PERRIS — Efrain Hernandez joined the Moreno Valley football team three weeks ago, and the Vikings are sure glad he did. Moreno Valley kicker Efrain Hernandez (30) celebrates his 22-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Perris 22-21 during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley defensive end Andrew Delatorre (11) blocks the punt of Perris’ Jordan Ferguson (19) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley defensive end Andrew Delatorre (11) sacks Perris’ Ryan Arredondo (6) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Bryon Banks (50) sacks Moreno Valley Syree Matthews (8) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Dominic Martin (31), right celebrates his touchdown catch with Perris’ Chibuzze Ubatuegwu (24) against Moreno Valley during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley Bryan Orozco (25) sacks Perris’ Ryan Arredondo (6) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ middle linebacker Brannon Nichols-Holden (44) ripes the ball out of the hands of Moreno Valley Syree Matthews (8) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Robert Jones (11) makes the touchdown catch against Moreno Valley during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley Syree Matthews (8) is taken down by Perris’ Timothy Moe (2) during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Hugo Gonzalez (3) tackles Moreno Valley running back Trevon Williams (21) on a short run during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley’s Syree Matthews (8) breaks free from Perris’ middle linebacker Brannon Nichols-Holden (44) on a run during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley running back Trevon Williams (21) scores after the catch against Perris during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley Syree Matthews (8) celebrates after scoring a on a run against Perris during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ head coach Paul Martin during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley Syree Matthews (8) tries to avoid Perris’ middle linebacker Brannon Nichols-Holden (44) on a run during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley cheerleaders perform during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley Jamall Thompson (13) is taken down by Perris’ defenders after the catch during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Hugo Gonzalez (3) reacts as Moreno Valley kicker Efrain Hernandez (30) celebrates his 22-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Perris 22-21 during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ Ryan Arredondo (6) Neals alone on the sideline after Moreno Valley rushed for a first down with seconds left in the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Moreno Valley players celebrate after defeating Perris 22-21to win the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Perris’ players react as Moreno Valley players celebrate their last second field goal in the background after the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 21Moreno Valley kicker Efrain Hernandez (30) celebrates his 22-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Perris 22-21 during the Inland Valley League football game in Perris on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand The sophomore recruit, a winger for the Moreno Valley soccer team, drilled a 22-yard field goal as time expired Thursday night to complete the Vikings’ 22-21 come-from-behind victory over Perris. Hernandez, who had an extra point blocked in the third quarter, said he was nervous trotting onto the field for the game-winning kick. But he settled the nerves and remained calm as holder Jeremiah Reed corralled a high snap, and his kick from the left hashmark soared dead-center through the uprights. “I knew my team had me. I know they had confidence in me, and I knew I could do it. And I did it,” Hernandez said. The win tightens the Vikings’ grip on the top spot in the Inland Valley League, with a showdown against Canyon Springs looming in two weeks. Moreno Valley won its fifth consecutive game to improve to 6-2 overall and is undefeated in league play at 3-0. And although Perris had its four-game win streak snapped to fall to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in league play, the Panthers can still influence the league standings. They battle Canyon Springs at home Friday, Oct. 25. The contest was a microcosm of Moreno Valley coach Ben Benitez’s theme for this season after a 2-8 finish in 2023: Flip the script. Perris gained 261 yards from scrimmage in the first half and built a 21-6 lead at the break. But in the second half, Moreno Valley shut down the Panthers, resulting in minus-2 yards from scrimmage and zero first downs for Perris. Benitez said that by replacing one defensive lineman with a linebacker in the second half, the Vikings stifled the Perris attack. “They were hitting us in certain windows in the pass game, and with extra linebackers we felt we could get to our drops and fill those windows,” Benitez said. “And we took away what they were hitting, and actually did a better job at getting to the quarterback.” Running back Trevon Williams, who was held to 24 yards rushing in the first half, sparked the Vikings’ comeback with a dazzling 19-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. Williams was smacked in the backfield by Perris’ outstanding linebacker Dekoven Washington, but he escaped Washington’s grip, then sprinted through the heart of the defense to cut Perris’ lead to 21-12. On the Vikings’ next possession, quarterback Syree Matthews took command, hitting Jamall Thompson for a 15-yard gain on second-and-12 and Jaron Hill for 18 yards on fourth-and-8 before finishing the drive himself with an 8-yard sweep around left end for a touchdown with 11:09 to play, cutting Perris’ lead to 21-19. Matthews, who had a 8-yard touchdown run in the first half, rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries. Perris coach Paul Martin said the Panthers’ inability to sustain drives in the second half turned the game around. “They were able to get pressure with just the few guys they were bringing, and we weren’t able to run the ball,” Martin said. “Running the football was going to be critical for us because I knew we were capable of making explosive plays. But in the second half we had to be able to run the ball and maintain time of possession. Even if we weren’t able to turn in any touchdowns consistently, we would have been able to milk that clock a little bit and keep their offense off the field.” Related Articles High School Sports | Rancho Christian football team holds off Arlington High School Sports | Orange Vista football team regroups, pulls away from Vista del Lago High School Sports | Banning football team blanks Desert Hot Springs in Sun Valley opener High School Sports | King girls golf team beats Roosevelt, claims share of Big VIII League title High School Sports | San Gorgonio football program’s Aden ‘A-Dog’ Pawlowicz exemplifies character, perseverance and reliability Perris quarterback Ryan Arredondo opened hot and stayed hot throughout the first half, completing 15 of 23 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Arredondo completed his first seven throws, including a 59-yard gain to Dominic Martin that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by De’Monhijja Brown to cap the game’s opening drive. And just before halftime, Arredondo eluded a pass rush and found Robert Jones for a 6-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and hooked up with Martin again for a 36-yard touchdown.