That &$#@ Good

Invariably, the scoreboard begged the question:

Was Yucaipa lucky to be 9-0 or was Redlands East Valley that good?

The answer: REV was that &$#@ good.

And now their real test begins. The CIF-Southern Section playoffs. And a lot more teams that are going to be that &$#@ good. There are no Fontanas or Eisenhowers on the schedule.

Coach Kurt Bruich all but admitted it after the game, saying that the team had two weeks to recover from the battle against Redlands and prepare for Thursday's game against Yucaipa.

So, the Wildcats came out and not only beat Yucaipa, they dismantled the Thunderbirds. And it all started before the standing-room only crowd got settled in with a touchdown on the opening kickoff. A quick turnover, and it was 14-0 before people had returned from the concession stand. And by the end of the first quarter, well, the question at the top was being asked.

But now, we move on from the regular season. Everyone's slate is wiped clean (even Redlands, who got in thanks to their win Thursday night). It's a one and done proposition in the playoffs.

No one cares any more that you beat Mission Viejo in Week 5. That was five weeks ago, and won't mean a thing to that lower seed looking to make a name for themselves by beating the undefeated team they're lined up against.

And there are no pushovers in the Inland Division. Another handful of teams that could have been the ones that beat Mission Viejo -- teams like Corona Centennial, Norco, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga and Vista Murrieta.

If REV wants to move on from three-straight Citrus Belt League championships and into a CIF-Southern Section championship, they're going to have to go through at least one -- and probably two -- of those teams.

And to do that, they're going to have to be that &$#@ good for another four weeks.