Editor’s note: We apologize for the lack of game photos. Feel free to post your own game photos on our Facebook page.
Now it’s the Paloma Valley Wildcats with the big Menifee Bowl winning streak.
A dominating defense and opportunistic offense led the Wildcats to a 42-0 victory over Heritage Friday night – Paloma’s fifth straight win in the annual Menifee Bowl football rivalry. They have won every meeting since 2022, when they ended the Patriots’ 11-game win streak in the series.
There was no doubt which team was in control this time. Keeping Heritage off balance throughout the night, the Wildcats defense came up with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and forced several punts. On offense, quarterback Joshua Gonzales ran for one touchdown, passed for another, and Sean Harrison scored twice as Paloma Valley improved its nonleague record to 2-1. Heritage is 2-2.
Coach Juan Merida was proud of the effort his players put forth in the game, which was played at Heritage.
“The defense played lights out all night,” Merida said about the shutout win. “The offense was a bit inconsistent in the first half but played really well in the second half.”
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard early in the first quarter when Jalil Blair Carter made the first of two interceptions – this one a 55-yard pick six. In the second quarter, Harrison ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and after the PAT, Paloma led 14-0.
Gonzales followed that up with a 60-yard run for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead. Heritage was driving with a chance to score before halftime, but Carter’s second interception with less than a minute remaining ended that threat.
Any chance Heritage had to get off to a fast start in the third quarter ended on the opening kickoff. The Patriots fumbled and Jaymon Sims recovered on the Heritage 23-yard line. A couple plays later, Harrison ran 20 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 lead.
The final two touchdowns were scored on a 70-yard pass from Gonzales to Kaiden Dalinghaus and a 3-yard run by Daniel Campos.
Paloma Valley will play Silverado in Victorville Sept. 18 before returning home to host Liberty on Sept. 25. Heritage will play host to Santa Rosa Academy Sept. 18 in a battle of local teams.
