MURRIETA – While it was a good one, Murrieta Valley’s playoff run concluded last Friday night with a 23-10 loss to Los Alamitos in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals. A couple of cities over, it would be Tahquitz who secured a historic victory to advance to its first-ever championship game.
The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks (9-4) started strong at home, establishing a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. A 9-yard touchdown run from Kayden Borden and a 27-yard field goal by Jack Cambray put the Nighthawks in control early.
However, Los Alamitos (11-2) adjusted its strategy in the second half, mounting a comeback fueled by a powerful running game. The Griffins scored on their first two possessions after halftime to take the lead and finished with 165 of their 243 total rushing yards in the final two quarters.
“We’ve been behind at halftime more than we’ve been ahead this year. This was nothing new,” Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton said.
Murrieta Valley was held to 50 rushing yards in the second half. The team played without running back Jeremiah Watson, who was sidelined with an injury. Sophomore quarterback Ty Isaia led the Nighthawks with 59 rushing yards on 19 carries.
“It was a good season, despite the amount of starters we lost to injury. For this squad to even make the semis, it says a lot,” Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson said. Wilson noted the team’s youth, with many underclassmen at key positions, and sees a bright future after reaching the semifinals for the third consecutive season.
Meanwhile, in Hemet, the Tahquitz Titans (10-3) defeated Santa Monica 41-35 in a close Division 10 semifinal. The victory marks a school record for wins in a season and sends the program to its first section title game.
Running back Terrell Strong led the Titans with four touchdowns and 192 yards on 27 carries. His 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winning score.
“It was a real nail-biter,” Strong said. “We’re very fortunate to come out on top, but that’s all that matters in the playoffs. You have to find a way to win.”
The game turned into a shootout in the final quarter. Santa Monica had a chance to tie the score in the last minute, but the Titans’ defense held firm, ending the game with four straight incomplete passes.
Tahquitz will play Hillcrest in the Division 10 championship this weekend. Their participation may be affected by the ejection of receiver Jacob Arbuckle, who received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Other local teams also found success. In Division 4, San Jacinto secured a narrow 18-15 win over Villa Park. In the 8-Person, Division 1 semifinals, Cornerstone Christian defeated Faith Baptist 29-20. Both San Jacinto and Cornerstone Christian will advance to play for their respective CIF championships this week, keeping local title hopes alive. Details on all the championship games came be found online at www.cifss.com
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