Long bus rides are part of life in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, and the trip home always feels shorter after a win. The Viewpoint football team earned that pleasant ride on Friday night, holding off Hemet 21-20 in a Division 11 first-round matchup on the road.
The victory was significant for the program on multiple fronts. It gave the Patriots a second consecutive opening-round postseason win after the school went 11 years without a victory in CIF-SS playoff play. It also marked the first time in school history that Viewpoint has won nine games in a single season.
Quarterback Magnus Merriman completed 13 of 22 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Patriots, who improved to 9-2. Hemet, the Inland Valley League co-champion, closed its season at 6-5.
"We've been banged up all year (carrying 33 guys on our roster and dressing 28) and battled adversity and I'm just so proud of our guys for willing themselves to this kind of win," Viewpoint coach Ken Papotta said. "Hemet's a good football team but what our guys did well defensively was minimizing the big play and we're in for another challenge in Xavier Prep next week. It's a special moment for these kids, their parents and our school."
The game began as a shootout before settling into a defensive struggle. Both teams scored on all four combined possessions in the first quarter, which ended tied at 14. Viewpoint struck first on Ben Burkin's 5-yard touchdown run with 9:12 remaining in the period.
Hemet answered roughly four minutes later when Drew Neal scored on an 8-yard run. That drive stayed alive thanks to a successful fourth-down conversion, with punter Brendan Lara throwing a 35-yard pass to extend the series.
Merriman then connected with Shane Anderson on a 53-yard touchdown pass to put the Patriots ahead 14-7, but Hemet's James Abner returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards down the right sideline with 2:37 left in the quarter to tie it again.
Merriman and Anderson teamed up once more on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3:48 remaining in the second quarter, sending Viewpoint into halftime with a 21-14 advantage. "Everyone was really bought in and invested in practice during the week, and it showed on the field," Merriman said. "We're a band of brothers who pick each other up and if it got to be one of those close, gritty games late, I knew our conditioning would pay off. We don't have the luxury of a ton of subs or depth but what you get here is a group of guys who aren't afraid of the work in practice and embrace the underdog role on gameday."
Hemet managed only a pair of second-half field goals from Samuel Trout after the break, and the comeback attempt fell one point short as the Patriots' defense held firm.
Viewpoint now heads back into Riverside County for the next round, where the Patriots will visit Xavier Prep. Xavier Prep advanced with a 27-14 win over Banning.
