Moreno Valley hadn't done well against Paloma Valley recently (they were 0-3 in their previous three matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Vikings came out on top against the Wildcats by a score of 34-27. For the Vikings, this counts as revenge for the 21-7 victory the Wildcats walked away with the last time they faced one another back in August of 2024.
Syree Matthews
| 08/29/25 vs Paloma Valley | 133.8 |
| 11/01/24 @ Canyon Springs | 131.6 |
| 08/21/25 vs Eisenhower | 108.3 |
| 10/04/24 @ Citrus Hill | 105.3 |
| 09/19/24 vs La Sierra | 101.9 |
Moreno Valley got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Syree Matthews out in front who rushed for 130 yards and two scores on only 12 carries, and also threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns while completing 78.9% of his passes. The dominant performance also gave Matthews a new career-high in passer rating (133.8). Robinson Johnny was in the mix as well, providing Moreno Valley with three TDs.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Moreno Valley proved: they limited Paloma Valley to a paltry 0.6 yards per carry. While three picked up at least seven total tackles, Oscar De La Torre stood above the rest. He picked up a sack and made seven total tackles (2.0 for loss). Moreno Valley didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 7.2.
Moreno Valley's defense didn't let Orlando Gonzalez., get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: De La Torre, Cashawn Neal, and Bryan Orozco, who each picked up one sack apiece. Another thorn in Paloma Valley's side was De La Torre, who picked up a sack and made seven total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Paloma Valley's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of Gonzalez, who threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns on only 17 passes, and Noah Davis, who picked up 107 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
Moreno Valley pushed their record up to 2-0 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 33.0 points over those games. As for Paloma Valley, they are on a five-game losing streak (dating back to last season) that has dropped them down to 0-2.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Moreno Valley will have some time to savor their victory since their next game is a little ways off: they'll take on Vista del Lago at 7:30 p.m. on the 11th. As for Paloma Valley, they will head out to take on Temecula Valley at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
