MURRIETA VALLEY 42, TEMESCAL CANYON 14: Nighthawks put it all together for a big win over Temescal Canyon

By TOM SHERIDAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 8, 2008 1:42 AM PST

Murrieta Valley running back A.J. Moore turns the corner on a play late in the first half of the Nighthawks' victory over Temescal Canyon on Friday night. (Photo by David Carlson -- For The Californian)
Murrieta Valley's Richard Gonzales (20) takes Temescal Canyon quarterback Matt Mireles to the ground during the second quarter. (Photo by David Carlson -- For The Californian)

MURRIETA ---- The general consensus is that the Southwestern League has two premier teams in Chaparral and Vista Murrieta, both of which are ranked in the top 10 in the CIF Southern Section.

Murrieta Valley, though, is a dark horse coming on strong down the stretch.

The Nighthawks put together their best all-around performance of the on Friday night, scoring on four consecutive possessions and shutting out Temescal Canyon in the second half for a 42-14 victory at Murrieta Valley High School.

Click here for boxscore

A.J. Moore ran for 171 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Lyle Negron compiled 223 yards in total offense, running for two scores and throwing for another.

Murrieta Valley (6-3, 3-1 Southwestern League) posted 23 first downs and rang up 405 yards in total offense, including 296 yards on the ground. The Nighthawks punted once in nine possessions.

"We showed tonight that we can run the ball," Murrieta Valley offensive coordinator Rich Bancroft said. "Everybody thinks with a spread offense you throw the ball. But we pounded it in there against a quality ballclub."

It was a tumultuous offseason for the Murrieta Valley program, which culminated with head coach Lance Neal being fired in June. Longtime assistant Greg Ireland was quickly hired to heal the wounds and pull things together.

"We had a short offseason in which to prepare," Ireland said. "But Coach Bancroft and his assistants have been amazing with what they've been able to do offensively."

After jumping out to a 14-0 lead on a 40-yard touchdown run by Moore and a 14-yard run by Negron on the Nighthawks' first two possessions, Temescal Canyon (4-5, 1-3) was able to turn the tables after Jon Pettway intercepted a long Negron pass, returning it 27 yards to the Murrieta Valley 45-yard line.

Two plays later, Maurice Rodriguez (21 carries, 110 yards) ripped off a 31-yard run and Matt Mireles scored shortly thereafter on a 2-yard run to make it 14-7 with :44 remaining in the first quarter. The Titans defense then forced its only three-and-out of the game and the offense came right back with a 11-play, 67-yard drive to tie the game on a 16-yard run by Mireles.

"That (interception) kind of kicked us back into gear," Temescal Canyon coach Russ Strange said. "Then we came back and played real well. We didn't tackle real well tonight and that just killed us."

Temescal Canyon was able to move the ball, finishing with 259 yards and 14 first downs, but could not punch it into the end zone. The Titans registered first downs on each of its four second-half possessions.

"We moved the ball," Strange said. "We just didn't score a lot."

Contact staff writer Tom Sheridan at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2649, or tsheridan@californian.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

dadfan wrote on Nov 8, 2008 2:05 AM:good job boys

VM slowdriver wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:21 AM:You're going down next week Nighthawks and it won't be close!

We own you!

Hawks in Da House wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:23 AM:Great Job Negron and Moore on offense, and Gonzales and Butler on Defense.
Great win, now it's time to get ready for the Broncos, does it get any better?
My votes for Valley Player of the Year for Offense - Jonathan Diaz, for Defense Ricky Gonzales, he is quietly having a phenominal year.

mvhs dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 10:00 AM:Hey Vista, the words"Play the Fight Song" isn't going to happen next week!!! GO HAWKS!!!

to mvhs dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 10:19 AM:You are absolutely right, we won't hear the words "Play the Fight Song" because our award winning band will be competing in Indianapolis next week. Good luck Golden Alliance!!You are awesome!! As for the Bronco football team this was the rebuilding year. We are impressed that the players and coaches have worked so hard to make us proud and along the way have won with class.

BBC wrote on Nov 8, 2008 10:22 AM:Easy Slowdriver, next week will be no walk in the park! I' ve been going to VM games for 6 years now and this team isn't the best we've had. If you want to run smack do it between the lines.

MV's defense is solid and they have alot of speed.We have a alot of holes.Clegg is probably a better QB than Brown but we miss him on the defensive side of the ball.

