In the month best known for Thanksgiving, Bonita feasted well and often, carving up Diamond Ranch 38-10 while securing second place in the tough Hacienda League, and, more important, a solid seed in the upcoming CIF playoffs.
It was actually, the Panthers that got the first nibble on the nippy night at Glenn Davis Stadium as Jacob Carter punched in a 3-yard-touchdown on a pitch right with 5:08 left in the first quarter. The Panthers’ drive had been kept alive by a roughing the kicker penalty on a 52-yard field goal attempt.
On Bonita’s first series on offense, the Bearcats roused slowly, as if they regretted eating that second serving of stuffing or sweet potatoes. They collected three first downs, but after a couple of incomplete passes settled for a 37-yard field goal from the reliable right foot of Brandt Davis. The field goal was a mere appetizer.
“I’ve found that in years past we’ve always started slowly on Senior Night,” Podley said.
Podley also credited the Panthers with a good opening game plan. Diamond Ranch kept running counters out of its formations, keeping the Bearcats’ defense off balance. “That was good coaching over there,” Podley said.
But it was better playing and coaching by the Bearcats in the second quarter. Bonita shook off any signs of sluggishness as Garrett Pendleton welcomed back slot receiver Zach Brungard with a big 35-yard strike down the seam of the Panthers’ defense, giving the Bearcats the ball on the Panthers’ 6-yard-line. From there, speedy Matt Gelalich scored a touchdown on an end-around to put the Bearcats up 10-7 with 3:59 in the second quarter.
That was just the first course for the Bearcats. On defense, the Bearcats’ Nick Pichotta intercepted Cesar Carrillo’s pass at the Panthers’ 36-yard line and ran it back to the Diamond Ranch 5-yard-line. Two plays later, Giomani Johnson was in the end zone with a 3-yard touchdown after some hard, gut-check running up the middle.
In the span of 34 seconds, Bonita had scored two touchdowns, and the Bearcats still hadn’t sat down for dessert. That would be the second half.
In the second half, the intensity of Bonita’s hitting picked up. The smoke the crowd saw rising up wasn’t mom burning the gravy on the stove; it was steam coming out of Garrett Horine’s helmet holes. The entire defense seemed to feed off Horine’s intensity.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, Bonita surprisingly went four plays and out. On its next offensive set, however, Bonita started rolling, handing off to Reggie Turner and mixing in some wildcat runs directed by Cameron Griffith before Pendleton found a slashing Garrett Horine for a 39-yard touchdown reception. Horine showed great dexterity on the in-route, plucking the low-slung ball with his fingertips and taking it to the house for dinner.
In the fourth, Bonita’s defense kept giving the offense great field position, and Pendleton and his posse made the most of it. Austin Venegas helped Bonita complete a five-play, 54-yard drive with a nifty 14-yard touchdown run, capped by a two-point conversion from Pendleton to Gelalich. With 10:20 left in the fourth quarter, Bonita led 31-10
After the defense held again, Bonita launched its next attack from the Panthers’ 48-yard line. On its first play, Pendleton found a diving K.C. Huth over the middle for a 26-yard completion. Then after a procedure penalty against the Bearcats, Johnson sprinted around the right corner, sprung by a great block from Venegas, to score a 27-yard rushing touchdown.
It was a finishing feast for the Bearcats, who ended the season 9-1. If there was any aspect of Bonita’s game that would have Podley running to the medicine cabinet for antacids it was Bonita’s penchant for penalties. In the first half alone, Bonita collected 80-yards of infractions.
“If I said anything about that, I’d have the commissioner calling me,” Podley said. The head coach preferred talking about team accomplishments.
“This is the best record we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Podley said, clearly proud of his team’s effort and season-long sacrifices.
Indeed, had it not been for Bonita’s one hiccup against West Covina, the season would have been perfect. But in coaching, as Podley knows, it’s almost impossible to get through a complete season without at least a little indigestion, even when you have a team as fine as the Bearcats.
Playoff pairings will be announced on Sunday.
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The Bonita water polo team won in Palm Desert. Next up, a meeting with La Serna at Mt. SAC at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Another team that steps up its game is Franklin Loan Center. Call the Franklin loan team anytime at (909) 962-6350 or drop by at 333 E. Foothill Blvd. in San Dimas. Proud supporter of the Franklin Loan Center Game of the Week!
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November 13th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Awesome green team congradulations on your victory again,
Proud grandparents in Oregon home of the green team is looking down upon you
Good Luck