At the start of the season, Corona Centennial and Norco appeared to be the upper echelon of the Big VIII and the non-league portion of the schedule proved that the Huskies and Cougars are still there as we head into league play Friday.
The fact that those two will fight it out for the title comes as no surprise since Centennial has won six of the seven Big VIII League titles since the league was formed in 2008. Norco is the only other team to win a league championship, taking the 2009 title. This year’s showdown is set for the final week of the regular season on November 5th.
Centennial is ranked #1 in the High School Football America SoCal and California Top 25’s, plus #3 nationally. There’s been no stopping the Huskies offensively. With 247 points so far this season, Centennial is averaging just under 50 points per game with the team’s big three offensive weapons — quarterback Anthony Catalano, running back J.J. Taylor and wide receiver Javon McKinley proving hard to stop.
Related: VIDEO of Corona Centennial’s Big 3
Related: High School Football America National Top 25
Catalano, who played only one full game during the non-league portion of the schedule, owns a 135.1 quarterback rating. He’s thrown for 923 yards and eight TDs and rushed for 331 and four scores.
Taylor, like Catalano, has played only portions of games, but has racked-up 620 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per game. The Arizona verbal commit has scored 12 touchdowns. McKinley, an undeclared 4-star recruit, has 15 catches for an average of 27.7 yards per reception. McKinley has four TD’s.
Norco is currently ranked #20 in the High School Football America/SoCal Top 25. The Cougars, who have made the postseason for 28 straight seasons, are led by Michigan verbal commit Victor Viramontes, who has thrown for 774 yards and leads the team in rushing with 540 yards. He’s had his hand in 16 touchdowns — eight passing and eight rushing.
Related: High School Football America/SoCal Top 25
| Big VIII League | ||||
| Team | League | Overall | ||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Corona Centennial | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Corona | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Norco | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| King | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Corona Santiago | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Roosevelt | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Friday night’s Big VII schedule
Corona Centennial at King, 7:00pm
Roosevelt at Norco, 7:00pm
Corona Santiago at Corona, 7:00pm
