Winning Miller’s mantra: Don’t stop believin’

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Every week, Miller Coach Jeff Steinberg has told his players a theme to focus on when preparing for the next game. With the Citrus Belt League title probably on the line, he stressed ‘belief.’

He told his players in practice to believe they could successfully perform a drill. He told them to believe their teammates could succeed. And he told them to believe they could reach their team goals.

‘He wanted us to believe we could be the first team to win the CBL in Fontana,’ Rebels senior defensive lineman Sean Matthews said. ‘People always say Fontana kids can’t play football.’

No. 13 Redlands East Valley quickly found out they could. The Rebels (8-0) came away with an 18-15 victory and a good chance to win the Citrus Belt League championship. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (7-1) have to accept winning three CBL titles since 2003.

‘I have to keep these kids’ heads up,’ Wildcats Coach Kurt Bruich said. ‘They’re not used to losing.’

REV tried some last-minute heroics to avoid the loss, as Wildcats quarterback Tyler Shreve connected with wide receiver Gary Walker on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining. Shreve found Walker in the end zone for the two-point conversion, reducing Miller’s lead to 18-15. REV tried an onside kick, but Miller’s Jonathan Koop recovered the ball at the 42-yard line and the Rebels secured the victory.

They rushed the field in celebration for about 10 minutes, but a meeting quickly ensued. The Rebels’ coaching staff, said junior quarterback Juan Flores, stressed the need to stay motivated for the remaining two games against Eisenhower and Fontana. But the players couldn’t help but remember they’re the first team since 2001 to defeat the Wildcats.

‘I don’t want to say we wanted revenge,’ said Flores, as he recalled last year’s 28-27 loss to REV when Miller was stopped while trying a two-point conversion in the closing seconds. “We wanted to come out on top for that CBL championship.”

The belief theme influenced the Rebels’ strong defensive pressure. They scored their first touchdown for a 6-0 lead at the 3:53 mark in the first quarter thanks to a blocked punt from linebacker Jonathan Koop at the 10-yard line and a scoop-up from defensive lineman Sean Matthews.

Miller scored its last touchdown of the game two plays after forcing a fumble in the red zone with 9:05 left in the fourth quarter. REV sophomore Steffan Kirkland intercepted Flores’ pass on a first and 10 at the 28-yard line. But Miller forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the eight-yard line. Two plays later, Flores ran in the end zone off a five-yard quarterback draw for an 18-7 lead. The Rebels missed the extra point.

Though Shreve completed nine of 17 passes for 141 yards, Miller’s defensive line forced him to underthrow receivers. They also sacked him seven times, including three by Matthews. The belief theme made the defensive line more comfortable this week when it ran what team calls Pursuit drills, which entailed running after whoever had the ball.

‘We swarm our own teammate, but we just tap them on the hip,’ Matthews said.

‘We got heart and we’ve got a chip on our shoulder when we go into games,’ Rebels Coach Jeff Steinberg said. ‘At the high school level, size is very overrated. The other two attributes are overlooked.’

Miller believed those attributes could make the difference. It turns out the Rebels were right.

‘This group felt this was their opportunity to make their mark school history,’ Steinberg said. ‘They looked back at last year thinking it was unfinished business, but there was certainly no revenge factor on our part.’

--Mark Medina