MURRIETA – In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle, Murrieta Valley secured a thrilling 57-55 victory over crosstown rival Vista Murrieta. The matchup, part of the Big West Conference-North Division, was marked by standout performances and nail-biting moments, particularly from Murrieta Valley’s senior quarterback Bear Bachmeier and Vista Murrieta’s Bryson Beaver.
Bachmeier made an impressive season debut after missing the first eight games due to a knee injury. He showed little signs of rust, passing for 275 yards and throwing three touchdowns. Bachmeier also added a rushing touchdown, showcasing his dual-threat capability. Alongside him, Dorian Hoze was unstoppable on the ground, rushing for 265 yards and scoring four touchdowns. His performance helped Murrieta Valley amass 354 rushing yards, clearly outpacing Vista Murrieta’s 188 yards.
The game was a high-scoring affair from the start, with both teams combining for a staggering 1,295 total yards of offense. This offensive explosion was a sharp contrast to Murrieta Valley’s previous game, where they scored just nine points. Credit must also go to Cam Connor, who caught five passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns, adding another dimension to the Nighthawks’ attack.
On the other side, Vista Murrieta’s Bryson Beaver put on a spectacular performance, passing for a career-high 478 yards and five touchdowns. He also contributed 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Sean McCullough was equally impressive, catching 12 passes for 279 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Despite their efforts, the Broncos fell short in the final moments of the game. A pivotal play came when Tyler Caldwell caught a crucial pass on 4th down to bring Vista Murrieta within two points with just 20 seconds remaining. However, the Broncos’ attempt at a two-point conversion failed, sealing their fate.
The victory improves Murrieta Valley’s record to 7-2 overall, 3-1 in league play, and marks their fourth consecutive home win. Vista Murrieta, meanwhile, has found themselves in a rough patch, losing three of their last four games and bringing their record to 5-4.
Both teams will now hit the road for their next matchups, and final games of the regular season. Murrieta Valley looks to extend their momentum against Roosevelt, who is currently on a four-game losing streak. Vista Murrieta will face a challenging opponent in Norco.
CIF Southern Section playoff brackets will be live on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 10:00 am for 11-player teams and at 1 pm for 8-player teams. Follow the action at www.cifss.org.
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