High school football: Temecula, Murrieta teams eyeing championship

Posted By yazmin.alvarez On December 1, 2009 @ 5:40 pm In High School, Local News, Sports | 1 Comment

Three local teams are two wins away from one goal; a CIF Southern Section Championship.

Chaparral, Linfield Christian and Vista Murrieta, the three remaining local schools still in the hunt for a title, are all one win away from the big game.

In the Inland Division it’s a battle of northern Riverside County’s best versus southern Riverside County. Chaparral plays the reigning CIF Southern Section Inland Division champions Corona Centennial, and Vista Murrieta faces Norco.

Over in the Northeast Division, Linfield Christian faces Palos Verdes Peninsula Chadwick.

For Vista Murrieta and Chaparral the stage is set for what could be a rematch between the bitter Southwestern League rivals in the Inland Division Championship.

But before the Pumas get the chance to avenge a 32-13 loss against the Broncos, they have to travel to Corona and settle a score with another old nemesis.

“It’s a chance for redemption,” said Chaparral Assistant Coach Mike Vaez.  “Anytime you have the chance to make up for a lost opportunity; you have to be excited.”

The Huskies bested the Pumas in a turnover-laden 31-27 battle in the first week of the season.

Since that defeat the Pumas have matured as a team and found new ways to win.

Along with its traditional passing attack, the Pumas employed a new look veer option offense in the last few weeks of league play, and as evident by last week’s 14-7 victory over Redlands East Valley; an ever-improving defense.

“We’re much improved, that’s for sure,” Vaez said. “Centennial is better and we’re better, we hope we’ve made more improvement than they have.”

Before his self-imposed vow of silence with the media, Chaparral Head Coach Tommy Leach said he wanted his team to play the best available competition to prepare them for playoffs.

Leach even went so far as to schedule a rare Saturday game in order to play perennial Anaheim Servite.

While the Pumas lost both of its big non-league games (Centennial and Servite), it has paid off so far in the playoffs; including last week’s victory over REV and a come from behind last second victory over Corona Roosevelt in the opening round.

“It makes it easier for us to play in big games when we’ve been playing big games,” Vaez said. “Not to discredit anyone around the valley because I think we all play tough teams.”

Vista Murrieta and Linfield Christian reached the semifinals in similar fashion; by steamrolling every team in their respective.

Now the Broncos face a Norco squad that hopes its running game will have as much success as alumnus and starting Stanford running back Toby Gerhart did all season and most recently against Notre Dame.

“Norco does what they do,” said Vista Murrieta Head Coach Coley Candaele.  “You know they’re going to run the ball, you know they’re going to play aggressive defense.”

“They’re one of the best, if not the best programs, in Riverside County; Centennial is with them also.”

But the Broncos, like their league brethren Chaparral, did not shy away from big time non-league games including two-loss Colton, Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos and a Corona Santiago squad they defeated twice; once during the season and again in the playoffs.

The end result was a veer option offense and stifling defense that led the Broncos to an undefeated season, an outright 33-6 lambasting last week against Redlands and a legitimate shot at a CIF title.

“It doesn’t matter how you get there,” said Candaele. “Four teams left in the semis here, all teams deserved to be here.”

Over in the Northeast Division, Linfield Christian also has a legitimate shot at a CIF title and even if they fall short, they’ve already made history.

The Lions celebrated its first 12-win season last week following its 49-0 shutout victory over Pasadena Poly.

If that weren’t enough, senior running back Austin Maranville broke the school record for touchdowns originally set by his head coach.

“We’re definitely 75 percent run,” said former record holder and current Lions Head Coach Jimmy Kemmis. “We want to stick with that, we’re going to be physical.”

“We want games where we wear people down in the fourth quarter.”

The Lions old school approach of a smash mouth offense and staunch defense has benefitted them well thus far in the playoffs as they have outscored opponents 98-22.

Now all that stands in the way of a title berth is one-loss Chadwick.

“We’re excited,” Kemmis said. “No doubt about it.”