Great Oak Edges Bonita in Playoff Thriller
Trent Lux threw four touchdown passes as Great Oak held off Bonita 34-30 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 first round.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Great Oak defeated Bonita 34-30 in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. Matthew Crowson knocked away Bonita's fourth-down pass at the goal line with 11 seconds left to seal the win.
Why it matters
The victory improved Great Oak to 9-2 and extended its six-game winning streak into the postseason. For Temecula-area football fans, it sets up a quarterfinal showdown with Murrieta Valley next Friday.
Joseph Lara rushed for 224 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, bringing his season total to 1,169 yards and 16 rushing scores. Bonita finished 10-1 before its season ended, with its only loss coming at the hands of Great Oak.
The players
Trent Lux
Great Oak quarterback who threw four touchdown passes and wore the number 4 in tribute to his late best friend, Chaparral High linebacker Conner Rios.
Matthew Crowson
Great Oak defender who knocked away Bonita's fourth-down pass at the goal line with 11 seconds remaining.
Joseph Lara
Great Oak running back who rushed for 224 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff victory.
The details
Great Oak trailed 17-14 at halftime before Lux's 1-yard touchdown run gave the team a 21-17 lead to open the third quarter. Lux completed 11 of 13 second-half passes, and Blake Certeza caught five passes for 128 yards while Kannon Terracciano scored on a 61-yard screen pass.
Timeline
Friday: Great Oak defeated Bonita 34-30 in the first round.
Friday (following week): Great Oak hosts Murrieta Valley in the quarterfinal.
Season Trajectory
Great Oak's first-round win advances it through the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 bracket, where it will face Murrieta Valley in the quarterfinal. The victory keeps its season on track after it ended Bonita's 10-1 campaign.
Great Oak's advancement means its quarterfinal game against Murrieta Valley will be played at home on Friday. Fantasy managers tracking Joseph Lara should note his 1,169-yard, 16-touchdown season heading into the next round.
The takeaway
Great Oak's resilience in the fourth quarter, capped by Crowson's goal-line stop, shows how close playoff games are decided by single plays. Readers following Temecula-area football should watch the quarterfinal against Murrieta Valley closely.
What happens next
Great Oak will host Murrieta Valley in the Friday quarterfinal of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.
Further reading
For more local coverage, explore Football scores and schedules across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Bulletin.
