Del Norte Nighthawks 17, Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns 31

Rancho Buena Vista needed this. With their season on life support after a brutal 0-8 start, the Longhorns finally got their first win of the season Friday night against the visiting Del Norte Nighthawks 31-17.

Before a packed house on senior night, Rancho Buena Vista (1-8) executed the exact game plan that Del Norte (1-8) Head Coach Patrick Coleman hoped to contain.

“The keys to this game were to contain the RBV running game, and to get our offense to finish drives,” said Coleman.

From the first drive until the closing snap, Rancho Buena Vista ran the ball relentlessly down the throat of Del Norte’s defense. Senior Longhorn running back Dominic Taylor handled every play on the opening drive, rushing 8 consecutive times for 75 yards and the first touchdown of the game.

It would foreshadow the remainder of the evening for both squads. Taylor would go on to carry the ball 36 times, tally 274 rushing yards, and cap it off with 2 touchdowns.

Del Norte quarterback Jake Moore connected with receiver Anthony Ullrich to add a late fourth quarter touchdown that would make the score much closer than the game actually played out to be. Rancho Buena Vista dominated all evening and can finally breathe deep after avoiding the dreaded winless season.

The Longhorns look to take their winning momentum to rival Vista High School (3-6) next week, while the Nighthawks visit Fallbrook High (5-4) for their regular season finale.

Tune in to watch The Prep Pigskin Report every Friday night at 10:30 pm for highlights, and don’t forget to follow @redjacketarmy on Instagram and Twitter!

PREVIEW: Del Norte and Rancho Buena Vista, a couple of North County high school football teams who have had less-than regal seasons, get the chance to re-write their stories Friday.

For the Del Norte Nighthawks (1-6), it’s a chance to get back on track. The Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns (0-7) on the other hand, are simply trying to get in the win column and get the proverbial monkey off their back.

While most CIF squads are jockeying for conference-supremacy or at least fighting for playoff eligibility, the Nighthawks and Longhorns have seen the writing on the wall. Both have come tantalizingly close to multiple victories — some games within yards. Other games have come down to issues with some of the basics: first downs, holding onto the ball, scoring points, etc.

When asked what the key is to getting their first win and taking on Del Norte, Longhorn Head Coach Paul Gomes answered: “Execute during the game.” Simple as that.

With only two regular season games left in 2015, this match-up looks to be an absolute dogfight to stay out of the cellar. Del Norte will finish the season at Fallbrook and RBV travels to Vista. As it stands, Friday night looks to be both schools best chance at an elusive victory.

Game time is at 7pm Friday night at Rancho Buena Vista High School. Tune in to watch The Prep Pigskin Report at 10:30 pm for highlights, and don’t forget to follow @redjacketarmy on Instagram and Twitter!