By Josh Ouellette
(Baldwin Park) The Bonita Bearcats pounced on the opportunities Baldwin Park gave them blanking the Braves at home 29-0 on Friday night.
The Braves opened up the game threatening, advancing the ball with the running abilities of Demetrius Jackson and a pass over the middle from Mario Rodriguez to Eduardo Gutierrez putting the Braves on the Bonita seven. The Bearcat defense proceeded to shore up the attack from that point on, forcing a fumble, an incompletion, and two sacks to force the turnover on downs.
Bonita got on the scoreboard first on a 41-yard bomb from Greg Spathias to Garrett Horine with 5:10 left in the second quarter. Capping off a 55-yard drive.
BP got into the red-zone on the ensuing drive on a 23-yard run by Jackson. After the play 30 yards of penalties were tacked on for personal fouls on the Bearcats placing the ball on the 20. After a defensive holding call and two short runs the Braves had the ball on the eight yard line. On the next play Jackson lost the ball and the Bonita defense was able to jump on the ball ending another threat before halftime.
After exchanging drives Bonita had the ball with two seconds left. Spathias was able to connect on a short pass Zach Brungard who scampered to the edge and down the sideline all the way to the one yard line being pushed out by none other than Jackson as he dove into the end zone. The score going in at the half 7-0 Bonita.
The Bearcats came out with guns blazing in the third quarter, spurred by a 50-yard pass from Spathias to Giomani Johnson down the sideline. Another connection from Spathias to Horine and a run by Spathias set the ball up on the Baldwin Park 15. On the first play from the 15 Spathias threw a ball up to Brungard who lept up and wrestled the ball away from the Brave defender to come down with the score.
BP was able to get into the red-zone again on a 48-yard drive orchestrated by Rodriguez. After the Bearcat “D” held up yet again the Braves were forced to take a 31-yard field goal attempt. The kick was blocked and picked up by K.C. Huth first who fumbled the ball as he got tackled. The ball took a perfect bounce and fell in the hands of Matt Gelalich who returned it the rest of the way for the score.
The teams exchanged blows for two drives until Spathias had a pass tip of the hands of Gelalich and into the outstretched arms of the Baldwin Park defender. On Rodriguez’s pass following the pick, he in turn threw an interception to Justin Darbyshire who returned it to the house.
A late fourth quarter field goal from Brandt Davis brought the score to its final.
Baldwin Park begins their Valle Vista league action against Pomona at home.
Bonita has next week off and will next play on October 8th, traveling to Diamond Bar to begin both team’s action in the Hacienda league.
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