Two weeks remain in the regular season and there is an all-out battle going on as area teams set their sights on the postseason. Teams like the Liberty Bison, Chaparral Pumas, Great Oak Wolfpack, and Linfield Lions all made major strides in their league title hunt with their Week Eight victories. Of course, let’s not get too far ahead from all the rest of the Week Eight high school football action that took place around the southwest Riverside County region from Thursday, Oct. 12, through Saturday, Oct. 14. Scores, along with certain game notes for Week Eight high school football games involving local teams inside our coverage area, were reported as follows:
THURSDAY 10/12
BIG WEST CONFERENCE-LOWER DIVISION
Temecula Valley (4-4, 2-1) – 35, Santiago (0-8, 0-3) – 25
Game notes: Temecula Valley’s Jake Bester not only had three touchdowns through the air, but also ran for 147 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground as the Golden Bears defeated Santiago in a Big West Conference-Lower Division game. Crew Allen was Besters target of choice catching all three touchdown passes for Temecula Valley
BIG WEST CONFERENCE-UPPER DIVISION
Centennial (6-2, 3-0) – 62, Vista Murrieta (6-2, 2-1) – 14
Game notes: Centennial is a powerhouse that can’t be stopped this season, well, at least by any of the teams in the Big West Conference-Upper Division that is. Led by Husan Longstreet, who finished the game with 292 passing yards and four touchdowns, the Huskies took down Vista Murrieta 62-14 in Week Eight action. In the blink of an eye Centennial was up 21-0 with RB Cornell Hatcher Jr. running in all three scores. He finished the game with 175 yards and four scores on 14 carries. Vista Murrieta would put points on the board in the first quarter when Alexander Vega put the Broncos in good field positioning with a 34-yard down the sideline.
Bryson Beaver and Brody Guinn would connect for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the very next play. From that point on, Centennial put 34 points unanswered points up, aside from a 21-yard touchdown pass from Beaver to Tyler Caldwell with 1:34 left in the first half. Beaver finished with 144 yards with Guinn pulling down five passes for 56 yards. A 30-minute game delay also occurred in the second quarter when Vista Murrieta senior Brycen Ruud was transported to the hospital after suffering a serious leg injury. Ruud, who is in good spirits according to admin, and is scheduled to have surgery this week, had 43 tackles on the season going into the game, and was ranked as their No. 2 defensive back.
INLAND VALLEY LEAGUE
Hemet (4-3, 3-0) – 49, Canyon Springs (4-4, 1-2) – 0
Game notes: It was the Daniel Mendoza show as he ran for 70 yards and two touchdowns, caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Draven Lopez and also returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Bulldogs win. Lopez threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns and added 97 yards on the ground with a TD.
IVY LEAGUE
Orange Vista (5-3, 3-0) – 35, Heritage (0-8, 0-3) – 0
Game notes: Orange Vista’s Khalil Abdul-Aziz threw two touchdowns to help lead the Coyotes to third straight Ivy League win. Sandy Smith and Zayshawn Washington caught the touchdowns for Orange Vista as Dionte West chipped in on the scoring with two punt return touchdowns.
Rancho Verde (7-1, 3-0) – 45, Elsinore (3-5, 1-2) – 10
Game notes: Rancho Verde’s Dylan Riley rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns for the Mustangs as they remain undefeated in the Ivy League. Amarion Orange caught three passes for 112 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs.
SUNBELT LEAGUE
Riverside Poly (3-6, 1-1) – 37, Lakeside (0-8, 0-1) – 12
FRIDAY 10/13
BIG WEST CONFERENCE-LOWER DIVISION
Great Oak (5-3, 3-0) – 14, Murrieta Mesa (2-6, 2-1) – 7
Game notes: The Wolfpack came out swinging after they scored on their first possession. Cole Vasquez was on fire as he connected for 50 yards, completing four passes down the field to set up a Tavious Truitt with a 7-yard TD. From there…it was a defensive stand still as both teams wouldn’t let up until the fourth quarter. Great Oak’s running game picked up a little momentum in the second half with Jefferson Roberts tallying 80 yards on 14 carries. The Wolfpack would get some breathing room with seven minutes remaining in the game when Vasquez and Jake Schuck connected for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Murrieta Mesa did score a touchdown late in the game when Trey Gamble connected with Dez’mun Franklin with just a little over two minutes left in the game. A failed onside kick would seal the victory for Great Oak, giving them sole possession of first place in the standings. Vasquez completed 21 of 28 passes for 239 yards, while Schuck finished with 10 catches for 122 yards.
BIG WEST CONFERENCE-UPPER DIVISION
Chaparral (5-3, 1-2) – 36, Murrieta Valley (6-2, 2-10 – 35
Game notes: With over seventy points scored between the two teams, this brawl came down to a decisive two-point conversion as the Pumas came from behind earning a huge win over Murrieta Valley. Puma QB Dash Beierly first connected on a 12-yard touchdown to Jacob Alvarez on fourth down in the final minute, and then he hit Chase Bonta for the conversion. A 33-yard field missed field goal attempt in the final seconds would secure the Puma victory.
Beierly threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns while Jayce Venable added two rushing touchdowns. Murrieta Valley was led by Dorian Hoze with 197 yards on the ground and three touchdowns while Asa Chatman had two scoring runs for Murrieta Valley as well.
INLAND VALLEY LEAGUE
Rancho Christian (5-3, 1-1) – 10, Valley View (4-4, 1-1) – 7
Game notes: It would be a Thomas Dalton 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that would decide this Inland Valley League matchup for Rancho Christian. The lone Eagles TD came from Jonathan Alexander who caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
IVY LEAGUE
North (2-6, 1-2) – 28, at Temescal Canyon (4-4, 1-2) – 6
MANZANITA LEAGUE
California Military Institute (3-4, 2-2) – 52, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac (2-4, 1-3) – 16
MESQUITE LEAGUE
Linfield Christian (5-3, 2-1) – 49, Trinity Classical Academy (2-6, 0-3) – 0
Game notes: Marcus Dylke was all over the field for Linfield as he hauled in three touchdown catches and also intercepted three passes for the Lions. QB Thomas Paschal threw four touchdowns in this conference matchup that left TCA scoreless.
MOUNTAIN PASS LEAGUE
Perris (4-4, 1-2) – 42, Citrus Hill (1-7, 0-3) – 7
Game notes: Perris QB Ryan Arredondo threw three touchdowns and ran for another score as the Panthers routed Citrus Hill in this conference bout. Diego Mier was the target of choice with two touchdowns for Perris in this overpowering win.
Liberty (7-1, 3-0) – 40, San Jacinto (4-4, 2-1) – 37
Game notes: Liberty did what no other team has done in twenty straight league games as they defeated the San Jacinto Tigers 40-37 for sole possession of first place. With their highly touted offensive line and running backs Anthony Ruelas and Andre Skelton, who had a combined 287 yards rushing, Liberty tested the San Jacinto defense all game. Skelton rushed for 104 yards on 19 carries with two scores and hauled in a receiving touchdown while Ruelas added 138 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. San Jacinto’s Malachi Brown led all running backs on the night gaining 150 yards on 16 carries.
Saturday 10/14
MAJESTIC LEAGUE (8-man)
Cal Lutheran (5-3, 2-1) – 60, Southlands Christian (4-3, 0-3) – 22
MANZANITA LEAGUE
Webb (5-1, 3-1) – 43, San Jacinto Valley Academy (1-6, 1-4) – 18
*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? Want to leave a game note? Let us know if your school is inside our coverage area and would like to be mentioned.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
