Dorian Hoze leads Murrieta Valley football team past Rancho Cucamonga (2024)

RANCHO CUCAMONGA — The Murrieta Valley football team started fast in each half Friday night. Rancho Cucamonga had an answer in the first half, but did not in the second half.

The Nighthawks’ running game, led by Dorian Hoze stifled any chance at a Rancho Cucamonga comeback in a 35-19 season-opening victory Friday night at Rancho Cucamonga High School.

Hoze, a 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior running back, carried the ball 30 times for 174 yards and five touchdowns for Murrieta Valley, which never trailed in the game. His touchdown runs were 8, 30, 1, 9 and 19 yards.

“He did that all year for us last year,” Nighthawks coach George Wilson said. “We knew what we were getting with him.”

Said Hoze: “Going in, I knew I was going to get a majority of the carries. We were going to chop at them with the run, break them down and run straight through them down their gut with our beautiful offensive line that played amazing this game. We just wore them down.”

Hoze had 98 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

The Nighthawks jumped out to a quick lead with two touchdowns in the first five minutes.

They took the opening drive 65 yards in just four plays, capped with a Hoze 8-yard touchdown run.

Rancho Cucamonga’s first drive ended with a pass intercepted by Murrieta Valley’s Darius Johnson and three plays later it was 14-0 on a Hoze 30-yard touchdown run with 7:42 left in the first.

But the Cougars, playing in Ofa Fifita’s head coaching debut, answered with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Emiliano Villarreal to Cameron Sermons and a 73-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Chambers to Daniel Wimbush to close to within 14-13 at halftime.

Another interception set up the Nighthawks to score twice in the first eight minutes of the third quarter and this time the Cougars never really recovered.

“They (Nighthawks) played smart, sound football,” Fitita said. “Hats off to them, they came in here and smacked us around. I told our guys, ‘after tonight, we’ll figure out our identity. Do we have one or not have one?’ We knew what we were getting, even with the injury to Bear (Bachmeier). We hope he is OK.”

Bachmeier, the Nighthawks’ senior starting quarterback, did not play. Sophom*ore Asher Dewitt passed for 91 yards.

As big as the Hoze was Friday, the Nighthawks’ lack of mistakes made as much of a difference as anything in the game. Murrieta Valley was penalized only once for 10 yards and did not turn the ball over. The Cougars were penalized nine times for 65 yards and turned the ball over twice. They had two fumbles that they recovered, but both of them lost yardage.

“As the coach, that (lack of mistakes) is probably the thing I’m most proud of,” Wilson said. “I’m proud of the discipline of the guys.”

Fitita, who got the job just in the last month when Brian Hildebrand stepped down for health reasons, said it was an adjustment being the head coach after previously being the defensive coordinator.

“I’m not going to lie. I didn’t really sleep last night. I was nervous. I tell the guys, ‘if I’m not nervous, something is wrong,’” Fifita said. “I never had to make decisions on penalties before. It’s part of the growth.”

Originally Published: August 23, 2024 at 11:54 p.m.