Canoga Park Hunters Celebrate First Win Against Reseda Regents

WOODLAND HILLS — As a team with no home field, and a couple of difficult losses, the Canoga Park Hunters hustled through an enormous win against the Reseda Regents on Thursday night at Taft High School.

Similar to their past games this season, the Hunters faced the same bittersweet feeling of coming close to a victory but somehow falling just short. Unlike their losses against Hollywood and Rancho Dominguez, they overcame that mental hurdle and celebrated their homecoming game with pride and joy.

A high school football player in a white jersey and green pants is running with the ball on a turf field. Opposing players in blue and white uniforms are in pursuit. Spectators are visible in the background.

The Hunters came into the game 0-6 but improved to 1-6, while Reseda dropped to 1-6. The Regents had a chance to build on their lone victory and strengthen their case for a Division III playoff berth.

Canoga Park coach Randy Luna was excited about what the victory could mean for his team after its struggles early in the season.

“Keep going … we’ve been fighting through adversity in the last six games,” Luna said. “So using this momentum, using this confidence, using these capabilities, I know these men are gonna be prepared for Van Nuys!”

A football player wearing a blue jersey with the number 15 prepares to throw a football on the field during a game, with a focus on his determined expression.

The Regents, led by coach Reginald Tyrson, had an opportunity to establish momentum for the program ahead of their bye this Friday. Asked what the team could do differently to avoid the mistakes that led to the loss, Tyrson said he wanted his players to focus on the positives while learning from their mistakes.

“I’m always gonna build on the positives. I’m gonna delete the negatives and learn from them … you know, be more disciplined, more focused, and play cleaner,” Tyrson said.

The Hunters blocked a punt early in the game and took a 7-0 lead. Reseda senior quarterback Melvin Moreno responded in the second quarter with a completion to Jafet Contreras for a 19-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Canoga Park ahead 7-6.

A football player in a blue uniform with the number 4 runs towards the end zone, holding the ball, while a defender in a green uniform number 12 trails behind him on a brightly colored field.

A football player in a blue jersey celebrates after a play, with teammates nearby, while an opposing player in green stands on the sidelines.

The Regents came out swinging after halftime. Their defensive line forced an early third-quarter punt, giving Moreno and the offense another opportunity. A long completion to Contreras moved Reseda to the Canoga Park 17-yard line, and a series of runs brought the Regents inside the 10.

Reseda continued to push toward the goal line before Moreno found Contreras for a 6-yard touchdown pass. With 7:41 remaining in the third quarter, the Regents led 12-7. Another unsuccessful two-point attempt kept the difference at five.

A football player in a blue uniform leaps to catch a pass in the end zone, while defenders in green attempt to block him during a game. Spectators are visible in the background.

The Hunters struggled to make progress on their next possession. Some of their runs picked up first downs, but penalties pushed the offense backward, and an incomplete pass eventually brought out the punt team. Reseda maintained its advantage through the end of the quarter.

However, early in the fourth, Canoga Park found more success through the air. Quarterback Manuel Vazquez completed passes to Salvador Valdez and Higinio Salgado as the Hunters advanced into Reseda territory. Another completion brought them closer before Ryan Varillas scored on a 16-yard run. Lenny Santizo made the extra point, putting Canoga Park ahead 14-12 with 9:29 remaining.

A football player in green and white throws a pass while being pursued by a defender in blue and white during a night game on a well-lit field.

Reseda still had time to respond. Moreno moved the offense with short completions as the Regents crossed into Canoga Park territory and looked for the score that would put them back in front. But penalties complicated the drive, and Canoga Park’s defense held when Reseda went for it on fourth down. The Regents came up short of the first-down marker, giving the Hunters possession with about four minutes remaining.

A football player in green attempts to catch a pass while two defenders in blue approach from the left and right on a well-lit football field.

Canoga Park turned to its running game, picking up a first down and chewing more time off the clock. Reseda eventually got the ball back for one last opportunity, keeping the outcome unsettled until the closing seconds. Moreno’s final pass fell incomplete, and the Hunters’ two-point lead stood.

Both teams put together impressive plays, but penalties, incomplete passes and runs for little or no gain repeatedly stopped their drives. Neither team was able to establish a lead big enough to feel comfortable.

Reseda created chances to win, including a sustained scoring drive after halftime and another threat in the fourth quarter. Canoga Park, however, answered the Regents’ lead and protected its own.

A football player in a white uniform douses a coach with a cooler of water in celebration, creating a splash on the field at night.

After six games without a victory, the Hunters left Taft with their first win of the season. The Regents have their bye week while the Hunters travel to play the Van Nuys Wolves on Friday, October 9.

All Photos Provided by VST Senior Photographer Benjamin Becher