HEMET 42 BANNING 14
They avenge a lopsided loss to the Broncos in 2012
HEMET—It was only a season opener but, for Hemet High, it carried the power of a playoff game. The Bulldogs delivered an early notice on the Mountain Pass League Friday, rolling to a 42-14 rout of Banning. Hemet, coming off a 1-9 season, lost 46-0 to Banning a year ago. After yielding an early touchdown, Hemet dominated the game with its uptempo power running attack. Dominating up the middle, the Bulldogs piled up 195 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 332. John Romanski scored on runs of 2,19 and 3 yards to help Hemet take a 21-7 halftime lead. Hemet extended the lead on an 11-play, 79-yard drive, capped by Sean Ruh’s 9-yard run, to make it 28-7 late in the third quarter. After Banning pulled back to within two touchdowns, Hemet quarterback Justice Judge broke open a sneak for 41 yards, setting up Art Cruz’s 16-yard scoring run. Hemet spread the ball around on the ground. Ruh led the Bulldogs with111yards on 18 carries, Judge had 74 yards on seven carries and Cruz carried nine times for 59 yards. Banning’s only success came on big passing plays. James Madison rolled out to find a wide-open Gregory Lucas for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Madison’s 41-yard strike to Dashawn Lawton set up Banning’s other touchdown. For Hemet, the victory signaled the turning of a major corner. “I don’t have to come to work, I get to come to work with these kids,” Coach Jeff Reitz said. “We’ve been here for a few years. I just want these poor kids to have some success for how hard they’ve worked.” JV lost to Hillcrest Trojans 14-0; Freshmen lost to Hillcrest Trojans 12-6.