It's football Friday! Local prep teams open season tonight

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Ready or not, it’s time for high school football!

All four Menifee teams will be in action this weekend, with three of the games scheduled for tonight. As usual, Menifee 24/7 will be on hand to provide scoring updates on Facebook and game stories on Facebook and our website, menifee247.com.

Paloma Valley kicks off the festivities with a 6 p.m. home game against Temescal Canyon. Special activities include a Military / First Responders Appreciation Night. The game marks the head coaching debut of Juan Merida, who served as an assistant to former coach Bert Esposito a few years back.

Paloma Valley is led by quarterback Brady Nelson, who passed for 2,389 yards and 23 touchdowns last year as the Wildcats won the league title and finished 9-3 overall.

At 7 p.m., Heritage will try to bounce back from a winless 2022 season with a home game against Steele Canyon High of Spring Valley. The Patriots’ new head coach is Richard McClure, a veteran of 40 years coaching who led San Gorgonio High to the CIF-SS Division 9 title in 2018.

Liberty will also have a new coach when the Bison open the season with a 7 p.m. game against Valley View. Former assistant coach Adam Contreras will take over the Bison, who are led by quarterback Anthony Quinones and running back / linebacker Eddie Smith.

Santa Rosa Academy is the only Menifee team that will open the season on the road. The Rangers will play at San Jacinto Valley Academy Saturday at 10 a.m.