Bearcats 30-Unanswered Points Too Much for Mustangs (See Eric Podley Interview)

Griffith ran for two touchdowns in the win. Photo by Anne Cypress.

(La Verne) – The last five years, Walnut and Bonita had split non-league games that meant absolutely nothing for a league championship. For the first time in Hacienda League play both teams met with Bonita sending no doubt of looking ahead to next week with a 44-14 win.

The win kept the Bearcats as the only undefeated team in the Southeast Division.

Garret Pendleton threw to eight different receivers and tallied three touchdowns through the air. Cameron Griffith added two on the ground and Bonita’s defense forced four turnovers.

Although the final outcome doesn’t show it, both teams were tied early on at 7-7 after Mustangs running back Randy Collins barreled in from two-yards. Aubrey Coleman (nine receptions for 109 yards) keyed the drive with a great 52-yard reception that would have been a touchdown if not for a touchdown saving tackle by Daniel Harriman.

After that it was all Bonita which scored 30-unanswered points to seal the game away.

The onslaught began with 10:05 remaining with Griffith’s first touchdown of the night from 10-yards out.  On the next Walnut possession, Brandon Roach’s punt was blocked out of the end zone by Eric Mikity to suddenly make the score 16-7.

Pendleton’s (14 of 20 for 213 yards) only blemish during the night came during the unanswered run with the Bearcats driving. Walnut cornerback Jason Tsukada was able to get between the ball and Austin Venegas to come up with an interception to thwart another Bonita drive at the Mustangs 14-yard line.

Walnut couldn’t do anything with the turnover and Roach’s punt went 16-yards to give the Bearcat offense great field possession at the Mustangs 30-yard line. Three plays later from the 19-yard line, Bonita ran a trick play as Pendleton found Cameron Salce who pitched the ball to Griffith who ran it in for 14 yards.

Giomani Johnson scored for the second time in the evening with a 31-yard touchdown run with 2:54 remaining in the half to give the Bearcats a 30-7 lead.

The Mustangs had a chance to narrow the gap twice inside a minute to play in the second quarter. The first saw a quick drive get to the Bonita 24-yard line only to be stopped by Garret Horine’s interception in the end zone. Roach (26 of 44 for 251 yards and three interceptions) made an ill-advised throw in double coverage in the corner of the end zone with Coleman needing to out jump two Bearcats.

On the first play from scrimmage for Bonita, Venegas fumbled and Walnut recovered at the Bearcat 19-yard line. Bonita’s defense pinned its ears on the first and ten with Mikity sacking Roach for a six-yard loss. Confusion reigned on the next play with Roach connecting to Tsukada for a 15-yard pass. Instead of the clock continuing to run on a 3rd and one, the time keeper stopped the clock allowing enough time for Roach to spike the ball and get the field-goal unit out. Matthew Almeida went out to attempt a 27-yard field goal only to have it blocked by Harriman as time expired.

Pendleton would find Grant Wharton for a 27-yard pass to end a methodical drive to start the third quarter that ate up 4:50 of clock and extended the Bearcats lead to 30.

Collins scored his second touchdown from five-yards to stop the bleeding momentarily for the Mustangs with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. He finished the night with 27 yards rushing.

Bonita finished the scoring on the final play of the third quarter with Pendleton finding Horine on a 24 yard pass.

Matt Gelalich had three interceptions to lead the defense.

With the Bearcats victory it sets up a Hacienda League showdown next week against West Covina for a battle of first place teams.

Pendleton threw for three scores in the win. Photo by Anne Cypress.

1 2 3 4 F
WALNUT 0 7 7 0 14
BONITA 7 23 14 0 44
BONITA Geomani Johnson 65 pass from Garrett Pendleton (Brandt Davis)
WALNUT Randy Collins 2 run (Nicole McKee)
BONITA Cameron Griffith 10 run (Davis)
BONITA Safety
BONITA Griffith 14 run (Davis)
BONITA Johnson 31 run (Davis)
BONITA Grant Wharton 27 pass from Pendleton (Davis)
WALNUT Collins 5 run (McKee)
BONITA Garrett Horine 24 pass from Pendleton (Davis)

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