Vinny Venegas was "The Dude" in the win over BP
(Covina) – Not a lot of people would be surprised to hear Covina beat Baldwin Park. But they would be surprised to hear the Colts won without quarterback Billy Livingston for an entire half.
But that’s exactly what happened Thursday night as Vinny Venegas and the Colt defense led the way to a 17-9 Covina win over the Braves after Livingston was knocked out late in the second quarter.
Livingston took a bone shattering hit by Mario Rodriguez late in the second quarter as he was scrambling. He was helped off the field after a long delay and Daniel Sifuentes took over for the last series of the first half. At halftime the paramedics were called and Livingston was taken to the hospital for observation.
“I’m not sure what his status is right now. He was having some complications in the locker room at halftime so the paramedic came and they took him,” said Covina Coach Darryl Thomas. “I’m going to make a phone call to find out.”
Sifuentes came on and did a commendable job. He threw only one pass – an interception by Demetrius Jackson on Covina’s first play from scrimmage in the second half. But he carried the ball 8 times for 64 yards including a key 20 yard run late in the fourth quarter to keep a drive alive.
With Livingston out, Vinny Venegas was the Colts’ go to guy on offense. Venegas had 18 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. He punished the Braves in the second half continually running over several defenders as he chewed up important yardage.
With 7:56 left in the contest, he was met at the two yard line but plowed his way through three Braves for a two yard touchdown for a 17-9 Covina lead. It proved to be enough as the Colts held on.
In the first quarter, on Covina’s initial possession, Venegas caught a pass in the flat and tuned it into an 82 yard play to set up Covina’s first score. He was caught at the 12 yard line but three plays later, Gevontray Ainsworth scored from five yards out for a 7-0 advantage.
“Everybody else gets a lot of ink but Vinny’s the dude. Vinny is the dude,” Thomas said. “He just loves football and he’s a warrior.”
Venegas also set up Covina’s next score with a 42 yard punt return. Randy Robledo booted a 22 yard field goal when the drive stalled at the five for a 10-0 advantage.
The Braves got back into it late in the second. Jonathan Zavala intercepted a Livingston pass and returned it down to the Covina 13. Four plays later, Rodriguez scored on a one yard run.
A bad snap on a Covina punt attempt led to a safety for Baldwin Park early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to just one.
With the momentum now shifted in the Braves favor, Jackson took the ensuing kick and broke it up the middle. Just as he was headed for open space he was popped by a Covina defender at midfield, the ball squirted loose and the Colts fell on it.
Early in the fourth quarter Wardell Crutchfield III was hit and the Colts again recovered the fumble.
Peter De la cruz also picked off a Rodriguez pass on Baldwin Park’s next possession. The Braves had three turnovers in all.
“We have to take care of the football and we didn’t tonight. They took advantage of some turnovers,” said Baldwin Park Coach James Heggins.
Venegas’ two yard TD run capped an 8 play, 65 yard drive. Venegas had key runs of 16 and 11 yards on the march.
BP had one last shot late in the contest advancing to the Colt 34, but a long Rodriguez pass towards the end zone was batted away as time ran out.
Covina gained control in the Valle Vista improving to 4-0 in league and 7-1 overall. Baldwin Park dropped to 2-1 in league and 2-5 on the season.
Crutchfield led the Braves rushing attack with 51 yards on 15 carries. Eduardo Gutierrez caught 5 passes for 45 yards and Bruno Haro had 5 for 57.
The Colts will host Pomona next week while BP faces Wilson at home.
BP 0 7 2 0 9
C 10 0 0 7 17
Summary:
1st Qtr:
C 10:09 Ainsworth 5 yd run (Robledo Kick)
C 1:19 Robledo 22 yd FG
2nd Qtr:
BP 5:34 Rodriguez 1 yd run (Jaime Toscano Kick)
3rd Qtr:
BP 4:51 Safety
4TH Qtr:
C 7:56 Venegas 2 yd run (Robledo Kick)
Stats:
Baldwin Park (146 passing, 88 rushing, 234 yds total offense)
Passing:
Rodriguez 17-25-146: 0 TD: 1 INT: Sacked 4 times for -11 yds
Rec.
Bruno Haro 5-57 : Eddie Gutierrez 5-45 : Jackson 3-21: Samuel Guillen 1-11: Anthony Moran 2-8: Crutchfield 1-4
Rushing:
Crutchfield 15-51: Rodriguez 8-30 (1 TD): Moran 1-16: Jackson 1-2: Giovanni Resendez 1-0: Sack yardage lost 4 for -11 yds.
Covina (89 passing, 196 rushing, 285 yds. Total offense)
Passing:
Livingston 4-10: 88 YDS: 0 TD: 1 INT: Sacked 2 for -4 Rushing
Sifuentes 1-2: 1 yd: 0 TD : 1 INT : Sacked 3 for -7 yds.
Rec.
Venegas 1-82: Robledo 1-6: Ainsworth 2-3: De la cruz 1(-2)
Rushing:
Venegas 18-101 (1 TD): Sifuentes 8-64 : Ainsworth 4-42 (1 TD): Livingston 1-0
Stats courtesy of Corey Kwok
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