Murrieta Mesa's first-ever victory over Vista Murrieta earned the Rams a two-spot jump in the Inland Empire's football pecking order.

The Rams climbed to No. 9 in the IE Varsity football rankings first reported by the Press-Enterprise on Monday, Oct. 12, up from No. 11 the previous week. The rankings, compiled by reporter Eric-Paul Johnson, are the first update since all three Murrieta schools entered Big West Conference-North Division play.

Mesa's 26-21 win over Vista Murrieta on Friday, Oct. 9, snapped a 17-game losing streak against the Broncos. The Rams piled up 295 passing yards and 146 rushing yards in the victory, according to MaxPreps.

The win moved Mesa to 3-4 overall. Vista Murrieta held steady at No. 15 with a 2-5 record.

Nighthawks slide after Centennial loss

Murrieta Valley took the biggest hit among local programs. The Nighthawks fell three spots to No. 12 after losing 42-20 to top-ranked Centennial on Oct. 9. Centennial running back Braylin Drake scored three rushing touchdowns in the win, according to the IE Varsity rankings.

The loss extended Murrieta Valley's skid to three straight games. The Nighthawks sit at 2-5 overall and 0-2 in league play, placing them sixth in the Big West Conference-North Division standings, according to MaxPreps.

In the Sept. 28 rankings, before conference play began, all three Murrieta schools were 2-3. Murrieta Valley sat at No. 6, Mesa at No. 11 and Vista Murrieta at No. 14. Two weeks later, Valley has dropped six spots while Mesa has climbed two.

League rivals loom large in Week 8

Centennial (4-3) held the No. 1 ranking and plays Norco on Thursday, Oct. 15. Chaparral (4-3) jumped one spot to No. 2 after Kiko Farinas scored three touchdowns in a 42-16 win over Norco.

All three Murrieta schools play Friday, Oct. 16. Mesa hosts No. 2 Chaparral. Murrieta Valley hosts Vista Murrieta in a crosstown matchup between two teams trying to snap losing streaks.

Both teams are 2-5 overall heading into the second half of the season.