SAN CLEMENTE — Murrieta Valley had a running back run for over 2100 yards with 32 touchdowns last season.
This season, Jeremiah Watson has stepped into that featured running back role seamlessly.
Watson ran for 204 yards with a pair of touchdowns in Murrieta Valley’s 26-14 win over San Clemente on Friday at San Clemente High.
“Going into the season we knew he was going to be a premier running back,” Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson said. “We were really looking forward to him playing well this season and he’s done what we thought he would do. He’s been great.”
Watson didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. He ran for 563 yards with six touchdowns as a junior, but he has already surpassed that rushing total this season through five games and has eight touchdowns.
“I think the whole team did really good,” Watson said. “The offensive line pushed me in, the defense stepped up. It was just a real team win.”
Murrieta Valley (4-1) had three interceptions on defense and held San Clemente to just 68 yards rushing. Oklahoma commit Derrick Johnson II had two interceptions and had a receiving touchdown for the Nighthawks.
“I’m proud of their consistent effort throughout the game,” Wilson said of his defense. “San Clemente is a good football team, that was a tough game. I’m proud that they never let their effort drop and played hard the whole game.”
San Clemente (3-3) trailed 20-14 with under four minutes left in the game and forced Murrieta Valley to punt. The Tritons faced a fourth down on the subsequent drive but Joseph Rodriguez got a sack for Murrieta Valley.
Watson drove the Nighthawks down the field and scored his second touchdown to put the game out of reach.
Abelardo Lios had a sack for Murrieta Valley and Rodriguez added an interception. The linebacker trio of Rodriguez, Lios and Tyler Roney led the Nighthawks in tackles.
On the second play of the game, San Clemente defensive back Jaxson Rex intercepted a Murrieta Valley pass and returned it inside the Nighthawk’s 40-yard line.
On the ensuing drive, Eiler King threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Shane Kiley to give the Tritons a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Murrieta Valley responded with a 9-play, 68-yard scoring drive capped by a 16-yard pass from Ty Isaia to Caden Brown to cut San Clemente’s lead to 7-6.
Late in the second quarter, Johnson II intercepted a San Clemente pass in the endzone and returned it to midfield. With 9 seconds remaining in the first half, Johnson II caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Isaia to give Murrieta Valley a 13-7 lead at halftime.
Johnson II had another interception for the Nighthawks midway through the third quarter which led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Watson to extend Murrieta Valley’s lead to 20-7.
King threw for 149 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for the Tritons. Carson Sloan ran for 85 yards with a touchdown for San Clemente and Thomas Alexander caught seven passes for 76 yards.
San Clemente turned to backup quarterback Preston Beck in the fourth quarter. He led a scoring drive where Sloan ran for a 14-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14.
Joshua Kerst and Trey Humphrey combined for a sack for the Tritons and Declan Sawyers added a sack.
Murrieta Valley has won four consecutive games against San Clemente dating back to 2022. The Nighthawks open Big West-Upper league play Friday, Oct. 3, on the road against Norco.
San Clemente will travel to Nevada on Friday, Oct. 3, to play Coronado of Henderson to wrap its nonleague schedule. The Tritons beat Coronado 51-0 last season.
