MORENO VALLEY — A track meet. That is how Rancho Verde football coach Eric Zomalt described Thursday night’s Ivy League football game between his Mustangs and Vista del Lago. Vista del Lago Fabian Bolanos (2) is taken down by Rancho Verde linebacker Azion Givens (35) on a kick return in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) makes the catch as Vista del Lago defensive back Marshawn Adams (0) defends during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Keith Felder (1) makes the touchdown catch against Vista del Lago during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde linebacker Azion Givens (35) tackles Vista del Lago Davon Brown (9) on a kick return during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) breaks free from four Vista del Lago defenders for a first down after the catch in during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago defensive lineman Jose Ortiz (40) pressures Rancho Verde quarterback C.J. Thompson (8) during of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago Cameon Sims (18) makes the first down catch against Rancho Verde during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago Justin Concepcion (24) scores but is hit by Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde running back Jimmy Cruz (34) uses the block by Rancho Verde running back Malakhai Carter (10) on Vista del Lago Terrill Brown (8) to score on a run during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde quarterback C.J. Thompson (8) runs as Vista del Lago Romeo Baldwin (11) pulls him down in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago defensive lineman Jose Ortiz (40) stops Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) after the catch during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) breaks free from four Vista del Lago defenders for a first down after the catch in during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde defensive tackle Donovan Dirden (44) blocks the punt of Vista del Lago defensive back Geon Bailey (23) in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde defensive back Zyieir Malachi (0) recovers the blocked Vista del Lago punt during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago defensive back Marshawn Adams (0) hits and forces Rancho Verde Keith Felder (1) to fumble the ball during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde running back Jimmy Cruz (34) runs for a touchdown against Vista del Lago during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago head coach Michael Tuohy during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Keith Felder (1) makes the touchdown catch as he rolls over against Vista del Lago in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago Fabian Bolanos (2) flies through the air after being hit by Rancho Verde linebacker Azion Givens (35) during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago Fabian Bolanos (2) is tackled by Rancho Verde defensive tackle Donovan Dirden (44) and Rancho Verde inside linebacker Larry Denson (5) on a run during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde inside linebacker Larry Denson (5) sacks Vista del Lago quarterback Josiah Dupree Boyd (10) with Rancho Verde defensive lineman Cyprain Gutierrez (42) during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde linebacker Azion Givens (35) and Rancho Verde defensive lineman Cyprain Gutierrez (42) stop Rancho Verde cornerback Zack Miles (2) after the catch in during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Keith Felder (1) runs for a first down after the catch against Vista del Lago in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) makes the catch and runs for a touchdown against Vista del Lago during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Brandon Gilliam (4) runs against Vista del Lago during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago Fabian Bolanos (2) makes the catch and runs for an 80 yard touchdown against Rancho Verde in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista del Lago wide receiver Derrell Durley (12) is forced out of play after the catch byRancho Verde Keith Felder (1) during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) runs throw the banner as the Mustangs take the field to play Vista del Lago in an Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Verde Amarion Orange (6) celebrates after a more than 50 yard touchdown catch and run against Vista del Lago during the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 29Vista del Lago Fabian Bolanos (2) is taken down by Rancho Verde linebacker Azion Givens (35) on a kick return in the first half of the Ivy League football game in Moreno Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Rancho Verde led by only a field goal at intermission, but the Mustangs scored 20 consecutive points in the third quarter on three touchdown passes by junior quarterback C.J. Thompson to pull away for a 58-40 win at home and extend their winning streak to three games.. Vista del Lago, which rallied for a win at Liberty last week, scored 30 or more points for the fourth time in five games but lost for the first time in 2024. “We had so many missed assignments defensively tonight and made things so much harder than they had to be,” Zomalt said. “The things we’re working on in practice aren’t translating to game day, and that’s on me as the head coach/defensive coordinator. I’ll take the win, but we need to be better on that side of the ball to reach our goals.” Vista del Lago (6-1 overall, 1-1 in league) has possession to start the game, but Rancho Verde’s Larry Denson recovered a fumble and ran it 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. Justin Concepcion’s 1-yard touchdown run for Vista del Lago helped tie the game. Every time Rancho Verde (4-3, 2-0) threatened to pull away in the opening half Vista del Lago was there with an answer. Ravens freshman quarterback Josiah Dupree-Boyd threw for a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to Fabian Bolanos — 80 and 35 yards, respectively — to answer two touchdown passes from Thompson. However, the Mustangs took a 24-21 lead to half on a 30-yard field goal from Gabriel Zavala. “They (Vista del Lago) have some great skill guys and an athletic quarterback with a live arm which is a tough combination to stop,” Zomalt added. “And their offensive coordinator does such a great job of getting the most out of that group.” Related Articles High School Sports | Strong defense helps Centennial football team roll past shorthanded Vista Murrieta High School Sports | Cajon football team bounces back, routs Redlands East Valley High School Sports | Norte Vista football team moving ball forward thanks to veteran group up front High School Sports | IE Varsity’s previews of the top high school football games Friday, Oct. 11 High School Sports | Inland high school football stat leaders, Oct. 10 Thompson found Keith Felder for a 20-yard touchdown on the opening series to begin the third quarter and added touchdowns to Jaylend While and Amarion Orange as the Mustangs took a 44-21 lead to that final quarter. “C.J. and the offense bailed us out tonight,” Zomalt said. “He’s done a great job of using the weapons around him this year, but it’s just frustrating to need to get into a track meet to get wins.” Dupree-Boyd found Cameon Sims for the last passing touchdown of the night from Vista del Lago after the Ravens defense recovered a fumble with less than 3 minutes left. Concepcion and Jase Richard-Lewis also rushed for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Rancho Verde is at Paloma Valley next Friday, while Vista del Lago hosts Orange Vista.