MURRIETA — Newbury Park captured its first CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship in 31 years with a thrilling 31-28 victory over the hometown Murrieta Valley Nighthawks last Saturday night.
The game began with a dominant start by Murrieta Valley’s offensive line and standout running back Dorian Hoze. The Nighthawks surged to a double-digit lead within the first six minutes, capitalizing on Cam Connor’s 41-yard kickoff return and back-to-back scoring drives powered by Hoze, including a 69-yard burst for his second touchdown.
Newbury Park, however, absorbed the early punches and mounted a determined response. Behind quarterback Brady Smigiel, the Panthers pieced together a 13-play scoring drive capped by his 6-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. A pivotal second-quarter miscue by Murrieta Valley, when a punt deflected off a blocker, set Newbury Park up for a game-tying trick-play touchdown from Smigiel to Drew Cofield.
Tied at halftime, Newbury Park seized its first lead with Bohdie Ing’s 35-yard field goal in the third period. Murrieta Valley struck back as Hoze recorded his third touchdown of the game, a 24-yard run, reclaiming the lead at 21-17. Yet Newbury Park quickly answered, with Smigiel hitting Cofield for a 66-yard scoring strike to take back the advantage.
Cofield followed with a decisive defensive play. Hoze appeared headed for a 55-yard touchdown but was pursued and stripped by Cofield at the goal line, forcing a turnover through the end zone. “I just knew I had to give my all for my team,” said Cofield of his game-changing play. The Panthers capitalized on the turnover, extending their lead to 31-21 after Smigiel connected with Shane Rosenthal on two deep completions.
Murrieta Valley, fueled by Hoze’s fourth touchdown of the night and the gritty efforts of quarterback Bear Bachmeier despite a shoulder injury, narrowed the score to 31-28 in the fourth quarter. The Nighthawks earned one last chance when a Newbury Park fumble gave them the ball with less than two minutes remaining. However, the Panthers’ defense held strong, stopping Bachmeier just short of a crucial first down on a fourth-and-3 play with under a minute left.
Smigiel finished with an impressive 311 passing yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to deliver clutch plays under pressure. Rosenthal added 120 receiving yards, while Hoze’s stellar 263-yard rushing performance concluded a season where he eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark. Ultimately, the Panthers’ balanced attack and key defensive plays sealed their perfect 14-0 season and a long-awaited championship.
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