PERRIS — Friday night’s showdown between the Cajon and Orange Vista football teams had the makings of a slugfest with a 21-17 halftime score. Instead, a war of attrition ensued – one that ended 28-24 in favor of the visiting Cowboys. “They’ll bend, but they won’t break. My defense, they’ll do what they can,” Cajon running back Brandon Rivers said. “They’re young as well. Our defense are underclassmen, so they’re getting the hang of it, they’re getting the taste of how it feels to be a varsity defense.” Both defenses broke early and often before tightening up in the second half, as Cajon (4-1) and Orange Vista (1-4) scored touchdowns on each of their first two drives. The Cowboys opened the game with a 60-yard, sub-four-minute possession that finished in the hands of senior wide receiver Jered Rennick for the visitor’s only receiving touchdown of the evening. The Coyotes responded in turn, with a tipped ball landing in wide receiver Devin Sandville’s hands in the end zone. Orange Vista took a 7-6 lead as Cajon failed an earlier attempted 2-point conversion. Rivers involved himself offensively with his first of three touchdowns the next drive, leading the Cowboys to a 14-6 advantage. The Coyotes followed suit to knot the contest at 14. With the ball back once more, Cajon opted to attempt a fourth-and-5 from within its own 40-yard line. The gamble didn’t pay off. “We ran that same formation earlier toward the goal line, and it was just a great look, so I thought we would get it,” Cowboys coach Nick Rogers said. Even with plus field position, Orange Vista managed only a field goal on the ensuing possession to claim a 17-14 lead. Then Cajon – powered by a 41-yard catch from Rennick – scored on another Rivers’ rush to pull ahead before the end of the half. The Coyotes opened the third quarter with the game’s first punt after a holding call nullified a 19-yard pickup on third-and-10. In response, the Cowboys extended their lead to 11 with a scoring drive that featured a 29-yard completion on fourth-and-15 and ended with Rivers’ third touchdown of the game. Related Articles High School Sports | IE Varsity’s football wrap-up: Stories, scores and photos from Week 5 games High School Sports | Roosevelt football team holds off Colony in final nonleague tune-up High School Sports | Rancho Verde football controls clock, shuts out Tahquitz High School Sports | ‘Special’ effort propels Murrieta Valley football team past San Clemente High School Sports | San Jacinto football team uses big second quarter to run away from Jurupa Hills Orange Vista had a chance to shrink the lead, but an interception from Rennick on a leaping one-handed grab in the end zone briefly squashed those hopes. Still, the home team quickly got another opportunity after a three-and-out and a short punt had the Coyotes at the Cajon 30. “Defense did a hell of a job, first of all. I think Cajon has a lot of firepower, so I’m proud of our defense,” Orange Vista coach Greg Zomalt said. The Coyotes scored on a 38-yard touchdown from Khalil Abdul-Aziz to Timothy Page III after a first-down sack. But even with the late score and another punt from the Cowboys, Orange Vista couldn’t make a final end-zone trip to win the game. “We’re still trying to find our identity, and so with league play (coming up), it’s not about the teams that we’re playing,” Zomalt said.  “It’s about Orange Vista football, and playing to our potential.”