MURRIETA — After a tough loss to Servite the week prior, Murrieta Valley bounced back in spectacular fashion, shutting out former Southwestern League rival, Murrieta Mesa, 42-0 on Friday, Sept. 13. The Nighthawks, now in the Big West North Upper Division and ranked 17th in MaxPreps’ California football rankings, took control early and never looked back, proving why they are one of the top teams in the state.

Murrieta Valley’s Ty Isaia scrambles out of the pocket searching for an open receiver against Murrieta Mesa Friday, Sept. 13, at Murrieta Valley High School. Valley News/Andrez Imaging

Quarterback Tyler Isaia led the charge for Murrieta Valley, throwing for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Dorian Hoze added 80 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries, showcasing the Nighthawks’ balanced offensive attack. Special teams also contributed significantly, with Camden Connor returning a punt for a touchdown, marking his fifth kickoff or punt return for a score over the past two seasons.

The Nighthawks improved their record to 2-1, while Murrieta Mesa, now in the Big West Lower Division, fell to 1-3. Given the discrepancy in their rankings—Murrieta Valley at 17th and Murrieta Mesa at 154th—the result was not unexpected. Murrieta Valley’s defense held firm throughout the game, preventing the Rams from mounting any significant offensive threat.

Meanwhile, in another exciting matchup, King remained undefeated after narrowly escaping with a 21-18 victory over Poly. King’s defense was instrumental, recording five sacks, with Andrew Dixon leading the way with three. Dixon has now achieved three or more sacks in each of his last three games, dating back to last season.

Looking ahead, Murrieta Valley faces King on Thursday in what promises to be a crucial matchup. Both teams have excelled in their ground game this season, with Murrieta Valley averaging 161.3 rushing yards per game and King averaging 211.2. The last time these two teams met in September 2023, Murrieta Valley secured a 48-24 victory, thanks to an impressive 35-10 halftime lead.

Murrieta Valley aims to extend their seven-game road winning streak on Thursday, Sept. 19. On the other hand, Murrieta Mesa will go up against Beaumont at 7:30 p.m. The Rams will need to rise to the occasion, especially against a Beaumont defense that has allowed only 16 points per game this season.

Stay tuned for what promises to be an action-packed week of high school football.

Send local sports tips and updates to sports@reedermedia.com.

JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist and head of the sports department at the Valley News. A former Southwestern League head baseball coach and former President of the Temecula Youth Baseball League, he has also worked as a local radio personality for All Pro Broadcasting and as a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When he’s not covering sports, JP works in the Media Technology Department for Major League Baseball.

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