By Jon D. Gaede, BVN Sports –

The 3-1, Chino Hills Huskies traveled east to face the 3-0 Redlands East Valley Wildcats, in an early season battle of county top five teams.

Redlands East Valley’s Austin Decoud has led his Wildcats with a high powered air attack this year.

Some polls had them ranked as high as number one in the area. Unfazed by the reputation, Chino Hills made a statement of their own by taking it to the home team 14-3.

The unpredictated defensive battle featured an aggressive Chino Hills front line that chased down quarterback Austin Decoud, most of the night. Decoud often found his receivers covered and had to scramble for small gains.

Huskie quarterback Andrew Chavez completed a touchdown pass within the first two minutes of the game. The defenses held from there as the Wildcats could only manage one field goal by Cody Madsen before the half.

In the second half, missed passes and self induced penalties halted most of the Wildcat drives. Redlands East Valley had their chances as they forced three Husky turnovers in the game. Chino Hills remained patient, chased down the quarterback, controlled the line and ultimately the clock.

Quarterback Andrew Chavez was 17 of 21 for Chino Hills as he accounted for both touchdowns. All Sierra League standout Ifo Ekpre-Olomu caught several key passes for the Huskies and made an impact at safety.

The talented senior is being recruited by USC, UCLA and Oregon.

Next week the Huskies travel to play Claremont.

Redlands East Valley has a tall order as they also travel to take on powerhouse Mission Viejo.

By G. Montgomery, Staff Writer –

Just three seasons ago the buzz at media day was whether Kobe would attend? After a summer of discontent, the scribes were going crazy with Kobe drama. Throughout the summer Kobe had made it clear to everyone listening that the Jig was up.

If the team didn’t get him some help, he would be forced to take off for greener pastures. Fortunately, the Lakers’ management listened and start ed going after some quality players to help out their talented superstar.

No one has explained what the exact motives were during that very sad three year period of Lakers’ lethargy but thankfully they got over it and put one of sport’s most storied franchises back on track to winning titles again. Which brings us to this past Saturday’s media day event.

A mere three seasons later and the Lakers have made three NBA Finals appearances and come away with two titles.

Thank goodness they listened to Kobe and not those talk radio jokers who were calling for a mega trade. All is well again in Lakers land.

The 2010-11 pre-season roster is as strong as ever. New additions Matt Barnes, Steve Blake and Theo Ratliff appear to be upgrades at their respective positions and depending on who makes the final team; this could be a deeper team than last year’s championship squad.

The Lakers will get in a few days of practice and then head out to begin their preseason exhibition commitment with games in London and Barcelona before returning home.

UCLA Surprises with Youth Movement and Stellar Play

By G. Montgomery, Staff Writer –

There are a lot of ways to look at the Bruins 31-13 victory over the Houston Cougars on Saturday night.

Rick Neuheisel, as usual chose to look at it as a sign of good things to come. When asked what he said or did to produce such an astonishing turnaround in just one week.

Neuheisel said. “What happens when you suffer a demoralizing loss like we did to Stanford, you have to remember that you’re in a foxhole with a bunch of guys you can count on. The only way to get out is for everybody to grab a shovel and start digging.”

Just one short week ago nearly half of the Bruin faithful adjourned to the parking lot before half-time. A week later the entire crowd of 54,407 stuck around for the evening. UCLA improved in every category. Second year quarterback Kevin Prince, rushed on designed rollout plays for a total of 64-yards on 10 carries and kept the Cougars’ defense gasping.

Prince also threw for 99- yards. Although his passing performance was not stellar, it should be noted that he had no interceptions after a multipick performance against Stanford.

Allowing Prince to scamper out of the pocket opened lanes for sophomore running back Jonathan Franklin who rushed for 158-yards on 26 carries. No Bruin running back had topped 150-yards since Chris Markey accomplished the feat against woeful Washington in the 2007 season.

Ricky Marvray added to the youth movement with a electrifying 22-yard grab that sustained and early scoring drive.

Marvray a Red shirt freshman from Corona Centennial had 3 catches for 34-yards.

The defense was equally impressive, holding the powerful Cougar offense to only 3 points in the first half.

Houston entered the game leading the nation in scoring with 61 points per game and ranked 23rd nationally.

Heisman hopeful, Case Keenum led the nation in passing and total offense in 2009. Junior running Bryce Beal was Conference USA Player-of-the-week coming off a 195-yard rushing performance last week.

Expectations for UCLA were not very positive given the Cougars incoming resume. “No one gave us a chance,” said Junior Strong Safety Rahim Moore. I told myself before the game, I just want to win. I don’t care about stats. I’m just going out there and fly around and make plays. And the plays came to us.” Moore’s interception of Keenum early in the second quarter and subsequent 42- yard return essentially finished the Cougars and sealed the deal for UCLA. Moore has 15 career interceptions.

Bruin junior linebacker Akeem Ayers also picked off what would be Keenum’s final pass. The Houston Quarter hurt a knee attempting to make a tackle on the runback and left the game with a season ending injury.

The Cougars would also lose their second string quarter Cotton Turner with a broken collar bone.

Saturdays win was the first time UCLA has beaten a ranked opponent since winning in Tennessee in September 2008. The Bruins face #7 ranked Texas in Austin this weekend. This will be the Bruins opportunity to prove Neuheisel right about things to come.

By Earl Heath –

The Viking Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island is one of the top notch venues in America. Earlier this year it was the setting where the Big East Football coaches and players gathered for the media day.

University of Cincinnati’s Armon Binns was dressed in a pin stripe suit, his shoes shined like there’s no tomorrow and he flashed a million dollar smile. The former Pasadena High School standout was one of the most charismatic and confident players present. The road to Cincinnati was ignited by Binns himself. After his senior season he was a bit over looked in talent rich California. He sent a DVD of highlights to the UC football office. “It was the way God worked it out,” said Binns.

“Recruiting started slow and it worked out.”

The senior wide receiver helped lead the Bearcats to a 12-0 record in 2009, the campaign in which he had 61 catches for 1191 yards and 11 touchdowns including a 68 yarder.

College football has given Binns a great experience as he has traveled around American cities like Pittsburg, PA, Louisville, KY and Syracuse, NY. He has been on stage in one of the biggest venues in the sports world playing at the Superdome in New Orleans in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

He draws praise from his 1st year head coach Butch Jones.

“We expect Armon to have a great year,” said Jones. “He’s already made some big, big plays for us in the past. He’s held our receiving core at a very high standard. He has a tremendous work ethic.

Armon brings so much to our team, on and off the field.”

Binns has taken to the university and the city. Cincy’s football program is the fifth oldest in America having began in 1885. It began behind Rutgers (1869), Michigan (1879), Navy (1880) and Minnesota (1883).

Cincinnati is known as the Queen City. It has a lot of history.

“It’s a big city with small town values,” added Jones. “Our facilities (football) are second to none. Expectations that surround the football team are very high. You feel the passion that the whole community has.”

Binns himself would love to share his experience with others from California. Former Dodger great, Dusty Baker has the Reds in first place and is electrifying the whole town.

Binns states why So. Cal players should come to Cincy.

“We’ve got T.O. and Ochocinco. There’s plenty of entertainment and character. If you want to have fun and get a good education you should come here.”