Heritage storms past Paloma Valley in soggy Menifee Bowl

Ika Tuatala crosses the goal line on a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of Friday night's Menifee Bowl game. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

The Menifee Bowl was heavily impacted by Thunder and Lightning -- in more ways than one.

As lightning bolts lit up the sky and thunder rolled around Heritage High School Friday night, the Heritage running back tandem with that meteoric nickname helped lead the Patriots to a 42-14 victory over crosstown rival Paloma Valley. Ika Tuatala -- nicknamed Thunder by his coach -- ran for 125 yards and three touchdowns and Kenny Teter -- AKA Lightning -- had a big interception return and two touchdowns.

Heritage (6-2) had the game well under control with 11 minutes remaining when the head referee called the game after lightning moved closer to the area. A steady rain fell throughout the third quarter, but it was the lightning that both entertained the crowd and concerned game officials.

Paloma Valley quarterback Mason Carvalho had just completed a long run when another flash of lightning brought about the decision to end the game early. The referee, who had consulted with school and district officials about the weather at halftime, made the call after a meeting at midfield.

"At first we thought it was going to go around us, but the referee was right," Heritage coach Kraig Broach about the decision to stop play. "That last one ... it seemed pretty darn close."

Paloma Valley quarterback Mason Carvalho (1) fights his way through a crowd to pick up yardage.

By that time, the Patriots had shown once again their ability to move the ball effectively on the ground. In addition, they had contained the elusive Carvalho well enough in the first half to maintain a healthy lead. Paloma Valley's 5-foot-5, 150-pound quarterback ripped off some sensational runs in the third quarter -- shedding tacklers left and right -- but it came too late to save the Wildcats.

"He's one of the best football players I've ever seen," Broach said about Carvalho, who finished with 273 yards rushing, including 150 yards in the third quarter alone. "I know he's gotten a lot of press and he just seems like a great kid. Every time he touches the ball, he's the kind of kid where you hold your breath. And he proved why tonight on a number of occasions.

"Within the scheme, you try to get as many hats to the ball as possible. One guy's going to have a difficult time bringing him down. At times we did a real nice job of that, and other times he showed us he's a great football player."

Unfortunately for Carvalho, he didn't get to touch the football until Heritage had already compiled a 14-0 lead. Heritage marched 63 yard on the opening drive, using four runs for 22 yards by Teter and two runs for 33 yards by Tuatala, including a 4-yard touchdown run. After a Paloma Valley fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave the ball back to Heritage, it took just two plays for the Patriots to score again, this time on a 38-yard run by Tuatala.

Broach and Tuatala gave credit to the offensive line, which opened holes for Tuatala and Teter throughout the game.

"Our offensive line is playing banged up, and I'm the one giving excuses; they don't," Broach said. "What they did tonight was pretty impressive. When you've got guys like (quarterback) Trey (Goodlow) out there, and Kenny and Ika running the ball with purpose ... they did well.

"That kickoff we were able to recover ... I don't want to say a turning point, because it was early in the game, but it was a boost for us right away."

"Our linemen were awesome tonight," Tuatala said. "We were able to find the holes and make a play out of it."

Paloma Valley (5-3) got on the scoreboard in the first minute of the second quarter when Carvalho scampered 28 yards for a touchdown. Heritage came right back on the next drive, however, with Tuatala going into the end zone standing for a 6-yard TD run at the end of a 51-yard drive.

A 30-yard touchdown run by Goodlow made it 28-7 later in the second quarter. Paloma's bid to score on the next drive was thwarted when Teter intercepted a Carvalho pass at the Heritage 6-yard line and returned it 90 yards. On the next play, Teter ran 4 yards for a touchdown, making it 35-7.

"We were in cover 3 and I was doing my backpedal," Teter said about the interception. "Mason threw it up the middle and I picked it. I got caught, but I scored on the next play. It's all good."

This was the first league game for both teams in the Ivy League, which has only four teams. Both will still have to face Rancho Verde, a CIF champion last year. Broach was complimentary of Paloma's performance this season under head coach Tom Tello, Broach's former assistant.

"What he's doing over there and just knowing what type of man and coach he is ... you can tell the way Paloma is going about business, he's doing a great job," Broach said about Tello and the Wildcats. "I'm rooting for Paloma from here on out."

Heritage running back Kenny Teter had a big game on both offense and defense.

Ika Tuatala celebrates as he heads for the end zone with the first touchdown of the night.