One week after celebrating a rivalry victory over Vista, Rancho Buena Vista faced a very different Friday night in Santee. The Longhorns' season ended November 6 with a 24–14 loss to West Hills in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division IV playoffs.

RBV finished the regular season 5–5 before the playoff loss brought its final overall record to 5–6. Those numbers tell part of the story. To understand the rest, it helps to look back at the two final games—and at what four Longhorns told North Valley Flare earlier this season about the work behind them.

A Tough Finish in Santee

West Hills found success on the ground, rushing for 229 yards. Evin Dill contributed 114 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Wolf Pack.

RBV quarterback Van Piercy answered with 151 passing yards and a touchdown through the air, plus another touchdown rushing. The Longhorns put 14 points on the board, but West Hills held on to end their playoff run.

It was a difficult finish, especially coming just seven days after a night that gave the program and its supporters plenty to celebrate.

The Rivalry Win That Came First

On October 30, RBV defeated crosstown rival Vista High 56–21 at Dick Haines Stadium and reclaimed the rivalry trophy. In a matchup with decades of local history, the Longhorns delivered a performance their fans won't soon forget.

Piercy accounted for five touchdowns that night, throwing four scoring passes and running for another. The offense's big night showed what RBV could accomplish when its pieces came together.

Friday's playoff loss doesn't erase that rivalry victory. But even that memorable win tells only part of the story of RBV's season.

The Work Behind the Friday Nights

That sense of a team coming together wasn't limited to the Vista game. Earlier this fall, Coach Ariel Savage selected four players for North Valley Flare's interviews with four Longhorns. Across different positions and responsibilities, a common thread emerged: the players kept coming back to the people they relied on.

Consider Madsen Smith and Cohen Chapin. Smith's work as a long snapper often goes unnoticed, while Chapin's role on the offensive line depends on players working in sync. When asked who had helped them become better players, each named the other. It was a small detail that said a great deal about their connection as teammates.

The same trust showed up in other ways. Senior linebacker Henry Allen took pride in recognizing what opposing offenses were doing and helping teammates get into position. Quarterback Van Piercy talked about reading defenses and leading by example. On opposite sides of the ball, both described responsibilities that reached beyond their own performance.

Those conversations tell us something the scoreboard never could. Behind every game were players learning from one another, taking responsibility and working together to make the team better.

The Mark They Leave

For seniors such as Chapin and Allen, Friday's game marked the end of their high school football careers. For younger players, including junior quarterback Piercy, the lessons and experience can carry into another season.

Five wins. A playoff appearance. A rivalry trophy. Those are the pieces of RBV's 2026 season that will stay in the record books. The practices, friendships and teammates pushing one another may not show up there, but they mattered just as much to the players who lived them.

The players weren't the only ones who gave their time and energy to the season. Head Coach Terrence McKinnie and the coaching staff helped guide the team through practices and games, while the cheerleaders brought their own spirit to Friday nights. Families, classmates and fans were part of it too, supporting the Longhorns through the victories and the tougher nights alike.

The scoreboard tells us how the Longhorns' season ended. Their own words help explain what they built along the way. That's the mark they leave behind.

Questions You May Have About RBV's Football Season

Who won the RBV playoff game?

West Hills defeated Rancho Buena Vista 24–14 on November 6 in the Division IV opening round.

What was RBV's final record?

The Longhorns finished 5–5 in the regular season and 5–6 overall after the playoff loss.

How did RBV fare against Vista?

RBV defeated Vista 56–21 on October 30.

Is Van Piercy eligible to return in 2027?

Yes. Piercy was a junior in 2026.

Sports scores, records and statistics are compiled from school and team sources, MaxPreps, NFHS Network, CIF San Diego and other available sports reporting sources. North Valley Flare works to verify information before publication.