A Norco man was sentenced to 16 years to life for setting the 2024 Bacon and Line fires, one of which burned 44,000 acres and forced thousands to evacuate mountain communities.
It is a pleasant memory for Redlands East Valley High football fans and a haunting one Redlands High supporters – a photo of REV football player Dominic McDermott clutching the Smudge Pot trophy after last year’s game.
REV stunned rival Redlands 31-21 in the rivalry game, prompting the Wildcats to seize the trophy – the prize for winning the rivalry game that is now nearly 30 years old.
REV leads all-time 16 victories to 12. That, despite Redlands winning the first six from 1997 through 2002 while outscoring the Wildcats 237-6.
But former REV coach Kurt Bruich led the Wildcats to a 24-16 win against the Terriers in 2003, and it’s been game-on since then.
“I think when Citrus Valley opened it made things a little weird because then there were three schools (in the city),” said Citos Marinez, the Rowland High coach who formerly played under and coached with Kurt Bruich. Bruich brought Marinez to REV to coach in the early 2000s.
“I was from the San Gabriel Valley and so I thought the (Smudge Pot) experience was like a Texas game in SoCal,” Marinez said. “The whole student body and all the parents were out there. I remember getting off the bus at Dodge Field and seeing the ticket line all the way around the corner. And the stands were packed.”
REV is 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the CBL while Redlands is 2-4, 0-1, but that doesn’t matter. The Smudge Pot Game is a battle for pride and possession of the unusual prize – a contraption used to keep frost off citrus trees decades ago. They utilized the devices widely in Southern California before air pollution became an issue.
Redlands High football coach Bob Stangel Jr. addresses histeam after a Smudge Pot Game victory against REV. (Photo by John Murphy)
Kristian King played for REV in 2009 and 2010 when the Wildcats scored Smudge Pot victories. Now he is the Wildcats' first-year coach. How will coaching be different than playing?
“I’m not too sure,” King said. “I’ll have to wait to see what the emotions are. It’s a historical battle that goes back and forth and often comes down to the last possession. I’m excited. It’s a big deal and these are the games you live for.”
Redlands athletic director Eric Memory is a Yucaipa High graduate but he’s all about the Terriers now.
“It’s exciting,” Memory said of the Smudge Pot Game. “The kids really get behind it and the school as well. I think it will be fun and that both schools feel like they can win.”
The kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at Redlands High.
NEW COACH
Citrus Valley coach Kurt Bruich (left) and new Redlands East Valley coach Kristian King opposed each other Friday night in the Grove Game, with REV prevailing 14-3. (Photo by John Murphy)
Mike Leyvas is the new Redlands High softball coach, Terrier AD Memory said. Leyvas is an RHS grad and his two daughters played at Redlands High and now coach softball at REV.
WILDCAT STUNNER
Citrus Belt League football favorite Beaumont defeated Redlands 56-0 on Friday night. A mild surprise was Redlands East Valley downing cross-town Citrus Valley 14-3 in the Grove Game. The Kristian King overhaul of the Wildcat program is coming along faster than expected.
It was REV’s first win against Citrus Valley since 2018.
A 1-yard Isaac Vitela pass to Taamir Mack and an 11-yard Vitela TD run gave REV all the points it needed.
“Beating Citrus Valley was good,” King said. “CBL wins are hard to come by."
Citrus Valley had defeated REV six consecutive times before last Friday night.
In another CBL game, Cajon downed Yucaipa 34-7. Arrowhead Christian fell to Whittier Christian 7-6 in a Mesquite League game.
COLLISION COURSE
There is a showdown looming in girls tennis between Yucaipa (10-0 overall, 2-0 league) and Redlands (8-2-1, 3-0) for Citrus Belt League dominance.
The teams meet on Tuesday at Redlands, then have a rematch on Oct. 20 at Yucaipa.
BULLDOGS BLANKED
The University of Redlands football team fell to host Chapman 27-0 on Saturday night. Chapman scored all its points in the first three quarters to win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game.
The Bulldogs are now 2-2 overall and 0-2 in SCIAC play.
TERRIERS PREVAIL
The Redlands High girls golf team defeated Yucaipa 273 to 280 at Morongo Tukwet last week with Arianna Azurin shooting a 46 for the low round.
The Terriers fell to talented Beaumont 246-293, but have recorded victories against Citrus Valley, Redlands East Valley, Cajon, and Yucaipa.
FLAG FOOTBALL CAROUSEL SET
Charlotte Cox (left) and Leylii Christenson will lead the Redlands East Valley flag football team into the league carousel on Tuesday at Cajon High. (Photo by John Murphy)
The Citrus Belt League flag football carousel is Tuesday and Oct. 14.
Redlands meets Yucaipa at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Beaumont High. The winner plays host Beaumont at 6:30 p.m. the same day.
At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cajon, Redlands East Valley battles Citrus Valley. The winner plays host Cajon at 6:30 p.m.
There is a tripleheader at Citrus Valley on Oct. 14 with two preliminary games, then the carousel finale.
CBL RISING
Redlands East Valley is off to a 3-0 start in CBL boys water polo but has a tough match against league favorite Yucaipa at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Crafton Hills College.
Yucaipa at last glance was 14-4 overall, 1-0 in the CBL.
Redlands is 2-1 in league, followed by Beaumont (1-2), Citrus Valley (1-2), and Cajon (1-2). REV went 3-1 in last weekend’s Ventura Tournament, taking fifth place in the Platinum Division.
EAGLES SWEEP FALCONS
The Arrowhead Christian Academy girls volleyball team swept Aquinas on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The victory avenged an earlier loss to Aquinas and was the Eagles’ first Ambassador League victory.
Eva In’t Hout leads the Eagles (14-8, 1-4) this season with 79 kills, Josie Wiers has 11 blocks, Emma Miller has 74 digs, and Haven Perrenoud 127 assists.
WILDCATS TRENDING UPWARD
The Redlands East Valley girls volleyball team is a big underdog Tuesday as it meets host Redlands. The Terriers are unbeaten in league and pursuing a fourth consecutive CBL title.
But REV has shown improvement under first-year coach Shelby Dawson. The Wildcats are 9-9 overall and 3-3 in league after going winless in league last season.
Sophia Lee, Daphne Manrique, Kylie Vorkink, and Sophia Chavez have led the Wildcats.
MEDIA DAY
Citrus Belt League boys basketball is having a media day at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Redlands East Valley High. I’m the media, so I better remember that. REV coach Mike Aranda has put the event together.
A third-generation San Francisco native. His first job was in Watsonville, where he wrote stories on a typewriter and people smoked in the office. He's covered Redlands, San Bernardino and Riverside.
