Three Temecula public high schools opened Big West Conference play with wins Thursday, Oct. 1, highlighted by Chaparral's 52-14 rout of Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley's best start in 21 years.
Linfield Christian dropped an intersectional home game to Brawley, 28-0.
Chaparral 52, Murrieta Valley 14
Pumas quarterback Dane Weber made his 2026 debut after missing five games following thumb surgery on his throwing hand. The 2025 IE Varsity Offensive Player of the Year finished with 275 total yards and four touchdowns, completing 7 of 13 passes for 149 yards and three scores while rushing seven times for 126 yards and another, according to MaxPreps and the Press Enterprise.
The Pumas' defense set the tone. Kai Mamaril returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Chaparral led 38-0 at halftime. The offense piled up 437 total yards.
"He's making the right reads. He was calling everything the right way," Chaparral head coach Andrew Ramer said of Weber after the game.
Chaparral (3-3, 1-0 Big West-North) won the rivalry game for the first time since 2023. Murrieta Valley fell to 2-4.
Temecula Valley 23, Santiago 6
Temecula Valley improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2005, grinding past previously unbeaten Corona Santiago behind 234 rushing yards at 8.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Caden Chrisman led the ground attack with 139 yards on 12 carries, including a 30-yard touchdown run.
Kicker Colin Elia matched his career high with three field goals, capping the first half with a 49-yard boot as time expired. He also pinned Santiago inside the 10-yard line twice with punts, including a career-long 60-yarder.
The defense held firm. Cade Cunningham picked off two passes, and the front seven recorded five sacks. Santiago's lone score came on a 57-yard screen pass from Jake Wilson to Carter Ward.
First-year head coach Joel Nichols guided the Golden Bears to the milestone start. Temecula Valley sits first in the Big West-South Division at 1-0, according to MaxPreps.
Great Oak 51, Roosevelt 13
The Wolfpack rolled at Eastvale Roosevelt in their Big West-South opener, improving to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in league play, according to MaxPreps. Great Oak entered the week ranked No. 9 in the IE Varsity Inland area football rankings.
Linfield Christian 0, Brawley 28
The Lions were shut out at home by a Brawley squad riding a three-game winning streak. Linfield Christian dropped to 1-4 on the season. Brawley head coach Rick Stewart credited his team's improving defense after the Wildcats opened the year 0-4, according to KYMA.
Week 7 schedule
All three Big West programs return to league play Friday, Oct. 9. Temecula Valley travels to King, Great Oak visits Santiago, and Chaparral hosts Norco for homecoming. Temecula Valley and Great Oak meet Friday, Oct. 16, at Temecula Valley in a potential Big West-South showdown.
