings added another touchdown on a 47-yard scoring pass from Dominick Solley to Brock Vereen and will take a 28-7 lead to the fourth quarter.

Sousa is 3 of 17 for 39 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Hart is 5 of 14 on third down conversions.

-- Steve Galluzzo, guest blogger

End of Third Quarter: Miller 12, REV 7

Miller's senior defensive lineman Sean Matthews is definitely the player of the game so far with three sacks. The REV held possession on its first drive for almost four minutes. But Matthews pressured Wildcats quarterback Tyler Shreve and tackled him for a three-yard loss on a 3rd-and-6 on the Rebels' 33-yard line. That play forced REV to punt with 5:57 remaining and Miller held possession for most of the remaining period.

--Mark Medina