MURRIETA — Newbury Park defeated Murrieta Valley 31-28 Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship game to clinch the second football title in school history and improve its record to 14-0.
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel finished the game 16 of 22 passing for 321 yards and three touchdowns and also had 14 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel gets doused with a cooler of water by his players after defeating Murrieta Valley 31-28 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel, left, celebrates with his players after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel gestures to the crowd after his team scored late in the 4th quarter against Murrieta Valley to give them a 31-21 lead during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Newbury Park defeated Murrieta Valley 31-28. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel, left, celebrates with his players after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park players celebrate with the championship plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park running back Tyler Stromsoe looks for running room against Murrieta Valley late in the 4th quarter during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Newbury Park defeated Murrieta Valley 31-28. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel gestures to the crowd after his team scored late in the 4th quarter against Murrieta Valley to give them a 31-21 lead during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Newbury Park defeated Murrieta Valley 31-28. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park’s Tyler Stromsoe finds running room against Murrieta Valley during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel tries to escape from Murrieta Valley’s Joey Rodriguez (49) during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park players swarm head coach Joe Smigiel after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park players celebrate with the championship plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park’s Alberto Ayon hauls in a second quarter pass for a touchdown as Murrieta Valley’s Darius Johnson, left, defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park players celebrate with the championship plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley players show their disappointment after being defeated by Newbury Park 31-28 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley players show their disappointment along with their head coach George Wilson after being defeated by Newbury Park 31-28 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley running back Dorian Hoze (5) scores on a 69-yard touchdown down run during the first quarter as Newbury Park’s Balen Betancourt (right) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley defender Darius Johnson, right, breaks up a pass in the endzone intended for Newbury Park’s Kayin Booker, left, during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley running back Dorian Hoze (5) scores on a 69-yard touchdown down run during the first quarter as Newbury Park’s Balen Betancourt (right) defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel escapes the grasp of Murrieta Valley’s Josiah Anyansi during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley’s Abelardo Leos, right, celebrates after sacking Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel, right, dumps a cooler of water onto his father and head coach Joe Smigiel after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game over Murrieta Valley 31-28 in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park kicker Bohdie Ing (middle) reacts after missing a late first half field goal against Murrieta Valley during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel smilies after accepting the championship plaque following their 31-28 win over Murrieta Valley in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park’s Alberto Ayon hauls in a second quarter pass for a touchdown as Murrieta Valley’s Darius Johnson, left, defends during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel is sacked by Murrieta Valley’s Abelardo Leos during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel scrambles toward the endzone to score against Murrieta Valley during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park fans cheer as their team takes the field against Murrieta Valley prior to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Murrieta Valley’s Dorian Hoze scores on a short touchdown run in the first quarter against Newbury Park during the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park’s Drew Cofield celebrates following a touchdown during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game against Murrieta Valley in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel is tackled by Murrieta Valley’s Joey Rodriguez, left, following a hard hit during the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Murrieta Valley hosts Newbury Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel gets doused with a cooler of water by his players after defeating Murrieta Valley 31-28 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 football championship game in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
“This is the best Newbury Park team ever. This football team went through one of the best playoff divisions in the country and went 4-0 in it,” said Newbury Park coach Joe Smigiel, who is a former player at the school and class of 1989 graduate.
He’s also the father of Brady, a Florida State commit, and Beau, a receiver/safety for the Panthers.
“Brady had a game and a half,” Joe Smigiel said, “the defense stepped up, it was such a team effort.”
The play of the night for Newbury Park came in the beginning of the fourth quarter when Drew Cofield stripped Murrieta running back Dorian Hoze just before the goal line as he was about to score on a 55-yard run. The fumble was recovered by Newbury Park’s Alberto Ayon in the end zone.
Three plays later, Smigiel found Shane Rosenthal for a 27-yard touchdown to give Newbury Park a 31-21 lead early in the fouth.
“We’ve been doubted since the beginning of the season. People thought we couldn’t play Division 2 football,” Cofield said. “It felt amazing to get that strip. I would put everything on the line for these guys, and I just saw an opportunity to change the game and I took it.”
Cofield also had two touchdown receptions on offense and finished the game with three catches for 114 yards. Rosenthal, the California all-time career receptions leader, finished the game with seven catches for 120 yards and one TD.
Newbury got off to a bit of a slow start in the game, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter in large part because of Hoze. Hoze had two touchdown runs in the first quarter and also ran for 113 yards in the opening quarter.
Smigiel was able to cut the Nighthawks’ lead to 14-7 when he scored on a 6-yard touchdown run on the final play of the first quarter.
After a muffed punt by the Nighthawks was recovered by long snapper Christian Bednarz, Newbury Park got the ball at the Murrieta 27. Smigiel found Cofield on the next play for a 27-yard score to tie the game in the middle of the second quarter.
“In every, single game of these playoffs, our team has had to face adversity,” Brady Smigiel said. “A lot of people didn’t think we were gonna be big or physical enough to compete in D2, and we just won the whole thing.”
Newbury had a 10-play drive to end the first half but was unable to get any points out of it, as it missed a 34-yard field goal. Newbury also had a touchdown called back for offensive pass interference during the series.
Balen Betancourt had an interception for Newbury on the final play of the first half.
Murrieta jumped out to a 21-17 lead in the middle of the third after Hoze scored his third touchdown of the night following a Newbury Park 31-yard field goal from Bohdie Ing.
Two plays after the Hoze score, Smigiel hit Cofield on a 66-yard pass for their second touchdown connection of the night. The score gave Newbury Park a 24-21 lead.
Following the Cofield strip and Rosenthal score, Hoze scored his fourth touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter. The score cut Newbury’s lead to 31-28.
Following the fourth Hoze score, Newbury was able to drive inside the Murrieta 20, but lost a fumble on a bad handoff exchange that was recovered by Murrieta’s Gio Monge. That gave the Nighthawks the ball at their 16.
Murrieta was unable to get a first down following the fumble, and Newbury was able to clinch the game after that with a Tyler Stromsoe first down run.
“This win means everything. Going out like this as a senior and going 14-0,” Rosenthal said. “Traveling all this way and coming out with a dub, I’m kinda speechless. This just means everything.”
Hoze finished the game with 30 carries for 242 yards and four scores. Stromsoe ran the ball 22 times for 93 yards.
Newbury Park will most likely continue its season in the CIF Division 1-AA Southern Regional game next week.
