Paloma Valley celebrates 21-7 victory over Hemet

Running back Stephen Gallegos celebrates his second touchdown of the game on Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

Paloma Valley High prepared for its last regular-season football game and an upcoming berth in the CIF playoffs with a 21-7 victory over Hemet Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Gallegos ran for two touchdowns for the Wildcats, who improved their overall record to 7-2 in this nonleague game. Paloma Valley is 2-0 in the four-team Sunbelt League and had already clinched the league title before this game. Next Friday, they play their league finale at Lakeside.

Paloma Valley jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and was leading 14-7 when Hemet started driving in the fourth quarter. But Gavin Ratnayakage intercepted a Bulldogs pass with less than a minute to play to end the threat and set up the final Paloma touchdown on a long run by Gallegos.

Gavin Ratnayakage leaps to intercept a Hemet pass, setting up a Paloma touchdown. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Tristan Keplinger wraps up a Hemet ballcarier during Saturday's game. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Wildcats quarterback Brady Nelson throws on the run early in the game. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Stephen Gallegos is ahead of a pack of Hemet defenders on his way to a touchdown. (Photo by Rick Rowell)