High School

Newbury Park wins wild Southern Section D2 title over Murrieta Valley, first crown since 1993: Live updates recap

Florida State-bound Brady Smigiel throws for more than 300 yards, 4 TDs; Drew Cofield saves day with two TDs, defensive gem; Panthers survive nearly 300 rushing yards, 4 TDs from Dorian Hoze

Mitch Stephens

Newbury Park prolific junior quarterback Brady Smigiel, in the pocket during his team's 48-20 win over Calabasas on Oct. 10. Smigel completed 11 of 19 for 239 yards and four touchdowns, and he caught a 36-yard TD. His favorite target Shane Rosenthal had six catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Smigiel has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 43 TDs, while Rosenthal has hauled in 69 passes for 1,303 yards and 22 scores.
Newbury Park prolific junior quarterback Brady Smigiel, in the pocket during his team's 48-20 win over Calabasas on Oct. 10. Smigel completed 11 of 19 for 239 yards and four touchdowns, and he caught a 36-yard TD. His favorite target Shane Rosenthal had six catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Smigiel has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 43 TDs, while Rosenthal has hauled in 69 passes for 1,303 yards and 22 scores. / Photo: Rene Morales

Hard to believe anythng could match Murrieta Valley's wild 55-52 semifinal win over Oaks Christian, but Saturday's Southern Section Division 2 championship against Newbury Park very well could.

Newbury Park's potent passing duo of sensational junior QB Brady Smigiel (2,986 passing yards, 43 TDs, 3 interceptions) to Shane Rosenthal (69 catches, 1,303 yards, 22 TDs) could turn this into a video game or track meet.

Especially with a QB talent like Murrieta Valley's Bear Bachmeier, who accounted for 336 yards and six touchdowns in last week's win over Oaks Christian.

In the same game, Dorian Hoze rushed 27 times for 183 yards and two TDs.

A big case for this one not being quite the shootout as last week is Newbury Park's defense, which has record two shutouts and given up just 111 points all year.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Follow along below for live updates for this Southern Section Division 2 championship game at Murrieta Valley High Schooll, which starts at 7 p.m. PT.

You can also follow along on the NFHS Streaming Network (subscription required)

Newbury Park at Murrieta Valley Southern Section D2 championship live updates

1ST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN MURRIETA VALLEY! The Nighthawks strike first on opening drive. Dorian Hoze with his 29th touchdown run of the season, a 3-yarder completing 70-yard drive, eight on the ground. Murrieta Valley 7, Newbury Park 0.

3-AND-OUT, SACK: Smigiel sacked on third down, one of the few times this season. Ball going back to the Nighthawks.

HOZE AGAIN! The 5-9, 185-pounder rambles 69 yards for a touchdown. Great run, great start for Nighthawks. Took 10 plays on first drive, only one in the second. Hoze up to more than 100 yards midway through 1Q. Murrieta Valley 14, Newbury Park 0.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Smigiel scrambles for 6-yard touchdown before getting smacked. :02 1Q. 68-yard drive. Murrieta Valley 14, Newbury Park 7.

2ND QUARTER

DEFENSIVE STOPS: Both teams have registered defensive stops, which few expected. Midway through second quarter, Newbury Park about to punt near midfield. MV still leads 14-7.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! A reverse to Rosenthal, then flipped back to Smigiel who fires a 27-yard TD strike to a wide open Drew Cofield. Newbury Park 14, Murrieta Valley 14. 6:04 2Q.

GOAL-LINE STAND, MISSED FG FOR NEWBURY PARK: A 40-yard bomb from Smigiel to Alberto Ayon put the ball at the RM 3. But a penalty pushed the ball back, NP got it back and on 4th down Smigiel throws TD pass, but receiver called for offensive pass interference. Short field goa was hooked, no good. Big stop for Murrieta Valley, big miss for Newbury Park. 1:02 2Q. Still tied at 14-14.

INTERCEPTION NEWBURY PARK! The Nighthawks had moved to NP territory but Balen Betancourt makes diving interception. End of half.

Halftime: Newbury Park 14, Murrieta Valley 14

3RD QUARTER

FIELD GOAL NEWBURY PARK! The Panthers take their first lead after long drive stalls at the Murrieta Valley 10. Bohdie Ing boots 35-yard field goal. Newbury Park 17, Murrieta Valley 14. More troubles in the red zone. A holding penalty pushed the Panthers back. 7:34 3Q.

WHAT A RUN! TOUCHDOWN DORIAN HOZE! Murrieta Valley rumbles, rambles, spins his way to a 24-yard touchdown run, caps 80-yard drive all on the ground. Gives Murrieta Valley 21-17 lead over Newbury Park. 2:31 3Q. Third TD of the game for Hoze, but first since midway through 1Q.

BRADY SMIGIEL BOMBS AWAY! Takes Newbury Park less than a minute to take back the lead, Smigiel with beautiful 66-yard touchdown pass to Drew Cofield, his second TD of the night. Newbury Park 24, Murrieta Valley 21. 1:44 3Q.

4TH QUARTER

COFIELD SAVES DAY! Hoze on his way for his fourth TD, a 55-yarder but Cofield strips him of the ball at the 1-yard line. Ball bounces into end zone where Newbury Park recovers!

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Talk about the ultimate 14-point swing. Takes Smigiel only four plays to get into the end zone. A 50-yard bomb to Rosenthal sets up a 27-yard TD pass to Rosenthal on little swing pass. Newbury Park 31, Murrieta Valley 21. 9:44 4Q.

TOUCHDOWN MURRIETA VALLEY! Hoze again, a 1-yard touchdown keeps Murrieta Valley in it. Caps 11-play, 79-yard drive. Bear Bachmeier brilliant in drive, mixing pass and run. Hoze is over 250 yards. Newbury Park 31, Murrietta Valley 28. 6:41 4Q.

PENALTY, FUMBLE: Newbury Park called for a questionable penalty after Smigiel's helmet ripped off head at the 1-yard line. Ball goes back to 16. Then a fumble on backup QB's handoff, gives Murrieta Valley a shot, with 1:51 remaining. Ball at own 16.

NEWBURY PARK HOLDS! On 4th down, Bachmeier stuck for no gain. Panthers going to take over at MV 24. MV still has three timeouts with 1:10 remaining. Score: Newbury Park 31, Murrieta Valley 28.

FIRST DOWN NEWBURY PARK! First down on gritty run by Stromsoe. That should be the ball game! Smigiel takes knee, then drops the ball. Murrieta Valley thinks he fumbles, but clearly his knew was down before letting ball go. What a crazy back-and-forth game.

FINAL: Newbury Park 31, Murrieta Valley 28

Published |Modified
Mitch Stephens
MITCH STEPHENS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

Home/California