Johnson and his O-Line: (L-R) Tarez Lemmons, Giomani Johnson, Nick Pichotta, Cody McKenzie
(La Verne) – Giomani Johnson ran for two touchdowns and Garrett Pendelton threw for another as Bonita belted Diamond Ranch 38-10 Friday night to sew up second place in the Hacienda League.
Johnson put the icing on the Bearcats cake late in the fourth quarter with a 27 yard touchdown run around the right corner with 5:25 left in the game. It was the final score of the contest.
Johnson finished with 10 carries for 44 yards and a pair of scores. He also had a three yard TD blast in the second quarter. Reggie Turner added 59 yards on 8 carries.
“I was impressed with Johnson’s play. He did a nice job of running the ball,” said Bonita Coach Eric Podley.
It was the Diamond Ranch running game that got going early in the first as the Panthers marched 74 yards on 14 plays on their first possession to go up 7-0. Jacoby Carter scored on a three yard run.
Bonita countered on its next possession with a 37 yard field goal by Brandt Davis after the Bearcat drive stalled on the DR 20.
Matt Gelalich capped a 68 yard second quarter drive with a six yard run to give Bonita its first lead late in the second quarter.
On the next series the Bonita defense came up with was the biggest play of the game. Nick Pichotta picked off a Ceasar Carrillo pass and returned it to the Diamond ranch five yard line. Two plays later Johnson barreled in behind his big offensive line to give Bonita a 17-7 halftime lead.
Down ten the Panthers tried to get back in to the game when Jeff Stamp booted a 35 yard field goal mid way through the third to cut the advantage to 17-10. But two minutes later Bonita hit the Panthers with another big play.
Pendleton hooked up with another Garrett (Horine) for a 39 yard touchdown pass. Horine caught the pass in the middle of the field and went right up the heart of the DR secondary.
Before Johnson finished it off with his TD jaunt, Bonita took over with good field position at its own 46. Pendleton hit Zach Brungard for a 22 yard gain down to the Panther 21. Three plays later Austin Venegas scored on a reverse for a 14 yard touchdown with just over ten minutes left.
Five minutes later, Johnson scored and that was all she wrote.
Pendleton threw for 226 yards and a score. Brungard caught five passes for 79 yards. Pendleton hit seven different receivers.
Diamond Ranch wasn’t able to get anything going after the initial drive.
“I think they made a few adjustments. They put a lot of people in the box and stopped us. I’ve always liked what Bonita has been able to do on defense,” said Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton.
Podley was impressed with the game as well as his team’s season.
“This is the best record I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Podley who is in his 11th year. “The players did a great job and the coaches did a great job this season.”
Bonita finished 9-1 overall with its only loss coming to Hacienda League Champ West Covina. D Ranch went 5-5 overall and 4-2 in league and will go into the playoffs as the third place team.
DR 7 0 3 0 10
B 3 14 6 15 38
1st Qtr:
DR 5:08 Carter 3 yd run (Stamp Kick)
B 3:15 Davis yd FG
2nd Qtr:
B 3:59 Gelalich 6 yd run (Davis Kick)
B 2:57 Johnson 3 yd run (Davis Kick)
3rd Qtr:
DR 5:23 Stamp 35 yd FG
B 3:00 Horine 39 yd pass from Pendleton (Kick Blocked)
4th Qtr:
B 10:20 Venegas 14 yd run (Gelalich pass from Pendleton – 2 PT)
B 5:25 Johnson 27 yd run (Davis Kick)
Leave a Reply