Temescal Canyon Titans Come Up Short

The Titans entered the game Friday night against the Murrieta Valley Nighthawks with a record of 2-1, feeling the sting of a 17-10 non-league loss the previous week to Steele Canyon High School.

In addition, a key player, running back Michael Sheperd, did not see action. Michael is nursing an injury to his left leg incurred during his team's first game, a win against Tahquitz.

At the end of the first quarter, the visiting Nighthawks held a 7-0 lead.  With 6:57 left in the second quarter, the Titans tied it up, 7-7. With 2:18 to go before the half, Nighthawks kicker Victor Trejo punched through a field goal to make in 10-7, a score that would hold up to end the first half.

As the second half unfolded, the Nighthawks would take advantage again, scoring a touchdown to make it 17-7 with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter.  In the fourth quarter, the Titans closed the gap with a touchdown of their own to make it 17-14 at 10:27 to go.

The Nighthawks quickly answered with another touchdown with 9:27 remaining in the game to make it 24-14. Three minutes later, Murrieta Valley added some insurance with a field goal to make the score 27-14 at the 6:05 mark.

Another three minutes later, the Titans would close the gap to 27-21, but that was as close as they would get.

"I think we played hard--I don't think we played well," said Temescal Canyon head coach, Russ Strange. "We had way too many mistakes to beat a good football team and in the end we came up a little short."

It wasn't about additional injuries, either.

"No, we're fine physically, just mentally we're not playing sharp," Strange said.

Next week the Titans play their last non-league game at home against Damian--"another really good football team," according the Strange. 

"We've had a tough pre-season," he said. 

Damian lost this week at home against Bishop Amat, 28-7.

Murrieta Valley will next host the 4-0 Elsinore Tigers, who defeated Temecula Valley 26-7 Friday.