Temecula High School Football Teams Getting Ready For Friday Night Lights

Summer camp is upon us around the Temecula Valley and the city’s three Southwestern League teams are starting to get ready for opening night.

The Temecula Valley Golden Bears were 1-9 overall and 0-5 in league last season. Coach Paul McGowen is looking forward to the new season in 2013. The Bears had a young team last season and McGowan has key position players and linemen returning this year. 

Starting Quarterback Kyle Plantier is now a senior and he has two of his favorite receivers Derrik Hooks and Griffen Doran returning on offense. The O Line is solid and the team is optimistic.

The Bears also return 10 Defensive players with game experience.

Temecula Valley has one of the toughest schedules in the league. Eight of the ten teams they play this season qualified for the CIF Southern Section Playoffs last year. The other two are just as solid.

Coach McGowen and his staff are ready for the challenges ahead.

Head Coaches Ryan Tukua and Stan Hunt’s Pumas started last season on fire but ended on a down note in 2012. 

Chaparral was 7-1 before dropping a 41-31 stunning come-from-behind loss to MVHS. They then lost to Vista Murrieta in their season final and were eliminated from the CIF Playoffs by Charter Oak. 

The Pumas have historically run one of the finest football programs in Southern California. Look for Chaparral to rebound after its disappointing season finish. They are solid on both sides of the ball and looking to redeem themselves. 

The Pumas finished with a 7-4 record, and were third in the tough Southwestern league. They lost a lot of seniors but their JV team went 10-0 and won the league championship. There is a lot of young talent to fill any gaps. 

Great Oak went to the CIF Southern Section Playoffs for the first time in school history under Coach Robbie Robinson last year. 

The Wolfpack qualified for the CIF Playoffs with a dramatic, physical, convincing victory over a hungry and determined Murrieta Mesa Ram team.

Robinson’s Wolfpack finished the regular season 5-5 before dropping the CIF game to the Highlanders from Upland. Great Oak’s strong JV roster is loaded and ready to fill in for Robinson’s departing seniors.

Great Oak has three returning All Southwestern League players to solidify the team. Look for Wolfpack to be even more dangerous for opponents than even last year.

The Southwestern league is considered to be one of the best in the State and the Nation. There is some great High School Football being played every weekend. Get ready to come out and support your local Temecula teams once the season begins. 

There is no better way to spend your Friday evenings in the Valley.