The 2025-26 high school football season exploded into action with Week Zero games that delivered everything fans could want: high-scoring shootouts, dominant performances and plenty of drama under the Thursday and Friday night lights, as well as the Saturday Sun.
Linfield Christian’s season opener at home against Xavier Prep quickly turned into a long night for the Lions. The Saints’ physical advantage proved too much to handle as Xavier Prep rolled to a convincing 46-14 victory. The loss brought back memories of the teams’ previous meeting in September 2021, when the Lions fell 56-7.
Despite the lopsided score, Linfield Christian managed to find the end zone twice with touchdowns from Madden Mayer and Jason Brenier. However, Xavier Prep’s Kingston Pellum stole the spotlight with a career-high 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns while also contributing 60 passing yards and another score through the air. Anthony Creek-Pellum proved to be Pellum’s favorite target, hauling in 24 receiving yards and a touchdown while adding 46 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
The Lions will look to bounce back Thursday night when they host Jackson Hole at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, San Juan Hills and Chaparral treated fans to a high-octane thriller that lived up to the hype. The Stallions edged the Pumas 38-33 in a game that featured two of the Southern Section’s top quarterbacks going head-to-head.
San Juan Hills senior Timmy Herr threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score, but Chaparral junior Dane Weber matched him step for step. Weber completed passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 107 yards and two more scores.
“Dane is a phenomenal quarterback and he definitely drove me to do better,” Herr said. “He’s a class younger than me so it lit a fire under me. I can’t let a younger guy outperform me.”
The pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter when Herr connected with Ryan Matheson on a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the Stallions a 38-26 lead. Weber answered right back, leading an 80-yard drive that he finished with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Michael Farinas with three minutes remaining.
But San Juan Hills controlled the final minutes, earning four first downs to seal the victory. Elijah Ayala provided the ground game with 134 yards on 11 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run on the Stallions’ first offensive play. Noah Howell’s interception and Luke Frith’s 32-yard touchdown reception helped build the early lead.
For Chaparral, Chase Bonta led the receiving corps with 98 yards, while Camren Williams contributed an interception. The Pumas will regroup during their bye week before facing San Clemente on Sept. 5.
In Temecula, Vista Murrieta quarterback Bryson Beaver demonstrated the accuracy improvements he worked on during the offseason. After misfiring on his first two passes, Beaver connected on 16 of his next 17 attempts as the Broncos built a 19-0 halftime lead en route to a 47-25 victory over Great Oak.
The senior signal-caller finished 24 of 34 for 313 yards and two touchdowns, getting plenty of help from running back Damarii Booth, who carried the ball 26 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Booth’s 50-yard scoring run in the second half put the game away.
“He was a little excited, gripping it a little too tight,” Vista Murrieta coach Coley Candaele said of Beaver’s early struggles.
Without All-CIF receiver Sean McCullough, who is working back from a knee injury, Brock Norman stepped up with five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Caldwell added seven receptions for 81 yards and a score.
Great Oak didn’t go quietly. Quarterback Trent Lux showed poise under pressure, completing 18 of 34 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Ryder Parks caught three passes for 74 yards and two scores, including a spectacular 54-yard touchdown reception. The Wolfpack also got a boost when Anthony Clark returned an interception 18 yards for a score.
Vista Murrieta will host city rival Murrieta Mesa on Aug. 29, while Great Oak travels to Rancho Verde on Thursday.
The most dramatic turnaround of the week belonged to Beaumont, which overcame an opening-play interception to demolish San Jacinto 51-14. Cougars quarterback Jeremiah Duhu threw the pick on the game’s first snap but bounced back in spectacular fashion, finishing with 239 passing yards and three touchdowns plus two rushing scores.
“First play. Stuff happens. You just ignore it and keep on pushing throughout the game,” Duhu said. “The start of the game isn’t the end.”
San Jacinto capitalized on that early mistake when Damere Coleman’s interception led to an 18-yard touchdown run by Daishaun Davis. The Tigers added another score on a 14-yard run by Jomini Ransom, but those would be their final points of the night.
Beaumont responded with 44 unanswered points, getting a huge performance from the Duhu-to-Braedon Miller connection. The duo hooked up nine times for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including a 39-yard strike on third-and-20 and a 27-yard score where Miller broke a tackle on the sidelines.
“We’ve been working at this for three years now. It’s a great connection, the best in the IE in my opinion,” Miller said.
Special teams played a crucial role in Beaumont’s victory, with a 61-yard kickoff return by Quillan Davis and a safety when a San Jacinto snap sailed through the punter’s hands into the end zone.
After allowing 135 yards in the first quarter, Beaumont’s defense clamped down and surrendered just 11 yards over the next two periods.
WEEK 0 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Nonleague
Perris 32, Bloomington 30
Citrus Hill 35, Redlands 27
Elsinore 60, Heritage 14
Apple Valley 20, Orange Vista 6
Murrieta Mesa 33, Newport Harbor 27
Beaumont 51, San Jacinto 14
Cornerstone Christian 63, Santa Clarita Christian 12
Tahquitz 31, Hemet 13
Vista Murrieta 47, Great Oak 25
Public Safety Academy 70, Warner 8
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Nonleague
Redlands East Valley 63, California Military Institute 7
San Juan Hills 38, Chaparral 33
Lakeside 31, Pomona 14
Mountain Empire 28, Hamilton 25
Pacific 42, Nuview Bridge 7
University City 55, Rancho Christian 20
Murrieta Valley 28, Rancho Cucamonga 26
Temecula Valley 28, Liberty 21
Temescal Canyon 15, Paloma Valley 14
Valhalla 51, San Jacinto Valley Academy 27
Valley View 29, West Valley 18
Xavier Prep 46, Linfield Christian 14
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
Nonleague
Santa Rosa Academy 34, Cathedral City 6
Week Zero delivered exactly what high school football fans hoped for as teams across the region began their championship pursuits.\
Send local sports tips and info to sports@reedermedia.com.
