Bearcats Prowl, Growl and Corral Wildcats 47-3

Punter, Passer, Kicker, Wide Receiver, Evan Highley kicked field goals of 42 and 47 yards and constantly pinned the Wildcats deep in their own territory with booming punts. Here he almost elevates off the page.

Perhaps, things are finally going Bonita’s way.

Field goals were flying through the uprights, the offensive line was opening holes as big as the Holland Tunnel (that’s in Manhattan), the defense was pouring on the pressure and picking off errant passes, and the running and passing games were clicking. Contributions came from everywhere on the field, including the coaching sidelines, with the final score of Bonita 47, Wilson 3, reflecting the Bearcats’ total dominance from start to finish in the team’s final league game.

Bonita got on the board first after quarterback Garrett Pendleton connected with senior wide receiver Toy Lemmons for a 65-yard completion. Two plays later, Matt Gelalich dashed around the left corner for a 16-yard touchdown road to complete the stunning 82-yard drive.

In its second offensive series, Wilson didn’t hold onto the ball long. Junior K.C. Huth, in his first game back after an early-season injury, crashed into the Wildcat backfield knocking the ball loose and recovering for the Bearcats at the 4-yard line. Bonita tailback Deron Holmes skipped in for a 4-yard rushing touchdown, and after a successful two-point try, Bonita was leading 14-0.

Matt Gelalich picked off a pass on defense and scored a touchdown on offense on a 16-yard run.

Gelalich gave Bonita good field position again by collecting the first of the team’s four interceptions on the night, but the Wildcats held Bonita to a four-and-out series and took over on their own 38-yard-line. This time, the Wildcats marched to Bonita’s 6-yard line before the defense stiffened, secured by a huge hit from Tyler Cortez. The Wildcats kicked a 35-yard field goal to make the score Bonita 14, Wilson 3.

In the next offensive series, punter Evan Highley showed off some of his many talents, booming a 48-yard punt that pinned the Wildcats on their 1-yard line. After the Bonita defense held, the Bearcats took possession on their own 44-yard line. Pendleton used the good field position to complete a 40-yard pass to Highley before Holmes ran in a second touchdown from the 4-yard line, pushing the score to 21-3.

A happy Daniel Harriman gracefully hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass for his first touchdown of the season.

Bonita stretched that score to 24-3 with one second remaining in the first half as Highley booted a 42-yard field goal. The field goal was set up by a sharp 20-yard completion from Pendleton to wideout Jabre Millon.

In the second half, Bonita was off to the races again. It appeared Andrew Rocha exploded for a 75-yard touchdown run before the play was called back on a holding infraction. From its own 15-yard line, Bonita drove down to the Wilson 30 before Highley connected on a 47-yard field goal that just inched over the uprights, expanding the score to 27-3.

Running back Andrew Rocha is doubled over in pain, not from injury, but from learning that his nifty 75-yard rushing touchdown was called back on a penalty.

Even when the offense stalled, Bonita could rely on the leg of Highley as a highly effective weapon. Highley banged another long punt that skipped out of bounds at the Wilson 3-yard line. After Wilson managed one first down, Bonita smelled the end zone again. This time, Pendleton picked out Daniel Harriman for a 25-yard scoring pass, which the big tight end plucked out of the air for a graceful fingertip grab. Bonita was coasting 34-3, but there was more.

Bonita’s D’Corey Baines intercepted a Wilson pass, running it back to the Wildcats 4-yard-line. After Bonita lost ground on a run, Bonita quarterback Greg Spathias found Giamani Johnson in the end zone for a 10-yard scoring pass. With the score Bonita 41, Wilson 3, even the Glenn Davis snack bar crew was breaking down early. Only the game clock had to run its course for Bonita to secure the victory.

But on the very last play of the game, as the siren sounded, defensive specialist Matt Migdat found a last-ditch Wilson pass headed his way, which he intercepted and quickly zig-zagged down the field to score six more points for Bonita, which closed out the game 47-3.

Bonita wasn’t perfect, however. It committed 65 yards in penalties, but there was little else head coach Eric Podley or his staff could find fault with. Pendleton, gaining more confidence and polish every week, finished the game, completing 11 of 14 passes for 196 yards in his sharpest performance yet.

Hamstrung by several injuries, Bonita has started to see some key players return, which should help the team as it prepares for Walnut next week and the playoffs beyond.

For No. 14, Evan Highley, and the entire Bonita team, it was quite a night on which to reflect and to build momentun for the team's final regular season challenge against Walnut.