MURRIETA – If Hank Bachmeier had any nerves about his first postseason game, he sure didn’t show it on Friday night.
The freshman threw five touchdown passes, leading Murrieta Valley to a 48-7 win over Fountain Valley in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section West Valley Division playoffs.
The win advances the Nighthawks to a quarterfinal meeting with Mission Viejo next Friday.
“He was poised and accurate tonight,” Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson said of Bachmeier. “He is one of those kids that expects to do well and he did just that.”
Bachmeier completed 16 of 21 pass attempts for 235 yards while rushing for 28 yards of his own.
“We just came out and played our game,” Bachmeier said. “I think that we were very well prepared for tonight, and we came out and executed.”
Fountain Valley (7-4) took the early lead, capitalizing on an error made by the Murrieta Valley special teams.
The Barons jumped on a muffed punt return, and didn’t waste the excellent field position, scoring with a quick four-play drive that concluded with a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chad Olberding.
The drive proved to be the wake-up call that Murrieta Valley needed.
