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After 2024 brought an 11-3 record and CIF-Southern Section Division 2 finals appearance for Murrieta Valley, 2025 had a chance to get away from the Nighthawks.
Murrieta Valley graduated many of its best players, including 2,000-yard rusher Dorian Hoze and 4-star QB Bear Bachmeier, who's now starting at BYU as a true freshman. And some of the team's biggest-name returners are missing significant time with injuries.
But somehow – through internal development, as opposed to a litany of nationally-ranked transfers – the team is still a clear-cut top-15 team in California and projected CIF-SS D2 contender. And it starts with one of the state's premier breakout running backs – senior Jeremiah "The Juice" Watson.
Watson has made himself a can't-miss all-state candidate with 1,219 yards and 19 touchdowns on roughly nine yards per carry plus 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown through the first seven games of 2025, during which Murrieta Valley went 6-1. Watson has prototypical size for a high school RB at 5-10, 180, and has showed both the power to bounce off multiple defenders and the breakaway speed to zip past them as well.
Watson's best performance yet came in Week Seven, a 56-42 win against Chaparral to claim second place in the Big West - Upper standings, in which he recorded career-highs of 32 carries, 281 yards, and six touchdowns to go with a 26-yard reception. For his monster performance against Chaparral, Watson was voted The Sporting News California Player of the Week with 4,330 votes, good for 51.01% of the total polling.
It came just a week after what was previously a career night – 256 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries plus a 12-yard catch to beat Norco 55-45. That made a combined 537 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing plus 38 receiving yards in Weeks Six and Seven as Murrieta Valley scored 111 points to win two of its biggest games of the regular season.
In fact, Watson achieved a fairly ridiculous feat across the Nighthawks' first seven games: rushing for more yardage successively every single game despite starting with 71 yards in their opener.
Coming in second place with 3,415 votes (40.23%) was Torrance RB Kaeson Pressley, who helped the Tartars stay unbeaten with 13 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-0 blowout of Peninsula. Rounding out the voting with 628 votes (7.4%) was Rancho Cucamonga WR Tyree Wilson with nine catches for 148 yards and a touchdown to go with a kickoff return touchdown in a 42-7 blowout of Upland to stay atop the Baseline League standings.
Murrieta Valley put up a good fight in Week Eight against Corona Centennial, playing the national title contender evenly in the first half before eventually falling 48-20. The Nighthawks are the favorites in Week Nine at rival Vista Murrieta with a chance to unofficially clinch a top-two finish in the Big West - Upper.
Vote for Week 7 SoCal Player of the Week
Meet the candidates for Week 7 SoCal Player of the Week
Isaiah Arriaza, Damien: Arriaza completed 24 of 26 passes (92.3%) for 253 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 35 yards and a touchdown to beat Etiwanda 49-31.
Demanie Bell, Westlake: Bell rumbled for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead Westlake past Thousand Oaks 42-21.
Harrison Carter, Palisades: In a 56-54 win against rival Venice, Carter ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns, made four catches for 116 yards and another touchdown, and had a team-high two tackles for loss.
Jacob Chambers, Rancho Cucamonga: Chambers completed 17 of 22 passes (78.3%) for 284 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown in a 42-7 rout of Upland.
Jack Cunningham, Ventura: Cunningham recorded 10 catches, 190 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns to lead the Cougars to a 34-23 win over Moorpark.
Malaki Davis, Corona Centennial: Davis turned just four carries into 150 yards and three touchdowns as the Huskies dominated Roosevelt (Eastvale) 63-14.
Demare Dezeurn, Palisades: Dezeurn dominated in a 56-54 win against Venice with seven catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns, 61 kickoff return yards, and a 48-yard pick-six.
Joshua Diaz, Franklin (Los Angeles): Diaz led the Panthers with 16 tackles, seven solo tackles, two TFLs, and two forced fumbles in a 41-21 victory against Marshall (Los Angeles).
Brady Edmunds, Huntington Beach: Edmunds completed 18 of 21 passes (85.7%) for 250 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions to beat La Habra 35-30 and stay atop the Epsilon League.
