Week 3 of the high school football season delivered a mix of decisive wins and hard-fought setbacks for area programs as action heated up across the valley. Here is a look at just a few of the local games where the Valley News had boots on the ground.
At Rancho Christian, the Eagles squared off against undefeated Steele Canyon, suffering a 42-14 loss at home. Coming off a strong performance the week prior, Rancho Christian struggled to keep up with the Cougars’ size and speed from the opening whistle. Still, the Eagles’ defensive front found ways to disrupt, led by defensive lineman Cody Horner, who tallied three sacks and constantly pressured the Steele Canyon offense. Now 1-3, Rancho Christian turns its attention to a Thursday night clash with Montgomery, whose defense has been especially tough, allowing only 13.8 points per game.
Elsewhere, Chaparral and Rancho Cucamonga produced one of the week’s wildest games as the Pumas prevailed 54-42 on the road. Chaparral seized command with a second-quarter special teams surge, turning a bad punt snap, a heads-up kickoff recovery and a blocked punt into a sequence of rapid-fire touchdowns. Quarterback Dane Weber fueled the attack, passing for 201 yards and three scores. That flurry put Chaparral ahead for good as the Pumas recorded their first victory of the season, rising to 1-2.
Vista Murrieta kept its perfect record intact with a 29-10 win over Bishop Amat in Murrieta. Big plays were the difference for the Broncos, including a critical blocked field goal and a blocked punt that shifted momentum and set up points. Quarterback Bryson Beaver finished with 184 yards through the air and three touchdowns, finding Cash Bryant for 107 receiving yards. The Broncos’ defense kept Bishop Amat’s run game under wraps all night, pushing Vista Murrieta to 3-0.
In one of the week’s most lopsided contests, Murrieta Valley left little suspense, racing past rival Murrieta Mesa 56-6. Jacob Taddi led a red-hot Nighthawk offense with three touchdowns as Murrieta Valley pulled away following halftime, racking up five unanswered second-half scores. The Nighthawks now own a 2-1 record, while the Rams dropped to 2-2.
At Temescal Canyon, the Titans met a veteran Patriot squad in Lake Elsinore and fell 33-10 on Thursday night. Patriot’s experienced offensive front paved the way for a relentless ground attack that piled up 317 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Temescal Canyon, with eighteen sophomores on the roster, battled throughout and found the end zone late on an Aidan Freas touchdown run. The Titans, now 2-2, look ahead to next week’s matchup against Temecula Valley.
As for a complete look at the scoreboard for the rest of the local teams, scores were reported as follows:
THURSDAY 9/11 RESULTS
Manzanita League
Hamilton 59, Nuview Bridge 19
Nonleague
Citrus Hill 54, Notre Dame 0
Santa Rosa Academy 24, Kearny 14
Patriot 33, Temescal Canyon 10
Temecula Valley 27, Hillcrest 18
Hemet 28, West Valley 24
FRIDAY 9/12 RESULTS
Nonleague
Banning 28, Perris 18
Vista Murrieta 29, Bishop Amat 10
Chaparral 54, Rancho Cucamonga 42
Desert Christian Academy 58, San Jacinto Valley Academy 7
Cal Lutheran 40, Downey Calvary Chapel 0
Paloma Valley 46, Heritage 6
Corona 35, Lakeside 34
Elsinore 21, Liberty 20
Tahquitz def. Linfield Christian, forfeit
Murrieta Valley 56, Murrieta Mesa 6
Orange Vista 13, Warren 10
San Jacinto 14, Rancho Verde 11
Steele Canyon 42, Rancho Christian 14
SATURDAY 9/13
Nonleague
Cornerstone Christian 78, Lancaster Baptist 6
Desert Mirage 46, Temecula Prep 13
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