Early offensive mistakes, and blown assignments defensively have forced us to play catch up almost every game this year.Some might say we have been lucky.I say teams make their own luck.Conditioning and coaching is going to be the difference against MV, like it has all year. Thats why we have been able to shut teams out in the second half of ballgames. Los Osos, and Chap can attest to that.

This weeks game will be a thriller probably decided by less than a touchdown.

VM BAND wrote on Nov 8, 2008 10:50 AM:To mvhs dad. We can't play the fight song cause our band will be in Indiana at the BAA national champiomships for high school bands. Thank You.

Bias Spectator wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:11 AM:I have to hand it to the Nighthawks they played well..Ive always said they have a talented team...that being said... I still think Matlock as their QB is their ticket to the playoffs

mvparent wrote on Nov 8, 2008 2:20 PM:Who cares where your band will be, this is a football game and we have our own band. Big deal any one can go to your band comp. if they raise the money..

MVHS OL Dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 2:40 PM:Great Job MVHS OL!!! You created great lanes for Lyle and AJ to pass and run threw! Keep up the great job!
Go Nighhawks!!! Tough week ahead do not lose focus.

mvhs dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 6:35 PM:Astonishing that an award winning band needs to be told when to play the fight song.

mvhs dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:33 PM:Yes you have an outstanding band, but your game anouncer goes overboard when your team runs up scores(35-7 last year). An award winning band doesn't need to be told "Play the Fight Song" GO HAWKS!!!

The Puma Way wrote on Nov 8, 2008 8:27 PM:The game between MV and VM will be the game of the week. Both of these teams are extremely talented, rebuilding year aside for VM, and should do well in the playoffs representing our league. Negron and CO will not disaapoint and Coach Hansen has his understudy QB playing like a regular star.

I think the game comes down to whose team runs the ball better, and while it would seem that the edge might go to Randle, whose an absolute beast, I like what Moore brings to the table.

Folks, one of our teams needs to win it all this year. We need to show the people in the BIG VIII that our SWL is for real. Let's do each other a favor and get behind whomever that team ends up being and root for the SWL!

Puma Fan wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:18 PM:Check out the MV comments. Some thing will never change at MV.

mvhs dad wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:46 PM:Vista claims they when with class, I havnt seen this yet!

huh wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:01 PM:What MV comments? MV is a class program, we just had a rough ride with Lance Neal, Coach I is a respectable man and has brought respectability back to the program. We have the utmost respect for CHS, VMHS and the rest of the SWL for that matter. Puma Way, thank you for the nice comments, it should be a helluva game this week and we do need show the Big 8 we can play. Good night.

one more thing wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:02 PM:the band? who cares...

wolf wrote on Nov 9, 2008 12:08 AM:mark my words, MV 28 VM 14

MV fan wrote on Nov 9, 2008 12:19 AM:Mvhs dad, I guess you missed the MV and Temecula Valley game this year 56 to 12. You missed a good one. Sometimes that is just the way the game goes. Us losing to VM 35 to 7 last year wasn't exactly running up the score. Please, if your someones dad I'll eat my helmet.

Neutral Observer wrote on Nov 9, 2008 6:51 AM:The best OL (offensive line) in the SWL is at Great Oak. That team has suffered so many injuries but the O-line has stood strong. With at least two All League players the line of Nick Love, Michael Luthiger, Jacob Garcia, Kyle Johnson and Eric Varella rules. They are the smallest line in the league being outweighed by about 70lbs per msn but they are by far the most intelligent and fastest line.

GO Oline wrote on Nov 9, 2008 1:27 PM:uhhh ok, what does this have to do with MV and VM. Maybe next year Wolfpack.

hsgt8 wrote on Nov 9, 2008 3:23 PM:neutral observer: ur point is valid. but GO will not get 2 all league players, let alone two on the o-line. they will get snuffed because of the league record. while i do admire their fight and determination to never give up no matter how may injuries, they are just outmanned and performance has shown that.

mojomixer wrote on Nov 9, 2008 3:38 PM:I said excuse me, did somebody say "Mojo???????" ... Yes, yes, I believe you did say that. Please pass the Mojo. And the Groove. And the Jive Rock. Welcome to our house. Good luck. :)

neutral observer needs glasses wrote on Nov 9, 2008 4:19 PM:Great Oak is about to meet the best O-line in he SWL, and that unit, wearing blue and silver, is from Chaparral.

Thanks for the bulletin board material. Keep it coming!

It's much appreciated.

