Citrus Valley Loses In First Playoff Game

Redlands three public high schools opened the CIF-Southern Section Ford Championships on Friday night, with mixed results.

Citrus Valley High School, in its third year in existence, played its first-ever playoff game, hosting Aquinas in an East Valley Division first round game.

The Blackhawks, the champion from the Mountain Valley League, held a 9-6 lead, and were driving toward what could have been a game-clinching touchdown late in the game. But a fumble was returned by Aquinas deep in the Citrus Valley territory, and was converted with 32 seconds remaining.

For more on the game, and what happened from there, check out the.

Meanwhile, across town at Dodge Stadium, Redlands East Valley kept its perfect record intact, holding off Norco 20-15 in an Inland Division game. The Wildcats will host Rancho Cucamonga in a second round game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The normal tenant of Dodge Stadium, Redlands High, faced an uphill battle against the Inland Divison's top-seeded team, Corona Centennial. The Terriers battled the Huskies, but could not stop them, losing a 49-35 shootout.