VALLEY VIEW SHOWS FIGHT, OFFENSIVE LIFE IN 41–28 LOSS TO VISTA DEL LAGO

EAGLES FALL TO 2–1, BUT A 28-POINT SECOND HALF SHOWS THERE IS PLENTY TO BUILD ON

MORENO VALLEY, CA — Valley View’s unbeaten start came to an end Thursday night, but the Eagles didn’t leave Vista Del Lago without showing why they remain one of Moreno Valley’s teams to watch this season.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Valley View responded with 28 points after halftime before ultimately falling to Vista Del Lago, 41–28.

The loss moved Valley View to 2–1, but one difficult night doesn’t erase what the Eagles have already shown through the opening weeks of the season.

Junior quarterback Robert Dunlap Jr. entered the matchup after putting together two productive performances to start the year. Dunlap threw for 128 yards and three touchdowns in Valley View’s season-opening win over Claremont, then followed it with 139 passing yards and two more touchdowns against SLAM Nevada.

That gave Dunlap 267 passing yards and five touchdown passes through Valley View’s first two games, helping lead the Eagles to a 2–0 start.

The backfield has also given Valley View another legitimate weapon.

Against Claremont, Bobby Greer carried the ball 15 times for 147 yards and a touchdown, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry and breaking loose for a 67-yard run.

That type of balance is part of what makes Valley View dangerous offensively. Dunlap has shown he can distribute the football through the air, while Greer gives the Eagles the ability to create explosive plays on the ground.

Thursday simply presented Valley View with its first real setback.

And there were still positives.

Scoring 28 points in the second half showed that the Eagles continued competing after falling behind. They made adjustments, found some offensive rhythm and gave themselves an opportunity to make the game competitive rather than allowing the first half to define the night.

For a team with championship expectations, that response matters.

Valley View is also coming off a season in which the program captured a CIF-Southern Section Division 11 championship, so one early-season loss isn't likely to change the standard inside the program.

Instead, the Vista game gives head coach Eric Martinez and his staff something every team eventually needs: film showing exactly where improvement has to happen.

Valley View has already demonstrated that it can score, run the football and produce explosive plays.

Now the challenge is turning Thursday’s second-half response into four quarters of consistent football.

At 2–1, the Eagles still have plenty of season ahead of them.

And after putting 28 points on the board in the final two quarters Thursday night, there is still plenty of reason for Valley View to believe its best football is ahead.