Week 10 Game of the Week: Vista Panthers 37, Rancho Bernardo Broncos 20

Rancho Bernardo and Vista had a lot on the line in their matchup Friday night.

The teams were both riding six-game winning streaks, RB needed a win to keep its hopes of winning the Palomar League alive, while Vista could clinch the league title with the win.

In the end, the Panthers took advantage of Bronco mistakes and their own ferocious running game to win, 37-20.

Rancho Bernardo took the early lead in the first quarter when quarterback Zeke Payne ran in a touchdown for a 7-0 RB lead.

However, on the next drive, Payne threw an interception to Grady Chancellor setting up running back David Flores for a 15-yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-all.

Flores struck again late in the first quarter when quarterback Travis Bennett threw to him in the flat for a 39-yard touchdown and Vista took a 14-7 lead.

The Broncos tied the game on a Chris Dartey touchdown run and it was tied at 14-all at the half.

Vista took control of the game in the third quarter thanks to its defense when Michael Medrano strip-sacked Payne setting up Bennett for a 15-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Nelson IV and a 21-14 lead.

Dartey scored on another short touchdown run for RB but a poor snap cost them the extra point and they still trailed 21-20.

Running back Desmond Taua then put the Panthers up 28-20 with a 19-yard touchdown run. Vista put the game away when Erik Courtney sacked RB punter Landon Ogles in the end zone after a bad snap. That made it a 30-20 lead for Vista.

The Panthers went on to a 37-20 victory winning the Palomar League for the first time since 2009.

Vista, which improved to 7-2, ran the ball 43 times for 328 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers will be on the road at Carlsbad next week.

Rancho Bernardo fell to 6-3 and will host the rival Poway Titans next week.