Paloma Valley tunes up for Menifee Bowl with 63-6 victory

Tight end and linebacker Steven Bradshaw scored a touchdown and helped lead the defense to victory Friday night. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre

By Daniel Millhouse

The linemen stepped up on both sides of the ball for Paloma Valley High School, helping the Wildcats push past the Panthers of Perris Friday night, 63-6.

On defense, the linemen and linebackers racked up a total of 9 sacks and allowed the Panthers only 5 total rushing yards for the game.

"They (Perris) rely so much on the passing game," Paloma Valley coach Bert Esposito said after the game. "They have a couple of really good, skilled receivers that really, if you don’t want them to get the ball, you have to get to the guy who is throwing it. We put an emphasis on doing that this week."

On offense, the O-line provided key blocks that paved the way for the Wildcats’ running backs to rush for a total of 309 yards and average almost 14 yards a rush.

"It’s awesome,” said team sparkplug Chris Portman, who had 2 sacks of his own on defense. "When the O-line and the D-line are working together, it’s awesome. We’re all one big unit."

It was senior night for Paloma Valley and despite smaller than normal crowds in the stands, the Wildcats did not disappoint those in attendance.

Senior running backs Corey Maddox and Gary Carney each racked up to 2 rushing touchdowns, but what really got the fans on their feet was a rushing touchdown from an unlikely source -- Seth Harris.

With the ball at Perris’ 13-yard line, quarterback Chance Nolan drifted right before looking to his left. Harris, a senior offensive lineman, dropped back and to the left of the field. Nolan lateralled the ball across to Harris, who was alone. Rumbling toward the end zone, Harris scored the first offensive touchdown of his varsity career and gave his team a 29-point lead only a minute into the second quarter.

"We’ve run it (the play) in practice a couple of times, but it is all planned on being in the right spot at the right time," Harris said after the game.

The only bright spot for Perris came in the first quarter when Romello Edwards hit former Paloma Valley receiver Jacob Salas with a pass. Salas then shed a few would-be tacklers, running the ball downfield and crashing into the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown.

For the final nail in Perris’ coffin, senior defensive back Eric Lubic picked off a floating pass by Edwards, who was trying to avoid being sacked again in the fourth quarter.

It was the seventh time this season that Paloma Valley scored over 50 points or more in a game and the fourth time they’ve scored more than 60 points.

Other notable defensive performances by Paloma Valley players include Maleek Baranauskas’ 3 sacks; Kaniska Lakusoorlya’s 2 sacks; and 1 sack each by Titus Thomas and David Salas.

On the offensive side of the ball, notable performances include Carney’s 6 runs for 181 yards with 2 rushing touchdowns and a 46-yard reception for another touchdown; Andrew Franco’s 2 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns; Maddox’s 7 runs for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns; Steven Bradshaw’s 3 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown; and Nolan’s 14 for 18 performance for 271 yards with 3 touchdown passes.

Jacob Salas led Perris with 3 receptions for a total of 58 yards and a touchdown reception while adding another 11 rushing yards to his total performance. He also returned 5 kicks for 109 yards.

Harris was asked if there was any added pressure playing in front of his home crowd for the last time of his senior year.

"I wouldn’t really say there was extra pressure. It was more of a good feeling to know it was our last regular season home game," he said.

Next week Paloma Valley will square off against its crosstown rivals, Heritage High School (9-0), in the Menifee Bowl. The Patriots carry a 34-game winning streak in Sunbelt League play into next week’s game, but Esposito has said on multiple occasions that this year’s squad is the best he’s coached before.

"Last year when I played on the JV team, I scored the first two touchdowns of that game," Franco said after the game. "I’m going to try to build on that on the varsity level."

When asked if he had any inspiring words to say to his team about next week’s game, Portman said, "Let’s go get the boys across town, baby."

Running back Gary Carney rushed for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns in Paloma Valley's victory. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre