The most anticipated rivalry game took place on Nov. 1. The annual game of the season arrived in full force. It was a hard fought game all four quarters with both defenses playing their hearts out, causing a three and out almost every drive. On the offensive side of the ball, it was a tough day for the run game. Rancho Bernardo kept it under 30 yards, but senior Josh Butler had a successful day running one yard shy of 100 yards.

The first quarter was strictly dominated by defense. Both Poway and Rancho Bernardo have some of the best and strongest players in the CIF league on the defensive side of the ball, including hard-hitting senior outside linebacker Jackson Huntly.

“I prefer to play defense. Offense is fun and all, but there’s nothing better than the feeling of laying someone out,” Huntly said. Offense is important in that they score the ball, but defense wins games because if the other team cannot score, it is impossible to win.

By half time, only one team was able to score, and that was Rancho Bernardo leading 7-0. After coming out of the locker room, senior Dj Owens told himself he was not going down without a fight, “This would be one of our biggest games of the year, and it was my last time playing Rancho Bernardo, so I gave it 120%,” Owens said.

The entire team was anxious heading into the second half, but they were ready to try to defeat the Broncos and give it their all.

Owens had himself an eventful day, catching not one but three snags stretching over defenders to catch the ball— in one incident, over two players. Owens scored a touchdown off 13 catches for 183 yards.

RB had 13 points going into the fourth quarter, and they were able to drive down the field and score a field goal, leaving the score at 16-7.

Starting quarterback Andrew Wisely was upset about the loss, but he is very hopeful for the future.

“We’ll be all right. That’s just the end of the regular season. We still got playoffs, and I feel we have what it takes to make it to the championship,” Wisely said.

Poway’s first playoff game is tonight, Friday Nov. 8 at Monte Vista. The game is due to be an overall fight to see who as more heart as both teams carry a 6-4 record.

In the event of a Poway win they will face off against the leading passing team in the state, Bishops.