Week 7 of the high school football season delivered intense matchups and thrilling outcomes across Southwest Riverside County, as league rivalries heated up under the Friday night lights. Teams battled for crucial wins, with bold play-calling and standout individual efforts defining a memorable weekend on the gridiron.
In a high-scoring Big West Conference-North Division contest, Murrieta Valley outlasted rival Chaparral 56-42. The game was a back-and-forth offensive battle, but a gutsy call by the Nighthawks in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. Clinging to a slim lead, Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson called for a fake punt on a critical fourth down, a play he had kept in his playbook for over a decade. Jacob Taddi’s successful run for a first down kept the drive alive, setting up running back Jeremiah Watson to seal the victory. Watson had an exceptional night, scoring an incredible six touchdowns to power the Nighthawks’ offense and secure a vital league win.
Elsewhere in the Big West-North, Vista Murrieta faced a tough opponent in Centennial and suffered a 63-14 defeat. The Huskies capitalized on the Broncos’ mistakes, with their defense creating four takeaways that shifted the momentum of the game. Centennial quarterback Dominick Catalano was precise, throwing for four touchdowns in just three quarters of action. The opportunistic defense and efficient offense were too much for Vista Murrieta to handle, leading to a decisive victory for Centennial.
The Big West Conference-South Division also saw a key rivalry game as Murrieta Mesa pulled away from Great Oak for a 42-21 victory. The game was tightly contested until the fourth quarter, when the Rams took control. After a go-ahead touchdown run by quarterback Daniel Ritchie, Murrieta Mesa’s Kian Hendricks made a game-altering play on defense. Hendricks, who had earlier been involved in a tipped pass that resulted in a Great Oak touchdown, redeemed himself with a diving interception. His play set up another touchdown from Ritchie, who finished the night with three rushing scores. A late interception return for a touchdown by Chris Flores secured the win for the Rams, who dominated the final quarter.
In a nail-biting Ivy League showdown, Orange Vista edged out Liberty 22-21 in a dramatic comeback. After a defensive struggle in the first half, Orange Vista’s offense came alive. Quarterback Aziz connected with Tristan Cooper for an 80-yard touchdown pass that broke Liberty’s shutout. Running back Bobby Greer powered the ground game, scoring two crucial second-half touchdowns to complete the rally on Orange Vista’s homecoming night. The victory marked the Coyotes’ fourth consecutive win.
Across the rest of the county, the Week 7 scoreboard was filled with action. On Thursday, Moreno Valley defeated Heritage 34-0 in the Inland Valley League. In the Manzanita League, Nuview Bridge beat California Military Institute 22-14, and San Jacinto Valley Academy won 27-14 against Hamilton. In the Mountain Pass League, San Jacinto secured a 36-7 victory over Elsinore.
Friday’s games included Temecula Valley’s 21-16 win over Santiago in the Big West-South. In the Cottonwood League, Santa Rosa Academy defeated Temecula Prep 46-6. Inland Valley League action saw Citrus Hill win 39-23 against Perris and Canyon Springs beat Lakeside 42-7. The Ivy League also featured Paloma Valley’s 48-21 victory over North. In the Majestic League, Cornerstone Christian triumphed over Calvary Baptist 61-6, while Linfield Christian beat Arrowhead Christian 27-7 in the Mesquite League. The Mountain Pass League saw Temescal Canyon defeat West Valley 42-7, and in the Sunbelt League, Hillcrest won 42-14 against Hemet. In a nonleague game, Sage Hill defeated Cal Lutheran 46-12. The week concluded on Saturday with Riverside Poly beating Rancho Christian 42-6 in a Sunbelt League matchup.
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