RIVERSIDE — Reyez Ortiz’s three touchdowns led the Hillcrest football team in a 39-20 semifinal victory against Garden Grove Pacifica at Norte Vista.
With this win, Hillcrest (8-5) earned its first-ever CIF-SS Division 10 finals appearance and matches its record for most wins in a season (eight wins three times; 2025, 8-4 in 2016 and 2018).
“Honestly, as a coach, I’m already looking forward to next week,” Hillcrest coach Travis Carter said. “But just seeing the pure joy on these kids’ faces, they’ve worked so hard, I’m proud of them. They’re doing something we haven’t got to as a school yet, so our message has been ‘let’s raise that bar of what’s expected’.”
Trojans quarterback Matthew Ramos finished 9 of 12 passes for 135 yards, ran for 118 yards and had two total touchdowns.
In addition to Ortiz’s three scores, he finished with 192 rushing yards while Nicholas Shaw had 61 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Pacifica quarterback James Anema finished 9 of 17 for 116 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Mike Lee finished with 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Mariners (9-4).
The first half of the game was tight, with both teams taking turns finding the end zone.
Ortiz scored on a 3-yard run for the Trojans’ first drive of the game.
But Pacifica would also score once they received the ball, thanks to a 6-yard run from Lee.
Ethan Valdez kicked a 27-yard and 31-yard field goal and Ramos scored on a 47-yard run for the Trojans, while Lee’s 46-yard run found him in the endzone for the Mariners before the half.
Going into the third quarter, Hillcrest held a 19-14 lead.
Pacifica and Hillcrest both went three-and-out on their first drives of the third, but Anema’s interception to Daniel Velazquez would result in a 2-yard rushing touchdown for Ortiz.
On the Mariners’ next possession, Anema rifled a 48-yard touchdown pass to David Carlsson.
Hillcrest was on top 25-20 to begin the fourth quarter.
“I think they played better than we did,” Pacifica coach Kyle Murphy said. “In the end, it’s usually what it comes down to. They made more plays than we did, they were physical … They outexecuted us.”
Shaw scored on a 10-yard pass and Ortiz’s 13-yard rushing touchdown would carry Hillcrest to the championship game.
Hillcrest will face Tahquitz in the Division 10 finals at Norte Vista.
“This week was (the) first time being in a semifinal, let’s not be happy with just getting there,” coach Carter said. “Same thing with next week. First time in a CIF title game, let’s not be happy just getting invited and being there, let’s go try to win that thing.”
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