Murrieta, CA.
Trailing Vista Murrieta 28-35 in the second overtime of the Inland Division semifinal playoff game you can understand why Rancho Cucamonga head football coach Nick Baiz would go to tailback Sateki Finau on 4th and goal at the one yard line. The Cougars had a mammoth offensive line that averaged over 285 pounds and had repeatedly opened holes in the Broncos defense all night long. Finau has been Rancho’s all everything back all season going over the 2,000 yard rushing mark during Saturday night’s playoff game at Vista Murrieta high school and the senior had already scored two similar touchdowns including one on the first possession of overtime. But when Finau took the handoff and broke to the right side of the line of scrimmage Bronco linebacker Manuel Moreno led Vista Murrieta defenders as they smashed through the Cougars offensive line hitting Finau and dragging him to the ground short of the line of scrimmage. With anxious fans waiting for a sign from the officials the Bronco defenders began storming off the field in celebration heading for Vista Murrieta’s second appearance in the CIF Southern Section Inland Division Championship game in as many years.
The game featured as evenly matched a pair of teams as I have seen in some time. The Cougars supporters got into the action first sounding off with a hardy “Let’s Go Rancho” chant minutes before kickoff. Not to be outdone on their home field the Broncos fans came back with the familiar “Broncos” call … good times in the CIF.
But it was also Rancho Cucamonga’s offense that got on the scoreboard first marching down the field on their first offensive possession behind running from Finau and short passes from Junior Quarterback Dmitri Morales to Receiver Donavan Harden and Fullback JT Huggins. When Finau slammed it into the end zone from 2-yards out Rancho had the first score of the game and a 7-0 lead. Vista Murrieta’s defense recovered after that initial possession and did not yield any additional points to Rancho Cucamonga’s offense in the half. However Vista Murrieta’s offense, normally one of the team’s strong points, struggled to move the ball against the champions from the Baseline league. Rancho’s defense seemed content to play Vista Quarterback Derek Brown on the option forcing Brown to hand off to tailback Jonathan Harden into the center of the Cougars big defensive line. Unable to effectively run the ball, Brown also struggled finding open receivers in the early going and the result was three consecutive offensive possessions without a first down and three booming punts from Brown.
It was on the 4th punt of the game by Brown that led to Vista Murrieta’s first score of the game. After failing to convert on yet another third down Brown dropped into punt formation. Brown needed every bit of his 6’3 frame and all of his athleticism to track down the high snap; however he didn’t have to worry about any Rancho defenders as all the special teams players had turned their backs and retreated into punt blocking assignments. Brown, surprised took off running up the middle easily getting the first down and wasn’t brought down until he had rumbled 21 yards deep into Cougar territory. From there Brown completed a 33-yard scoring pass to receiver Darion Williams and the two teams went into the half tied at 7-7.
This time it was Vista Murrieta taking the early lead after stopping Rancho Cucamonga’s initial drive of the 2nd half. Brown and Harden picked up consecutive first downs on the ground to get into Cougar territory before Cody Peukonis turned a short pass into a big gain inside the Rancho 15-yard line. A couple of penalties backed the Broncos up before Brown dropped back to pass and found favorite target Mike Mazur in the corner of the end-zone for the go-ahead score, 14-7 Vista Murrieta. Rancho Cucamonga had the answer. Seteki Finau, who exceeded 2,000 yard rushing mark on the season at some point during this drive, helped power the Cougars offense deep into Broncos territory and when Dmitri Morales found his favorite receiver Donavan Harden open at the Vista 12-yard line the senior who led Rancho Cucamonga in receiving did the rest outracing defenders to the corner of the end-zone and touching off a loud celebration among the Rancho supporters on the far side of the field. It was short lived.
On the ensuing kickoff Vista return man Darion Williams caught the ball at his 1-yard line, headed up the middle of the field and then sliced through a gap on the left side of the return, stayed on his feet despite a defender grabbing his face mask, and raced down the sideline to give Vista Murrieta the lead at 21-14 and silence the Rancho Cucamonga supporters at the same time. Vista had another opportunity following a Morales interception but the Cougars stopped the Broncos on 4th and one at their own 35-yard line and took possession of the ball with a little over 7:00 minutes remaining in the game. Rancho Cucamonga (11-2) methodically moved the ball down the field behind the running of Finau and the passing of Morales. With just under a minute to play, junior fullback JT Huggins plunged in from the 1-yard line and tied the score at 21-21. Vista Murrieta had one final chance but Rancho managed to block a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired sending the game into overtime.
After Finau scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, Derek Brown scored on touchdown runs of 25 and 12 yards in the next two overtime sessions to put Vista Murrieta ahead 35-28 and set up the final showdown. On 4th and goal from inside the Broncos 1-yard line the Vista Murrieta defenders made their final stand stopping Finau and ending the Cougars season just 12 inches short of their goal. Vista Murrieta (12-1) will be on the road next week at powerhouse Corona Centennial attempting to secure the Inland Division Title that evaded their grasp last season.
Rich Sharp
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