The goal for any high school football program is to play in the very last game of the season. The championship game for a southern section title. The game that you set out to compete for since the first day of spring weights. The game that gets talked about with a program since the first day of school.
Well, despite losing their first three Southwestern League games by a deficit of 135 points in total, their overall record of 7-3 helped the Temecula Valley Golden Bears get through a dreary league outing that was plagued by injuries and fierce competition. With an impressive playoff run through the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs though, Temecula Valley did it, they made it to the championship game, which took place this past Saturday (Nov. 27).
Unfortunately, the Golden Bears, who won the 2019 Division 7 title, had their season ended with a gut-wrenching loss to Newport Harbor 42-35 in the section final at Temecula Valley High School. Temecula Valley (10-4) jumped ahead quickly when senior quarterback Zach Zella connected with Christian Kretz on a 34-yard touchdown pass on the Golden Bears first drive, and then increased its lead to 14-0 on Zella’s 4-yard run with time running out in the first quarter. It looked as if they were on the road to winning their second consecutive championship when Temecula Valley scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to take a 28-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Running back Lucas Valencia scored on a 2-yard run, and after Newport Harbor (4-7) got on the board with a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback AJ Guitron-Moore to Kashton Henjum, Zella hooked up with Samuel Gbatu for a 70-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead. Newport Harbor then took control. The Sailors cut the Golden Bears’ lead to 28-14 with one minute left in the half and then two touchdowns on a 52-yard score and running back Henry Slater scored on a 4-yard run to tie the game 28-28.
Temecula Valley had an opportunity to take the lead midway through the third quarter, but on fourth-and-goal from the Newport Harbor 1-yard line, a power run was stopped short of the goal line. Temecula Valley did eventually take the lead in the fourth quarter when Zella threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Domenic Paris, but that would be their last lead of the game. The Sailors quickly answered when Guitron-Moore tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 50-yarder to Henjum.
With 3:23 left in the game, Newport Harbor took a 42-35 lead on Slater’s 4-yard run. The Golden Bears drove to the Sailors’ 28, but Newport Harbor defensive back McKay Ketchum intercepted Zella to seal the Sailors’ victory.
Zella ended the night having completed 17 of 29 passes to six different receivers for 249 yards and gained 71 yards on 23 carries. Gbatu led the Golden Bear receivers, hauling in five receptions for 106 yards.
Guitron-Moore completed 16 of 22 passes for 268 yards while Henjum led the Sailors with 11 catches for 159 yards. Running back Hayden Farley added 79 yards on 14 carries.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
