Heritage, Paloma Valley win, set up showdown for league title

James Phillips dives over the goal line to score Heritage's first touchdown against Temescal Canyon Friday night. Photo byKristi Jo Aguirre

The Heritage and Paloma Valley high school football teams posted easy victories again Friday night, setting up a showdown of undefeated teams in league play for the Sunbelt League title next Friday in the annual Menifee Bowl.

Heritage routed Temescal Canyon 60-7, while Paloma Valley cruised to a 35-12 win over Perris. The Nov. 3 game for bragging rights in the city will begin at 7 p.m. at Paloma Valley. In addition to being tied for first place with 4-0 league marks, both teams also have 8-1 overall records this season.

In last season's regular-season finale, both Heritage and Paloma Valley were 4-0 in league play and 9-0 overall. Heritage scored a 35-13 victory in that game for another perfect league season. So now, since joining the Sunbelt League in 2010, the Patriots are 39-0.

Heritage used its defense Friday night to set up offensive opportunities en route to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter in its home game against Temescal Canyon. Soon after Rutendo Matiringe recovered a fumble to give the Patriots the ball at the Temescal 14-yard line, James Phillips ran 3 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Kenny Teter's interception set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Phillips.

Phillips finished with 3 touchdowns, adding an 80-yard run in the second quarter. Sherod White scored on touchdown runs of 4, 51 and 5 yards. In addition, quarterback Devan Freedland passed 8 yards to Shelton for a touchdown, Teter ran 22 yards for a score and Parker McWhirter ran 6 yards for a TD.

Paloma Valley jumped out to a 35-0 lead on the way to its easy victory at Perris. The Wildcats haven't lost a game since a season-opening defeat against Cajon. Quarterback Chance Nolan has passed for more than 2,400 yards this season and is the team's leading rusher as well.

Quarterback Chance Nolan is the leader in several categories for Paloma Valley. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre