MURRIETA VALLEY 27, FONTANA MILLER 6: 'Hawks do the right things to get to semifinals
Workman-like performance leads Murrieta Valley to semifinals with win over Miller
By NATHAN MAX - For The Californian | ∞
MURRIETA -- Murrieta Valley head coach Greg Ireland said his football team did "nothing flashy" in its CIF Southern Section Inland Division quarterfinal against Fontana Miller on Friday night.
But what the Nighthawks lacked in style, they made up for in substance.
Senior quarterback Lyle Negron rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, and he threw for two touchdowns to lead Murrieta Valley to a dominating, 27-6, victory over the previously unbeaten Rebels.
With the victory, the Nighthawks advanced to an Inland Division semifinals at top-seeded Corona Centennial next Friday night.
Murrieta Valley (9-3), which won its sixth straight, played well on all sides of the ball. Offensively, the Nighthawks rushed for 230 yards. Defensively, they sacked Fontana junior quarterback Juan Flores six times. And, on special teams, Murrieta Valley blocked a punt for a safety, blocked an extra point and created a turnover.
"We're not fast, we're not strong and we're not overly quick," Ireland said. "But, like I've said in the past, we're a tough football team, and that's how we win games. We are going to hang in there, and we are going to play tough."
Negron completed 11-of-15 passes for 98 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Tyler Parmenter and a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior Dalton Hunkle. Parmenter also kicked a 30-yard field goal and converted both his extra-point attempts.
Junior running back A.J. Moore finished with 120 total yards. He rushed for 74 yards on 16 carries, and he caught six passes out of the backfield for 46 yards.
Meanwhile, the Nighthawks' defense and special teams really shined. Among the highlights, sophomore Earvin Simmons blocked a punt out of the end zone with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter to put Murrieta Valley ahead, 2-0.
Senior safety Kyle Figgins recovered a muffed punt early in the third quarter that set up a touchdown, and he intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
Senior safety Richard Gonzales blocked an extra point and had a sack, and junior linebacker Justin Sexton sacked Flores twice.
In all, Miller (11-1) gained just 179 yards offense, and Murrieta Valley held the Rebels to minus-10 yards rushing on 18 carries.
"Our defense was amazing," Negron said. "Six points against A.B. Miller, that's great."
In a losing effort, Flores completed 13-of-25 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Miller, which had an 11-game winning streak snapped.
With Murrieta Valley leading 2-0, Flores gave Miller its only lead when he connected with senior Michael Hunter for a 17-yard touchdown with 10 minutes to play in the half. Gonzales' blocked extra point kept the score 6-2.
Murrieta Valley trimmed the deficit to 6-5 after a 12-play, 5:20 drive. The Nighthawks then moved ahead 12-6 on the strength of an 8-play, 76-yard drive, capped by Negron's short touchdown pass to Parmenter with just 22 seconds to play in the half.
The Nighthawks went three plays and out on their first second-half possession, but Murrieta Valley immediately got the ball back when Figgins recovered a muffed punt. Seven plays later, Negron hit Hunkle to make it 18-6, and he then hit Moore on a two-point coversion for a 20-6 lead.
Negron scored himself on Murrieta Valley's next drive, and the game was effectively over.
"We came out strong," Moore said. "We knew we could beat them, and we were fired up. We know next week's going to be a bigger challenge and a lot better team. A lot more talent."
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BBC wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:40 AM:Very impressive win MV.Good luck at Centenial next week!Their line play is suspect but their linebackers are big and fast. Figure out how to handle that and you can win!
Red Zone Fan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:38 AM:That was 'fun' football to watch. A united team makes a victorious team. Stay smart, strong and tough next Friday and you will conquer.
Nighthawks Rock in 08
CC fan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:31 AM:That's right Red Zone Fan. You will meet the rock and his number is 7 Friday Night in our crib. Peace!
Puma Town wrote on Nov 29, 2008 2:54 PM:Go kick their butts MVHS!
Hope to take care of businees vs Norco and see you in the finals for an all SWL showdown.
john wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:43 PM:You got to love way these guys are putting it together , I would love to see MV against Chap for the Title both teams deserve a title, I always like an underdog.
Bias Spectator wrote on Nov 29, 2008 9:32 PM:I am definately IMPRESSED MV..Stay focused and continue to play as a "TEAM" and you will succeeed
Alex wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:20 PM:Hey CC Fan:
Who told you abouut OUR newspaper? Only people who live in our city or are Charger fans are allowed to read it. Don't you know most here are San Diego transplants? See ya!
mvhs dad wrote on Nov 30, 2008 7:26 AM:You guys DESREVE to be on the same field as CC for the effort, fight and unwllingness to give in!! Each do your part and great things will happen!!!
Anyone into having Tail gate PARTY fri before the game!!!
DR M wrote on Nov 30, 2008 9:31 AM:Congratulations to MV and the entire coaching staff. You are the real story in the final 4 of your division. Everyone knew CC was going to be great this year; everyone knew Chap was going to be good this year, as well as VM. The real question mark was at MV. The past 2 years have been a disaster which led to an entire overhaul of the coaching staff in mid July. The staff revamped the system and made the boys believe in themselves. In order to succeed in life, you must believe in yourself. Execute, stay focused, and good luck against CC.
PS- I played in the Pac 5;every week is like a CIF playoff game. It's difficult to go undefeated. Maybe CC should join the Pac 5.
to mvhs dad wrote on Nov 30, 2008 9:43 AM:you can count me in.I'll bring the 40's that way we look like locals.Take all the stickers off your cars,when CC gets beat they are not going to be happy.
GO fan wrote on Nov 30, 2008 11:58 AM:I agree with DR M. as long as CC is in the division they are going to be the team to beat. If you don't think so get a close look at CC friday night and they look like grown men not 16 & 17 year olds.
MVHS OL DAD wrote on Nov 30, 2008 1:07 PM:Way to go Nighthawks!!!
Defense showed up strong! The Line opened the holes for AJ and kept Lyle protected. Great job entire Offense. Keep Focus this week! The game is won Mon-Thurs be prepared.
Go Nighthawks!!!
advice wrote on Nov 30, 2008 2:06 PM:Hit `em ... hit `em hard ... and just keep on hit `em all night long.
... and don`t forget to bring your mouth pieces and your mojo.
You don`t need luck, so I won`t say that ... it is the TEAM that will give you the w.
have a great week and do the right things to prep both your minds and bodies.
See you after the trophy is placed in your school hall!
TEAM
Mark wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:24 PM:Good job! The new coaching staff especially coach Hunt is the reason they are doing so well. They should make Hunt the head football coach at Murrieta Mesa.
Bias Spectator wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:05 AM:To "GO Fan"...Who cares what they look like...They put their uniform on just like anyone else...They wear their helmets the same way as anyone else..besides "BIG trees fall hard" grasshopper
kevin wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:43 PM:ya big trees fall hard after you hack away for days with an ax, mv is working with a butterknife the cc team is just too talented this year and the kids know it, put it this way, if you guys post these blogs to encourage your players and your players are on here looking at blogs they will loose, they shouldnt be worried about blogging, you think the players at cc are worried about blogs? NOPE thats why they are the way they are...
Big VIII Rules wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:51 AM:The key to MV having even a ghost of chance this weekend is establishing an offense.
I was at the VM/CC game last Friday and the score really doesn't reflect the fight that VM put up. If the Broncos had been able to capitalize on the 3-4 turnovers in the 1st half, I believe the result would have been much different. CC can be defeated, but it is highly unlikely and will take a perfect gameplan being executed. And someone will have to take Burfict out of the game, not injure him, I mean occupy him. VM's undoing this year was the one dimensional side to their offense, it isn't hard to figure out Randle is getting the ball 70% of the time. And the QB, Brown, being a sophomore, made too many errors.
Good luck Nighthawks, it is a monumental challenge awaiting you this weekend.
Bias Spectator wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:06 AM:To VB MLB at CC:
I look forward to friday night Im sure it will be a great game..but if by chance our OL makes you cry please have a liitle sportsmanship...k?
Bias Spectator wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:12 AM:To Kevin: well I would hope the players at MV arent comming to these blogs looking to be fired up...Im sure they are studing film or something...but as far as CC players..what do you think "VB MLB at CC" stands for?????
Think about it grasshopper....and last I checked there things called "chain saws" that take trees down fast....look into it sometime
Arrogance wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:13 PM:Whether it is MV or Chap, it is important that someone take down CC and in the process take away their sickening arrogance. Not sure if there will be unbiased officials at the games, but if they are fair, expect lots of unsportsmanlike penalties on the Huskies, they are a dirty team. Make no mistake, Burfict is a great player, but the taunting and dancing at the HS level is unwarranted. I look forward to Peter Carroll and Company taking his attitude down a few notches. If they don't I expect a 325 lineman will do it for them down the road.
Out...
NOTW wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:52 PM:I would not worry about the head to head battle you will see Friday & Saturday Night(s).
Both games will be played at CC High School Big 8 country. When you play in Corona or Norco the zebras will always be talking to the CC or Norco players during the game. You will see what I am talking about Friday and Saturday nights and it will not be pretty. So both Nighthawks and Pumas must be able to overcome and fight every play and go Blow for Blow to win.
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