SAN BERNARDINO — The good old days seem to be returning for the Vista Murrieta football program. Vista Murrieta running back Devon Leonard (6) scores on a short run as Cajon Manuel Garcia (52)tackles him during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Jayden Scott (4) pressures Cajon quarterback Evan Powell (1) as he passes the ball during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) and Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) break up a pass intended for Cajon wide receiver Dj Littles (3) during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Joshua Banks (21) upends Cajon running back Brandon Rivers (15) after the catch during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Joshua Banks (21) celebrates after stopping Cajon on 4th down during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Hector Garcia (84) is unable to make the catch as Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) hits him in the end zone during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon middle linebacker Taylor Johnson (8) sacks Vista Murrieta quarterback Bryson Beaver (2) during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta quarterback Bryson Beaver (2) scores on a run against Cajon during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta running back Devon Leonard (6) runs for a first down as Cajon Manuel Garcia (52) tries to catch him during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Chris Johnson (75) tackles Cajon running back Brandon Rivers (15) on a run during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) seems to make the catch in front of Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) in the end zone before an official ruled it incomplete during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) seems to make the catch in front of Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) in the end zone before an official ruled it incomplete during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) seems to make the catch in front of Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) in the end zone before an official ruled it incomplete during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) seems to make the catch in front of Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) in the end zone before an official ruled it incomplete during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) seems to make the catch in front of Vista Murrieta Sheldon Watts (7) in the end zone before an official ruled it incomplete during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) reacts after an official ruled an incomplete pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) intercepts a Vista Murrieta pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta head coach Coley Candaele reacts after a penalty was called against Vista Murrieta during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) tips and makes the catch against Vista Murrieta during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon middle linebacker Taylor Johnson (8) celebrates after a Vista Murrieta turnover during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Joshua Banks (21) and Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) break up a pass intended for Cajon wide receiver Dj Littles (3) during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) tips the ball out of the hands of Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) tipped the ball out of the hands of Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) as Vista Murrieta Shane Ramstad (9) intercepts the pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) tipped the ball out of the hands of Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) as Vista Murrieta Shane Ramstad (9) intercepts the pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) tipped the ball out of the hands of Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) as Vista Murrieta Shane Ramstad (9) intercepts the pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon quarterback Evan Powell (1) tackles Vista Murrieta Brennan Martinez (5) after he intercepted his pass during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon quarterback Evan Powell (1) reacts after an incomplete pass against Vista Murrieta during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta running back Devon Leonard (6) runs between Cajon strong safety Uziah Todd (32) and Cajon Keilin Davis (14) during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta quarterback Bryson Beaver (2) celebrates his touchdown run against Cajon during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Hector Garcia (84) is tackled by Vista Murrieta cornerback Jaden Puckett (22) after the catch during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Vista Murrieta Mikey Medina (15) tackles Cajon wide receiver Dj Littles (3) after the catch during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) reacts after the 21-0 loss to Vista Murrieta in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Cajon wide receiver Jered Rennick (9) reacts after the 21-0 loss to Vista Murrieta in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 34Vista Murrieta running back Devon Leonard (6) scores on a short run as Cajon Manuel Garcia (52)tackles him during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 football quarterfinal game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Devon Leonard rushed for career-high 177 yards on 29 carries, and the defense picked off three passes and registered five sacks as the Broncos blanked Cajon 21-0 in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal game Friday night. Vista Murrieta is just the second team in the past decade to keep a Cajon team off of the scoreboard. The other was San Diego Lincoln last season. “In my wildest dreams, I never thought we would be able to hold Cajon like that,” Vista Murrieta coach Coley Candaele said. “We spend a lot of time on goal line defense, and that certainly paid off for us tonight.” Candaele is in year two of his second coaching stint at Vista Murrieta, and Friday’s win marked the 200th of his career. The Broncos (8-4) host Edison (8-4) next week. It is the program’s first trip to the semifinals since 2015, which was the final year of Candaele’s first time at the helm. Cajon had 10 possessions in Friday’s game. Three came to an abrupt end after interceptions off deflected passes, and five other drives ended on downs. The Cowboys were forced to punt on their other two drives of the game. Both of the teams turned the ball over on downs to start the game. Vista Murrieta’s defense recorded its first interception of the night when lineman Wesley Gomes batted a pass at the line of scrimmage and it was snatched out of the air by linebacker Joshua Baker at the Cajon 21. The Broncos cashed in about 4 1/2 minutes later, as Bryson Beaver rolled to his left and connected with Tyler Caldwell for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 4:13 remaining in the opening quarter. Cajon reached the red zone on the ensuing possession, but running back Brandon Rivers was stopped short on fourth-and-1. The Cowboys had another chance to break through early in the second period, but cornerback Joshua Banks broke up a pass intended for Cajon’s B Birmingham. This time, linebacker Brennan Martinez snared the deflected ball for an interception. Vista Murrieta again turned Cajon away near the goal line at the end of the first half to preserve a 7-0 lead. Shane Ramstad registered Vista Murrieta’s third interception of the game midway through the third quarter, but the Broncos were unable to add to their lead. Gavin Facer, the hero of last week’s 23-20 victory over Villa Park, lined up for a 43-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter. Facer had more than enough leg, but his kick clanged off the right upright. Vista Murrieta’s offensive and defensive lines dominated the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Beaver scrambled for a 19-yard scoring run with 7:07 remaining, and Leonard added a 4-yard scoring run for the Broncos. On the other side of the ball, Vista Murrieta recorded four sacks in final quarter to keep Cajon out of the end zone. Vista Murrieta has had trouble running the ball at times this season, but the Broncos finished with a season-high 208 yards on the ground Friday night. “I have to give a lot of credit to our scout team defense. They helped us prepare for this game,” senior center Mahlik Brown said. “We weren’t playing as individuals. We were playing as a team, for the guys to our left and to our right.” Related Articles High School Sports | George Toia sparks Summit football past Huntington Beach, into CIF semifinals High School Sports | San Gorgonio overcomes Grand Terrace, reaches Division 11 football semifinal High School Sports | Murrieta Mesa football tops Northwood to reach CIF-SS Division 6 semifinals High School Sports | Carter upsets Canyon Spring, moves on to football semifinal High School Sports | Yucaipa edges Peninsula to reach Division 7 football semifinals Candaele echoed the “team-first” mentality as being a big reason for this current playoff run. “The great thing about our team is there really are no superstars in our locker room,” Canadaele said. “Individually, we might always match up well against some other teams out there. But as whole, we can play really good team football.” Beaver completed 10 of 20 passes for 103 yards and added 27 yards on the ground, while Sean McCullough caught five passes for 62 yards for the Broncos. Cajon’s Evan Powell completed 17 of 42 passes for 175 yards, while Brandon Rivers ran for 68 yards on 22 carries. DJ Littles caught six passes for 64 yards, while Jered Rennick had three receptions for 62 yards and an interception on defense.