Temecula Valley hosts Great Oak on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in a Big West League game that pits two of the city's strongest programs against each other, according to MaxPreps.
The Golden Bears (6-1 overall) enter the game after their first loss of the season. Riverside King ended Temecula Valley's unbeaten start with a 17-7 win on Oct. 9, according to MaxPreps. MaxPreps named quarterback Caden Chrisman, running back Jermel Bryant Jr. and receivers Keaton Cadrez and Deven Krause among the Golden Bears' players of the game during the season.
The Wolfpack (5-2, 2-0 Big West) arrive with momentum. Great Oak won 35-27 at Corona Santiago on Oct. 9 and has won nine of its last 12 games. Junior quarterback Trent Lux has totaled 1,876 yards through seven games. Senior wide receiver Matthew Crowson averages 83.8 receiving yards per game, and senior wide receiver Blake Certeza has scored seven touchdowns.
On defense, senior linebacker Zackery de Leon leads Great Oak with 8.6 tackles per game. Senior defensive end Ky-mani Minnifield has 4.5 sacks.
Head coach H. Ramirez's squad sits second in the Big West standings behind Chaparral.
Chaparral at Murrieta Mesa
The Pumas travel to Murrieta Mesa on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. Chaparral holds a league-best 2-0 Big West record.
Chaparral rolled past Norco 42-16 on Oct. 9 after beating Murrieta Valley 52-14 on Oct. 1, according to MaxPreps. Senior quarterback Dane Weber averages 89.0 rushing yards per game. Senior receiver Eli Woodard adds 88.8 receiving yards per game, and M. "Kiko" Farinas has found the end zone 11 times.
Junior linebacker Tyler Roney anchors the defense with 11.0 tackles per game. Senior defensive end Kameron Payne has six sacks.
The Rams (3-4, 1-1 Big West) picked up a 26-21 road win at Vista Murrieta on Oct. 9. MaxPreps named Logan Van Den Berg and Kian Hendricks players of the game. Murrieta Mesa fell to Norco 24-14 on Oct. 2 and lost to Great Oak 37-34 on Sept. 11.
What's ahead
The third Big West game Friday sends Vista Murrieta to Murrieta Valley at 7 p.m.
After Week 8, both Temecula programs face stiff tests on Friday, Oct. 23. Great Oak hosts Riverside King, and Chaparral hosts Corona Centennial.
