Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

If there was a program best suited to face undefeated Yorba Linda for the CIF-SS Division 3 championship on Friday night, the argument could be made that it’s the Upland Highlanders.

And it all starts with the quality of play in the Baseline League.

To add stock to that claim, consider that Rancho Cucamonga, Etiwanda and UHS are a combined 7-1 in the 2022 postseason, and the Eagles will host St. Francis on Saturday night for the D-5 title.

Upland, Damien and Etiwanda finished 2-2 in league play, and that was good enough for a three-way tie for second.

The Highlanders path to a title-game appearance was just as competitive.

In the opening round, UHS escaped with a 23-22 victory over visiting Tesoro.

Upland would then persevere in a 28-21 triumph at West Ranch in overtime.

Last week, the Highlanders survived a 17-7 defensive battle with Bishop Diego to earn a spot in Friday’s night’s championship game.

The kickoff is slated for 7.

In contrast, Yorba Linda has played just two games all season that ended in a Mustangs victory of four points or less.

YLHS has outscored its opponents, 476-204, and that comes out to a 37-16 average margin of victory.

This writer covered the D-3 opener in which (at the time) 10-0 Yorba Linda hosted 10-0 Charter Oak.

And this Mustangs bunch is balanced, talented and disciplined.

They got out to a 24-0 first-half lead over the Chargers and held on for a 31-21 victory.

The engine of the Yorba Linda offense is senior running back, William Saucedo.

Saucedo has 1,420 rushing yards on 232 carries, and that includes 26 TD’s.

Saucedo has a 6-yard per carry average to go along with his 118 yards per game.

Reyn Beal has been outstanding behind center for the Mustangs.

Beal has completed 135-of-189 pass attempts for 2,323 yards.

He’s tossed 20 TD’s and seven interceptions.

JJ Conrad is Beal’s favorite target.

Conrad has team highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (905) and TD’s (10).

Wyatt Mosier leads the Mustangs’ defense.

Mosier’s 141 tackles, including eight for loss, is tops for both programs.

AJ Elfiky has a team-high seven sacks for YLHS, and Dylan Gardner has picked six passes.

Upland’s offense is pretty balanced as well.

Noah Sandoval has completed 107 of his 196 pass attempts for 1,494 yards.

Sandoval has thrown 15 TD passes and he’s been picked six times.

Rickey Allen anchors the Highlanders ground game.

Allen has carried the ball 236 times for 1,314 yards and 11 TD’s.

Ian Sanchez has 31 receptions for 581 yards and four TD’s.

Dominic Cox’s 40 catches are tops for UHS, and he’s tallied 456 receiving yards, and three scores.

Defensively, Vincent Macaluso has been a beast for Upland.

Macaluso has 124 tackles, including 11 for loss.

Brendan and Andrew Ash have have done their part and then some in helping the UHS defense surrender just 17 points per game.

Brendan has 87 tackles (6.5 for loss), and Andrew has tallied 74 tackles (four for loss).

Ethan Sevilla’s eight sacks is best for either program.

Brendan Ash (seven sacks), AJ Matelau (6.5 sacks) and Trestin Castro’s seven interceptions have been crucial in UHS going on this deep playoff run.

Lastly, Upland’s kicker, Bryan England, has converted all 41 of his extra-point attempts, and he’s 4-of-8 on field goal tries.

Here’s hoping for a competitive and injury-free game for both programs.

Individual Stat Leaders:
Quarterbacks:
Reyn Beal (YL): 135-of-189 for 2,323 yards, 20 TD’s & Seven INT’s
Noah Sandoval (U): 107-of-196, 1,494 yards, 15 TD’s & six INT’s

Running Backs:
William Saucedo (YL): 232 carries for 1,420 yards & 26 TD’s
Rickey Allen (U): 236-for-1,314 & 11 TD’s
Jason Escovar (YL): 31-for-333 & seven TD’s
Journee Tonga (U): 47-for-233 & three TD’s

