Paloma Comes Back, but Still Falls to Elsinore, 31-27

Quarterback Jake Newton and running back Demarco Prewitt during Friday night's game.

Paloma Valley High School staged a comeback but lost Friday night to the Tigers of Elsinore High School, 31-27, in a Sunbelt League football game at Elsinore.

Paloma Valley played two different halves against the Tigers. In the first half, the Wildcats lacked focus and energy and even though they struck first on the opening drive of the game, they allowed 24 straight points to the Tigers before being interrupted by halftime.

"I just don't think we played with a sense of urgency," coach Bert Esposito bluntly said about his team. "You can't ever take Elsinore for granted. They come to play. They come ready and we just didn't."

Elsinore's star running back, Jacob Guglielmana, rushed for 151 of his 204 rushing yards in the first half.

"The kid is good," Esposito said about the Elsinore High School running back. "To me, he is the MVP of the league. I watch film on everyone and he's the real deal."

Settling down at halftime, the Wildcats (4-3, 1-1) began the task of focusing on what they needed to do to mount a comeback in the second half.

"In the second half, we made an attitude adjustment at halftime," Esposito said. "There wasn't a whole bunch to change technically. It was just that we want this."

Paloma Valley came out re-energized, striking first in the second half when senior quarterback Jake Newton hit junior running back Demarco Prewitt with a pass in the flat and Prewitt turned upfield for a 66-yard touchdown pass play with 8:45 left in the third quarter.

The defense also held steady in the second half, allowing only one more score to the Tigers (5-2, 1-1) for the rest of the game. It just wasn't enough to pull out the victory.

Down 31-14 with 4:50 left in the game, the Wildcats made a last attempt to rally. After two straight turnovers by the Tigers, an interception by senior defensive back Jacob Diaz (left)) and a fumble recovery by junior defensive lineman Maximillian Pichardo, Paloma Valley found itself down 31-21.

With 45 seconds remaining in the game, Wildcats linebacker Jose Cruz picked up a fumble by Elsinore quarterback Matt Marones and ran it back for a 67-yard touchdown. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the Wildcats found themselves down 31-27.

Paloma Valley was unable to recover the ball on an onside kick, however.

Prewitt led the Wildcats with 100 yards rushing on 14 attempts and 66 yards receiving with a touchdown reception. The defense was anchored by junior linebacker Anthony Adcock (below), who had 10 tackles and a sack.

"This was going to come down to the wire somehow," Esposito said about the game. "We don't know how, but it's going to."

Next week, Paloma Valley will go up against Perris High School (5-2, 0-2) at home.