Heritage finally gets on football field, loses to Murrieta Valley

Heritage running back Kanye Young fights his way past defenders on an 8-yard run in the first half Friday night. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The way Heritage High School football coach Adam Contreras saw it, the Patriots’ performance in their season opener was a start. And considering that for so long it appeared there would be no start at all, he called this one a first step worth building upon.

Heritage lost to Murrieta Valley 48-14 on the road Friday night, but Contreras said he came away at least knowing more about what he has to work with in his first season as a head coach. There were positive signs, he said, that will make the long wait for a football season well worth it.

“It’s just so great to be out here,” Contreras said after the Patriots’ first football game since Nov. 9, 2019. “We didn’t know if we were going to have a season. Even the last two weeks, when we were supposed to play Paloma and it didn’t happen [because of COVID-19 restrictions]. This game just worked out that we could play each other.

“Hopefully, we got our first-game jitters out. I really liked our offensive line play. We can build on that. Defensively, we flew around and it seemed we were always just almost there. So if we take care of us this week, reduce penalties and keep from shooting ourselves in the foot …”

The Patriots found themselves in a hole on the first play of the game. Murrieta Valley senior Dean Connors returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, finding a seam in the defense and racing untouched into the end zone. When Heritage followed with a three-and-out on its first offensive possession, the Nighthawks home crowd – limited to preserve social distancing – had something to cheer about.

Murrieta Valley took advantage of its first offensive series, driving 44 yards to score on a 4-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Brandon Rose to Tayven Lamprey. The PAT kick failed, but the Nighthawks had a 13-0 lead just over four minutes into the game.

That drive began to showcase the talents of Rose and senior running back D.J. Watts. Rose wound up completing 20 of 24 passes for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the speedy Watts finished with 167 yards on 28 carries, with 3 touchdown runs.

Murrieta Valley led 20-0 late in the first quarter after Connors outjumped a defender just over the goal line on a 1-yard pass reception from Rose. Heritage fought back with a 77-yard scoring drive of its own, featuring two pass receptions and three runs by Kanye Young, the last being a 33-yard run for the TD.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, Murrieta Valley stormed right back with another scoring drive to take a 27-7 lead before halftime. The touchdown came on a 5-yard run by Watts, who dragged three Patriot defenders the last 3 yards to get across the goal line.

“They’re good,” Contreras said about the Nighthawks. “They have some speed and they have a great coaching staff over there. They’re going to do big things this year -- and so are we.”

Heritage’s only other touchdown of the game came late in the third quarter, after a fumble recovery by lineman Nigel Cash set up the Patriots on the Murrieta Valley 16-yard line. Two plays later, Young scampered 9 yards for the TD.

Young carried 8 times for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Patriots’ leading rusher was junior Frank Tavake, who carried 10 times for 92 yards. Patriots quarterback Hayden Lara, playing in his first varsity game, completed 6 passes for 59 yards.

“We’re a young team; out offensive line is most of our experience,” Contreras said. “We have four or five running backs, and we’re waiting to see who will step up. We had a couple step up tonight -- Kanye Young and Frank Tavake. They did some good things.”

The Patriots face another challenge next Saturday against a strong Rancho Verde team in Heritage’s only home game of the shortened season. No matter what happens, Contreras says he’s impressed with the way his players have endured through all the delays of conditioning and practice during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I told the guys I’m proud of them,” Contreras said about his comments to the team heading into this game. “I’m proud of them for sticking to it and believing in us. We had over 100 out there at all levels for six months in hopes there would be a season.

“It’s going to be a learning thing for us. I told them, ‘Just worry about today.’ For a long time, we didn’t know if we were going to have a next week. Just to be able to get out there and play feels great.”

Quarterback Hayden Lara finds some running room in Heritage's season opener against Murrieta Valley.

 Naisir Morrow tries to move past a defender on a kickoff return for Heritage in Friday night's game.