Vista Murrieta Broncos Show Mettle In Run To Championship

With their 52-7 victory over the Chargers Nov. 22, the Vista Murrieta Broncos are now the lone surviving team in the Valley seeking a championship trophy.  

Chaparral fell to last year’s CIF-SS Inland Division champion Centennial (Corona), 49-14, while Elsinore was unable to keep up with Rancho Verde, losing 42-7 in the Central Division contest.

Vista Murrieta 52  Charter Oak 7

Charter Oak      0   0    0    7     7 

Vista Murrieta Bronco highlights:

• Senior quarterback Coltin Gerhart was 5 for 8 passing for 98 yards. He rushed six times for 45 yards and a TD.
• Junior Colin Baker caught two passes for 59 yards.
• Junior Tito Feliciano had nine carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.
• Junior Brandon Worthy had the home crowd cheering with his interception for a 100-yards and a touchdown.
• Senior Kwesi Mashack had another pick-six from 24 yards out.
• Junior Messiah Tyler picked off another Charter Oak pass.
• Senior Curtis Bolton was the leading tackler with 10—all solos! With those, six were quarterback sacks—quite a night for this senior heading to the Oklahoma Sooners.  To quote soonerscoop.com, “. . . Bolton put up numbers on Friday night that would have matched any player in the country.”  
• Other sacks were credited to seniors Nick Grimaldo and Jacquan Brown, one each, and senior Cedric Taylor and junior Shannon Walsh, one-half each.
• BYU-bound senior Tyler Cook had an impressive nine quarterback hurries.
• Senior Randy Beggs recovered one fumble, while Bolton, Cook, and sophomore Jalen Russell each caused a fumble.
• Senior Darryl Denby returned three punts for a phenomenal 130 yards and two TDs.
• Senior Aaron Ruth was a perfect 7 of 7 for PATs bringing his season total to 76 of 78.
• Ruth also booted a 40-yard field goal.

Record:  5-0 League (11-1 Overall)

Next up:  Coach Coley Candaele’s Broncos are the Number 1 seed in the highly competitive Inland Division. They travel to Norco this Friday in the semi-final round of CIF-Southern Section playoffs. The Cougars finished second in the Big VIII League, losing their only league game 43-25 to last year’s CIF champion Centennial. Norco has a 9-3 overall season record (4-1 in league).

This game will be tough for both teams. According to maxpreps.com, Vista Murrieta is ranked 10th in the state while Norco is 12th.

Best of success, Broncos!