Inland Sports BOOST Top-25 prep football poll

Somehow, the first official week of high school football in California is almost here, which means, yes, summer is on the way out, making way for Fall sports, but it also means Zero Week games are coming in hot. Thursday, August 17, will mark the start of prep football in the Southwest Riverside County region, which can be equally as exciting as it can be stressful for a coaching staff for any number of reasons. But that’s another story.

As for this week, we wanted to check in with Pep Fernandez and the crew from Inland Sports, who have been hard at work linking up with local teams, and getting down to the nitty gritty of what will make them tick this season.

Last week social media platforms were buzzing with the most recent BOOST Top-25 and coaches preseason polls for Inland Sports, which saw five of the top ten teams hailing from right here in our own backyard. Not to mention, of the top 25, ten are schools from the surrounding area.

The Chaparral Pumas came in at No. 2, out of the Big West Upper Division (formed in 2022), while former Southwestern League counterparts, Murrieta Valley, also in the BW Upper Division, follow right behind at No. 3, as well as Vista Murrieta at No. 9. Orange Vista and San Jacinto are the other two schools cracking the top ten.

Here’s the preseason power rankings (the smaller the number, the better, like golf.)

1. Centennial (1)
2. Chaparral (2.62)
3. Murrieta Valley (3.37)
4. Cajon (5.75)
5. Orange Vista (6.37)
6. San Jacinto (7.12)
7. Aquinas (7.25)
8. Citrus Valley (7.62)
9. Vista Murrieta (7.87)
10. Roosevelt (8.75)
11. Norco (10.5)
12. Liberty (13.5)
13. Norte Vista (15.75)
14. Yucaipa (16)
15. Rancho Verde (16.62)
16. Great Oak (16.75)
17. Beaumont (17.25)
18. King (17.75)
19. Murrieta Mesa (17.75)
20. Summit (18.25)
21. Grand Terrace (18.75)
22. Paloma Valley (18.87)
23. Jurupa Hills (19.25)
24. Ramona (19.62)
25. Temecula Valley (20.5)

Look for plenty of updates as the Valley News sports department will be linking up with Inland Sports throughout the school year to provide even better coverage of what’s going on in the world of prep sports in our area, and beyond. Inland Sports news can be followed online at www.inlandsports.wordpress.com and the Inland Sports show can be viewed weekly on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

Email sports tips to sports@reedermedia.com.