Football: Four standouts to participate in combine

Long Beach Poly's Corey Waller, Paraclete's Lavonte Barnett and Rancho Verde's Travis Chapman and Ryan Henderson will participate in the U.S. Army National Combine Jan. 7-9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The Combine showcases the nation's best underclass football talent and is part of the weeklong festivities leading up to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9. Rancho Verde will be represented in the game by star linebacker Ronald Powell.

--Ben Bolch

Football: Updated final regular-season rankings

Here's an early look at the final regular-season rankings that will be published in Monday's paper (last week's ranking in parentheses):

1. Crenshaw 10-0 (1)

2. Edison 10-0 (2)

3. Oaks Christian 10-0 (3)

4. Servite 9-1 (4)

5. Lakewood 9-1 (5)

6. Mission Viejo 10-0 (6)

7. Gardena Serra 10-0 (7)

8. Redlands East Valley 10-0 (9)

9. Bishop Amat 9-1 (14)

10. St. Bonaventure 9-1 (10)

11. Valencia 10-0 (12)

12. Norco 9-1 (13)

13. Westlake 10-0 (23)

14. Vista Murrieta 10-0 (19)

15. S.O. Notre Dame 8-2 (11)

16. Moorpark 9-1 (8)

17. Carson 8-2 (17)

18. Corona Centennial 8-2 (18)

19. Los Alamitos 8-2 (20)

20. Rancho Verde 10-0 (22)

21. Charter Oak 9-1 (24)

22. Venice 9-1 (25)

23. Fountain Valley 8-2 (16)

24. Dana Hills 8-2 (21)

25. Orange Lutheran 6-4 (NR)

Note: These rankings are updated from an earlier version. The final rankings will not come out until after the bowl games.

--Ben Bolch

Football: It's the battle of Redlands on Friday

It's a "Smudge Pot" game between teams with unblemished league records.

Redlands and Redlands East Valley are playing each other Friday in a battle of teams unbeaten in Citrus Belt League play. Is it the biggest game for the teams in recent memory?

"I guess you could look at it that way," Redlands East Valley Coach Kurt Bruich said. "Not to sound arrogant, but every year we're playing somebody for the title. This year it happened to be Redlands."

But the fact that it happened to be the Wildcats' cross-town rival could make the battle all the more heated. Redlands (8-1 overall, 6-0 league) has won eight consecutive games since losing its opener against Temecula Great Oak, with running back Cameron Villalobos rushing for more than 100 yards five times.

"We respect them," Bruich said of the Terriers. "Their kids and our kids grew up playing together."

Redlands East Valley (9-0, 6-0), ranked No. 9 in the Southland by The Times, relies on running back A.J. Fernandez (1,153 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns) and Colorado State-bound quarterback Tyler Shreve, who has 18 touchdown passes and only one interception.

Redlands East Valley last won a league title in 2007 and Redlands in 2006.

--Ben Bolch

Football: It's shakeup Sunday for rankings

There's not much time to tinker with the rankings before the playoffs, so I figured it was time to straighten a few things out. Here are the penultimate rankings that will be published in Monday's paper, with comments on team movement after the jump (last week's ranking in parentheses):

1. Crenshaw 9-0 (1)

2. Edison 9-0 (3)

3. Oaks Christian 9-0 (2)

4. Servite 8-1 (5)

5. Lakewood 8-1 (4)

6. Mission Viejo 9-0 (7)

7. Gardena Serra 9-0 (6)

8. Moorpark 9-0 (8)

9. Redlands East Valley 9-0 (9)

10. St. Bonaventure 8-1 (11)

Basketball: Playoff divisions released

The CIF has released its playoff divisions for boys' and girls' basketball for the 2009-10 season.

To see which division your team resides in, click the "Click Here for More Information" link here.

--Ben Bolch

Football: Powell named player of the week

Defensive end-linebacker-running back Ronald Powell of Rancho Verde was selected U.S. Army All-American Bowl player of the week in the wake of his performance during the Mustangs' 71-0 victory over Vista del Lago.

Powell returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown during the rout. The senior will play for the West in the U.S. Army All-Amiercan Bowl on Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

--Ben Bolch

Big Pine comes up big in High School Heisman

The Southland would have been shut out among the list of 20 California state finalists for the Wendy's High School Heisman were it not for Rusty Tillemans of Big Pine.

Tillemans is the only local representative up for the award, which recognizes both athletic and academic achievements among male and female students.

One male and one female will be selected as state winners on Saturday and will go on to compete for the national title. National finalists will be featured during a televised ceremony on ESPN2 and will receive a gold medal and $2,000 for their high schools.

One male and one female national winner will receive a Wendy's High School Heisman trophy and $10,000 for their high schools. They will also be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy broadcast on Dec. 12 on ESPN.

--Ben Bolch

Football: Behind the new rankings

Here's an early look at the football rankings that will be published in Monday's paper, with comments on team movement after the jump (last week's ranking in parentheses):

1. Crenshaw 8-0 (1)

2. Oaks Christian 8-0 (2)

3. Edison 8-0 (3)

4. Lakewood 8-1 (4)

5. Servite 7-1 (5)

6. Gardena Serra 8-0 (6)

7. Mission Viejo 8-0 (8)

8. Moorpark 8-0 (7)

9. Redlands East Valley 8-0 (9)

10. Bishop Amat 8-0 (10)

Basketball: Good matchups at State Preview Classic

There will be plenty of compelling matchups Jan. 30 at Fairfax during the State Preview Classic, which features one girls' game and five boys' games. Here's the lineup:

Noon--Fairfax girls vs. North Torrance girls

1:30 p.m.--Windward vs. La Canada

3 p.m.--Campbell Hall vs. Oceanside El Camino

4:30 p.m.--Santa Monica vs. Torrey Pines

6:30 p.m.--Crenshaw vs. Price

8 p.m.--Taft vs. Gardena Serra

--Ben Bolch

Football: New rankings

1. Crenshaw 7-0 (1)

2. Oaks Christian 7-0 (2)

3. Edison 7-0 (3)

4. Lakewood 7-1 (4)

5. Servite 6-1 (5)

6. Gardena Serra 7-0 (6)

7. Moorpark 7-0 (8)

8. Mission Viejo 7-0 (9)

9. Redlands East Valley 7-0 (10)

10. Bishop Amat 7-0 (11)

11. St. Bonaventure 6-1 (12)

12. S.O. Notre Dame 6-1 (13)

13. Corona Centennial 6-1 (14)

14. Valencia 7-0 (15)

15. Fountain Valley 7-0 (16)

16. Norco 6-1 (17)

17. Los Alamitos 6-1 (18)

18. Rancho Cucamonga 6-1 (7)

19. Carson 5-2 (19)

20. Vista Murrieta 7-0 (21)

21. Dana Hills 6-1 (22)

22. Upland 7-0 (NR)

23. Rancho Verde 7-0 (23)

24. Westlake 7-0 (24)

25. Charter Oak 7-1 (25)

--Ben Bolch