[Photo] Murrieta Mesa’s Ifeanyi Onye applies pressure to La Quinta QB Thomas Ansley (11) forcing him out of the pocket in their Week Four matchup. Valley News/David Canales photo
— The high school football season is entering the halfway point, and for those that used their Zero Week scheduled games, most should be taking this week off to get some recovery time in. For those that chose to play 10 weeks of straight games, there is nothing wrong with keeping their foot on the gas pedal. After this week, preseason records will more or less be wiped out and league play will begin.
In order to make the postseason, more often times than not, a team will need to place in the top three of their league standings, with at least a .500 win/loss record. At-Large bids are also on the table for teams that had a strong strength of schedule, with a winning record.
As for this past week, the following scores were reported for games involving local teams inside our sports coverage area:
THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
Elsinore (4-1) – 47, Granite Hills (3-2) – 28
Heritage (0-5) – 0, Vista Murrieta (4-0) – 51
FRIDAY, SEPT. 16
Nuview Bridge (0-4) – 36, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac (2-1) – 54
Temecula Prep (1-2) – 28, San Jacinto Valley Academy (0-5) – 6
Cal Lutheran (2-2) – 14, Desert Chapel (3-0) – 72
Centennial (4-1) – 58, Temecula Valley (3-2) – 15
Chaparral (2-3) – 29, Great Oak (2-3) – 14
La Quinta (1-3) – 28, Murrieta Mesa (2-3) – 52
Lakeside (2-3) – 13, Temescal Canyon (1-3) – 42
Liberty (4-0) – 35, Rubidoux (1-4) – 0
Linfield Christian (1-4) – 3, Norte Vista (3-1) – 49
Maranatha Christian (1-3) – 70, Hamilton (0-4) – 23
Murrieta Valley (3-1) – 49, King (3-2) – 20
Valley View (0-4) – 15, Paloma Valley (3-1) – 40
Xavier Prep (2-3) – 48, Rancho Christian (2-3) – 20
SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
California City (0-4) – 6, Santa Rosa Academy (5-0) – 40
Editors notes from last week start with the Liberty Bison, the area’s newest school that is turning heads in the Mountain Pass League. Boasting an undefeated 4-0 record, the Bison have already shut out two schools (Miller and Rubidoux) and put up over 150 points on the scoreboard. Though West Valley has the same record and have let up less points, Liberty is certainly giving a reason for local teams to talk behind their backs.
Anthony Ruelas is leading the ground attack, averaging 140 yards per game, and defensively, Eddie Smith, who also runs the ball of offense, is averaging 9 tackles a game. In their Week Four win against Rubidoux, Ruelas had 148 yards on 17 carries, with two touchdowns, while Smith ran for 25 yards, had one TD on offense, and led the team with 11 tackles on defense.
Santa Rosa Academy is another local team boasting an undefeated record. The Rangers are heading into Cottonwood League play with nearly 200 points on the scoreboard in their five preseason games. Hamilton (Anza), who is still looking for their first win of the season, currently 0-4, will meet up against Santa Rosa Academy in late October.
Heritage finished their non-league schedule with a 51-0 loss to Vista Murrieta in Week Four. The Patriots (0-5), though winless thus far, have played out a tough preseason schedule in hopes of getting them ready for Ivy League play. In their game against Vista Murrieta, the Broncos put up a total 323 yards on the night, compared to Heritage’s total of 159. The Patriots will play at home against Elsinore High (4-1) on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
Chaparral’s offense and their dominating defense helped take out their crosstown rival Great Oak, 29-16, in both teams’ final nonleague game. The Pumas had 3 QB sacks in the game and held the Wolfpack to 16 yards rushing and limited Great Oak to 99 yards in total offense. Puma QB Dash Beierly completed 19 of 26 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 54 yards with a TD. Raymond Valencia led the Puma receivers’ core with eight receptions for 103 yards and hauled in TD as well. For Great Oak, Cole Vasquez completed 6 of 16 passes for 71 yards while Cade Bryant had two catches for 63 yards. Both teams, with 2-3 records, will move on to their respective divisions for the new Big West split league (upper and lower).
Our final notes of the week come from photographer David Canales, who saw Murrieta Mesa use an up-tempo offense in defeating La Quinta 52-28. The Rams scored 21 fourth quarter points to pull away and improve their record to 2-3 for the season. Murrieta Mesa held a pre-game ceremony in remembrance of the tragedies of 9/11 using a red, white, and blue theme to honor those effected.
Other Week Three wins came from Murrieta Valley, Paloma Valley, Temescal Canyon, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, and Temecula Prep.
This season the Valley News Sports Department will be focusing on the schools and sports inside a limited coverage area due to print space and manpower. Those schools include Great Oak, Temecula Valley, Chaparral, Murrieta Valley, Murrieta Mesa, Vista Murrieta, Linfield Christian, Rancho Christian, Elsinore, Paloma Valley, Liberty, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, Heritage, Temecula Prep, Hamilton (Anza), Cornerstone Christian, Temescal Canyon, Lakeside and the River Springs Charter Schools (no football programs).
*All stats, schedules, photos, and scores are supplied by local high school athletic directors, MaxPreps, CIF-SS offices, contributing writers/photographers and countless fans of the games via social media. Is your team’s score missing? Let us know if your school is inside our coverage area and would like to be mentioned.
To submit any additions or corrections to the schedule or stats, please email sports@reedermedia.com.