Receivers:
JJ Conrad (YL): 48 catches for 905 yards & 10 TD’s
Dylan Gardner (YL): 36-for-639 & two TD’s
Ian Sanchez (U): 31-for-581 & four TD’s
Dominic Cox (U): 40-for-456 & three TD’s
Jayden Flaig (YL): 23-for-383 & five TD’s
Cole Renko (U): 13-for-166 and one TD

Defensive Tackling Leaders:
Wyatt Mosier (YL): 141 tackles (eight for loss)
Vincent Macaluso (U): 123 tackles (11 for loss)
Clark Samson (YL): 99 tackles (three for loss)
Nico Nicoletti (YL): 92 tackles (two for loss)
Brendan Ash (U): 87 tackles (6.5 for loss)
Andrew Ash (U): 74 tackles (four for loss)

Sacks:
Ethan Sevilla (U): 8
Brendan Ash (U): 7.5
AJ Elfiky (YL): 7
AJ Matelau (U): 6.5
Owen Sahyoun (YL): 5
Jon Silvestri (YL): 4.5

Interceptions:
Trestin Castro (U): 7
Dylan Gardner (YL): 6
Wyatt Mosier (YL): 3
Jason Escovar (YL): 3
Ozzy Randolph (U): 3

Kickers:
Jayden Flaig (YL): 50-of-57 XP attempts & 6-of-9 on field goal attempts
Bryan England (U): 41-of-41 on XP attempts & 4-of-8 on field goal attempts

By the Numbers:
Records: YL (13-0); U (9-4)
Points Scored: YL (476); U (324)
Points Allowed: YL (204); U (221)
Average Margin of Victory: YL (37-16); U (25-17)
Most Points Scores in a Game: YL (56 vs Yorba Linda); U (51 vs Adelanto)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: YL (27 vs Brea Olinda); U (31 vs RCHS)
Passing Yards per Game: YL (183); U (138)
Rushing Yards per Game: YL (174); U (152)
Total Offense (Yards) per Game: YL (357); U (390)
Yorba Linda Road Record: (6-0)
Upland Home Record: (5-3)
League Finish: YL (Crestview champs); U (tied for second in Baseline)
Current Win Streak: YL (13); U (3)
MaxPreps State Ranking: YL (19); U (25)
CalPreps Prediction: Yorba Linda 26, Upland 21

Yorba Linda’s Schedule & Results:
8/19: YL 28, Damien 19
8/26: YL 28, La Mirada 13
9/1: YL 36, Orange 7
9/9: YL 39, San Juan Hills 0
9/16: YL 33, Simi Valley 14
9/30: YL 24, El Dorado 21
10/7: YL 48, Esperanza 7
10/14: YL 31, Villa Park 13
10/21: YL 41, Foothill 16
10/28: YL 56, Brea Olinda 27
11/4: YL 31, Charter Oak 21
11/11: YL 30, Palos Verdes 26
11/18: YL 51, Corona del Mar 20
11/25: YL at Upland HS at 7

Crestview League Standings:
Yorba Linda (13-0, 3-0)
Villa Park (6-6, 2-1)
Foothill (4-6, 1-2)
Brea Olinda (3-7, 0-3)

Upland’s Schedule & Results:
8/18: Upland 21, La Habra 14
8/26: Orange Lutheran 24, Upland 7
9/2: Upland 28, Villa Park 14
9/9: Casteel (Arizona) 14, Upland 9
9/16: Upland 45, Aquinas 20
9/23: Upland 51, Adelanto 20
9/30: Damien 27, Upland 18
10/13: Upland 35, Etiwanda 7
10/21: Upland 28, Chino Hills 0
10/28: RCHS 31, Upland 14
11/4: Upland 23, Tesoro 22
11/11: Upland 28, West Ranch 21 (OT)
11/18: Upland 17, Bishop Diego 7
11/25: Yorba Linda at Upland

Baseline League Standings:
RCHS (9-3, 4-0)
Upland (9-4, 2-2)
Etiwanda (8-5, 2-2)
Damien (3-7, 2-2)
Chino Hills (4-6, 0-4)