Ramona enters at 4-0 after a 28-21 victory over Rancho Mirage, where sophomore Marcus Abrams sealed the win with a late interception. The Rams have been led by running back Lorenzo Sims, who rushed for 177 yards against Rancho Mirage, and quarterback Jesus Gonzalez, who has connected well with receiver Isaac Mata.
Poly comes in at 2-2 following a disappointing loss to King High School, where the Bears struggled to generate offensive production. The setback adds urgency to their preparation for their biggest rival.
This matchup carries special significance as a rematch of the 2023 CIF Southern Section Division 11 championship game, where Ramona defeated Poly 38-17 to claim the title. The championship meeting marked the first time these programs had faced each other in postseason play.
The rivalry dates to the late 1950s, when Ramona opened in 1956 as Riverside’s second high school, ending Poly’s status as the city’s lone secondary school since 1887. The competition earned the name “Solar Series” from longtime Press-Enterprise sports editor Garland Rose, reflecting the Space Race era when the rivalry began.
“It’s the two oldest schools in Riverside going toe to toe, a lot of great memories, I wish them both well,” said Dell Roberts, longtime Poly assistant football coach and Riverside Unified sports supporter.
The game returns to Wheelock Field, which serves as Poly’s traditional home venue on the RCC campus. The historic stadium reflects the institutional connections between the schools and college, with Poly and RCC sharing facilities for decades as both institutions grew.
While Ramona enters with momentum from its unbeaten start, rivalry games often defy season records and recent form. Poly will look to channel the disappointment from its championship game loss into motivation for its crosstown rivals.
The Solar Bowl represents Riverside’s longest-running rivalry within city limits, predating the emerging CBU-UCR competition that will intensify when both universities join the Big West Conference next year.
More information: Tickets are available at GoFan.co for Friday’s 7 p.m. kickoff at Wheelock Field on the Riverside City College campus.
Games of the Week
- Sunday, Sep 21: CBU Men's Soccer vs. #20 UC Irvine - Soccer - 7:00 p.m. at CBU
- Monday, Sep 22: La Sierra @ Ramona - Varsity Girls Flag Football - 5:45 p.m. at Ramona
Tickets:
- CBU Athletics: cbuathletics.com
- Tickets are available at GoFan.co for Friday’s 7 p.m. kickoff at Wheelock Field on the Riverside City College campus and the girls Flag Football game.
