Angel Gonzalez and the Saints advance.
(El Monte) A touchdown in the final four seconds by Arroyo Knight Steven Rivera is called back on a illegal forward pass penalty and the San Dimas Saints hold on to win 21-14 at B.L Bergstrom Stadium in the first round of the Mid-Valley division playoffs.
With time running out in the game, Rivera sets the play in motion and fires a pass out to the flat in the direction of Andre Kerkoff. Kerkoff makes the catch and turns back and throws the ball in the direction of Rivera. Rivera takes the ball on a bounce gets a couple of blocks races 26-yards and blasts his way into the endzone for the apparent touchdown. Much to the dismay of the Knights and delight of the Saints, a flag was lying on far side of the field putting an end to the game and Arroyo’s season.
After the game San Dimas HC Bill Zernikow commented on his teams performance. “I’m happy that we got the win. We were able to force our will out there tonight. We fought through some penalties that we’ll need to clean up but I’m happy with the win.”
The two teams battled for a quarter and a half before points were put on the board. Theo Darlington busted up the middle for a 27-yard score for the Saints with 6:02 left in the first half.
Arroyo came right back to tie the score on the very next drive going 61-yards on four plays and with Rivera calling his own number from 10-yards out.
Neither team had any traction offensively for the remainder of the first half and all of the third quarter
Half way through the final frame San Dimas got back on the board with on a one yard run by Angel Gonzalez. Dillon Corona missed the crucial extra point but the Saints held the lead 13-7.
Like good teams do, Arroyo came right back on their next drive to take the lead 14-13. The drive was highlighted by a 21-yard pass from Rivera to Sam Torres on third and one at the Saint 22.
With 2:49 left in the contest, San Dimas went on a four play 75-yard drive. On the first play to start the drive Codee Watts found Devonte Brown on a short completion. Brown worked his way through the Knight defense, got to the edge for a 53-yard gain. Jordan Taylor capped the drive with a thirteen yard run and the two point conversion.
Arroyo’s Fernando Ochoa fielded Corona kickoff at his own thirty and returned it to the 48 to set up the dramatic finish.
| San Dimas | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Arroyo | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| San Dimas | 6:01 2nd Qtr Darlington 27-yard run (Corona kick) |
| Arroyo | 3:22 2nd Qtr Rivera 10-yard run (Barva kick) |
| San Dimas | 5:50 4th Qtr Gonzalez one yard run (kick failed |
| Arroyo | 2:49 4th Qtr Rivera one yard run (Barva kick) |
| San Dimas | :54 4th Qtr Taylor 13-yard run (Taylor 2 point conversion) |
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