BY ALLAN STEELE
Like all good league races, the playoff picture for the Mountain Pass League won’t be decided until the final Friday. For the first time since 2006, Hemet hopes to at least be in that picture. “We’ve been thinking about it since last year when the season ended,” Hemet senior linebacker Derek Peel said of a playoff run. “It’s on all of our minds, it’s our goal.” In 2006, the Bulldogs advanced to the postseason as a member of the Sunbelt League. Coincidently, it was also the last time Hemet beat rival Hemet West Valley. The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-1 Mountain Pass) snapped that losing streak last week with a spirited 42-41 overtime victory over the Mustangs, and with three league games remaining, have their fate in their own hands. “Even though we want to focus on each game at hand, our goal is to win two of the next three and it’s not going to be easy.” Hemet coach Jeff Reitz said, noting Friday’s opponent Perris Citrus Hill. The Hawks (6-1, 2-0 Mountain Pass) have been the monsters of the Mountain Pass League and remain the team to beat. Coming off an emotional win, the Bulldogs will need a perfect game on both sides of the ball and hope some momentum carries over from last week. “Preseason, league or playoffs, we will not play a better team than Citrus Hill and our guys know that,” Reitz said. As far as being perfect, the Bulldogs have plenty of work to do and they know where to start. The team has struggled with turnovers and injuries. Some players have stepped up in place of the injured, but turnovers continue to plague the offense. “Honestly, it just kills you and it’s hard on the defense,” junior Jeffrey Martin said. Reitz took it a step further, saying the team had the potential to be 5-2 or even 6-1if it holds onto the ball. “Once these kids understand that, there’s no telling how good we can be this year,” he said. Martin, who’s stepped into the running back role and had a breakout game last week on the way to 215 yards and three touchdowns, will be key again as the Bulldogs’ offense likely tries to control the game and keep the prolific Citrus Hill offense on the sidelines. Hemet rushed for a season-high 470 yards last week, but three fumbles and three interceptions kept the game interesting. Giving Citrus Hill a short field after a turnover could prove costly with the Hawks averaging nearly 44 points per game and sporting explosive skill players in quarterback Brett Hollingsworth and running back PJ Walker. “Everything’s built up for league and we just have to show it on the field and hopefully make it into the playoffs,” Peel said. Follow Allan Steele on Twitter at @asteele12000