Congratulations Vista Murrieta High School!

It’s a cold, rainy Monday in Murrieta California. The grey skies and cold temperatures seem a fitting match for the mood of Vista Murrieta Football fans disappointed over the decision by CIF Commissioners to overlook the Broncos Football team during Sunday’s State Bowl Selections. And while I’m equally mystified over the CIF decision to slight the Broncos I’m still excited over the weekend’s events that saw Vista Murrieta crowned as Inland Division Champions.

My family and I moved to Murrieta just three years ago after having spent our entire lives in the Los Angeles area and my oldest son graduated from Vista Murrieta this past Spring. My job allows me to work from home, which is a blessing as far as commuting is concerned, and a bane with regards to socializing. We have friends my wife and I have made in the local AYSO soccer league where my younger son plays but unfortunately we have few social interactions that don’t involve the “other” game of futbol. So what a pleasure it was to sit in the stands this season and follow the Broncos on their championship journey. Along the way it was my pleasure to meet the most passionate, knowledgeable, and friendly group of high school football fans I’ve ever encountered in my five years of covering high school sports. The Championship Game against Corona Centennial was the most exciting High School Football game I’ve ever seen and as Nick Stevens crossed the goal line with the winning touchdown my family celebrated with each other, and All the Vista Murrieta fans seated around us. It was a party in stands and all Bronco fans were invited. Thank you to everyone we met in the stands during this season, I’ll never forget the experience.

I wanted to extend a sincere thank you to Head Football Coach Coley Candaele and all his hard working staff as well as each and every member of the Broncos football team. As a former Los Angeles Rams and long-suffering UCLA Bruins fan, this was the first time I’ve had the pleasure of cheering a successful football team since Bill Clinton was President! I can’t let a gift like that go un-returned so this Vista Murrieta Football 2011-12 Video is a little video tribute to the Vista Murrieta Broncos for a remarkable season. Included are several video clips from what must be the best High School band in the nation.

Rich Sharp

Vista Murrieta Gets “BCS’d” Out of State Bowl Game

Inland Division Champion Vista Murrieta was passed over for a State Bowl invitation on Sunday afternoon in favor of Pac-5 Division Champion Santa Margarita. Coming off an exciting victory over Corona Centennial in Friday night’s Championship game, Vista Murrieta finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record on the field and a reasonable expectation to be selected as Southern California’s representative in next Friday’s Division I State Bowl Game. With 5 games forfeited due to using an ineligible player that the CIF has since cleared and reinstated “Don’t BCS the Broncos!” is the cry coming from deep in the heart of the Inland Empire. Instead, like their brethren that govern college football’s highest division, CIF Commissioners used something other than what occurred on the football field to determine the bowl bid.

No disrespect to Santa Margarita or the CIF Commissioners but an undefeated Inland Division Champion was clearly the choice for Southern California over the twice-beaten Eagles. Time and again this season Inland Division teams took on their counterparts from the Pac-5 and the Inland Division repeatedly flexed its gridiron power. Corona Centennial knocked off perennial Pac-5 powerhouse Mater Dei back on September 16th, and while I’ve heard from many that this was a down season for the Monarchs, that is the same Mater Dei team that defeated Santa Margarita later in the season! Mission Viejo felt the sting of the Inland Division when they fell at Redlands East Valley on October 7th. Mission Viejo owned a victory over the other Pac-5 finalist San Clemente and gave Santa Margarita everything they could handle before falling 21-20 in the semi-finals. Redlands East Valley had a great season that came to an end against Rancho Cucamonga in the Inland Division playoffs. The Cougars themselves had a fine season with just a single loss to Upland before falling against Corona Centennial in the semi-finals. Vista Murrieta hit the road and knocked off one of the Valley’s Pac-5 teams, Crespi on September 30th before finishing the season with consecutive victories in the playoffs over JW North (11-2), Upland (12-1), and Corona Centennial (12-2).

