Bonita Happy to Repeat Smudge Pot Success
Garrettt Horine climbs the ladder to corral a pass from Tanner Diebold.
Following the paw print of last year’s 41-20 victory over San Dimas, Bonita almost repeated history last night at Citrus College, defeating the Saints, 40-20 to maintain possession of the Smudge Pot in the game’s 39th installment between the cross-town rivals.
Bonita used last year’s victory as the springboard for a 12-2 season and a berth in the championship game. Might it happen again?
Certainly, the start of the ball game didn’t look promising for the Bearcats. Bonita’s first offensive series went three-and-out. On a positive note, sophomore signal caller Tanner Diebold completed his varsity pass, albeit for one yard (You have to start somewhere.) He was later sacked, a rude-greeting for the fair-haired quarterback his teammates call “Sunshine.”
“Things were moving pretty fast,” Diebold said.
Fans were as colorful as the game.
San Dimas was moving even faster, marching down to Bonita’s one-yard line in its second possession of the game before a wall of Bearcat defenders rose up to keep the Saints’ Shawn Kennedy attempting a quarterback sneak out of the end zone on fourth down.
That turnaround was the wake-up call Bonita needed. Diebold directed an 86-yard drive that finally faltered at the 13-yard line before Podley called in old reliable, No. 15, Brandt Davis, to punch the ball through the uprights to put Bonita up 3-0.
The lead was short-lived, however. In San Dimas’ next possession, Davante Brown raced down the southern sideline for an 88-yard touchdown, torching a host of Bonita defenders to give the Saints a 6-3 lead. On the night, the elusive Brown rambled for 145 yards on seven carries.
Nick Pichotta wraps up.
But Bonita answered with some big offensive weapons of its own. Diebold split the defense, throwing a perfect 26-yard strike to tight end Ryan Ramirez, setting up Bonita on San Dimas’ 5-yard line. Seconds later, Cameron Griffin found pay dirt with a fine twisting second effort, propelling Bonita to a 10-6 half-time lead.
What Podley told his players at half-time isn’t known; but the results are. In 12 minutes of the third quarter, the Boys from Bonita hung up 17 unanswered points, surging a 27-6 lead. Like the movie, the points came fast and furious.
On the kick-off Toure McCulley returned the kick-off 90 scintillating yards to the 5-yard line of San Dimas before Griffin ran in for the touchdown behind a huge block by Sean Kroah. After Davis’ extra point, Bonita led 17-6.
In San Dimas’ ensuing offensive series, Austin Venegas intercepted a Kennedy pass, setting up Bonita at the Saints’ 48-yard line. After mixing in a couple of Griffin and Reggie Turner runs, Diebold found Garrett Horine for a 19-yard scoring strike, expanding Bonita’s lead to 24-6 after the Davis extra point.
Bonita got the ball back again when Garrett “The Hammer” Horine caused a fumble and Big Play Toure came up with the loose ball. After Turner reeled off a long gain to the Saints’ 17-yard line, Bonita reached the 5-yard line before the drive fizzled and Davis kicked a 22-yard field goal to put Bonita up, 27-6.
Pre-game spirit leaders!
Early in the fourth quarter, Bonita kept up the attack. Horine bulldozed his way into the end zone on a 12-yard run, extending Bonita’s advantage to 33-6.
It looked like a blow-out, as many Saints fans were heading toward the turnstiles, but nobody told the San Dimas players the game was over. Midway, through the fourth, the Saints tacked on a couple of touchdowns, perhaps catching the Bearcats celebrating a little early.
Indeed after San Dimas closed the margin to 33-20 with about six minutes left in the game, Podley directely Diebold to take to the air again. After Bonita failed to advance, Podley called for a fake punt. Instead of kicking it away, punter Seth Balentine connected with Victor Magallanes for a first down, killing any last hopes of a Saints comeback. Moments later, Turner raced for a 12-yard score to seal Bonita’s 40-20 win.
“I’m extremely proud of the job they did in the third quarter,” Podley said amid a wild on-field celebration. “The momentum changed. We put the pedal to the metal, which is kind of what we preach and what we’re about and what we want to do. Then we showed immaturity by relaxing, by taking it easy, thinking the game was over, and we almost embarrassed ourselves.”
Capping his first varsity game and Smudge Pot, Diebold finished 5 of 14 for 74 yards. The tandem of Turner and Griffin ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. Horine collected 44 yards on three receptions and scored two touchdowns.
The Bonita defense stood tall during a first-quartr goal line stand.
Asked to critique Tanner’s performance handling the offense, Podley won’t be accused of being an easy grader.
“I’d give him kind of a ‘C’ performance,” Podley said. “We have a lot of room to improve. Bonita is a throwing team, and we did not throw well tonight. We need to get better in the throwing game.
“On the other hand, I was very proud of our running game. I felt like we had some of the best backs we’ve had. We have a great tight end in Ramirez. We have lots of room to improve, but when you win the Smudge Pot, that’s always a good thing.”
Let’s see if history repeats itself.
Cameron Griffin (2) and Reggie Turner combined for 154 yards.
Tanner Diebold had to run for his life early in the game before he finally caught up with the game's rhythm.
Diebold enjoys life in the pocket, courtesy of his teammate Sean Kroah, No. 68.
Set and fire. Coach Podley would like this picture!
No. 15. Brandt Davis is more reliable than a old Honda. Aaron Burgett secures the hold.
The Bonita faithful roared its approval.
Ryan Ramirez says I'll take that!
Bonita looks to have another breakout season.Big Play Toure McCulley had a 90-yard kickoff return.
D.J. Theard was heard from all night.
Austin Venegas got Bonita's first interception of the season.Reggie Turner turns on the jets.
Who says White people can't dance? How 'bout this shake and bake?
Garrett Horine is about to put a defender in the popcorn machine.
Can't touch this!
Don't celebrate too early guys, unless you want the Bonita coaches breathing down your backs.
Reggie time!
Austin Venegas uses a full complement of weapons to advance.
Big Play Toure not only ran back one football for 90 yards, but some people believe he can fly.
Mr. Outside, like Glenn Davis, Bonita's Heisman Trophy winner, looks for daylight.
Upended! That's not the way the coaches drew the play up.
Toure McCulley leans into it.
Sometimes you have to grab what you want in life as Victor Magallanes demonstrates.
Brandt Davis boots another one through the uprights.
In the crunch, Garrett Horine and Sean Kroah delivered.
Getting the greenlight through the heart of the Saints defense.
Bonita hoists the Smudge Pot for another year.
Smile, you're on La Verne Online.
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Awesome night for Bonita! Way to go boys! Peter thanks for your great coverage and as always, thanks to Eric for the photos! Go Bearcats!
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Great job Bearcats, you deserved this win. Thanks Peter for the coverage and the nicknames for the boys.