For the first time in the area’s history, four high school football teams from Murrieta and Temecula reached the semifinal round of the CIF Southern Section Football Playoffs. Murrieta Valley, Vista Murrieta, Murrieta Mesa, and Great Oak battled for their respective divisions last Friday, cementing the region’s growing reputation on the gridiron. Two teams—Murrieta Valley and Murrieta Mesa—have advanced to the championship stage, setting up high-stakes matchups this upcoming weekend.
Division 2 thriller leads Murrieta Valley to championship
Murrieta Valley has been an offensive juggernaut since the return of quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The Stanford commit was once again the catalyst for the Nighthawks, delivering a standout performance to lead his team to their first-ever CIF Southern Section Division 2 title game with a thrilling 55-52 overtime victory against Oaks Christian.
The semifinal clash was nothing short of electric. Oaks Christian jumped to an early 21-7 lead in the second quarter, putting the Nighthawks in dangerous territory. But Murrieta Valley, as they’ve proven throughout their season, fought their way back. Bachmeier connected with Derrick Johnson Jr. for a critical 41-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 42-42 in the fourth quarter, followed by a crucial 5-yard scoring run from Dorian Hoze that sent the game into overtime.
Overtime was all about clutch performances. Hoze gained 19 yards on the drive, though a holding penalty momentarily set the Nighthawks back to the 12-yard line. That setup Bachmeier’s game-winning play—a determined 12-yard rushing touchdown that sent Murrieta Valley fans into a frenzy.
Bachmeier put together a monster stat line with 234 passing yards and three touchdowns, completing 17 of 21 attempts. He also added 89 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Since his return, the Nighthawks have averaged 52.8 points per game and are 5-0 heading into the finals.
Hoze also delivered, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown despite Oaks Christian’s strong defensive efforts. Murrieta Valley’s defense, paced by lineman Gio Monge, held firm in critical moments, helping the Nighthawks overcome turnovers and stay in the hunt.
Murrieta Valley will host Newbury Park in their first Division 2 championship game on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The last time the Nighthawks reached this stage, they fell to San Clemente in 2016 when Bear’s older brother, Hank (now a senior QB at Wake Forest), was the starting quarterback. This time around, the Nighthawks are determined to make history.
Murrieta Mesa punches ticket to Division 6 title game
The Murrieta Mesa Rams secured their first-ever trip to the CIF-SS Division 6 finals with a dramatic 31-28 victory over St. Francis. It’s been a season of firsts for the Rams, whose win on Friday night came down to tense final moments.
The Rams took the lead late in the third quarter with a field goal, and the standoff continued as the game approached its conclusion. St. Francis lined up for a potential game-tying field goal in the final seconds, but the kick went wide, sealing Murrieta Mesa’s victory.
Quarterback Trey Gamble Jr. led the offense, throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 38 yards—his highest single-game rushing total—and another score. Artyon Celestine contributed 86 yards on the ground, helping the Rams grind out the clock and maintain their slim lead in the second half.
Gamble Jr.’s performance comes on the back of a career-high 322-yard passing game in the quarterfinals, where he showed poise under pressure. His ability to consistently find playmakers like Dez’mun Franklin, who has been crucial to the Rams’ aerial attack, has been a major factor in their success during this playoff run.
Now riding an eight-game win streak, Murrieta Mesa will face Glendora in the finals at Citrus College on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.
Division 3 and Division 9 dreams come to an end
While Murrieta Valley and Murrieta Mesa kept their seasons alive, Vista Murrieta and Great Oak saw their championship aspirations cut short in the semifinals.
Vista Murrieta hosted Edison in the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals but struggled to contain Edison’s senior running back Julius Gillick. Gillick carried the Chargers with an incredible six-touchdown performance, rushing for 130 yards in three quarters as Edison cruised to a 42-14 win. Vista Murrieta’s highlights were few but included a kickoff return for a touchdown by Joshua Banks and a late second-quarter touchdown connection between junior quarterback Bryson Beaver and Sean McCullough.
Meanwhile, Great Oak’s Division 9 semifinal against Long Beach Wilson ended in disappointment, as the Wolfpack fell 32-13 on the road. Ryder Smith, Great Oak’s standout running back, managed 111 rushing yards, including a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter, but Wilson’s defense applied relentless pressure throughout. Great Oak quarterback Reagan Ricken struggled, completing only 11 of 27 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Both Vista Murrieta and Great Oak can reflect on hard-fought seasons filled with key moments of growth and determination. Vista Murrieta, in particular, showed perseverance by reaching the semifinals as the No. 15 seed in Division 3 after upsetting higher-seeded teams in consecutive rounds.
Moving forward, for Murrieta Valley and Murrieta Mesa, championship glory is within reach. These local programs carry the hopes of their communities into what could be historic final matchups. Will Murrieta Valley secure their first-ever CIF-SS Division 2 title? Will Murrieta Mesa cap off their season-ending win streak with a Division 6 trophy?
One thing is certain—this week’s games promise to deliver more unforgettable moments for this local region.
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