Credit goes to CIF Commissioner Ken Gunn who disputed the idea that the Broncos losses by forfeit played much of a role in the decision-making process during the hour-long Bowl Selection show on Time Warner’s “2011 CIF State Football” show at 3:00 p.m. Gunn’s straightforward statement that the CIF Commissioners knew of the Vista Murrieta forfeits but instead focused on the strength of schedule for Santa Margarita is a hard point to argue. Despite the two-losses, the Eagles schedule looks like something out of college football’s SEC West. Santa Margarita’s schedule included non-conference matchups against City Section finalist and always-dangerous Carson as well as a Tesoro team that would eventually knock #1 ranked Servite out of the playoffs. That was before playing a treacherous Trinity league schedule and then finishing with consecutive playoff wins against Long Beach Poly, Mission Viejo and San Clemente. Congratulations to Head Coach Harry Welch and the Santa Margarita Eagles on a fantastic season and good luck to them representing the South in next weekend’s Bowl game.

Next season, there will be one more round of playoffs, had that system been in place for this season it would have in all likelihood given Vista Murrieta another chance to qualify for their first State Bowl Game. The BCS … err CIF Commissioners may have gotten it wrong this season but Vista Murrieta still finished the year undefeated and Champions of the Inland Division for the first time in school history.

Rich Sharp

Vista Murrieta Takes Inland Division Championship in Thriller

Vista Murrieta dominated the action against visiting Corona Centennial in a thrilling Inland Division final only to look up at the scoreboard and find themselves trailing 28-27 with just a little over 3 minutes remaining on the game clock. Starting from their own 16-yard line the Broncos started the drive that would erase the memories of back-to-back Inland Division Championship game losses the previous two seasons. The Broncos converted two fourth downs on the drive including a key play when cagey quarterback Nick Stevens used a “hard-count” to perfection drawing Centennial defenders across the line of scrimmage on 4th and 3 from the Huskies 40-yard line. The ensuing 5-yard penalty gave Vista Murrieta a first down with about 30-seconds left in the game. Two plays later it was Stevens again, this time faking an interior hand-off and then exploiting a seam in the middle of the Huskies defense. The rangy 6’4 Junior broke free and weaved his way through the Centennial secondary evading a tackler at the 5-yard line and touching off an explosive celebration on the Murrieta side of the house as he broke the goal line. After a successful two-point conversion Vista Murrieta led 35-28 and when Bronco defenders dragged Romelo Goodman to the ground just a few seconds later Vista Murrieta had captured their first Inland Division Championship and completed a perfect 14-0 season.

In front of a sold out crowd that began arriving in the stadium at around 5:00 p.m. for the 8:07 kickoff the hometown Broncos got off to a quick start jumping ahead 10-0 in the first quarter behind a 31-yard field goal by Tyler Rausa and a 7-yd touchdown pass from Stevens to Su’a Cravens. Vista Murrieta’s defense was solid holding Centennial without a first down and throttling tailback Romelo Goodman on the Huskies first two possessions of the night. But senior quarterback Hayden Gavett got Centennial moving on their next drive using short passes to move the ball down the field. On the first play of the 2nd quarter Goodman plunged in from the 1-yard line, pulling the Huskies to within 10-7. It was one of two rushing touchdowns on the night for Romelo Goodman who finished the season with 44 TDs on the ground. Centennial forced the Broncos to punt on the ensuing possession and appeared to be building momentum when the Broncos Darion Williams intruded. On 4th down deep in Huskies territory the senior defensive back/wide receiver raced in from the end to block the punt and give Vista Murrieta possession at the Centennial 17-yard line. After a penalty for intentional grounding the Broncos converted on 3rd & 27 when Stevens found Williams for a 34-yard touchdown strike and a 17-7 Vista Murrieta advantage. Undaunted, Centennial came right back, taking just a little over 2 minutes the Huskies marched 71 yards in 7 plays with Hayden Gavett completing a 30-yard pass to flanker Isaac Crandall, Romelo Goodman tearing off a 20-yard run and Giles Guy-Williams hauling in a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-14 at halftime.

