MURRIETA — Following the postgame handshake at midfield, the Norco football team walked over to the visiting bleachers.
The familiar “We are Norco!” chant rang out and players took a team photo in front of the 600 or so fans who made the journey.
“That’s what Norco is about. Our community is always going to show up with that support,” junior linebacker Tony Gonzalez said.
This has been a rough week for the program, and the 24 hours before Thursday’s game were particularly trying after the team had to forfeit six wins because of players who participated in games and have since been deemed ineligible following an investigation.
With their playoff hopes diminished because of the forfeits, the Cougars were determined to play inspired football in what could be their final game of the 2025 season. Gonzalez and his defensive mates led the way, yielding no points to Vista Murrieta’s offense, as the Cougars walked away with heads held high following Thursday’s 17-7 win in a Big West Conference-North Division game.
Vista Murrieta’s lone touchdown of the game was an 88-yard interception return by senior safety Abel Brown in the first quarter.
“It means a lot because that means they are playing for something bigger than themselves,” Norco coach Dan Barlage said about how his team responded and played following news of the forfeits. “It’s a real shame what individuals are doing to them because I don’t think it’s right. People are going to say whatever they what. But this team finished 7-3 and they turned this program around.”
Norco (1-9 overall, 1-4 in league) grabbed an early lead in the defensive battle, as Mauricio Aguilar capped a 15-play drive with a 30-yard field goal on the game’s opening possession. The Cougars were threatening to add to that lead late in the first period, but Brown picked a pass by Julian Medina and raced up the left sideline to give Vista Murrieta the lead with 31 seconds on the clock.
Vista Murrieta’s offense was playing shorthanded Thursday evening, with Oregon-bound quarterback Bryson Beaver suffering a season-ending injury to his throwing hand in last week’s win over crosstown rival Murrieta Valley. Freshman Levi Dean made the first start of his career and passed for 112 yards, but the Broncos (7-3, 2-3) never seriously threatened to reach the end zone.
“Scoring 30 or 40 points is not the team we are anymore,” Vista Murrieta coach Coley Candaele said. “We are going to have to win games 10-7. We did what we needed to do on defense tonight. We have to find a way to score another touchdown or two.”
Vista Murrieta’s defense was on the field for 74 plays and only surrendered 343 yards while coming up with three interceptions. Brown recorded his second interception of the game at the end of the first half, and Amari Delk had another in the fourth quarter.
The only time that unit really broke was when Medina tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Joey Gear in the second quarter.
The score remained 10-7 in favor of Norco heading into the final quarter of play. Vista Murrieta’s defense nearly made a stand on the goal line, but linebacker and short-yardage specialist Austin Williams punched the ball in from 1 yards out on fourth-and-goal.
Norco’s defense made sure that score held up. Williams helped seal the win with an interception with 2:58 left in the final period.
“We wanted to make a statement,” Gonzalez said. “We feel robbed and wanted to show we deserve a chance (in the playoffs).”
Barlage said the Cougars will apply for an at-large berth for the playoffs. Teams with records of .500 or better receive priority for at-large berths. But if a division bracket is not filled with such teams, the highest-rated team(s) are taken until a bracket is filled.
Medina saw his interception total double, but he also completed 18 of 32 passes for 225 yards and ran for another 54 yards.
Source link
