Heritage Faces Beaumont in Home Opener; Paloma on Road

Heritage High School's football team plays its home opener tonight at 7 against Beaumont in a battle of 2-0 teams. Meanwhile, Paloma Valley takes its 2-0 record on the road with a 7 p.m. game against West Valley High in Hemet.

Coming off a 35-13 victory at Rancho Verde last week, the Heritage Patriots will face a challenge in the high-powered offense of Beaumont. The Cougars have piled up 67 points in their first two games, wins over Citrus Valley and Valley View. They are led by running back Joe Jeffers, who has carried 67 times for 413 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, quarterback Josh Martin has completed 19 of 26 passes for 315 yards and two TDs.

Heritage will counter with a ground game led by running back Jamal Morrow, who ran for 271 yards and four touchdowns against Rancho Verde. Morrow, quarterback Mat Bradshaw and a solid defense are keys to the Patriots' bid to open the season 3-0.

The Paloma Valley Wildcats will put their perfect record on the line against a West Valley team that also is 2-0 and has outscored the opposition, 131-0. Running back Chris Anderson leads the Mustangs' rushing attack with 433 yards and seven touchdowns, while quarterback Mike Cordova has passed for 187 yards and four scores.

Paloma Valley's offense is led by David Solis, who has rushed for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Brent Boehm, who has rushed for 110 yards and passed for 270 yards and seven TDs. The Wildcats have outscored the opposition, 98-19.