Week 5 of the high school football season delivered a series of intense matchups, with many local teams having a bye-week and others experiencing both impressive victories and tough losses as nonleague play nears its end. Some of the key matchups saw the Murrieta Valley Nighthawks secure a solid road win, while the Chaparral Pumas and San Jacinto Tigers faced stiff competition.
In San Clemente, Murrieta Valley running back Jeremiah Watson put on a spectacular performance, leading the Nighthawks to a 26-14 victory. Watson ran for 204 yards and scored two touchdowns, consistently moving the chains for his team. The Nighthawks’ defense was equally effective, holding San Clemente to only 68 yards on the ground. Oklahoma commit Derrick Johnson II was a key contributor on both sides of the ball, grabbing two interceptions on defense and catching a 19-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. The win marks Murrieta Valley’s fourth consecutive victory over San Clemente. The Nighthawks (4-1) will now prepare to open Big West-Upper league play on the road against Norco.
Meanwhile, the Chaparral Pumas hosted Mission Viejo and fell 36-21 in a hard-fought contest. The Pumas’ offense, which had been averaging over 500 yards per game, was held to 290 total yards by a swarming Diablos defense. Mission Viejo established an early lead, and a critical interception in the end zone late in the first half led to a Mission Viejo touchdown, creating a 28-7 halftime deficit for Chaparral. Pumas quarterback Dane Weber kept his team in the game, finishing with 166 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 85 rushing yards. Despite a stronger second-half effort, the early deficit was too much to overcome. The Pumas (2-3) will look to rebound as they start league play at home against Vista Murrieta.
The San Jacinto Tigers traveled to face Aquinas and were defeated 17-7. The Tigers’ offense struggled to find its rhythm against a tough Aquinas defense, which held them to just one score. The lone touchdown came late in the third quarter after a special teams mistake gave San Jacinto excellent field position. Running back Jomini Ransom was a bright spot for the Tigers, rushing for a game-high 121 yards. San Jacinto (3-3) will now turn its attention to its Mountain Pass League opener at Tahquitz.
Here are the Week 5 scores for the local teams that played last week:
Elsinore 50, Diamond Ranch 6
San Jacinto Valley Academy 14, Temecula Prep 7
Vasquez 44, California Military Institute 0
Great Oak 49, Temescal Canyon 13
Mission Viejo 36, Chaparral 21
Murrieta Valley 26, San Clemente 14
Rancho Verde 26, Tahquitz 0
Aquinas 17, San Jacinto 7
Vista Murrieta 38, El Camino 12
Cornerstone Christian 75, Cal Lutheran 26
With league schedules now getting underway, the competition is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
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