Bonita Gets Its Kicks on a Paranormal Night, Downs Diamond Bar 27-20 in OT

Bonita quarterback Aaron Burkett leads Bonita to its third league victory in a row. All photos by Eric Davis.

Forget going to see “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March,” or “Paranormal Activity.” The best entertainment value for your dollar is playing at Glenn Davis Stadium, home to the Bonita varsity football team (5-4, 3-2 in the Hacienda League), which defeated the Diamond Bar Brahmas 27-20 in a thrilling overtime victory to keep the team’s playoff chances very much alive.

Leading Bonita’s paranormal activity on Senior Night was senior Cameron Griffin, who rushed for 169 yards on 24 carries, the last a 6-yard scamper into the end zone in OT to give Bonita the come-from-behind win.

Only a few minutes before Griffin’s romp, it looked as if the Bearcats were going down to certain defeat. Late in the fourth quarter, Diamond Bar tied the game 20-20 on a 1-yard run by Austin Szulczewski, but senior Chris Baskerville blocked the try for the extra point — more paranormal activity in that it was Bonita’s first block of the season.

With time winding down, Bonita did little on offense. In fact, it did worse. Looking at third down and 18 yards to go for a first down on its own 12-yard-line, Aaron Burkett was picked off attempting to throw the ball out of bounds. Taking over at Bonita’s 16-yard-line, Diamond Bar struggled to move the ball before setting up for what appeared to be a chip shot 27-yard field goal attempt to win the game.

Bonita would block this kick to set up overtime victory.

Again, Bonita blocked the try, Austin Venegas batting it down, which set up an ensuing scramble before Baskerville tried to scoop it up. Bonita got the ball on downs, and the teams were headed for overtime, where Griffin took over to seal the win for the Bearcats.

“A lot of guys stepped up tonight,” Podley told his team, moments after the improbable win. “You fought and scratched and clawed your way back into the game. That was championship football. I’m proud of you.”

Bonita not only finished well, it also started well. On its opening possession the Bearcats marched the ball from its own 20 to the Diamond Bar 10-yard line before settling for a Brandt Davis 32-yard field goal.

Diamond Bar’s Brian Drulias tried a 47-yarder as the first quarter expired, but it sailed right, and the Bearcats took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter.

On Diamond Bar’s first possession of the second period, however, it took the Brahmas only two plays to travel 73 yards, 72 of those yards coming on a hook-up from quarterback Henry Omana to George Katrib. Szulczewski ran it in on the next play to give Diamond Bar a 7-3 lead.

Davis' toe kept Bonita in the game until Griffin took over.

Bonita regained the lead on an eight-play drive when Burkett on third and 12 found Venegas in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard scoring strike. AfterDavis’ extra point, the Bearcats led 10-7. Before the end of the half, Davis chipped in a 19-yarder to extend Bonita’s lead to 13-7.

In the third, just as it appeared Bonita might go up 20-7 after reaching Diamond Bar’s 10-yard line, its drive stalled. Then, on  communications mix-up between Burkett and wide receiver Garrett Horine, Burkett fired a pass on a timing pattern and was promptly picked off, putting Diamond Bar back in business.

Diamond Bar responded with an 8-play, 77-yard drive, the go-head touchdown coming on a 52-yard gallop by Szulczewski.

Midway through the fourth, Bonita busted back on top, needing only one play and Griffin’s two legs for a 47-yard touchdown run. Horine threw a great block to spring Griffin.

Diamond Bar came back to knot the score at 20-20, but that’s when Bonita’s special teams took over – adding to the paranormal activity on a wet, wild, cold and blustery evening at Glenn Davis.

“To be honest, when we threw that pick, overtime was a prayer come true, because I thought we were in deep trouble down there,” Podley said. “But our defense stepped up. Austin Venegas got the blocked kick, Baskerville picked it up. They pulled our butt out of the fire on that one.

“We also got some good blocking from our offensive line at the end, and that saved us.”

Who needs to go to the movies or anywhere else on a Friday night when there’s so much paranormal activity taking place every time the Bearcats suit up to play a little football. Bonita finishes up the regular season at Rowland on Thursday. Be there, if you like weird and a lot of action!

Bonita seniors played well in the spotlight, ending their regular home season with a win for the ages.

Bonita faithful shows some love for its seniors.

Scoreboard, baby!

Aaron Burkett lines up behind the best offensive line in the Hacienda League.

It takes a village to raise a child and Sean Kroah, No. 68, Jason Sanez, No. 43, and Ryan Ramirez, No. 81, to sack a quarterback.

Run Reggie Run, which he did despite nursing a slight injury.

Seth Balentine strikes the right angle, and as punter kept Diamond Bar backed up all night.

Everybody wanted to be a warm Bonita mascot on a chilly night.