Broncos come back in second half to defeat Wolfpack

Smith throws for 239 yards, including pair of scoring passes to Guinn in third quarter

MURRIETA » In a season-opening football game between longtime Southwestern League opponents who are now in opposite halves of the new Big West Conference, host Vista Murrieta scored the final 17 points of the game to defeat Great Oak 20-14.

Trailing 14-3 in the third quarter, Vista Murrieta scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half.

Sophomore quarterback Akili Smith Jr. led Vista Murrieta on a seven-play, 85-yard drive which culminated in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Brody Guinn to cut the Wolfpack lead to 14-10.

On the Broncos’ next drive, faced with a fourth-and-3 from the Great Oak 3-yard line, Smith found Guinn again for a 17-14 lead.

Vista Murrieta kicker Elliot Moulton Rhodes added a 31-yard field goal with 1:55 to go to increase the lead to 2014. Great Oak then drove to the Broncos’ 27-yard line, but two penalties and a last-play fumble ended the game.

The Broncos, who took a 3-0 lead on a 41-yard Moulton Rhodes field goal, were driving for another score, but Wolfpack linebacker Trevor Schuck recovered a fumble with the Broncos on the Great Oak 11yard line.

The Wolfpack then drove 89 yards in nine plays to take a 7-3 lead on a Cole Vasquez 14-yard touchdown pass to receiver Remington Churchward.

On its first drive of the second half, Great Oak increased its lead to 14-3 on an Angelo Ruperto 1-yard touchdown run.

After that, however, the Bronco defense stopped the Wolfpack on their last four drives, forcing three punts and recovering a fumble on the game’s last play.

Smith took over in the second half, completing 14 consecutive passes to five different receivers. Smith ended the night completing 21 of 26 passes for 229 yards. Guinn hauled in nine catches for 73 yards and Grant Wayne had eight receptions for 102 yards.

Vasquez completed 13 of 25 passes for 213 yards while Churchward led the Wolfpack receivers with four catches for 45 yards.

Vista Murrieta’s victory was the fifth straight over Great Oak and the Broncos have now won 16 of the 17 games in the series.