As they had a week ago on this same field against a previously undefeated Upland team, the Broncos came out to start the 2nd half and just smashed the ball straight through the heart of the Centennial defense moving 83 yards in 10 plays, consuming 6 minutes off the game clock. Senior offensive lineman Corey Whitaker, Sapule Ta’amilo, and Joshua Stucki dominated the battle at the line of scrimmage repeatedly opening holes for Stevens and senior tailback Aaron Pieucukonis. On 4th & 1 at the Centennial 16-yard line, Su’a Cravens took a pitch from Stevens and sprinted around the left end of the Huskies defense out-racing defenders to the corner of the end-zone for the only score of the 3rd quarter and a 24-14 Vista Murrieta lead. Tyler Rausa added a 45-yard field goal following a Darion Williams interception on Centennial’s first possession of the 4th quarter and with just a little over 10 minutes remaining Vista Murrieta appeared on the way to the championship with a 27-14 lead. But with their defense reeling and their crowd silent the Huskies offense responded with two impressive 4th quarter drives to take the lead. Romelo Goodman, who had been held largely in check for most of the evening suddenly flashed his brilliance slicing through the Broncos defense for a 57-yard touchdown run trimming the lead to 6 points.

Centennial’s defense held on their next possession forcing a punt and giving the ball back to Hayden Gavett and the offense. In front of a now-nervous Murrieta crowd the Huskies started at their own 25-yard line and drove the ball 75-yards in 11 plays. With just 3:24 left in the game, Gavett found Giles Guy-Williams on a quick slant route for a 21-yard touchdown strike and Centennial’s first lead of the game at 28-27. Stifling crowd noise from a packed house at Vista Murrieta turned eerily quiet. The Inland Division Title that had eluded Vista Murrieta’s grasp the last two seasons suddenly appeared in jeopardy after a night of blue & gold domination on the field and the strain showed in the faces of the fans.

Starting inside their own 20-yard line Stevens and the Broncos began the drive that delivered the elusive Inland Division Championship to Vista Murrieta High School. Along the way, diminutive senior wide receiver Bradley Trujillo reeled-in a pass thrown behind him on 4th down to preserve the Bronco’s season. The hometown Murrieta crowd, parents and students alike (bloggers too!) went crazy as Stevens crossed the goal line, a celebration that was repeated just moments later when the final whistle sounded and Vista Murrieta was crowned Champion.

Congratulations to Head Coach Matt Logan and the Corona Centennial Huskies for another outstanding season.

Congratulations to Vista Murrieta Head Coach Coley Candaele and all the Broncos for winning their first Inland Division Championship! Now it’s up to the CIF Commissioners to determine if the Broncos overall body of work on the season qualifies Vista Murrieta for a State Bowl game next weekend.

After a perfect 14-0 season on the football field … It Should!


Rich Sharp

Preview: CIF Southern Section Championship Games

Here is a quick look at the three Championship Games that will determine Southern California’s participants in the CIF State Bowl Games.

Northern Division Final: Westlake Village (13-0) vs. Oaks Christian (11-2) at Oaks Christian

This will be the 4th matchup between these two schools located across the street from each other since Oaks Christian joined the Marmonte League for the 2010-11 season. The Warriors have won regular season games against Oaks Christian but the Lions prevailed by a final score of 29-28 in last year’s thrilling Northern Division Final. Westlake Village has kept the memory of that stinging defeat fresh in their minds as they have rolled to a 13-0 record and the #1 ranking in the state. Junior Quarterback Justin Moore leads the way for the Warriors completing better than 65% of his passes for 2,436 yards with 27 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. In addition Moore has rushed for 951 yards and scored 11 td’s and UCLA-bound Dashon Hunt has 1,077 yards rushing with 14 td’s. The Warriors have thoroughly dominated their playoff opponents outscoring the opposition 163-26 so far in three games.

