Murrieta Valley Nighthawks: 2019 Division 1/2 Southern Section football preview

Here’s an inside look at the CIF Southern Section Division 1/2 Murrieta Valley Nighthawks football team.

Links: Murrieta Valley team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

Overall record: 6-5 (4-1 in league, 2nd in the Southwestern League). Murrieta Valley lost 49-26 to San Clemente in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs.

HEAD COACH

George Wilson has been Murrieta Valley’s head coach since 2014.

TOP PLAYERS

RB Corie Johnson, 5-8, 180, Sr.

WR Taliq Brown, 5-8, 150, Sr.

WR Emilio Valencia, 6-0, 175, Sr.

TE Jack Yary, 6-6, 250, Sr.

OLB/ILB Jaden Dillon, 6-3, 205, Sr.

WR Tayven Lamprey, 6-0, 162, Soph.

DE/LS Ethan Helton, 6-3, 205, Sr.

CB Drew Waelde, 5-10, 175, Sr.

CB Jessie Espinoza, 6-0, 166, Sr.

THREE TO SEE

Jack Yary – TE

3-star recruit and USC commit Jack Yary brings both exceptional receiving and blocking to the tight end position. At 6-6, 250 pounds, 247 ranks Yary as a top 20 senior TE in the country. He recorded 386 receiving yards and six touchdowns last year.

Ethan Helton – DE/LS

Helton made First Team All-League last season after recording 67 tackles. He’s the Nighthawks’ long snapper as well.

Taliq Brown – WR

Brown recorded 724 receiving yards en-route to Second Team All-League honors last season. He’ll have even more opportunities this year as the first option at receiver.

OUTLOOK

Murrieta Valley may be hard-pressed not to regress a little offensively after losing superstar QB Hank Bachmeier to Boise State. Their leading rusher and receiver both graduated as well. Yet despite all of that, the Nighthawks are returning an eye-opening amount of talent on offense as well as defense.

Bachmeier’s replacement will have a litany of great receiving options between WRs Taliq Brown and Emilio Valencia, and TE Jack Yary. Additionally, Tayven Lampley came on strong down the stretch last season as a freshman. Also helping create will be a great RB in Corie Johnson, who rushed for 564 yards last season.

DE Ethan Helton and LB Jaden Dillon return to anchor the interior after both making First Team All-League last year. Helton was good for 67 tackles, including team-highs in tackles for loss (16), QB hurries (16), and sacks (9). Dillon recorded 56 tackles as well. At 5-11, 250, senior DT Body Frye will be expected to help lead the line too. Jessie Espinoza and Drew Waelde make a solid tandem at cornerback.