Ready or not, it's Menifee Bowl time for Paloma, Heritage

Graphic illustration by Kristi Jo Aguirre

By Doug Spoon, Editor

It has been two years since city rivals Paloma Valley and Heritage high schools last met in a Menifee Bowl football game, and so much has happened since then.

The schools are now in different leagues. Both have different coaches than they had on Oct. 18, 2019, when Heritage scored a 37-29 victory in a wild game featuring five lead changes. The teams didn’t play at all last fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also affected their shortened spring seasons and has still been a factor this fall.

But hey, it’s the Menifee Bowl, and Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Paloma Valley remains a matter of pride for both schools. Moreover, as the pandemic lingers, it’s a reason for students, parents and fans of both teams to get out and show some enthusiasm.

The statistics aren’t pretty heading into this one. Heritage (1-4) hasn’t won since it pulled out a 42-35 victory over Santiago High of Corona in the season opener. Coach Andre Smith praises the improvement of his players in adapting to a new offensive system, but the results on the scoreboard haven’t been enough in recent weeks.

At Paloma Valley, Zach Dilley’s Wildcats are 0-4, losing one game off their schedule because of COVID-19 protocol. Paloma has been outscored 165-35 this season and is coming off a 35-6 home loss to Great Oak on Homecoming Night. The Wildcats have never beaten Heritage in 10 Menifee Bowl match-ups.

Following this game, Heritage will begin its four-game Ivy League season and Paloma Valley will open its four-game Sunbelt League season. But even though the Menifee Bowl will have no impact on the league standings this year, the game is a huge opportunity to build momentum heading into league play.

“It’s perfect timing,” Smith said. “You look at our record and it sucks, but our guys have really been playing harder. We have to play some good football games coming up.

“It’s a process; you don’t just get better overnight. One hundred percent, we’ve been growing and adjusting. I love the way we’re playing defense. We had a rough adjustment last week without our quarterback, but he’s back this week. He’s a key guy for us.”

Smith was referring to senior QB Hayden Lara, who jammed his shoulder last week and was replaced by Austin Connell, normally a wide receiver, in a 21-16 loss at San Pedro. That nonleague game against a tough opponent was added to the schedule because of a lost game against Chaparral that was canceled earlier in the season because of COVID-19 protocol at Chaparral.

The ground game has led the way for Heritage’s offense this season. Sophomore Angelo Serena leads the team with 677 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing. Lara has rushed for 284 yards and 2 TDs.