Good morning, Corona! It is a happy Saturday for two of our local programs. The Santiago Sharks football team won its CIF Southern Section playoff opener Friday night, and the Norco Cougars boys water polo team won on the road in Whittier to keep its postseason run going. Santiago girls tennis also stacked up two more November wins this week. Here is everything we confirmed on MaxPreps this morning, with records, next games and times so families can plan the week ahead.

For schedules, past recaps and more local coverage, start at our Corona-Norco Sports Central.

Santiago Football Beats Elsinore 31-14 and Stays Home

What a night on Foothill Parkway. Santiago defeated Elsinore 31-14 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 8 playoffs at Santiago High School on Friday. The MaxPreps recap put it simply: the Sharks’ offense “finally found a way to get into gear,” a big turnaround after two tough weeks to close league play (a 35-0 loss at Roosevelt on Oct. 22 and a 10-3 loss to King on Oct. 29). That is the kind of bounce-back that shows real heart from players and coaches.

The win lifts Santiago to 7-4 overall. It was also the second time this fall the Sharks beat Elsinore; they won 33-26 at Elsinore back on Sept. 25. MaxPreps did not post individual stats from Friday, so this shoutout belongs to the whole team, from the starters to the scout team that got them ready.

Next up: Santiago hosts Santa Monica in the Division 8 playoffs on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. at Santiago High School, 1395 Foothill Parkway, Corona. Santa Monica comes in at 7-4 after a 37-15 playoff win over Portola on Friday, so expect a good matchup between two teams with the same record. You can follow updates on the Santiago football schedule on MaxPreps.

Norco Football: A Proud Season Ends Against Long Beach Poly

Norco hosted Long Beach Poly in the CIF-SS Division 3 first round on Friday, and the Jackrabbits won 39-17 at Norco High School. Poly, which finished first in the Moore League at 4-0, has now won five straight and travels to Edison in Huntington Beach next Friday at 7 p.m.

The Cougars finish 7-4, and there is a lot to be proud of. Norco went 5-1 at home this fall, scored 367 points on the season and earned a home playoff game on Temescal Avenue. Thank you to the seniors, the coaching staff, the band, cheer and every family who filled those stands all season. If you missed Friday’s game, the MaxPreps recap notes it can be replayed on the NFHS Network, the CIF’s official streaming partner.

Norco Boys Water Polo Wins 12-8 at La Serna

The Cougars keep swimming. Norco beat La Serna 12-8 on the road in Whittier on Friday in the CIF-SS Division III boys water polo playoffs. That is three straight playoff wins for Norco, following a 14-9 win over Burbank on Oct. 29 and a 12-10 win over Camarillo on Nov. 3. Holding a playoff opponent to eight goals is a credit to the whole group in the water, especially the defense and the goalkeeper.

Norco is now 23-8 overall on MaxPreps, and the next game is already posted: a neutral-site playoff game against Troy (Fullerton) on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. Troy is 20-6 and riding an 11-game win streak after a close 16-15 win over Ayala on Friday, so this should be a great one. MaxPreps does not list the pool yet, so check the Norco water polo schedule before you head out on Tuesday.

Shoutout: Santiago Girls Tennis Keeps Winning

Here is a smaller-sport shoutout we love to give. Santiago girls tennis won two tight matches this week, according to MaxPreps: 10-9 over Valencia (Placentia) at home on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and 10-8 at West Ranch in Valencia on Friday, Nov. 6. A 10-9 match comes down to the very last set, and the Sharks found a way twice. Santiago is 12-5 overall. Way to go, Sharks!

Two more tennis notes from the same week: Roosevelt girls tennis hosted Burbank on Nov. 4 and fell 11-6, finishing with a strong 11-3-2 overall record and an 8-2 league mark. Corona girls tennis stands 11-9-2 after its Nov. 4 trip to Village Christian. Thank you to every player, coach and parent who made those long dual-match afternoons happen.

Centennial Prepares for Mater Dei

Centennial (7-3) had the week off and now gets one of the biggest stages in Southern California high school football. The Huskies visit Mater Dei in Santa Ana on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. Centennial has won five straight and went 5-0 in league. Mater Dei is 8-2 with four straight wins, including a 36-35 win over St. John Bosco on Oct. 30. Husky fans, plan your Friday drive early; Santa Ana traffic on a Friday evening takes patience.

Girls Water Polo Season Is Starting

Winter sports are already on the MaxPreps calendars, and girls water polo is first in the pool:

• Monday, Nov. 9: Norco girls visit Temescal Canyon in Lake Elsinore (varsity 4 p.m., JV 5 p.m.). Corona girls host Patriot at 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Roosevelt JV girls play Heritage at 4 p.m. Norco boys play Troy at 5 p.m. (neutral site, Division III playoffs).
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Norco girls host Heritage (varsity 4 p.m., JV 5 p.m.). Corona girls host La Quinta at 4 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 13: Corona girls host Jurupa Valley at 4 p.m. Santiago football hosts Santa Monica at 7 p.m. Centennial football plays at Mater Dei at 7 p.m.

Corona High School home games are at 1150 West Tenth Street, and Norco High School is at 2065 Temescal Avenue. Schedules can change early in a season, so double-check the team page the day of the game.

Fall Season Thank-Yous

A few fall teams finished their seasons in the CIF playoffs last month, and they deserve a kind word too. Centennial girls volleyball won a playoff match at Bishop Montgomery 3-1 on Oct. 20 before falling to San Juan Hills on Oct. 27. Roosevelt volleyball pushed Orange Lutheran to five sets in the playoffs, and Santiago volleyball traveled to Newbury Park for its playoff match. In boys water polo, Santiago played at El Segundo and Roosevelt played at Palos Verdes in the playoffs. Making the playoffs is an achievement, and every one of those athletes represented our community well.

Game-Day Tips for Next Week

• Arrive early for playoff football. Playoff crowds are usually bigger than regular-season nights, and campus parking fills fast. Plan to be parked 30 to 45 minutes before kickoff.
• Check ticket and gate rules with the host school. Gate times, ticket options and bag rules can be different for playoff games. Look at the host school’s athletics page or social channels the day before.
• Dress in layers. November evenings cool off quickly once the sun goes down, even after a warm afternoon.
• Pool decks are tight. For water polo, bring a towel or cushion for the bleachers, and keep walkways clear for players and officials.
• Share the address. If grandparents or friends are joining you, send them the school address and a map pin before you leave.

Thank You, Corona Sports Families

From Foothill Parkway to Temescal Avenue to a pool deck in Whittier, Friday was a big night for our neighbors. Congratulations to Santiago and Norco water polo on moving on, and a warm thank-you to Norco football for a great season. Be kind in the parking lot, thank the officials and volunteers, and celebrate every kid who wore a playoff jersey.

If your child is not on a school team right now, our winter youth sports sign-up guide has hometown options worth a look.

Have a score, a standout player or a team photo to share? Send it to Corona Shoutouts and we will cheer them on. Go Sharks, go Cougars, go Huskies, go Mustangs and go Panthers!