Oaks Christian (11-2) started their season with a road defeat against eventual State 3A Champion Bellevue, Washington and also lost to Westlake Village, 43-21 back on October 6th. Sensational Sophomore Quarterback Brandon Dawkins leads the Lions attack having completed nearly 70% of his passes for 2,506 yards and 29 touchdowns. The backfield duo of Carlos Mendoza and Ishmael Adams combined for 1,500 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. 6’3 Senior WR Jordan Payton is a legitimate Division I prospect has 60 receptions and 10 touchdowns. The Lions erased a 17-7 deficit against Marmonte League rival St. Bonaventure in last week’s semi-final matchup to defeat the Seraphs for the 2nd time this season. Oaks Christian lost the regular season matchup against Westlake Village last season as well, but came back to spring the upset on their rivals in the Championship Game. The Lions will look to repeat the trick Friday night at Oaks Christian. MY PICK: Westlake Village

Pac-5 Final: San Clemente (12-1) vs. Santa Margarita (11-2) at Anaheim Stadium (The Big A)
San Clemente ranked #2 in the state of California probably gained a break when league rival Tesoro upset former #1 ranked Servite in the 2nd round of the Pac-5 playoffs clearing this side of the bracket. But the Tritons most significant win of the season came on September 23rd when San Clemente went on the road and defeated Mater Dei 28-21, the very same Mater Dei team that defeated Santa Margarita 21-14 just two weeks later. San Clemente’s only defeat this season came on the road at the hands of the other Pac-5 semi-finalist Mission Viejo. Senior running back Mike Elesperu has rushed for 1,418 yards and 14 touchdowns and Senior Quarterback Travis Wilson has completed better than 60% of his passes for 24 touchdowns for the Tritons. San Clemente has defeated Lakewood, St John Bosco, and Tesoro on the way to the final.

Harry Welch has been coaching high school football, successfully since I was in High School. This Santa Margarita team, although twice defeated is among his best. Besides the afore-mentioned defeat to Mater Dei, Santa Margarita’s only other loss this season came at the hands of then #1 ranked Servite. Santa Margarita owns victories City Section finalist Carson as well as the only team that defeated San Clemente this year when the Eagles ended Mission Viejo’s season last week. QB Johnny Stanton powers the Santa Margarita attack nearly throwing for 2,000 yards and rushing for 1,084 yards and accounting for 26 touchdowns combined passing and running. Junior RB Ryan Wolpin has run for 1,289 and scored 23 touchdowns. In addition to the win over Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita hammered a talented Long Beach Poly team at Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach in the 2nd round of the playoffs. MY PICK: Santa Margarita … but this was very difficult especially on a neutral field. (I saw the Santa Margarita vs. Long Beach Poly game and I think that influenced my pick.)

Inland Division Final: Vista Murrieta (8-5) vs. Corona Centennial (12-1) at Vista Murrieta
Like the Northern Division, this is a rematch of last year’s Inland Division Final won by Centennial. The Huskies are actually attempting to win their 4th Inland Division Championship in the last 5 seasons. Centennial’s only loss this year came at the hands of perennial Northern Division power St Bonaventure. The Huskies potent spread offense is powered by diminutive senior running back Romeo Goodman who has run for 2,581 yards on the season with almost 1,000 of those yards gained during the Huskies 3 playoff games. Goodman has scored an eye-popping 42 touchdowns rushing this season, including 8 in one game against Chaparral. During the season Centennial defeated Mater Dei, handed JW North their only regular season loss and ended Rancho Cucamonga’s year in convincing fashion last week.

Vista Murrieta has yet to lose a game on the field this year (all 5 losses come via forfeit) and the Broncos are making their third consecutive appearance in the Inland Division Championship game in search of their first title. Versatile Vista Murrieta comes from all angles as the Broncos scored on offense, defense, and special teams last week in their dominating win over previously undefeated and #2 ranked Upland. Junior Quarterback Nick Stevens directs a balanced Broncos attack on offense while ultra-talented linebacker Su’a Cravens leads the Broncos stingy defense and explosive special teams. Last week Vista Murrieta blocked a punt, and an extra-point attempt. Returned a punt for a TD, returned an interception for a TD, and had a 65-yard kickoff return that led to a field goal. MY PICK: Vista Murrieta (3rd time is the charm)

It’s a foregone conclusion that If Westlake Village prevails in the Northern Division then the Warriors, ranked #1 in the state, will represent SoCal in the Open Division Bowl Game. Due to strength of schedule and some common opponents it appears that the Inland Division Champions may have an inside track to the Division I Bowl game which could almost unbelievably leave the Pac-5 Champions home for the California state bowl season. Imagine that?

Rich Sharp