Heritage Given No. 1 Seed; Paloma Also at Home Friday

Heritage linebacker Jason King (40) is one of several standout players on the Patriots' defense. Photo courtesy kristijophotography

Heritage and Paloma Valley high schools both earned home games for Friday night's first round of the CIF Southern Section Inland Division playoffs.

Heritage (10-0) was awarded the top seed in the division and will play host to Hemet (6-4), the No. team from the Mountain Pass League, in which the Bulldogs finished 3-2. Heritage capped off its sixth consecutive perfect season in the Sunbelt League with a 44-6 victory over Lakeside. Hemet beat Beaumont 35-14 in its last regular-season game.

Heritage is led by quarterback Brett Virgil, running back Jalen Glover and all-purpose back Aleva Hifo, plus a dominating defense. Hemet is led by quarterback Tanner Manning (1,152 yards and 8 touchdowns passing) and running back Evan Wallace (979 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing).

Paloma Valley (7-3) finished second in the Sunbelt League, with its only loss coming against Heritage, 42-35. The Wildcats will be at home against Redlands (7-3), the No. 3 team from the Citrus Belt League. If Paloma wins its playoff opener, it would likely be matched up with the division's No. 2 seed, Citrus Hill, in the second round.

The Wildcats are led by sophomore quarterback Chance Nolan (1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns passing), running backs Demarco Prewitt (815 yards and 11 TDs) and Khayrii Joyner (480 yards and 4 TDs) and wide receiver Cameron Whatley (610 yards, 11 TDs receiving).

Redlands' Terriers are led by quarterback Joe Burrola, who has passed for 2,362 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Menifee 24/7 will provide comprehensive coverage of both games Friday night.

Quarterback Chance Nolan has passed for nearly 2,000 yards for Paloma Valley this season. Menifee 24/7 photo: Daniel Millhouse