Hemet football wins in first home playoff game, eliminating Colton from Division 11 chase

HEMET – One is a football player through and through. The other, a newcomer to the sport. Together, they were the driving force behind one of the biggest nights in the history of Hemet’s football program.

Thirteen years after its stadium opened, Hemet played host to its first playoff game Friday. And shaking off a disastrous start, the Bulldogs fought their way to a 42-28 victory over Colton in a CIF-SS Division 11 first-round game.

Hemet (7-4) earned a second home game against Irvine (5-6) next week. Irvine knocked off Ocean View Friday.

Captain Tyler Richardson, who does just about everything on the field for the Bulldogs, was rewarded for a full night’s work with four trips to the end zone. Dawson Powers, plucked off the soccer field, provided two huge plays, scoring one touchdown and setting up another.

“He’s our heart,” Bulldogs coach Jason Thornburg said of Richardson. “He is just a football player. Both sides of the ball. He made some great blocks tonight.”

As for Powers, he provided the highlight video plays.

Powers’ 86-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep got Hemet back in the game after Colton (5-6) had stung the Bulldogs with a 63-yard scoring run from Brennan Ramos on the second play from scrimmage.

“Getting that play sets everything else up” Thornburg said. “It sets up the RPO (run-pass option). They’ve got to start flying out to cover that.”

Powers also contributed the most spectacular play of the night, a full-extension fingertip grab of a 35-yard pass from fellow receiver Jeremiah Graves. That set up Richardson’s third touchdown, putting Hemet ahead to stay at 28-21 late in the third quarter.

Colton gave Hemet fits with its option offense, fueled by the power running of Ramos.

Ramos followed his big early run with two more touchdowns, including a 65-yarder that pulled Colton even at 21-21.

“That offense they run, they’re going to bust one,” Thornburg said. “You’ve just got to stay with it.”

Colton threw a late scare in the Bulldogs after the game was seemingly put of reach at 42-21 with 1:45 to play. Eddie Sandoval returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and Ronald Hylton recovered an onside kick.

But Hemet put a cap on its big night when Elijah Bratcher and Matito Shivers combined to sack Joseph Resendez to snuff out Colton’s last gasp.

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