Band Fan wrote on Nov 9, 2008 5:31 PM:To all who have written disrespectful comments about the band.....MVDAD IS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT UP THE BAND!!!!! Don't you read all the comments before you spew out nonesense? ... (TO MVDAD: think about what you are saying....is that how you want to sound?, because you don't sound anything like a dad) Everyone in Murrieta should be proud that a marching band from our city is going across country to represent not only the city of Murrieta, but also the state of California. I will tell you that all band fans at VM are very proud of how well the Crimson Cadets have performed this year.

Actually wrote on Nov 9, 2008 6:42 PM:Last year with an 0-5 record, Jason Anderson, Ben Touzinsky, Jabin Sambrano, Matt Christiansen, and Dalin Gould all got All-League Honors for Great Oak with Gould and Anderson being first team. As Christiansen is the only returner amongst that bunch, he may be awarded the honor again at Defensive line.

Bias Spectator wrote on Nov 9, 2008 7:19 PM:WOWZERS!!!..Thought this was about how MV and TC played..This is football people...I didnt see the band running the ball or making any tackles...sheeeze...take it to "the band" news blog....oh wait there isnt one....hmmmm... makes ya wonder why there isnt...maybe cuz NO ONE (football fans) CARES where the band is or what its doing..LMAO @ the band

I 2nd That wrote on Nov 9, 2008 8:34 PM:No more band talk, no more talking about Great Oak players making all league. This is about how dominating the Nighthawks were on Friday night. They are getting better each week, this Friday should ba a dandy. I see MV pulling out a close one this year.

Puma Way wrote on Nov 9, 2008 9:42 PM:Whats with the Murrieta Mesa Rams using the same colors as Chaparral? Are they going to copy the St Louis Rams logo on the helmet? Why didn't they select school colors as blue and orange? The best school colors are blue and orange or red white and blue. What happens to VMHS next year when the new school opens? The band gets smaller and VMHS starts recruiting football players? The city of Murrieta will always be a step sister to Temecula. Temecula is the city that has made the Inland Empire what it is today. MVHS is not a good school.

Look Here wrote on Nov 9, 2008 11:06 PM:I think so many people brought up the band either because they are jealous OR because the Vista Murrieta band is way more interesting than the nighthawk football team. The facts are: MURRIETA VALLEY FOLKS BROUGHT UP THE VM BAND IN A NIGHTHAWK FOOTBALL COMMENT SECTION!!!! What does that tell you?

The Puma Way wrote on Nov 10, 2008 7:54 AM:Well (PumaWay) are you copying my name or addressing me? It's oaky, plenty of "Puma Ways" to go around.

To address your question, I have no idea what Murrieta Mesa's colors are, though I doubt they're as diverse as Chaps. Chap is Blue, green and silver(platinum). Interesting combination if you ask me. I think that's why Chap, depending on the season, chooses to go with either green and silver or blue and silver.

Mesa will hurt both schools in Murrieta attendance-wise, much like both temecula schools were with the initial opening of GOHS, but things have a way of evening out over time. Both VM and MV will keep wining. They're great programs.

SoCal wrote on Nov 10, 2008 12:01 PM:Alot of smack...this is great!! but after watching VM and MV play CHS I think VM might pull this one out. But CHS has again put together a great team on both sides of the ball with the defense really pulling it together this year. I would hate to be a receiver on a short pass!! you better grab the ball and expect to get laid out! cause there is a DB ready to put a hurt on you ;)

MMHS Rams wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:52 PM:The colors are green and gold.

MMHS Fan wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:59 PM:Mascot: The Rams
School Colors: Forest Green/Silver/Bronze Accents

TVHS wrote on Nov 11, 2008 6:35 AM:ALl Murrieta schools are loses.

MURRIETA wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:21 AM:TO TVHS

You are a testament to your school. Incidentally, (feel free to look up the big word!) what are "loses"? Thanks for the laugh ...

South Western League wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:21 AM:Good Luck to both teams!!!

These players have worked the hearts out for this opportunity! What great talent in one City. Not taking anything away from Temecula!

Going to be an exciting Game Friday!!!

Way to represent the South Western League!

outsider wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:25 AM:Way to go #15!! MVHS

nighthawk momma wrote on Nov 15, 2008 10:00 AM:We knew MV could win VISTA....nighthawks played Mission Viejo & Rancho Verde preseason - the score was not representative of the game I watched. Nighthawks are tough!!

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