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Sports

Temescal Canyon Falls Short At Home In Season-Opener

The Titans held their ground in the second half, but first-half dominance by the visiting Nighthawks was too much to overcome. The final score was Murrieta Valley 21, Temescal Canyon 10.

As the 2013 high school football season began Friday night, coach Mike Sands' Temescal Canyon Titans were ranked seventh in the CIF Southern Section Central Division behind fourth-ranked Elsinore.  Both compete in the Sunbelt League.

New coach Vinny Fazio's Murrieta Valley Nighthawks of the Southwestern League were also ranked seventh, but in the Inland Division.

Fazio, the San Bernardino County 2012 Newcomer Coach of the Year at Rialto Eisenhower, arrived this summer to begin his tenure. His hope of picking up where five-year Nighthawk coach Greg Ireland left off was met with success Friday night on the Titans home turf.

MV running back Michael Robles had a rushing touchdown at 9 minutes remaining in the first quarter and added a second score with 48 seconds remaining in the initial frame.  Nighthawk defender Reginald Brown hauled in an interception well within his team's side of the field and ran it back for a score with 11:05 minutes left in the first half.

Successful PAT's were added by three Nighthawks: Loni Byers, Victor Trejo, and Trevor Mathews.

Titan kicker Brandon Chavez chipped in a field goal with 2:24 minutes remaining in the first half making the score MV 21, TC 3.

Titan quarterback Marcus Kirkpatrick played very effectively throughout the evening with help from his teammates.  With 5:02 minutes left in the third quarter, Kirkpatrick handed off to Armani Simmons for a touchdown. Chavez converted on the point-after to make it MV 21, TC 10.

There were no further scores in the final quarter.

Scoring:

1st Quarter
9:00
MV rushing TD Michael Robles; PAT good Loni Byers
MV 7 TC 0

0:48
MV rushing TD Michael Robles; PAT good Victor Trejo
MV 14 TC 0

2nd Quarter
11:05
MV interception TD Reginald Brown; PAT good Trevor Mathews
MV 21 TC 0

2:24
TC FG Brandon Chavez
MV 21 TC 3

3rd Quarter
5:02
TC rushing TD Armani Simmons; PAT good Brandon Chavez
MV 21 TC 10

Temescal Canyon travels to Temecula Valley High School Sept. 6.

In other Sunbelt League action, coach Andrew Penwarden's Lakeside lost its season opener at home against Cypress, 28-14.  Lancer senior running back Mark Ramolete had 18 carries for 90 yards while sophomore running back Jazzdon Stewart rushed 5 times for 50 yards in the loss.

Senior Tyler Whittle was credited with a blocked field goal against the Centurions, coached by Bob Burt, the Lancer's first athletic director and formerly Temescal Canyon's head coach.

Burt lead the Titans to two CIF-Southern Section championship games with his team winning the 1995 Division VIII title.

Lakeside will play at San Jacinto Sept. 6.

Coach Tony Peralta's Elsinore Tigers lost their opening game Friday night at home against Rancho Verde by a score of 42-23.  Statistics were not available at press time.

Elsinore will make the drive up to Rim of the World High School Sept. 6.

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