Coby Herman, La Costa Canyon: Herman powered the Mavericks to a 49-35 win over San Marcos (San Marcos) with 168 yards and two touchdowns rushing to go with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Jack Hurst, Laguna Beach: Hurst tossed seven touchdowns with 294 yards and no interceptions on 17-23 completion (73.9%) in a 63-18 dismantling of Fountain Valley.
Lincoln Jahn, Inglewood: Jahn threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns without an interception on 21-29 completion (72.4%) in a 57-9 stomping of Lawndale.
Zastice Jauregui, Garfield: Jauregui turned six carries into 110 yards and three touchdowns to beat South East 45-30.
Jaden Jefferson, Cathedral: Jefferson dominated in a 41-13 win over Bishop Alemany by completing 12 of 13 passes (92.3%) for 207 yards and three touchdowns and running for 92 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon: Johnson went off for four sacks in a 45-14 victory over Chaminade, and also totaled team-highs of nine tackles, eight solo tackles, and five tackles for loss.
Adrian Jones, Paraclete: Jones reeled in 10 receptions for 130 yards and four touchdowns to lift the Spirits to a 38-29 victory over St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy.
Isaiah Lucero, Northview: Lucero made four catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns and also had a 58-yard interception-return touchdown in a 47-14 rout of Diamond Ranch.
Tyler Mayer, Newbury Park: In his first game stepping in for injured reigning Mr. Football Brady Smigiel, Mayer cooked up 233 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions on 20-27 completion (74.1%) in a 46-14 rout of Calabasas.
Malachi McFarland, Damien: McFarland helped lead the Spartans to a 49-31 win against Etiwanda with 188 yards and three touchdowns rushing.
Julian Medina, Norco: Medina completed 17 of 23 passes (73.9%) for 311 yards and four touchdowns with no picks in a 50-14 win over Roosevelt (Eastvale).
Alex Medyn, Chino Hills: Medyn led the Huskies to a 49-0 beatdown of rival Ayala with 281 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks on 16-21 completion (76.2%) plus 61 yards and two touchdowns rushing.
Luke Meeker, Mira Costa: Meeker caught two touchdowns for a total of 87 yards and grabbed a pick in a 37-14 win versus Culver City.
Aaron Minter, Venice: Despite a 56-54 loss to Palisades, Minter went off for 13 catches, 248 receiving yards, and two touchdown catches to go with a 29-yard carry.
Damani Porras, Downey (Downey): Porras made six catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns and recorded a pick-six in a 67-7 beatdown of La Mirada.
Kaeson Pressley, Torrance: Pressley ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-0 blowout of Peninsula.
Gio Robles, Imperial: Robles went off for eight catches, 201 yards, and two touchdowns in a 34-6 victory versus Calexico.
Ryan Salcedo, Bishop Amat: Salcedo went ballistic for 351 yards and five touchdowns rushing to lead the Lancers to a 36-29 win against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).
Holden Smyser, Loyola: Smyser racked up 17 tackles and six TFLs in a 13-10 Mission League upset of Serra (Gardena).
Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon: Stokes ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns and tacked on 14 receiving yards as the Trailblazers cruised past Chaminade 45-14.
Jack Thomas, Palisades: Thomas guided the Dolphins to a 56-54 win over rival Venice with 473 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions plus 52 rushing yards.
Jeremiah Watson, Murrieta Valley: Watson went off for 281 yards and six touchdowns rushing plus a 26-yard catch in a 54-42 win over Chaparral.
Semaj Welch, Inglewood: Welch turned eight carries into 163 yards and two touchdowns in a 57-9 annihilation of Lawndale.
Jordan White, Cajon: White helped lead the Cowboys to a 25-23 win over Beaumont, likely for a Citrus Belt League title, with 94 yards and two touchdowns rushing plus 35 yards and a touchdown receiving.
Tyree Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga: Wilson totaled nine catches for 148 yards and a touchdown plus a kickoff return touchdown in a 42-7 blowout of Upland.
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