Redlands Ready for War?

Sure it was important for Redlands High School's football team to win Friday night.

The Terriers came out and run roughshod over an over-matched Fontana High team for a 52-0 victory that wasn't even that close.

But as impressive as the win might sound on paper, it won't mean a thing next Friday night.

Civil War. Redlands East Valley. Nationally-recognized Redlands East Valley.

To say that beating REV would be a major feather in the cap for a season for the Terriers would be an understatement.

And they took a step in the right direction Friday night against Fohi. No mistakes. Converting all their drives (the second-team salvaged a field goal and then ran out the running clock). Causing two turnovers and blocking a punt.

But they'll need to be better against REV.

Fontana's best player on the field was Angel Ramirez -- their kicker/punter. He put the opening kickoff through the uprights. He pinned Redlands inside the 5 with one punt. He avoided a blocked punt (which was then blocked by a second rusher). You should win when the other team's best player kicks the ball.

That won't be the case next week.

It will be the time when Redlands will need to learn from the mistakes they had made during their nonleague schedule. The ones that cost them the two winnable games that I covered against and .

Friday's "back-to-basics" approach worked fine. And getting out to an early lead certainly made it easier. But that was against Fontana with a crowd that was small and subdued.

The test will be how they handle the pressure of a loud, boisterous crowd against your cross-town rival that may be the key to your season.

Let the war begin.

Check out photos from Friday night's game at my photo website.