Paloma Valley Cruises into Second Round of Playoffs, 49-14

Paloma Valley's Demarco Prewitt finds running room against Chino Friday night.

Brent Boehm passed for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns and Demarco Prewitt rushed for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns Friday night to lead Paloma Valley to a 49-14 victory over visiting Chino in the first round of the CIF-SS Central Division football playoffs.

Paloma Valley (10-1) led by just a touchdown at 14-7 after the first quarter but blew the game open in the second quarter with 21 unanswered points, then kept the pressure on the Cowboys (5-6) in the third quarter. The fourth period was played with a running clock.

The Wildcats compiled 490 yards total offense, showing once again their versatility in beating teams with both their passing attack and an efficient ground game.

Two of Boehm's touchdown passes went to senior RJ Benz, covering 29 yards and 14 yards in the big second quarter. Benz finished with 6 catches for 98 yards.

In addition to Prewitt's heroics running the ball for Paloma, Boehm ran for 55 yards and a touchdown. Khayrii Joyner added 56 yards, including a 45-yard run.

Paloma Valley got on the scoreboard first when Boehm ran 7 yards into the end zone, but the lead was short-lived. Chino tied the game at 7-7 moments later on a 62-yard run by Ray Valentine. It took a 6-yard TD run by Prewitt for the Wildcats to get out of the first quarter with a 14-7 lead.

The second quarter was all Paloma Valley. In addition to the two touchdown passes to Benz, Boehm hit Michael Valencia with a 43-yard TD pass and the rout was on.

Sophomore quarterback Pohaku Kaheaku-Paiva got some playing time in the fourth quarter and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Next week, Paloma Valley is at home again against Kaiser, a 49-0 winner over Canyon Springs.

Editor's note: Our thanks to Kelli Esposito for the game information and Jeanine Morgan for providing the photos.

The Paloma Valley defense stops a Chino ballcarrier during Friday night's playoff game.  A large crowd frilled the stands to cheer on the Wildcats Friday night.